SOME AMERICAN NOVELTIES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XXII, 31 May 1902, Page 10519

SOME AMERICAN NOVELTIES.

Salt-Ploughing a Thousand-Acre Deposit. Sa't deposits vary according to the district in which they are found. What is perhaps the most remarkable salt deposit in the world is that at Salton, in California. This deposit lies in a depression almost 300 feet below the sea level, and was at some time in the past the bed of the sea or an extension of the Gulf of California. From the train, which passes rear by, the tract looks like a vast snow field, and in the early morning is frequently the scene of beautiful mirage effects. The salt deposit, which is essentially rock-salt, covers about 1000 acres, and is at present the centre of interest on account of the dispute of rival companies over the possession of the property. The outfit of the mine consists mainly of a crusher, a drying building. and a dummy line from the salt beds to the Southern Pacific Railroad, not far distant. The work is carried on chiefly by Indians, who can withstand the intense heat of the desert —150 deg. in .lune—and the glare better than white men. The work is interesting and novel. The drying-house is a building 600 feet in length, about which hundreds of thousands of tons of salt are heaped, having all the appearance of snow. Here the salt. Is dried and milled. The salt is collected at first with a plough—a singular machine with four wheels, in the centre of which sits an Indian guiding it; the motive power is a dummy engine some distance away, which hauls the plough along by cables.

As it passes, the steel breaker is seen to cut a broad but shallow furrow, eight feet wide and three feet long, i browing up the ridges on either side.

Indians now follow along, and with hoes pile up the salt in pyramidal forms, which later is transported to the mill. Each plough harvests 700 tons of salt per day. A singular feature of this bed is that the salt is being deposited daily by springs which run into the basin, and as the water evaporates it leaves a crust of almost pure chloride of sodium, which ranges from ten to twenty inches in thickness, over the lake.

It will be seen that there is no danger of exhausting the supply, which is forming all the time; and, in point of fact, the ploughs have in past years worked almost continuously over the same area, only about ten acres having been ploughed. The salt, when delivered at the plant, is hoisted to the upper floor and placed in a bulkhead breaker, where it is reduced to particles of the

same size. It then passes through a burr mill, and is well ground. After this it is sifted, and is finally passed through an aspirator, which cleanses it of all foreign material, when it is ready for packing in bags. The salt is used for a variety of purposes, and is of several different grades, the lowest being unrefined—a product called hide salt, used in manufactories. • • • 116 Shots a Minute Uncle 'Sam is going to equip a cavalry regiment with 11)00 of the deadly Luger pistols, a brand-new invention that discharges bullets with tremendous velocity at the astonishing speed of 116 shots a minute. Just think of it! Almost two shots a second! This remarkable pistol, for it is not a revolver, works on the automatic plan, similar to the automatic rapidfire guns of the army and navy, where the recoil of the discharge is utilised to perform the function of reloading. The pistol weighs less than 21bs. and all that is necessary is to keep it loaded and pull the trigger.

Tests just made oy the Board of l Ordnance and Fortification at Washington have demonstrated its deadliness for accuracy of aim, penetration, velocity of projectile, speed of fireendurance, etc. The accuracy of aim with rapidity was shown by a score of twenty-four bull’s eyes out of thirty shots by one man, who could make but nine bull’s eyes out of twenty-eight with other pistols.

The wonderful accuracy of aim accomplished by this little arm is due entirely to the fact of an almost imperceptible “kick,” as the recoil, which in ordinary revolvers throws the bullet high, is taken up and utilised in operating the automatic mechanism. The cartridges are fed from a magazine running through the handle of the pistol. Any number of magazines may be used, and one when discharged can be released instantly by pressure on a button near the trigger-guard, when a new magazine, carrying its charge of eight cartridges, can be inserted quicker than it takes to tell, and the weapon is again ready to be . red. Safety devices there are in the way of a spring arrangement on the back of the handle, similar to a Smith and Wesson hammerless revolver, and a safety lever which, when set. also lately prevents the accidental discharge of the pistol. 'Several of these Luger pistols have become the wonder and admiration of well-known revolver experts, who recently tested the pistol at the Shell Mound shooting ranges.

In off-hand shooting at all the targets, from 50yds to 200yds distant, results almost equal to those of the riflemen were obtained. The muzzle velocity of 1200 ft a second. having a maximum range of over 2000yds, gives .«ich a flat trajectory for the first few hundred yards that no allowance for a drop is necessary. All that one has to do when shooting at this latter distance is to aim point-blank at the target: the bullet which emerges from the 51in barrel travelling as true as that from a rifle. In destructive ability the thirtycalibre bullet of the Luger, propelled by a charge of Walsrode smokeless powder, particularly if it be a softnosed one, is more than equal in smashing effect on a body to the slower travelling forty-five calibre revolver bullet. This is explained by the greater velocity of a projectile which develops a total energy at striking, when the bullet mushrooms, and tears a larg*e hole. Steel-jacketed bullets arc used when penetration alone is desired. I his remarkable weapon opens up < 1 ,11,e <i vast field of possibility as regards the use of ft,,. pislol f ls ~ weapon of defence in war. The Horse Rides as a Passenger. In Colorado. United States, is a unique street railroad. It, runs up a hill. The distance is

short and the fare is small. There is only one car. and that is in a mos‘ dilapidated condition. It is hauled b. one horse. When the ear reaches the top of

the hill, the merciful driver unhitches tin horse, which takes its place on the platform of the ear. Then the driver goes to the other platform anil starts the ear downhill by gravity. the horse becoming a passenger to the other end of the route. A large share of the revenue of this road is drawn from those who ride ti the top of the hill for the purp< se of seeing the horse ride down.

What English Women Teach their Sisters of Other Nations

Women are primarily teachers. From that day when they taught the first evil they have been compensating’ hourly by preaching and practising good. National types of women are daily instructing each other in ways of living and thinking. English women are doing their share of the work, not only the leaders of movements and causes, but the great unconscious class who make up the type. They stand for many things that are pleasant to consider in this work-a-day world; one knows not which to most admire, their negative or positive virtues. The English woman lays no claim to strenuous living, ami she still builds her kingdom within the confines of her home. Domesticity has still a champion while she holds io her present ideals, and the masculine divinity may count upon an audience. To be at once self-conscious and unconscious is a paradox, but nothing is easier than a paradox for the feminine mind to achieve. We are told that the English race is the most self-conscious in the world, that the reserve is self-repression, the dignity enforced calm: but it is true past denying that even with this self-conscious concealment the English woman is the most unconscious of her sex. To say unconscious means in this connection that she is not hourly striving for effect. not waking or sleeping in the vain endeavour to make herself heard and ii nderstood. This national characteristic at the present day is without doubt unique. The English woman listens, and she does not contradict. In a measure of silence the impress of her personality grows without the unnecessary flashing and (dashing of wit. If she is unconscious she is therefore modest. timid, maybe; and in moments even known to rely upon masculine advice. But surely the old ideal has its virtues, and English women live to prove their place and value. Why is it English children are models of health and happiness, and English mothers rear their families without suffering nervous prostration or inflicting- it upon their friends? English women take life simply, many of them manage to live without theories, to do the day’s work without inquiring the why or wherefore. even to find their chief interest in the details of household life. Other conditions may be coming. There arc rumours in the air: but thus far the British lady has escaped or declined the stress and turmoil of educational club life. A current events club, a class in social evolution, an hour’s drill in Parliamentary law, have not yet absorbed her share of energy. The domestic virtues are not the inferior virtues; even the most ad-

vanced of females would hesitate to declare this. To stand for them is no small glory to English womanhood. A good mother, a good wife, and a good friend—and the English woman need look for no higher virtues. If her methods are after the old-fashioned pattern it is proof enough that the pattern is good. The sisters who think a clever tongue and ready wit sufficient for the day’s work may learn much from those of us who put faith in the quiet and unobtrusive life. American women

who live to Itarn acknowledge in their English sisters a greater selfcontrol than theirs, and less desire to create an impression—an honesty of purpose rather than an effort to please. But, better than any abstract virtue, the woman of other nations may learn from the English how to manage her servants, ami how to make her children healthier and happier. Even if the frugal housewife of Teutonic lands will not admit the superior attainments of the British

lady they must see that her rule leaves more hours for the leisure which makes for culture than their own more ceaselessly industrious anil narrower methods. If national distrust blinds the French lady's eyes she must know there are things she may learn from the woman with whom she forms so evident and violent a contrast. It’s a give-and-take world. Eng lish women certainly give generously in their example of manners ami morals.