The Frankfort " News " states that it is probable that electric purification of drinking water will soon be introduced into the home. This method, already used by a number of municipal waterworks, is based upon the germ-killing effects of ozone, which is cheaply engendered by electricity. If an electric discharge takes place between two glass tubes, one inside the other, whose surfaces facing each other are coated with metal, ozone is developed in the space between the tubes.

Electricians have tried in recent years to simplify the means of electric ozone for purifying water. The ideal apparatus would be one which every housekeeper could put up in the kitchen, and by utilizing the electric current of the common electric-light wires purify every glass of drinking water. According to the "Frankfurtnr Umschau," such an apparatus seems to have been successfully made by a French engineer, Mr. Otto.

The apparatus is of very simple construction and takes up little space. It consists principally of a small closed box, the metal cover of which is made conductory with the bottom. In the box is an ozone developer, an interrupter and a tin tube. Through the latter the ozone, which first has to pass through a cotton stopper to free it from dust and germs contained in the air, is conducted into the water and mixed therewith. If much ozone has become absorbed, the water becomes phosphorescent in the dark. The most important part of the apparatus is the " mixer, " action of which can be interrupted at will. The apparatus is capable of purifying about 60 gallons of water an hour and the cost is about the same as that of an ordinary electric incandescent light.

Some years ago the Furness Railway in Great Britain unfortunately had a mail train blown from the track by the fury of a winter gale. The train was thrown over the Levens viaduct and nearly fell into the sea. With the idea of preventing the recurrence of a similar disaster, the railway company installed an instrument which automatically warns the signal men stationed at Clark and at Plumpton when the wind pressure on the viaduct reaches the danger point.

The apparatus has been placed on the western side of the structure, and is a wind pressure gauge with suitable recording apparatus. Not only is the wind pressure constantly recorded, but the device has the further function of warning the signal man when the wind is too strong for the safe passage of trains. The warning it given by the automatic ringing of bells in in the signal towers. The bell rings steadily as long as the dangerous velocity of the wind keeps up, and all traffic over the viaduct is absolutely stopped. When the bells cease ringing it indicates that the fury of the wind has subsided and that traffic may be resumed with safety.