The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-22
INTRODUCING A NEW INDUSTRY.
Scientists Invention for Extracting Alum
inium from CLAW

inium from Clay.
Important facts bearing on the ex-
traction of aluminium from kaolin
(clay) on a commercial basis have
been developed in Cleveland, O., with
in the past few weeks. Aluminium
has long been known as the metallic
basis of clay but in its nature is so
ethereal that heretofore its elimination
has been attended with great difficulty
and much expense. Within the past
lew years, however, French and Eng
lish inventors have obtained results
more or less important, so that the
present importing price of aluminium
IN this country, duty free, is Si4.25 a
pound. In England man named
webster has established very large
works for the manufacture of articles
from Tho new metal, but the cost of
production has as yet limited its use
merely to tableware and small utensils
for household use. The problem now
is to devise method of extraction
which shall reduce the cost to from
81 to 50 per pound, at which figure it
can be used for great variety of man
nfactures, such as gun barrels, pro-
peller blades, wire, and possibly bridge
and railroad works. AS aluminium is
four times lighter than silver and three
times lighter than iron. is non-oXldiza-
bic, of great teaacity and strength,
ductile, and of superior electric CON
ductivty, and is, moreover, very wide
ly diffused throughout the country
appearing in all ordinary clay banks,
but more particularly in the immense
IL Of L -,
York, Virginia, and Georgia, and in a
veritable mountain of sulphate of
alumina in New Mexico-the import
ance of the present search for cheap
method of production is apparent.
Aluminium will bear several times
more strain than gun metal, and much
more than Bessemer steel. 1t also
possesses sonorous qualities superior
to those of any other metal, and allows
beautifully with almost any known
metal. When the secret OF its cheap
production is generally known a revo-
luton in the metal world will be the
certain result.
A Philadelphia chemist name d Friess
muth about year ago announc ed the
discovery of a very cheap method, but |
to bring the mnch-desired end nearer
practical accomplishment than ever
before. Mr. f. j. Seymour, we'll
known practical metallurgist, late of
Conn, has as the result of
years of study, succeeded in produc-
ng aluminium at a low figure at cost,
and by the aid Oft novel furnace, Just
designed, asserts that he can extra ct
he metal on commercial basis and
n large quantities. Not to 60 into all
he technical details, which are ex-
remely interesting to metallurgists,
t is sufficient to say that Mr.. Seymour
las discovered that the close affinity
existing between zinc and aluminium
;an be utilized in vaporizing, ''captur-
n.y." and depositing the latter, the
eparation being effected by the appli-
ation of heat through furnace, or
ather series of furnace, of peculiar
obstruction. The charge for each
urnace is: Zinc ore, 100 parts; kaolin,
% parts; carbon, either anthracite coal
# its equivalent in hydrocarbon gas,
% parts; pearl-ash, or its equivalent,
3 parts, chloride of sodium, 10 parts,
il intimately mixed. The retorts are
f steel, and SO inches long by II wide,
ides ! inches thick. The amount of !
eat necessary to produce the desired I
esult is about $500 degrees Fahren-
cit. Properly handled, one furnace I
hould make two charges in "a to 80 |
ours. Four men can operate fifty
etorts. The number of retorts can be
lcreased several hundred in single i
fstem. Capitalists have already c
Manifested an interest in this new u
recess, and the prospects are that OPP e
-ations on an extensive scale will ?
ION follow. Independent investiga- z
ons in the same line in this city have "
suited in the recent incorporation II
a company with ample capital for u
e extraction of aluminium by means u
electricity. Thus far the secre of r
e process has been strictly guar ded, a
I'd nothing can therefore be given as n
its details.-NeW York. Times. II