New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-30
INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS.

The abundance and cheapness of American petro-
leum have not seriously depressed tie production of
coal oil I'm Scotland. There are in that country 6S
oil works which consume in the year $1,000 tons of
shae bltuminOus coal and produce II $4,000 gal
Ions of oil for lamps 5000 tons OF para1ne and 600
tons of sulphate of ammonia. Formerly the coal
used Welded 10 gallons of crude oil to the ton, but
the supply of that quality is exhausted, and shales
are now worked which yield not more than from 10
to IS gallons per ton.
Machinery is now dAing the work of st0kers in a
London gas company's manufactory. Hitherto the
retorts wherein gas has been distilled from the coal
have been placed horizontally; IN the new method
they are placed vertically The retorts iron tubes
exposed to great heat. In each tube an Archlme-
dean screw turns round. The coal falls IN slowly
from the the top, descends slowly with the move
ment of the screw gives off all its gas on the way,
and the coke falls from the bottom. The advantage
of this over the horizontal method is shown by the
fact that for every ton OF Goals converted 1t yields
more coke and 1000 feet more gas.
The Academy of Sciences at Paris have awarded
their prize Of $4,000 to Mr. Gramme for his electro
magnetic machine. which is one of the simplest and
most efficient that has yet been invented. The con-
struction is so free from complications that the IN
strument will work and give continuous current
for months together, and to those who know any.
thing of the subject these will appear as results OF
the highest Importance. One of the uses to which
this machine may be Immediately applied is the
production of light of intense brilllancy, which
will be seen farther than any other electric light
vet known. One of the French steamship companies
is about to use this light their vessels as pre-
caution against collisions or other casualties, ana
is obvious it can be made of great general utlnty
II IS worth placing on record that American bar,
iron is cheaper in Pennsylvania than British wOuld
be even free of duty This was demonstrated lately
by the Chairman of the YOUNGSTERS Association
while arguing against giving mgaer WAGE fro me
Liverpool firm of the highest standing in the iron
trade were as follows Merchant bars at works in
Staiordshire, ga l9S; freight 70 Ly yPr Us
insurance Is I'd. commission 6s.; duty "a l4S. I'd
total Ell los Cd Present selling price OF American
merchant bars out OF store IN New York SlCo, OF
in Pennsylvania $50, or El6 los. Sd. Hence the dit
ference against British iron. even II free or duty
would be S. 3D. per ton, and the correspondent OF
british paper Justly concludes $50 long, therefore
as the Americans get the iron made IN their own
country at from sos; to COS under our quotations
there is no probability Of the maintenance OF the
existing BRITISH quotations, much less their al
vance," The foregoing facts also show that the
price of British iron is restrained by that OF Amer
can for il this country depended manly on England
for its supply the higher wages would no doubt be
conceded and we would have To pay the advanced
price which would result. .
The expediency of using water power which has
often been pointed cut in these columns, Is con-
firmed in the following statement RON d British
periodical: .,,,, ... ,,,.,.,o.. ~. =,
8ranc machinery for raising ore from deep mines and
for loading and unloading ships in dock, IL has been a
Piled ms our readers aware 70 many other purposes
y the great pressure OF water he largest OF the dock
yates are opened and closed with the utmost
newspapers are printed lifts are worked in hotels aud
faerores and the scenes shifted in heaers AT the
Royal Academy, when exhibitions are in preparation
rnckoas of pictures raised from the basement to
the galleries by hydraulic lift OF unusual size, fed b.
the ordinary watersuppy. Water oan be used 10 bio
the bellows OF an organ and IN the employment
water for this or any other intermittent purpce
there is the advantage that 1t is always resy.
phil lever or turn tap and II begins 20 work Trc
IA no lighting Of fire, and waiting hal, an hour .sin
the case OF steam. And now Saint Perez 40 ineaius
mechanioian at Paris has cOntrved away 10 close nu
omen shop shutters by means OF the ordnary wder
supply. The winch and the oogwhees nud connecens
APPARATUS present employed are requircd ri,h
40 gallons OF water at 60foot pressure, mare th ~
yards Of iron shutters be raised lowered nrre
by turning tap inside the shop The watcr tune. anu
indeed all the apparatus inside shop whol rem
ders 10 easy 20 guard against tho effects OF frost;wme
failure OF water could DC prevented by storing adays
supply Ia q cietern."