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Show Cm of Glass in Mechanics. M. de la Bastte, a French chemist, has, during the past few years, conducted a series of experiments which have resulted result-ed in a method of rendering glass sufficiently suffi-ciently tough for use in molding many articles hitherto made of iron. It is premised pre-mised that the huge sub-Atlantic pneu-matio pneu-matio tube for the connection of the Old with the New World, the suggestion of which was received with indifferenoe and incredulity some time ago, may eventually turn out to be not so chimerical chimeri-cal as at first glance it was judged to be. A glass car fitted Into a tube of the same material would spin away at an incredibly in-credibly fast rate. No appreciable heat would be generated, and the great hardness hard-ness and smoothness of the material Would greatly lessen the retarding influence influ-ence of friction, which will be one of the most important considerations in all systems sys-tems of future rapid transit. In the construction con-struction of piers, bridges, and, in short, 9 everytliing meant to withstand the destructive de-structive influences of water, glass would be of immenso valuo, as it is insensible to the action of oxygen, while its great hardness insures it again? the frictional wear to which stone piers are particularly liable. New York Telegram. |