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Advantages of Salt Water Mains. To the Editor of the Scientific American: Let me call to your attention another possible use for salt water in case it is introduced into this city for fire protection. Salt water, as is well known, freezes at a much lower temperature than fresh water, and could be used in winter to flush the streets and carry away slush and snow. Fresh water has been used for this purpose, but is limited in its usefulness to mild days, for when the temperature is below freezing, it rapidly forms into ice. C. Messick, Je. New York, March 31, 1904. A Letter from Dr. Herty on the Gathering of Turpentine. To the Editor of the Scientific American: My attention has been called to a communication in your issue of February 6, entitled "About the New Method of Gathering Turpentine." The experiments of your correspondent, Mr. George W. Colin, in the use of detachable boxes, are historically interesting. His assumption, however, of the impracticability of any plan because of the failure of his experiments, scarcely needs comment other than a statement of the fact that at the present time there are at least three million cups in use by turpentine operators, and that this number would easily have been eight million, had the potteries been able to supply the actual demand in time for the present season. Your correspondent quotes from an article in your issue of January 2 the statement, "New Method of Gathering Turpentine Invented by Dr. Charles H. Herty, and by him given to the public." I am unwilling to receive credit for generosity which does not properly belong to me, and consequently feel that I should further add that the new system of cup and gutters devised by me has been patented, as it was devised by me before entering the service of the Bureau of Forestry; but the bureau, while recognizing my personal right to the patent, deems it improper for me to receive any royalty on the patent so long as I am officially connected with the bureau. Charles H Herty. Jacksonville, Fla., March 9, 1904. The Latitudes of Greater New York. The Greater New York extends through 14 minutes and about 45 seconds of latitude and 28 minutes and about 30 seconds of longitude. The extreme southwestern cape of Staten Island, which is the most southerly point of the city, lies almost exactly 40 degrees, 3U minutes, and 15 seconds north of the equator. The junction of the city line with the Hudson River on the edge of Yonkers, which is the most northerly point of the city, lies almost exactly 40 degrees, 54 minutes, and 55 seconds north of the equator. The western edge of Staten Island marks the most westerly point of the city. It is as nearly as may be 74 degrees, 15 minutes, and 30 seconds west from Greenwich, while the extremity of City Island, which is the most easterly point of the city, lies almost exactly 73 degrees and 47 minutes west from Greenwich. The difference in latitude between the extremes of the city, taken with the difference in elevation and the presence of the sea in the southern part, makes an appreciable difference in climate. There is decidedly more snow and a somewhat lower average winter temperature on the edge of Yonkers than at the southwestern extremity of Staten Island. While the highest point of the city is the ridge near the center of Staten Island, where the elevation at several points exceeds 400 feet above sea level, the general elevation in the upper portion of the city is considerably greater than that of the parts south of Central Park. The highest point on the island of Manhattan is on the wooded ridge overlooking the Hudson at a point nearly due west of Washington Bridge, where the elevation is nearly 260 feet above sea level. A little further north the island reaches a height varying from 180 to 240 feet. The vegetation on this elevated ridge shows the influence of the height above sea level. It suggests the vegetation of the Palisades. The elevations of the Bronx reach 180 and 200 feet in Van Cortlandt Park and in parts immediately southwest of the park. The highest elevation in Bronx Park is just short of 150 feet, and of Pelham Bay Park, about 120 feet. The coolest summer climate of the city is probably the central ridge of Staten Island, where, in the region which is intended for part of the proposed Richmond County park system, the greatest height is 413 feet above sea level. With a stiff sea breeze blowing, these heights are deliciously cool in midsummer. The valleys of the Borough of the Bronx are extremely hot in summer, though the heights are cooler than the built-up portion of the city down town. The narrow strip along the Hudson at the base of the high ridge of the island is one of the hottest parts of the city on summer afternoons, when the sun strikes from the west against the slope of the ridge and is reflected from the burnished mirror of the river. The lower part of Manhattan and the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and Richmond have rather more rain than the Borough of the Bronx. It snows occasionally in the upper part of the Bronx when only rain falls in the lower part of the city, and snow lies often for days and sometimes for weeks upon elevated . parts of the Bronx after it has utterly disappeared from the parts of the city immediately bordering upon the harbor.--N. Y. Times.
