Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-10-24

nesla OF Its Oxygen we produce the elemen-
tary substance Magnesium brilliant silver
white metal, somewhat brittle at common
temperatures, but malleable at heat little
| below redness.
1t is of very light weight: its specific gray
ity being "a or bulk for bulk one-si1th the
weight of silver
II melts at full red heat and volatalzes
at about the same temperature as zinc Its
| iustre remains unimpaired in perfectly dry
| air, but in damp atmosphere ii soon tar
nishes, and becomes covered with film of
/ Magnesa
The most important property of this metal
yet known is the facility with which it en-
tiers into combustion, and the marvellous
brilliancy and peculiar properties of the light
| that it emits.
Heretofore it has been produced only in
minute quantities and is still so rare as to be
valued at several dollars an ounce but thanks
to the advance in chemical science, is now
manufactured in sufficient quantities to make
it available in the arts for the purposes to
which it only is adapted.
| Such is the affinity of this metal for Oxy-
gen that, once ignited it burns freely in the
| open air producing very little heat but an
| intensely brilliant light similar to sunlight in
containing all the colors of the Solar Spec
trum and consequently suitable for Photo
graphic and some other purposes, to which
1 NO olneI hItllclhl nBnt can Db huhpl6u lOl
want of this peculiar property.
| 1t has been used with eminent success In
| Illuminating, for examination and Photo
graphing subteranean chambers and pas.
sages and other places where daylight is ex-
/ cuded, such as the Pyramids OF Egypt, the
Catacombs of Paris, the Mammoth Cave in
| Kentucky, &c.,-with the Speculum in Sur
gery-tor coast and sea signals-and is in
valuable to the silk merchants of Paris in
III ,1as
being equal in effect TO sunlight and more
convenient in direction
A piece of Magnesium wire the one hun
dredth part of an inch in thickness will emit
a light equal to "a stearine candles of five TO
the pound and produce 265 times less heat
than coal gas, giving the same amount of
light.
Messrs f. Bringhurst & Co, have been
experimenting with it and fint. that u small
piece of the wire burned at their store door
will illuminate "The Public Ledger" 30 as
to be read with ease on Mr.. Floyd's steps at
the Bank of Delaware, distance of forty or
fifty yards.
We understand the metal in the form of
wire and ribbon can be obtained of E.
Bringhurst Il Co, at small cost per foot
for experimental purposes.
AS an evidence of it's appreciation among
} scientific men and as showing one of the
, uses to which this interesting metal has been
applied the reader is referred to the follow.
ing letter
EAST TOMB, GREAT PYRAMID,
! February I'd, 1865.
my DEAR SIR
1--WE have been settled
hero now about three weeks, and are set
tied down at last to the measuring; the chief
part of the time hitherto having been occu-
pied, in concert with a party of laborers
| furnished hV tho Euupfiat, 1nt,t IN
clearing away rubbish from important parts
, OF the interior, and in cleansing and pre-
pairing it for nice observation.
Tho Magnesium wire light is something
astounding in its power OF illuminating diff
ticult places With any number of wax
candles which we have yet taken into either
the Kings chamber or the grand gallery,
the impression left on the mind ia merely
seeing the candles and whatever is very
close to them, so that you have u small idea
whether you are in palace or a cottage;
but burn triple strand of Magnesium wire
and In moment you see the whole apart
ment, and appreciate the grandeur of its
5 size and the beauty of it's proportions. This
. effect so admirably complete, too, as ii is,
and perfect in its way, probably results from
+ the extraordinary intensity of the light,
c apart from its useful Photographic property,
, for, side by side with the Magnesium Light,
Il the wax candle flame looked not much
Il brighter than the red granite of the walls o
O., the room There come partles-often many
r parties-of visitors to see the Py amid, ev
J. cry day without fail, and they corie amply
T. provided, too, with all sorts of means and
8 appliances to enjoy the sight, i. e. with
l. everything but the needful Magnesium wire
n and one waist-coat pocket full of that would
be worth whole donkey-load of what they
do bring up to enable their souls to realize
y the ancient glories of the internal scene
IL III remain, yours very truly,
q &c. PIAzzf SMYTH.
3 John spiller, Esq, Chemical Depart
ment, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich" !"
l. From the London AthanGum, 25h FEB
Of ruary 1865.
q Kent County Fdir.-The Delawarean savs
20 that the twelfth annual exhibition of tb
al Kent County Agricultural Society was hell
~ on last Wednesday and Thursday, at tn
N Society's Grounds near Dover The wea
N ther being rainy and unpropitious on th
10 ilrst day, the attendance was very slim, an,
10 the number OF articles brought forward fo
n. exhibition quite limited AS the rules of th
10 Society prevent articles brought forward OF
IA The second day from competing for premiums
ae the more favorable weather of Wednesda,
n did not add materially to the list; the atten
es uance, however, was greater, and in the al
ID ternoon about came up to the usual mark
IA The display of stock was not very large
Sheep and Hogs were very scarce. ANON
I'd the Horses we noticed four or tlve very su
Iv perior stations and number of fine colts
IA the trotting horses did not approach tn
grade OF last year-the best in the count,
az were not out. All the stock shown was Il
rt line order On tho grain and produce table
re- few good specimens of corn, wheat, oat
'ls and potatoes were shown. In the Ladies
re- Department the display of articles of utility
a taste and skill, though not large, was vef
~ superior and, combined with the presence {
the fair exhibitors, were redeeming featur
"a of the exhibition.
OF TRoTTING TIME-MILe BEATS.
ne j. L. Hazards sorrel mare, 0 yrs. old, 81
re- James G. Tomlinson's bay horse, B.2
of silas Hollis dun horse, All
IT. William Boyer's horse, 10
cd q. II. Macklin's roam horse. AZ
10 VIM. w Tomlinson's brown mare HI
VIM. W. Prettyman's horse, 40
- Henry Saulsbury's horse, 40
he Thomas l.. Boyer's horse, IA
m / VIM MnnaufaIfa bn,,