The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1874-09-10
coScERNIso suLrnuR,


CONCERNING sTLPuUR.
la 1855 there was a violent eruption
from Mount ElBa, IN Sicily, which was
attended by an earthquake, whereby co.
600 people were destroyed. The sulphur
which is now sold in the markets Of the
world is said to be largely derived from
veins produced on that memorable occa.
sion. The sulphur is elected from the
volcanoes at the time OF their activity
aud fills up vacant spaces in the lava or
frothy pumioe stone. When this is quar-
ried or mined, aud dug out, II forms the
birthstone of commerce. When this brim-
stone is melted and cast into sticks, II
produces the roll sulphur OF the shops
aud when the brimsloneis boiled, and its
vspor Is allowed to escape into an air
tight chamber, the variety called flowers
OF sulphur is the result Sulphur In its
natural state is found only in vol
canic regions; but IN combination
there is scarcely any substance so
universally difIused over the world. 1t
is found not only united with all kinds OF
metals on the face Of the earth, but also
in plants and animals, and is Of 30 much
importance to these that they cannot ex-
list without il, The exquisite perfume Of
wall flowers is peculiar compound of
N yflpaf gttnnu ~ loft fn M
egg, il soon becomes black; that effect is
caused by the sulphur of the egg uniting
with the metal. A compound of sulphur
is always present in the air we breathe;
and although small in comparison to its
other constituents, yet the air is never
free from It.
Commercially speaking sulphur rules
the destiny OF man both in the arts of
peace and In the appliances of war. 1t
is the key which opens the door to the
most important chemical manufactures. -
From il we make sulphuric acid, or oil of
vitriol, which has well been called the
king of the acids. BY its aid we are en-
abled TO produce so many substances that
th9 bare mention of them would fill the
whole of this paper, Bleaching, dyeing,
soda making, metal refining electro plat
ing, and electric telegraphing are primar-
lily indebted to this acid. Many of the
most valued medicines, such as ether, cal.
omel, &c, could not be made without it.
Sulphur being the chief ingredient OF
gunpowder, all the applications of that
explosive in war and peace are depend
ent upon it. A people that does not pos
sess lucifer matches stands beyond the
pale of civilization, yet macthes cannot be
made without sulphur; not because
matches are dipped into melted birthstone
before they are tipped with tho phospho-
ric composition which ignites them, but
because this very material could not be
made without the indirect use ofsulphur.
England alone consumes more than Co.,
900 tons of sulphur annually, which is all
brought from the volcanic regions of Sic
lily.
A paragraph has lately been going the
rounds of the papers in which it is stated
on tho authority of Signor Parodi, who
ought to know all about it, that the sui
phur from Sicily will be exhausted in
rom fifty to sixty years; but Mr.. Shel.
ford, in communication to the Journal
of the Society of Arts for July 10th, 1874,
gives good reasons for doubling the acc IL.
racy of these estimates. Mr.. Sheford has
inspected very many sulphur mines in the
island, has visited very many of the sui.
phur districts, and has been engaged for
some years in directing the work Of the
mines there. lie says that, with very few
exceptions, the ore is carried to the sur.
face on the backs of boys, two to four o
whom accompany each miner, and it is o
well known fact that the product OF a
mine in Sicily is chiefly determined by
the difficulty OF getting boys. Moreover,
as each boy carries a small load only, aud
makes several journeys per day up and
I uuNh u lhe uilhCuli ucddlHEs dIu eHhllsi
the mines reach depth at which they
cease to be proftably worked. This depth
/ is in practice found to be about four hun.
dred feet, below which winding
machinery is needed for hauling the ore
to the surface, but has hitherto scarcely
been tried. All the sulphur in the island
therefore, below four hundred feet, il
almost untouched. That this quantity II
considerable may be inferred from tb,
fact that many Of the beds Of the ore arC
nearly vertical, and improve as they de
scenA