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The lovers of this interesting and really scientific diversion will be glad to know that one of our valued correspondents, Mr. Samuel Loyd, of Elizabeth, N.J., has undertaken to supply them with a weekly record of chess information, which will be given regularly, until further notice, in the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT. The first contribution will be found in the current number of the SUPPLEMENT; for particulars, see the table of contents printed in another column. It is a curious fact, that the most distinguished inventors, mechanics, scientists, lawyers, clergymen, musicians, and statesmen, find recreation in the practice of this superior amusement. There appears to be something about it that both delights the mind and sharpens the understanding. The ablest men are found among its devotees, and confess to its beneficial influences. Mr. Loyd is well known all over the world as a chess player, and has probably met with as many successes and carried off as many prizes as any other individual. He probably has no superior in chess ; a fact that will add interest to the student of the problems that will from time to time be given in our SUPPLEMENT. We may also add that, in addition to the above accomplishment, Mr. Loyd is an inventor and mechanician of superior abilities, a musician of unusual excellence, an artist of peculiar skill, and an engraver of rare talents. The portrait of Dr. Moon is one of his productions- "When do you find time, Mr. Loyd, to execute these art works?" we asked, "I quit work at six o'clock," he said, " and after supper my wife reads, I listen, and at the same time make my drawings." lJIanufilcture of Lead Pipe, Sheet Lead, and Shot. Our recent series of illustrated articles, in Nos. 3 and 4, present volume, have attracted much attention. Those who still desire to obtain copies may supply themselves at this office or at any of the news stores. We are indebted to the Colwell Lead Company, No. 63 Centre street, New York city, John Hooper, President, Lewis Colwell, Treasurer, for attentions to our artists who made the sketches illustrating the making of shot, and for the particulars given, as published in our issue of July 28. The Colwell Lead Company is one of the largest and most enterprising establishments of its kind in the world. American Institute Exhibition. The managers have added throe medals to the list of awards for the coming exhibition. They are "The Special Medal," "The Medal of Superiority," and " The Medal of Excellence," making in all six grades of medals, four grades of diplomas, and the usual money awards for " perishable products," as flowers, fruits, etc. "The Spedal Medal" will be offered for certain specified exhibits each year, and each year changed. For the Forty-sixth Exhibition, 1877, which opens September 13th, the following articles only can compete for this award : Pumping machinery, passenger elevatocs, sewing machines, fire esscapes, an approved automatic fire detector, an approved method of preventing alterations of checks, bonds, drafts, and valuable documents, by the use of specially prepared papers or otherwise. Dangers from Doctors. Dr. Seaton, medical officer of health, remarks in a late lecture : There are many occasions where the clothes of the medical attendant require disinfection, as, for instance, after visiting a group of small pox or scarlet fever patients. Where the practitioner has been unfortunate enough to have a patient with puerperal fever under his care, the linen requires to be boiled, and the other things baked, before being worn again at a labor. But it is to the hands that he must pay special attention, and it is here that the disinfecting properties of chlorine are particularly useful. The hand should be well soaked three or four times daily in the chlorinated soda (P. B.). If this is done for a week, baths used at the same time frequently, and the clothes disinfected, practice may be resumed without danger. Length of absence will not compensate for a neglect of these precautions, as the practitioner may communicate the disease after many months. The Rain Tree. The Consul of the United States of Columbia in the department of Lereto, Peru, has written from Yurimagus to President Prado, informing him that in the woods adjacent to the city of Moyobamba exists a tree called by the natives Tamai-caspi (rain tree) which possesses some remarkable qualities . It is a tree of about fifty feet high when at maturity, and of about three feet in diameter at the base, and has the property of absorbing an immense quantity of hu-midityfrom the atmosphere, which it concentrates and subsequently pours forth from its leaves and branches in a shower, and in such abundance that in many cases the ground in its neighborhood is converted into a perfect bog. It possesses this curious property in its greatest degree in the summer, precisely when the rivers are at their lowest, and water most scarce; and the writer proposes that it should be planted in the more arid regions of Peru for the benefit of agriculturists.--Panama Star and Herald. A Two Foot Cheap Railway. The two feet gauge railroad between Billerica and Bedford" is making good progress, and will be soon finished. The passenger cars, now building at Laconia, N. H., will be a decided novelty, as they will have a row of single seats on each side. The road is eight and one half miles long, and wiU cost about $50,000, or less than $6,000 per mile, being only one eighth the cost of the ordinary railways. The Deepest Well in the World. The Warren Farm Well, one of the deepest, if not the deepest, dug wells in the world, was commenced on the South Downs above Brighton in 1858, and after four years persistent digging the water was reached at a depth of 1,385 feet, the shaft being 6 feet in diameter down to 400 feet, and 4 feet for the remainder. The operation cost between 6,000 and 7,000, and was watched with the greatest interest by geologists. Shad in the Iowa River. Fly fishers on the Iowa river, at Iowa City, have recently taken several shad, weighing about one pound each. Shad were placed in the Mississippi by the United States Fish Commissioners several years ago, and this is believed to be the first catch in any of the tributaries. MR. AARON VEEDER, the photographer, of Albany, N. Y., has made a series of interior photo views of Howe's Cave, by means of the calcium light. The stalactite and other formations are quite remarkable.
