VOL.3. NO. 9
RELATION OB CHEMISTEY TO ENRICRMENT OP LIFE
1023
It seems that Father Time has become addicted to that popular and quite good habit of imitating the best of people and is trying to impersonate the ancient Hermes by embodying strength. It seems that he has half a mind to discard his sickle for a staff of wisdom and strive hopefully forward with chemistry and the spirit of science seeking further enrichment of life.
UNITED STATES CIVIGSERVICE EXAMINATION The United States Civil-Service Commission announces open competitive examinations for Fuel Engineer, $3800; Associated Fuel Engineer, S W O ; Assistant Fuel Engineer, $2400. Applications for these pasitiousmust beonfileat Washington, D. C., not later than September 7th. The examinations are to fill vacancies in the Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior, for duty a t Washington, D. C., and Pittsburgh, Pa. The entrance salaries are shown above. After the probational period required by the civil-service act and rules, advancement in pay without material change in duties mav he made to higher rates within the pay m d e ,. uu . . range . far the . . to a maximum of 85000 a year for fuel engineer, $3600 a year for associate fuel engineer, and $3000 a year for assistant fuel engineer. Promotion from lower to higher grades may be made in accordance with the civil-service rules as vacancies occur. Appointees must be able to conduct, under general direction, laboratory and field - fuel investigations, especially in combustion, furnace design, smoke prevention, heat transmission, efficiency of fuel-using devices, and must also he able to prepare concise and intelligent reports thereon. They will also be required to assist in tests of boiler and other furnaces and of auxiliary equipment affecting efficiency in the use of fuels, and in investigations of fuel-burning methods and machinery, inspecting and sampling of fuel, and compiling of data. Competitors will be rated on their education, training, experience, and fitness; and an essay, thesis, publication, or report to be fled with the application. Full information and auolication blanks mav be obtained from the United States .. Civil-Service Commission, Washington, D. C., or the secretary of the board of U. S. civil-service examinen a t the post office or customhouse in any city.
Cadmium in Trolley Wire Boon to Electric Lines. The addition of 1 per cent of metallic cadmium to copper trolley wire produces an alloy whichlasts about three times as long as the ordinary capper wire, i t has been revealed in tests conducted on British and Canadian trolley lines. One stretch of double track, over which same fifty cars passed in an hour, was equipped with the two different wires, the copper wire wearing down several times faster than the alloy. The tensile strength of the alloy, for the same size of wire, is nearly double that of the copper. I n one series of tests, reported Dr. N. F. Budgen, British scientist, copper wire after 130 days of service had worn down 6 per cent, a cadminm-copper wire of the same gage having lost only 12 per cent after 730 days of service. In another set of erperiments the comer wire after 602 days had diminished 31.5 per cent and in the same .. interval the cadmium-copper wire had lost only 8.2 per cent. The power loss due to a slightly poorer electrical conductivity of the alloy is low.-Sbce Service
