212 .Franklin Institute. feetly unimpaired when water, impregnated with acids or alkalies, is led through them. Metal pipes, on the contrary, are subject to rapid decomposition when placed in sulphuric acid, chalk soil, or copperas in solution, frequently found in coal-pits and mines.--Non-eonductor of _Eleetricitg.--Through the peculiarity of bitumen not being acted upon by acids, and being a non-conductor of electricity, the bituminized pipes are not liable to destruction and stoppage, as iron pipes are in which galvanic streams are frequently produced, causing leakage and oxidiza- tion. In virtue of this peculiarity, asphalt pipes will be used with ad- vantage for underground telegraph wires, through tunnels, and under bridges.--Elasticit~t.--The elasticity of these pipes protects the same from bursting by external shocks or concussions, which causes most of the other kinds of pipes to break, the capability, also, of extension is greater than the expansion caused by frozen water, hence bursting is avoided, an accident to which all other pipes are liable.--Spec(fi¢ Gra- vitg.--The specific gravity of these pipes, compared to iron pipes, is as 1 to 5, which circumstance, as it facilitates transport and adjustment, con- Siderably reduces the cost.--@heapness.--In great Britain, where all kinds of metal pipes are undoubtedly manufactured cheaper than any- where else, the bitumen pipes, when laid, are still only one-fourth the cost of lead, and about one-half the cost of iron. On account of their great lightness, the rate for transport is comparatively very smallusay only one-third of the cost of transport for iron pipes. In conclusion, it may be mentioned, that all workings, repairs, &e., of bituminized pipes are much easier executed and at less expense than is the case with other pipes. The following bituminized pipes are manufactured in seven feet lengths. A. Water pipes to with- stand the pressure of 15 atmospheres, either with bituminized coup- lings or with iron flanges. B. Gas pipes (lined with metal to re- sist the chemical influence of gas)with iron flanges. 6 v. Air pipes for mining purposes, of lighter construction, and connected by bitu- minized couplings.

FRANKLIN INSTITUTE.

.Proceedings of the Stated Monthly Meeting, .February 16th, 1865.

John H. Towne, Vice President in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The Board of Managers reported donations to the Library from The Royal Astronomical Society, and the Society of Arts, London ;

the Canadian Institute Toronto, and ~Major L. A. Huguet-Latour, Montreal, Canada ; Prof. A. Dallas Bathe, and Frederick Emmerick, Esq., Washington, D.C. ; the Legislature of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, and Prof. John F. Frazer, Philadelphia.

The Special Committees on Steam Expansion ; and on Weights, Measures, and Coinage of the United States, reported progress, and the Institute having been notified of the resignation of Mr. Briggs i

.Proceedings of the Pranklin Institute. 213

chairman of the last mentioned Committee, the Secretary wasbymotion directed to call the said Committee together. The Special Committee on an Uniform System of Screw Threads, &e., reported : -

That they had distributed 250 copies of their former report, accom- panied by acireular letter and copy of Mr. Wm. Sellers' original paper upon the subject ; to the individuals, companies, and government offi- cials, interested in the matter, and anticipated soon to receive com- munications in return. Some remarks were then made upon the re- port of the Committee by Mr. Caleb P. Jones, relative to the diameter of nuts, and further consideration of the subject was then deferred until the next meeting.

The Special Committee to draft petition to the City Councils rela- tive to the appointment of inspectors of Steam Boilers in the City of Philadelphia, reported progress.

The following Committees were then appointed by the President : - -

On the Library.

Henry Ames, Pliny E. Chase, James H. Cressonp James Dougherty, John Ferguson, George Harding, John Hoskins, James T. Lukens, Henry Morton, Henry G. Morris.

On Arts and Manufactures. On Minerals.

William Adamson, John H. Cooper, Charles G. Crane, Henry R. Lawrence, C. Eugene Meyer, Jacob Naylor, Isidore Osorio, :Percival Roberts, William G. Rhoads, Samuel S. White.

Clarence S. Bement, Isaac H. Conrad, John F. Frazer, Emile Geyelin, J. Peter Lesley, Robert H. Lamborn, Robert E. Rogers, Colman Sellers, Richard A. Tilghman, Elias Wildman.

On Exhibitions.

John C. Cresson, James H. Cresson, John Gardiner, Jr. Edwin Greble, Bloomfield H. Moore, J. Vaughan Merriek, WilIiam A. Mitchell, T. Morris Perot, John H, Towne, O. Howard Wilson.

On Models.

James Agnew, William B. Bement, Edward B.own, Charles H. Cramp, Mordecai H. Haines, Addison Hutton, John Ki?e, W. Barnet Le Van, John I,. Perkins, S. Lloyd Wiegand.

On Meteorology.

Charles M. Cresson, John F. Frazer, Henry Hartshorne, Caleb S. Hallowell, James A. Kirkpatriek, Henry Morton, James A. Meigs, Fairman Ro~ers, James S. Whitney, Samuel S. White.

On Meetings.

B. Henry Bartol, Henry Cartwright, John F. Frazer, Henry Howson, Edward Longstreth, J. Vaughan Merriek, Henry Morton, Fairman Rogers, Coleman Sellers, Thomas Shaw.

On Scientific Proceedings el the Institute.

John F. Frazer, J. Vaughan Merriek, Henry Morton, Fairman Rogers, Coleman Sellers.

214 Franklin Institute.

The Secretary then read his report on new inventions and dis- coveries. In this reference was first made under the head of Mechan- ics, to various machines lately introduced for the purpose of boring deep wells for water or oil; for cutting or digging coal by steam power; and for pumping or otherwise raising fluid material from great depths. Under the head of _Physics, reference was made to certain improve- ments in tempering of steel, by the use of a highly conducting bath, as for example one of mercury, by which a higher degree of hardness was attained (with less intense heating, and consequent warping), than iu the usual method. A series of tubes filled with various gases and vapors, exhausted to a certain point of rarefaction and then hermeti- cally sealed, were then exhibited, with the Ruhmkorff coil. The flashes of statical electricity developed by that instrument being caused to pass through these tubes, (from platina wires melted into their ends when they were first being prepared), developed in them most brilliant flashes, streams, and clouds of colored light, crimson violet and blue, crossed in many cases by transverse dark bands, while the substance of the tubes themselves became luminous by fluorescence with tints of Mue, yellow, or green, according as the glass contained, potash~ soda, or a mixture of both.

One of these tubes also exhibited in a most striking manner the property of phosphorescence, remaining luminous and visible for many seconds after the cessation of the electric discharge.

These tubes (known from their constructor as "Geissler tubes"), it ~vas to be remarked were not new inventions in themselves, but were here introduced as a novelty, because never before exhibited in any way in this city or its vicinity. The set of tubes employed were the property of Mr. Charles N. Bancker to whose kindness the Institute was indebted for the pleasure of inspecting them.

Under the head of Chemistry reference was made to the establish- ment by Meissner, of Ant-0zone as an alotropie condition of Oxygen ;-- to the power which Ozone possesses of arresting vegetable growth and the relation between this growth and the putrefaction of animal mat- ter ;--to the delicate test for free Phosphorus furnished by its green coloration of the flame of hydrogen generated in its presence, espe- cially when the temperature of the flame was reduced by the intro- duction of a solid good conductor, such as a mass of iron, lead or the like ;--to the extraction of gold from poor ores by nascent Chlo. rine, &c.

Mr. Sellers then made some remarks upon the employment of the fluorescent properties of certain kinds of glass in the analysis of light, especially with reference to its photographic powers.

An outline was then given of the lecture on Light which it is pro- posed to deliver before the Institute at the Academy of Music, and on motion the meeting was adjourned.

HwNRY MORT01~, Secretary.

.Meteorology of Philadelphia. 215

A Comparison of some of the Meteorological Phenomena of FEBRUARY, 1865, w i l l those of FEBRUXRY, 1864, and of the same month for FOUaTEE~ years, at Phila., Pa. Barometer 60 feet above mean t ide in the Delaware River. L a t i t u d e 39 ° 57~ ~ 1~. ; Longi tude 75 ° 10½ t W . from Greenwich. By J . fl-_. ]~IRKPATRICK, _h. )/I.

February , February , F e b r u a r y , 1865. 1864. for 14 years.

T h e r m o m e t e r - - H i g h e s t - - d e g r e e , " date, .

~Warmest d a y - - M e a n , " " date,

Lowes t - -degree , " date, . .

Coldest day--lV[ean, " " date, .

:Mean da i ly oscillation, " " range,

:Means a t 7 4. M., " 2 P. M., " 9 P.M., . " for the month,

B a r o m e t e r - - H i g h e s t - - Inches, " date, . .

Greatest mean da i ly press. " date,

Lowest---Inches, . " date, . .

Leas t mean da i ly press., " date, .

Mean d a l y range, :Means at 7 x. M.,

, , 2 P. M., " 9 P.M., . " for the month,

Force of V a p o r - - G r e a t e s t - - I n c h e s , " date,

L e a s t - - I n c h e s , " date,

:Means at 7 4. M., " 2 P. M., 'J: 9 1% M., " for tile month,

Rela t ive H u m i d i t y - - G r e a t e s t - - p e r ct., " date,

L e a s t - - p e r ct., " date, .

:Means at 7 4. M., " 2 P. M., '~ 9 P. M., for the mon th ,

C louds - -Number of c lear days,* . " cloudy days, .

:Means of sky cov 'd a t 7 A. M. " " " 2 P. M. " " " 9 P. M. ,, " for the month,

Rain and me ' t ed S n o w - - A m o u n t , 1~o. of days on which Ra in or Snow fell

P r e v a i l i n g ~Winds--Times in 1000,

56.00 ° 26th.

49-17 26th.

3.50 13th.

12.00 13th.

11.34 5-97

28.45 36.20 32.44 32.36

30.322 in. 21st.

30.293 21st.

29.256 8th.

29-347 8th.

O.2O5 29-872 29.849 29.875 29.865

0.326 in. 26th.

.044 13th. -124 .13,t .137 .132

100.0 per et. 23d.

35.0 24th.

75.1 61 '4 71.7 69.3

8 20 58.2 per c. 58.9 61.8 59 "6

5.491 in. 10-

~65o18'w.351

57"6G ° 70"00 ° 28th. 23d, 1860. 49.67 59.30 28th. 25th, 1857.

4"00 - -1 '00 17th. 7th'55;8th'61

7-00 4.50 17th. 6th, 1855. 15"29 13"40

7-18 7.21 30"55 29 '29 40-57 38"38 34.74 33-45 °,?,5.29 33'71

30"375 in. 30'671 in. 19th. 4th, 1863 30 '267 30"595

18th. 12th, 1857. 29"284 29.065

16th. 23d, 1853. 29"383 29"227

16th. 16th, 1856. 0.182 0-220

29.792 29'916 29"742 29"869 29"796 29"902 29"777 29"896

0-262 in. 0.549 in. 1st. 16th, 1857. • 022 -013

17th. 6th, 1855. • 132 -138 • 124 .158 • 139 -156 • 132 "151

90-0 per ct. 100.0 per ct. 6th. often.

20-0 20-0 22d. 22d, 1864.

70.1 i 78.4 46.6 63"1 63.8 I 75"1 60 "2 72 '2

1 0 i 8 .1 19 20. 50.7 per e. 61.4 per c. 63.1 60"8 47.6 48.2 58"8 56.8

0.697 in. 2.927 in. 5. 10-

s80o41'w.379 ~72o17'w.288

*~ky, one-third or lees covered at the hours of oheervatioa.

216 .~leteorology of Philadelphia. A Comparison of some qf the ~feteoroloqical Phenomena of ~he WIbrT~R, of 1864-65,

with that of 1863-64, and of th, e same Season f o r FOUI~TgEZe years, at Philadelphia, Pa. Barometer 60 feet above mean tid~ in the Delaware River. La t i tude 39 ° 57½ t :N.; Longitude 75 ° 10½ / ~V. from Greenwich. By J . A. KIRKPATRICK, A. M.

The rmomete r - -H ighes t - -deg ree , " date, .

W a r m e s t day - -Mean , " " date,

Lowes t - -degree , " date, .

Coldest day- -Mean , " " date, .

:Mean da i ly oscil lat ion " " range, .

Means at 7 A.M, " 2 P M., " 9 P.M., .

" for the Y¢inter,

Baxom e t e r - - H i g h e s t - - I nches, " date, . .

Greatest mean da i ly press. ,' date,

Lowest---Inches, " date, .

Leas t mean dai ly press., " date,

Mean dai ly range, means at 7 A.M.,

" 2 P.M., ~t 9 P.M., .

" for the Winter,

Force of Vapo r - -Grea t e s t - - I nc he s , " date,

Leas t - - I nc he s , " date,

Means at 7 A.M., .

" 2 P,M., " 0 P.M., .

" for tile W i n t e r ,

Rela t ive H u m i d i t y - - G r e a t e s t - - p e r ct., " date,

L e a s t - - p e r ct. , " date,

Means at 7 A. M., " 2 P.M., " 9 P.M.,

" f o r the W i n t e r

C louds - -Number of clear days, ~ " cloudy days,

:Means of sky cov'd at 7 ~.M., " " " 2 P.M., ,, ,t ,, 9 P.M., " " for the ~Vinter

Ra in and mel ted S n o w - - A m o u n t , No. days on which R a i n or Snow fell

P r e v a i l i n g W i n d s - - T i m e s in 1000

Win t e r , W i n t e r , W i n t e r , 1864-65. 1863-64. for 14 years.

59"00 ° Dee. 7th.

52.33 Dee. 3d.

3 -50 :Feb. 13th.

12,00 :Feb. 13th.

11-02 6'83

28.07 34.89 31'75 31-57

30-411 in. :Dec. 9th.

30.362 Dec. 9th.

29.071 Dec. 21st.

29'275 Dec. 21st.

0.235 29.839 29.791 29-828 29-819

0.438 in Dec. 7th.

.044 :Feb. 13th.

.127

.136 .142 -135

100.0 per ct. Jfeb. 23d. 26.0 Dec. 1st. 77,8 63.8 74.0 71.9

20 7O

60.5 per et. 67-5 61 "7 63.2

13-843 in. 41"

.~75 ° 7'w "26

6."5.00 ° J an . 29th.

54-17 Dec. 13th.

4"00 :Feb. 17th.

7'00 :Feb. 17th.

14-10 6.52

30-44 39.06 33 '89 34..46

30.495 in. Dec. 7th.

30.423 Dec. 7th. 29.167 Dec 14th.

29"341 Dec. 14th.

0~04 29 "892 29-841 29 '897 29'877

0.486in. Dec. 14th.

"022 :Feb. 17th.

"136 -139 "141 "189

100 per ct. Jan . 18th.

20-0 Feb. 22d.

72.'4 54.7 67.3 64'8

33 58 55"6 per ct. 57.6 4 5 . 5 52.9

7.446 in. 25-

~85 ° 5 'w "306

71"00 ° Dee. 2, 1859.

62 "80 Dec. 19, '56

- -5 .50 Jan . 23, '57

- -1 .00 Fe. 7/55; Fe.8,'61.

12'53 6"73

29 "62 37"62 33"09 33"44

30"704 in. J an . 28, '53

30'611 Dec. 18, '56

28-941 Jan . 23, '53

29 "086 Jan . 23, '53

0-218 29 "941 29 "897 29 '927 29-922

0"551 in. Dee. 2, 1859.

.013 Feb. 6, 1855.

.138

.158 -152 .148

100 per eL often.

20"0 Feb. 22, '64

78 "5 65'4 75 "5 73"1

25-7 64"5 62"7 per ct~ 62 "6 48.3 57 "8

9.901 in. 31 '4

•65 ° ~'w "29~

* ~ky one-third or less covered at the hours of observatien.