174 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XIII. No. 318 



capacity can be easily quadrupled without changing the line of 

 machinery. 



Since the road has been in operation, it has been visited by dele- 

 gations from all sections of the country, of railroad men, who have 

 inspected the operation of the road with the view of introducing 

 the Sprague svstem upon their own lines. The East Cleveland 

 Railway Company have afforded them every opportunity for in- 

 spection, and the result has been that a large number of contracts 

 since the opening of the road have been awarded to the Sprague 

 Company. 



In a recent snow-storm which occurred in the city of Cleve- 

 land, the tracks were all covered to a depth of from six to eight 

 inches; and the horse-railways in that city were delayed in 

 their trips, and only ran intermittently. The electric road, on the 

 other hand, made regular trips, ploughing its own way through the 

 drifts, and successfully demonstrating the advantages of electrical 



On account of the perfect regularity of speed which is the char- 

 acteristic of these motors, on account of their differential winding, 

 they are peculia_rly adapted to the operation of printing-presses. 

 There are also several machine-shops, carpenter-shops, and ele- 

 vators which are using the Sprague motors. 



HEALTH MATTERS. 

 Climate of Colorado. 



Dr. Walter A. Jayne presented an exceedingly interesting 

 paper, on "The Climate of Colorado and its Effects," to the Ameri- 

 can Climatological Association at its recent meeting. In his paper 

 he discusses the air of Colorado both as to atmospheric pressure 

 and drvness. The annual rainfall is between fifteen and sixteen 

 inches, — a small amount as compared with the L'nited States in 



over animal power. The Sprague Company are now equipping 

 snow-ploughs, to be operated by powerful electric motors, for this 

 road ; so that no snow, however deep, will be able to stop the 

 running of the cars. It is estimated that these electric ploughs 

 will clear the tracks quicker than an ordinary plough drawn by a 

 dozen horses. 



Among the cities which are coming into prominence in the 

 Southern States, there is none probably in which the application of 

 electricity for industrial purposes has received greater attention, and 

 been more extensively applied, than in AsheviUe, N.C. We gave a 

 description, in a recent issue, of the successful opening of the electric 

 railway which connects the city of Asheville with the railroad- 

 depot, distant about a couple of miles, w^hich has been running 

 successfully. 



Although possessing a successful railway, the attention of the 

 Asheville citizens in regard to electric power has not been devoted 

 exclusively to railway-work ; but there are a number of stationary 

 motors in the city which are giving satisfaction. Both the Ashe- 

 ville Citizen and Country Homes are printed by electric power. 



general. The winds are at times disagreeable and annoying by 

 reason of the dust, but no injurious effects result from them except 

 physical discomfort. In concluding his paper, he says that there 

 are one or two very simple rules which all consumptives coming to 

 high altitudes should understand and observe, since, because of 

 the unusual characteristics of the climate, they are so important 

 that neglect of them will retard recovery, and in advanced cases 

 may destroy the slight chance still remaining to the invalid of re- 

 ceiving benefit from the change, and lead to a fatal result. 



1. The approach to elevated regions should be gradual and by 

 easy stages, not, in these days of Pullman coaches, to spare fatigue, 

 but in advanced cases with limited lung space, and in those with 

 fever and considerable activity of the disease, to avoid over-taxing 

 the capacity of the lung to adapt itself to the rarefied atmosphere. 

 For the same reason the invalid should, for a time after arrival, 

 either take very moderate exercise or none at all. 



2. The residence should be continuous and prolonged. 



He is confident, that, were the first of these rules more generally 

 followed, we should hear far less of the ill effects of high altitudes. 



