The New York herald., 1869-09-14
THE OXYGEN LIGHT.

Interesting Experiments With and Exhibition
oil the New Illuminating Agency, by Profess
sOr D0remus.
Last evening q private exhibition Of the new
oxygen light was given at the woiks OF the Oxygen
Gaslignt Company in Forty-hrst street, between
Tenth and Eleventh avenues. There was fair at
tendance of scientific gentlemen and others inter-
ested In the experiment. among the visitors being
Count CatecaZy, the Russian Ambassador ana
lady, CarlOtta Patti, Professor Doremus. &c.
licle over year past Mr.. Edward Stern succeed
ing in bringing the oxygen patent to this country.
Very shortly after his arrival an association was
formed for the erection of the works on an extensive
scale. A brick edifce was then erected in Forty.
first street, having corrugated iron roof. 1t con
tains one large room with furnace. having twelve
retorts each holding about eight hundred pounds OF
magnate OF soda. In an adjoining room Is o steam
engine having draft or air which Is forced through
the retorts, while adjoining them is steam boiler
that provides steam by the alteration Of currents.
The magnates extract oxygen from this air, filing
themselves every ten minutes. 1t ID altogether one
OF the most ingenious agencies since the isolation
OF oxygen by Piestley, LavOsier and sceele Heated
air forced through the retorts, and the magnates
extract the oxygen from the air; manganic acid Is
subsequently formed, and manganate Of soda Is re.
produced and the steam Is set Free The steam is
once IN ore decomposed and the manganate Is re-
peated, after which the oxygen passes on At each
operation 125 cubic feet OF oxygen are set Free
This gas is collected in the large gasholder
Already 9406 feet of oxygen gas have been made by
tins process. One Of the great beauties OF the ope
ration Is that the manganates 30 decomp0sed sub
sequently become recOmpOsed, not only without dim
mutton to their power but according to the records
creased II is also contended that the operaton ia
very cheap inasmuch as the original charging OF the
retorts is in itself sufficient to drive current OF air
through The retOrts with enough heat 10 generate
steam. After the decomposition the retOrts are
never open. Being heated what is called "cherry
red' there is but little fear OF the retorts being de-
stroyed. NJ. Tessier the inventor, has already COM
pleted his efforts and employed them to advantage
IN IN, France "a, IL appears to be an excellent as1
heretofore demonstrated that the zircon pencils un
dergO no change. although subjected to the heat
produced by the gas even for months. The light is
much whittier than the ordinary gas. Its power is
well shown with blue and green coors. 1t should
sed body which '0n has eeaS the effect
OF showing =, the light without any flicker
whaeger ts M9reover does not appear to
globe. In the course Of the evening Professor
ments, showing among others the great fer.
vency Of the heat for having forced jet Of oxygen
tn Il s ike he
was burned in large jar Of oxygen, yielding most
brilliant light. subsequently the operation OF
lowing the molten drops to fail through
the water in bed OF sand was also success.
spheroida state OF matter. The giobules OF iron
remained red hot in the bed OF sand several seconds
Altogether the experiments were mighty entertain
Gate theatre and AcaZa, Paris, are now uspaAy II.
Illuminated with the oxygen and 1t is proposed to in
troluce 1t into Russia, Mr. Charles SchOeneich who
had charge OF the chemical department Of the works
in this city, is about TO start for st. Petersburg In
ductiOn. N. Chavennes, the engineer, 10 now su-
perlntending the works at First street. Altogether
the light was extremely brilliant while the visitors
IN a tpafn tn fhn tnntu