The New York herald., 1868-06-26

able works. where the oxygen can he obtained for
10 theatres, hotels, public bui dngs workshops ana
mansions at trifng cost and burned In combination
" %S e ere. sn Ss Inc IN
conducted, as street gas now Is, through the city by
mains and thence TO each lamp post n the ely max
ing with its rich white light everything clear and
beautiful that comes within its rays. r1.ferirl
Another matter which should not be forgotten in
greatly add to the purity OF the air In public halls
theatres and mansions; for it supplies its own
sixteenth or eighteenth part OF carbonic acid.
Looked at irom every side, and the new light CON-
cooer Z s Softer Mssn Ssn
mon gas. With ladies It will certainly become IA
yorite as unlike gas 1t does not try the complexion.
Under its rays the eye can readily detect shades OF
COLOR selecting the various grades of blue from those
Of green, thing next to impossible under the COM
Our streets, supplied with the oxygen gas, would
at night exceed anything in the way OF public umi
square lighted from nineteen gas lamps where one
now names, and some idea may be formed of its
Salne. s IN the prevention OF burgaries and other
In the course Of the year at least half its COST
while no part Of the city would be so dark, even on
the Dackest nights as to prevent the perusal Of the
features OF any one within the distance OF twenty
It thus has everything to recommend IT.. For the
dwelling and where people congregate In large num-
bers viii not only give splendid light, but assist
breathed, while in the public ways it is certain to
give the police better view Of the avenues they pa
| brOl, anu tnuS prevent even the most desperate
housebreaker nom running the hazard OF detection
| REPORT BY PROFESSOR DOREMUs.
The annexed report, detailing Professor Doremrs'
Investigations into the properties OF the new light
and the many important uses to which the super
abundance Of oxygen NOW that it can be readily and
cheaply obtained) can be applied, made to Messrs
Stern, Stevens and French, in connection with the
processes OF Messrs. Tessie du M0tay and Marechal
| OF France, for producing oxygen and hydrogen gas
esq will be read by all who are interested the de-
velopments and discoveries OF science as applied to
| the necessities and luXuries OF iife:-
first in Importance among chemical discoveries.
This element forms more than one-half the weight
OF the known parts OF the globe including the
the water and the atmosphere, and the vegetable
and the animal kingdoms, demonstrating the func-
tions 1t has performed from the earliest epochs Of
our earths history to the present time.
The afinlties OF this element surpass those of all
others. 1t is universal in its appetencies But one
substance exists with which 1t has not been demon
strated that 1t will combine.
turned the doctrines Of Chemistry, and this science
dates its rise from the year 1774, when Priestey In
England, first liberated oxygen from the red precipi-
| tate, or red oxide OF mercury by concentrating
upon 1t the heat from the sun.
Almost simultaneously Lavoisler, Of France, and
| Scheee, OF Sweden, made the same discovery each
Ignorant OF the others triumph.
To the chemical af1nities or oxygen we are ndebt-
ed for the artificial production Of power and the i'm
ponderaole forces-heat light, galvanfsm and elec-
With the exception of wind and water power II is
the source OF all motion under mans control. Our
| Intellectual and physical forces as well brute
power, are pre-emnently due to the respiration OF
Tne tortoise breathes but little Of it and crawls on
the earth; the bird much, and flies in the air.
All machinery moved by steam-whether used in
factories, In vessels for freight or travel by land
or by water-depend upon the union Of oxygen with
fuel.
The basis Of improvements In speed attained by
the locomotive or OF power in steam engines is in
Electricity as applied to teegraphic motor pur-
poses depends on the oxidation Of zinc in the gal
We estimate the comparative expense of steam
and electricity by counting the cost OF carbon versus
zinc, both OF which elements must be associated with
oxygen.
1t Is the sudden release Of oxygen in gunpowder
gun cotton, the Eliminates or IN ntro;gycerne that
propels the proectile or blasts the rock.
Excluding the warmth derived from the sun and
the stars, with trivial exceptions, we trace all
The heightened chimneys to our furnaces the
blowers for hot cold blasts, increase the fervency
Upon this .val air As it was once called, our own
perpatetc furnaces chiefly depend for heat, by the
combustion Of our food and Of the tissues Of our
The varying warmth OF different forms OF animal
and insect life is graded by the amount Of oxygen
AS general rule all light produced upon the earth,
from the pale phosphorescence OF the humb.e forms
OF aquatic ife or that OF the glow worm or the fire.
ny, to the most brilliant devices designed by man.
emanate from the combinations OF oxygen.
The candle, the oil lamp and coal gas, in order to
evolve light, need oxygen Ito support their COM
| buston."
The much more brilliant Drummond light is pro-
| duced by burning hydrogen, or carburetfed hydro
| gen with pure oxygen and In contact with lime,
magnesia or other sOlid which, for the time, Is
| dered incandescent.
| Metallic magnesium burns with dazzling bright
ness because OF Its affinity for oxygen: and the most
| eGulgent OF all lights made by science and art
combined, comparable even with the sunbeam-the
electric light-orginaes from the reactions Of oxygen
1 In the Ralvanic cell.
This condensed statement Of the services performed
by oxygen in the progress OF science Is made to
demonstrate the Importance OF producing this ele-
ment abundanty and at a commercial price.
Ever since its discovery chemists appreciating the
vast and varied benefits derived from il, have sought
hu fhAla aatvx,
and yet capable OF furnishing 1t in quantity and at
reasonable rates; but all have as yet failed.
To procure II from the chOrate Of potassa, the
source ordinarily resorted to, is expensive that
pure oxygen gas is luxury and until within few
1t is now used to a limited extent where intense
heat Is demanded, as In the fusion Of platina ITO
produce the Drum "Drummondn or, as It Is sometimes
mating theatrical scenes and outdoor gatherings 10
political or other purposes; but to resort to 1t as a
source or light or heat for general uses has been
impossible, as its preparation costs between from
$3.50 TO 800 thousand cubic feet
The discovery OF a cheap and speedy method OF
obtaining oxygen will rank as one OF the most bril-
liant revelations OF the age and will confer invalua
be benefits upon the civilized world.
] have followed with great interest the claim of
Messrs. Tessie du Motay and Marechal, OF France,
ever since their first announcement of having accom-
plished this long desired result. have studied care
fully the patents, reports and other documents you
have put In my possession, and have had frequent
Interviews on this subject with your accomplished
chemist, NJ Schwarzweber, who has been practically
familiar with this process since its inception and
mas performed tne experiments, In DenalI Oh the In
ventors before the commission appointed to make
photometric investigations in Paris
This process depends on the following facts:-That
oxygen gas not only exists In the atmosphere, but
that IL s not chemically combined with its associated
gases, and s therefore, easily abstracted by certain
chemicals when they are heated in It's presence that
they In turn on being heated with steam yield UP this
oxygen, which can be collected and conserved In
suitable reservoirs.
The manganates and permanganates OF potash,
soda or baryta; the chronates ferrates and in gene
raj all metallic oxides or acids forming with potash,
soda or baryta binary combinations capable OF being
unprecedented, possess this property Of yielding up
portion OF their oxygen when heated In the presence
OF the vapor Of water. Salts thus deoxdized viii re-
absorb oxygen when exposed TO current OF air
| freed from moisture BY passing steam over layers
OF manganate OF soda, Mn o g. Ma o, Che COM
pound usually empoyedl, heated in suitable retorts
water combines with the soda and forms hydrate
OF soda and the liberated manganic acid parts
with q portion OF its oxygen and IL reduced TO a
| lower oxide. To express 1t by symbols:-2 INN 2