Innovation and discovery as chronicled by Scientific American
"The republic of Guatemala, to make it easy for visiting capitalists to decide on proposed investments, has built what seems by all odds the most extraordinary relief map in the world. This map is two acres in extent, and shows every contour, every town and every stream or lake in Guatemala and the neighboring territory of British Honduras. The giant topographical map is of concrete, assembled in sections. Almost two years were spent making the molds, and checking them up. The ultimate cost was $100,000, and another like sum was spent in gathering the data on which the map is based. The big map is located in the hippodrome, or racetrack, at Guatemala City, and it has passed through two earthquakes without harm."
The map still exists, albeit as a tourist attraction.
"Several citizens of Sacramento, Calif., having been poisoned by the use of what is known as the 'sanitary composite' water pipe. The Board of Health has ordered its use to be discontinued. Water flowing through this pipe was found, on chemical analysis, to contain lead and arsenic. The pipe in question is believed to be composed of a species of brass."
This article was originally published with the title "50, 100 & 150 Years Ago" in Scientific American 326, 6, 60.