The San Francisco call. [volume], October 11, 1896, Page 25, Image 25

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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Some Secret Appliances
for Modem Warfare
But very few of the many readers of
The Call know anything about the con
struction and operation of the numberless
little appliances that are used in modern
warfare, for the reason that such informa
tion is kept secret, because the knowledge
of the operation confers upon the nation
possessing it an advantage other less
wise nations.
One of the greatest difficulties in se
curing accurate gun fire at sea has been
the want of definitely fixing ! the distance
of the object fired at. : Heretofore the de
termination of distances at sea has been a
• matter of personal judgment and liable to
error. Now.the : navy employs a met:
of ascertaining distances very much like
that used by astronomers in ascertaining
the distance of the stars; a mathematical
operation by which the problem of
parallel is solved. It is based upon the
well-known rule of plane geometry; that
given the angles at which two sides of a
triangle subtend from a known base line,
the length of the perpendicular is easily
computed.
When the occasion arises that the com
mander of one of Uncle Sam's wars ips
desires to know how far distant is a vessel
the "electrical distance indicator" is
brought into requsition. Two officers take
their places, one at eac ■ end of the ship.
These officers are provided with a form of
telescope called a theodolite, which is
mounted upon a vertical axis so it can
swing from side to side. Underneath the
theodolite is a semicircle of German silver
wire, and a light spring attached to the
end of the theodolite presses upon the
wire. At any convenient place in the ship
is placed a specially constructed galvano
meter, and conducting wires connect a
small battery with the galvanometer and
with each of the theodolites*. Now German
silver offers a. very great resistance to the
passage of the electric current, and as
each th odolite is swung over the semi
circular German silver wire when the
officer points his theodolite to the distant j
vessel the resistance to the electrical cur- j
rent is increased or diminished. This car- |
rent is at all times circulating round the
galvanometer coils, and consequently the
deflection of the galvanometer needle is
governed by the amount of resistance ,
fixed by the movements of the two
theodolites. Instead of the galvanometer
scale being divided into degree*, as is the
usual way, it Indicate? feet, and the needle j
points unerringly to that number indicat- ■
ing the length of the perpendicular of the I
triangle, of which the distance between
the two officers is the base line, and the
distant vessel the vertex of the other two
sides.
A Wonderful JteW Light.
Quite recently there has been brought
out by the French navy a mysterious de- ]
vice known as "la ratiere," or the "rat
trap light." It is a thing of small dimen
sions and is placed on the deck of the ves
sel. It throws out an electric light that
can only be discovered dead ahead. La
ratiere is constructed as follows: A square
box has within it at one end a concave
mirror, in front of which is adjusted an
arc light. The light is focused upon a
plano-convex lens placed midway or the
length of the box, so that the rays of light
are projected through a silvered tube as a '
bund.c of parallel rays. By the sides of
the outer end of the silvered tube are
placed two prisms, one of red and the
other of green glass, and through which a
portion of the light passes in divergent
rays. At a distance of several miles the
light of la ratiere appears as a small point
and consequently difficult of detection to
those not knowing the quarter in which
to look for it. Its detection is thus re
duced to a minimum, as it can only be
seen within a radius of a few feet at such
distance.
The use of the red and green rays are
for the purpose of enabling the vessel to
whom the signal is intended to Know in
which direction to steer so as to come
within the zone of white light should the
white ray disappear. By means cf this
invention night signals can be made when
flashlights and rockets might be useless
or liable to betray the position of the fleet
to the enemy. It can also be used as a
quid" to a squadron in line, with all
other lights out, in dangerous latitudes,
as it cannot be seen either to the right or
left, but only dead ahead or dead astern.
The French Admiralty attaches great im
portance to this light, and has taken
extraordinary precautions to guard it
against discovery. The Call for the first
time makes public its nature. For pur
poses of maintaining the projection of the
light upon a horizontal plane, which
otherwise would be disturbed by the toss
ing and pitching of the vessel, the lamp
is arranged to float in a vessel containing
mercury, while an electrically connected
compass maintains the azimuth direction
of the light at any set angle.
y\r\ Intelligent Torpedo.
A very important feature in naval war
fare is tbe torpedo. By this device it is
possible to fire large charges of ex
plosive underneath a vessel. Torpedoes
are of three kindb — fixed, mobile and auto
mobile. Tbe first — the fixed — consist of
receptacles containing - r unpowder orother
explosive, and areancbored at the bo torn
depth, and consequently its approach is
of a channel or harbor. They contain a
fuse and are connected with tbe shore by
an electric wire, so that should an enemy's
vessel pass over them they may be ex
ploded by the operator on the shore send
ing a current of electricity through the
wire. The second class of torpedoes are
fired from a tube by compressed air. Of
this class the Wbitehead is a prominent
example. Nearly every warship is now
fitted to use these deadly and destructive
missiles. This torpedo is about six feet
long, made of bronze or copper. It carries
several hundred pounds of explosive, and
contains a small engine actuated by com
pressed air, for the purpos< of driving ti.e
propeller with which each torpedo is
fitted. In operation the tube is pointed
toward tbe vessel it is desired to destroy
and the torpedo ejected from the tube by
a powerful charge of compressed air.
Just as the torpedo leaves tbe tube a
trigger is released, bringing into play the
little air engine within the torpedo, which
assists in maintaining tbe velocity of the
torpedo. They are lairly accurate for a
few hundred yards only and are not
adapted. to long-distance work. Once the
torpedo leaves the tube them is no means
of controlling the direction of its flight,
and the accuracy of its course is depend
ent upon the care wrth which it is aimed
and the nature of tbe water currents it en
counters in its passage. The third class—
the auto-mobile — is a torpedo that con
tains a propelling mechanism and a steer
ing g^ar that are controlled from the deck
of the vessel or the station on shore from
which the torpedo is fired. In some in
stances the motive power is carbonic acid
gas or compressed air, though generally it
is electricity. The torpedo carries a cable j
several mile? in length, which is paid out j
from the body of the torpedo as it goes on i
its way.
This cable consists of a number of insu
lated wires, over which electric currents |
are sent by the operator to control the j
mechanism of the torpedo and co direct ,
its movement*, making it co ahead or j
astern, or stop, and steering it to the 1
right or left. The torpedo is almost sub
merged and carries a couple of rods pro
jecting above the water, the tops of which
THIS TORPEDO CARRIES A CABLE ATTACHMENT AND IS PROPELLED AND EXPLODED FROM SHORE
What is a comet? Why does it have a
tail? Why does tnis caudal appendage
nearly always point away from the sun?
How can it be switched about the sun at
perihelion like an enormous sword and
stiil hoid its shape? Tbe strain would be
sufficient to break solid steel !
All theories that nave been advanced
have been rejected. No one pretends to
be able to prove any feature of the phe
nomena presented. The field is wide open,
and any one has a right to guess. Suppose
we do some guessing and at tbe same time
use a little common-sense — very common
sense, indeed, for it is not very scientific
nor hard to under-tand. Every truth is
simple enough when we know it, and it is
quite possible that if we proceed on very
simple lines we may arrive at a great
truth.
To begin, tbe comet Is not a privileged
Diagram illustrating the binary nebulro sys
tem which showed as Biela's comet. The
nebulous "wheels" are shown In two positions.
The arrows show the directions to the earth
and the sun.
character. It must exist in conformity
with the. great law which rult*s all the
atoms in space. How does this law mani
fest itself to us as we are able to see it ?
We see that every solid, such as a planet,
is spherical in shape. We know that
every system is a great flat "wheel," and
that "a wheel within a wheel" is simply
a planetary wheel within a solar wheel.
We know also that tbe bodies which are
not solid — :he nebulous masses in space —
appear of various shapes, but that those
which have definite shape are also great
flat "wheels."
The more dense they are the nearer to
the spherical shape they become, and we
are safe in assuming that the first point
La Canada's Town Hall, Its Battlemented Castle, the Projected Electric Line From Los Angeles,
and Devils Gate. .
of manifestation of the solid body is near
tbe center of the wheel. All this seems
perfectly natural and no one's feelings
are hurt up to this pomt — but we can
not stop here. We must reason a little
farther.
A comet is a nebulous body, and there
fore is a "wheel."
It does not look like a wheel?
We do not see all of it; no more than
we see all of the moon illuminated when
it is new. We see only such portions of
the wheel as the sun permits us to see.
Can this be demonstrated?
Let us take a ball of white-hot iron into
the bright sunlight. It appears almost
b'nck. We place it in the shade and it is
luminous. We then take two white-hot
balls and place one in the shadow of the
THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1896.
are provided with flags or disks, so that
tbe operator watching them may see the
direction the torpedo is moving and no
intelligently guide it to the object. Un
fortunately, what is visible to the operator
is liable to be seen by the enemy, and the
success of the attack is thereby jeopar
dized to that extent; for if the torpedo is
discovered by the enemy it may be de
stroyed by him before it can perform its
purpose. Qui c recently there has been
invented a naval torpedo which mov s at
all times below tbe surface at any desired
/\ JWel Jkeoru. Regarding
tke Skape of Gorrvets
other. Tbe ball in tbe shadow is lumi
nous and th« other is no;. Suppose we
could construct a great flat, whirling
nebula composed of white-hot bullets,
and that the bullets were most dense or
nearest together at the center of the wheel,
and then suppose that we could present it
edgewise to the sun's rays. What would
we see? A comet, to be sure, for the cen
tral mass or nucleus would cast a shadow
back over a portion of tbe wheel, and
every white-hot bullet in that shadow
would appea r luminous.
Donati's Comet with dotted lines showing
the continuation of the "spokes" toward a com
mon center.
But there are objections to this?
Of course there are.
All comets are not the same in appear
ance?
That is also true of nebulse.
All comets do not have tails?
Nor do all "wheels" lie in the same
plane. The sun's rays must strike the
wheel on the edge to produce the longest
tail, and if they strike the wheel from a
vertical direction there might be no tail at
all.
But some comets have more than one
tail?
That is true, but it is also true that some
wheels have more than one spoke.
Why are the tails of some comets curved ?
For the same reason that the spokes of
the wheels, the spiral nebulae, are also
covered and for the additional reason that
it takes light time to travel. The speed
of light is enormous only to our finite
comprehension— it is slow in comparison
with the immensity of space. This can
be easily illustrated by the stream of water
issuing from a garden hose when the noz
zle is suddenly turned to one side.
But the speed of the water stream near
the nozzle is greater than away from it
Quite true, but if sound travels faster
through dense mediums, might not the
same be true of light?
Tbe fact is that if any particular comet
be taken as an example, a nebulae or
wheel can be found or constructed in imag
ination which will perfectly account for it.
completely masked to the enemy, who bas
no knowledge of the presence of the de
structive machine until the occurrence of
the fatal explosion.
This torpedo would seem to be endowed
with almost human sentiency. It Is under
the absolute control of its operator, who
can cause it to sink or me at will and to
move in every desired direction, and it
communicates to the operator continu
ously its exact position as to deptb, direc
tion of movement, lateral drift, etc. It
also tells him when it contacts with the
enemy and the character of the contact,
whether it is at the side of the enemy's
vessel or beneath it. Of course the man
ner of operating so valuable an arm of
warfare is preserved a jealously guarded
secret.
JYlagnetic /Utractiorv Used.
Advantage of magnetic attraction is had
In January, 1846, a peculiar thing hap
pened to Biela's comet. It appeared to
separate or split into two distinct comets
of unequal brightness. During February
the lesser of the two increased in bright
ness until it became equal to its com
panion, and then began to grow fainter,
until in March it disappeared entirely,
although the "comet" continued visible
nearly a month longer. Now, how shall
we account for this apparently awkward
fact in a very simple way ?
The answer is this: Biela's comet was
what astronomers would cail a "binary"
—that is to say, it was dojible, or had two
nuclei which revolve about a common
center. The telescope Shows us illustra
tions both in nebulae and in binary stars.
When the nuclei are in the same line of
vision from the earth and appear
superimposed, we see one comet
When by reason of their motion
they appear to separate, we see two
comets with the phenomena pre
cisely as described. Such a system is not
so staple as a wheel with a single nucleus,
and when this comet appeared in 1852,
divided and with the brightness changing
as it ought to, this was positively its last
appearance.
But Donati's comet in 1858 presented
some entirely different features. Its tail
was a marvel of beauty and appeared to be
split diagonally into many stripes of nebu
lous matter which had no nuclei. Most
curious of all and most puzzling were two
great streamers which emerged from the
head in nearly straight lines, although
the "tail" proper was curved. How will
our guess apply to this problem? If one
tail should be curved, why was the other
tail straight? The answer must be simple
if it is to be true.
Let us look to the nebulae for an answer.
Surely there must be one that can suggest
the answer. Indeed, there are several;
they are known as spiral nebulae, and look
like great Fourth of July pinwheels.
Some of the spirals or spokes will account
for the curved tail, and other spokes will
make the straight tails if viewed at an
other angle, which must of necessity be the
case. This is made simple by assuming a
vortex motion or a shape similar to a pro
peller or windmill.
We all know that in perspective the
shapes of the blades — or sposes, as we
have called them — are different. It will
be conceded that we view all bodies in
space in perspective; just as we do objects
upon the earth. In fact most of these
nebultE are seen at an angle and appear as
elilpsea or nearly flat disks.
Now let us apply our guess to the comet
Rordame, which appeared in the western
sky in July, 1893. Its tail was very well
behaved when first seen, but a few days
latTJt presented a decidedly broken ap
pearance with bright, irregular patches of
light like lesser nuclei along tbe tail.
The explanation is that the comet Bor
Electricity for tke Beautiful
Valley of La Garxada
to construct a machine that indicates the
presence of a vessel in close proximity
that otherwise by fog or mist would be
hidden from view.
Curious electrical dftvice3 are also em
ployed by means of which any action on
board ship, such as the course steered, the
rate of speed, the direction of the wind,
and when in action the firing of the bat
teries, are instantaneously indicated 'to
the commander in his cabin and aiao auto
matically recorded upon the log.
F. M. Close, D.Sc.
name was aiso a a sp;rai, winning neuuirc
or wheel, and that its plane when ex
tended happened at that time to intersect
the sun.
The spiral was very distinct, and several
of the "spokes" were intersected by the
I shadow of the bead. We would therefore
expect that if the nebulae revolved per
i ceptibly these condensations of illumi
nation would appear to move away
I from the head, and this is precisely what
did occur and was observed on July 13.
The •ame phenomenon was noted in
Swift's comet in April, 1892, and in
Brooks' comet in October, 1893. There is
also another fact which bears very sig-
A piece of wick bent to show two spokes of
a spiral nebulas which has a twisted or vortex
shape. Viewed from the side one spoke is
curved and tbe other is straight.
nificantly upon our guess, and that is that
th"se condensations appear to move away
from the iiead with an increasing velocity.
This is exactly what they ought to do from
the nature of tbe spiral.
There is one feature common to all
comets which absolutely disproves all for
mer theories, and yet, singularly, proves
our guess to be a good one. A comet ap
pears to get smaller and its tail to get
shorter as it approaches the sun, but
when it is leaving the sun's neichborhood
the reverse appears to take place. If this
phenomenon results from the difference
in the intensities of the light of the sun
and the nebula it is evident that this dif
ference increases as the nebula approaches
the sun and decreases as it leaves it.
Therefore the result would be as de
scribed.
One might speculate indefinitely upon
the details of the relations between
comets and the nebulae, but the intelligent
readers can do this for themselves, and it
is unnecessary to fill space with further
illustrations. We all know what a small
sunbeam shining into a dusty room looks
like, and it is a poor law that is not
universal. If the dust was self-luminous
it would be visible to us everywhere in the
room excepting in the sunbeam.
Astronomers are in general very fair
minded men, and if our guess appears to
them to be a true one they will be glad to
say so, even if it comes from a very humble
astronomer.
Feed G. Plcmmer.
The recent telegraphic news from Los
Angeles to the effect that an electric line
is projected into La Canada Valley was
not of startling interest to the public in
these times of political strife. To a few,
however, to whose ears "La Canada" has
a definite sound, the news was received
with mnch pleasure. It means the open
ing of an almost matchlessly pictur
esque territory, where olives, oranges,
lemons, and, in fact, almost all
fruits, attain wondrous growth and
flbvor and a corresponding marketable
value. The little valley, only twelve
miles fiom Los Angeles, is nlso a wonder
ful health resort, and though as yet some
what inaccessible except to equine motor
power, has been penetrated by several
wealthy men of Southern California, who
have built magnificent residences there,
by several sanitariums and by many fruit
growers.
The projected electric railway is to run
from Los Angeles via Glendale and
Verdugo Park through the Verdugo
Canyon into the valley of La Canada;
along the valley from northwest to south
east, emerging in the vicinity of the
Devils Gate at Arroyo Park; thence
to Pasadena and back again to Los An
geles. Thus a sort of belt line will be
Comet Rordame and plan of that portion of
the spiral nebulae which gave the effect as
shown.
formed, or, moreUJproperly speaking, an
arc line.
It is designed to utilize the two branches
of the Terminal Railway, as now con
structed; that is, the branch which runs
from Los Angeles to Altadena, via Pasa
dena, and the branch which extends to
Verdugo Park, via Glendale, will be con
nected by an electric band. From Ver
dugo Park to La Canada, the Verdugo
road will doubtless be available. The two
rail lines, starting from a common center
at Los Angeles, are not unline the radii
of a circle, diverging at about an angle of
45 degrees, and the proposed line connect
ing them will thus form the arc.
Dr. 3. D. Hineman, the inspirer of the
1 enterprise, is a resident of Arizona, a man
of wealth and the representative of other
Eastern capitalists, all of whom seem to
have faitn in the growth and commercial
importance of Los Angeles.
Dr. Hineman recently had a conference
with T. E. Gibbon, vice-president of the
Terminal Railway, and it is now under
stood the Terminal Company is willing to
entertain a proposition looking to a traffic
or other arrangement which will facilitate
the execution of the plan as has been
roughly sketched.
J. Henry Dockweiler, formerly City En
gineer of Los Angeles, has been retained
by the Eastern capitalists to make plans
and otherwise assist the consummation of
the work, for which he is eminently fitted
by reason of His intimate acquaintance
with the country in this section. It seems
that for some time the work of surveying
has been quietly and carefully prosecuted,
and mord recently there have been meet
ings of importance ; held at .La Canada,
Glendale and Verdugo. Committees to
secure right of way, the probable * tonnage
to be : moved "and" Various statistics have
been actively at work for the past few
weeks.
The figures which show the traffic al
ready moving, notwithstanding the present
disabilities, have been secured. It should
be remembered that these figures are
actual, not merely "estimated." and they
are regarded as very favorable. It is re
ported that; the Eastern capitalists have
signified their desire and intention to
push the line speedily if the statistics ob
tained will insure the cose of •'axle-grease"
for. the first year.
• Already there is no doubt in the mind»
of interested parties that more than the
desired amount can be secured. There is
much enthusiasm in La Canada, and both
in the Valley and along the remainder of
the route the ranchers are up and doing.
At La Canada it was reported a few days
ago that rights of way had been granted
throughout the territory to be traversed.
Because of the present isolation, or
rather inaccessibility, of La Canada, there
are few people,: relatively, speaking, who
are acquainted with the smiling little val
ley nestled in the foothills of the Sierra
Madre, Mountains. But those. who have
strayed "among .'the hills,'' on ' a 'camping
expedition or sought the peaceful spot by
design, in f search 7of health or to purchase
fruit, are unanimous in singing the praises
of the 5 country, which reminds one of the
Happy Valley pictured by Dr. Johnson in
: "Ilasselas." ! :i ;r *:. :;v - ; '' :?: /;. '' ' ■•":
The Sierra Madre „ Mountains keep a
, solemn watch on the north, while the
Vendura Hills and the , San Fernando
Range protect the spot. on the sou.h. To
ward me east the mountains and the hills
join hands above the Arroyo at an altitude
of 1500 feet, as though j they were playing
"Open the gates as high as the sky to let
King George's men pass by." To the
west the land again rises in : a
similar but ■- rather irregular man
ner, with here and there a hill
and . a knoll .' singing, "Thy Sentinel
Am L" The result of the whole config
uration is a double concave elliptical val
ley having an average width of two miles
and extending upward of ten miles to
within sight of San Fernando.
Above the Devil's Gate the Arroyo and
its sister chasm are spanned by two . ro
mantic bridges, where no doubt more than
two lovers have plighted their troth in
the moonlight.' A good road • winds
around the bills above the bridges look
ing down on a vestibule basin which \is
the antechamber of La Canada. From
(iie elevated eastern entrance the road
cuts directly across the valley leading to
San Fernando, passing a trim school
house (attesting the ; intelligence of the
community).
'; At about the middle portion the valley
is tapped by another good road through
the Vendura Canyon, leading more or less
directly to Los Angeles, distant about
twelve miles. Along a portion of these
roads the electric line will pass, and even
if the project of joining the Terminal is
not carried out, it would not be a difficult
task to extend the line to Los Angeles
1 along the Verdugo road.
i La Canada being so high, there is little
difficulty in obtaining water of a good
quality, and thus the necessary factor for
reclaiming the land not already under
cultivation has been introduced and
awaits the - further enterprise of man to
blossom like the other ranches, where the
orange and lemon trees reward the energy
and industry already expended.
;It is worthy of note that the fruit
grown in La Canada commands a higher
price in the market than the oranges and
lemons grown in other sections immedi
ately tributary to Los : Angeles. This is
because ti.e fruit is bright and clean and
smooth, requiring no rehandling prepara
tory to shipment. No smut or soot ever
disturbs the trees, and the protection af
forded by the surrounding elevations
makes the land a stranger to frost, while
the altitude contributes a pure and brac
ing air. ;
This last quality makes the valley a de
sirable place for the invalid who would
escape the more accessible but crowded
health resorts .in this section. Already
people of wealth, who have had better
fortune than money can give, have dis
covered some of the benefits to be derived
from a residence in the "Happy Valley,"
with the result that architecture has con
tributed its talents to beautify the natural
grace of the land in the vicinity of "The
Castle."
The old Spanish names of the towns ana
landmarks between Los Angeles and La
Canada : are rich , with suggestions of
myths and legends about the doings of
the early Mexican and Spanish settlers of
California. ;•:;
Among the stories current are a few con
nected with the locality known as Eagle
Rock Valley. Eagle Kock, from which
the valley takes its name, is a huge per
pendicular stone which rears its solitary
head into a commanding view o< the sur
rounding country, making clear the valley
lying at tbe foot of the rugged San Fer
nando peaks, and eastward the San Gab
riel Valley fringed by the Sierra Madre
Mountains, with Old Baldy a jewel in the
center.
In Eagle Rock itself either art or nature
or both have carved two caves, which at a
distance strongly resemble the out
stretched wings of the bird of freedom,
and it would be most appropriate and
gratifying to behold "Old Glory" swing
ing its folds to the breeze on the pinnacle.
One of the caves in the rock, if not both,
gave a home to a hermit in the old days,
if not refuge to those of a less peaceful
nature. It is certain, however, that the
little knoll at the opposite end of the
valley known as "Robber's Roost" and
now marked by the site of a ruined adobe
is the location of more than one scene of
riotous pleasure and act of violence. But
at the present day, peaceful and happy
homes and smiling ranchers tell a more
pleasing though les3 romantic tale. And
this territory, too, will share in the ad
vantages to be obtained from the pro
posed electric road, especially if the
VerJugo Canyon road is utilized instead
of the Terminal Railway. If the latter,
then of course the benefits will be less di
rect, though not to be ignored. Several
important meetings were held last Satur
day, and some of the parties most promi
nently connected with the movement left
for San Francisco to make arrangement!
which will further the project.
The Arabs have a superstition that the
stork has a human heart. When one of
these birds builds its nest upon a house
top they believe the happiness of that
household is insured for a year.
25