Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1886-09-03
Alum INUM.
EDIIoE


Several months ago the Blade con-
tanned the announcement that met
sllurgist had, after years Of study and
experiment, succeeded in inventing II
process for obtaining alumiuum-the
metal which is the base of all clays-
in metallic form, and probably SO
cheaply that it could ut once compete
with iron and steel for all uses. The
article created intense interest IN SCI
ent fc and metallurgical circles. 1t
was widely opied in periodicals de-
voted to the many industries which
would be revolutionized by such a
discovery. The Blade now declares
the entire success Of the experiments
which have been made on an actual
commercial scale, aud makes the
astounding announcement to the
world that the entire range Of metal
industries will be entirely aud com
pletely revolulionized. The days {
iron and steel are numbered, and alu-
minum will be the king of metals in
the future. This statement appears
incredible; but it is nevertheless
strictly and entirely true.
The invention is that of a metal
lurgist named Seymour, now at Find
lay, Ohio, where the experimental
works are located. 1t will he called
the "Seymour process" 1t is a pro-
cess of obtaining the pure metal in a
furnace, but at much lower heat
than that needed for iron. Mr.. Sey-
mour is an American; so the honor
OF the greatest discovery of modern
times is reserved to our own country.
He is thorough metallurgist, who
has spent his life IN researches, which
have led up to this invention as the
result OF twenty-five years of study
Aluminium is now sold at $40 per
pound, and this is the lowest price it
has ever reached. The process used
required six days. The Seymour pro-
cess will turn out pure aluminium from
the crude clay in six hours, at a cost
of less than dollar pound! More
than this: alloys can he made from
clay and the ores of other metals in
the same time; for instance, in six
hours, from crude clay and copper ore,
aluminium bronze, which contains
from D to 10 per cent. of aluminium,
and is the best material in the world
for cannon, journal bearings and
variety of other important uses, can
be obtained direct.
1t may be OF interest to recapitulate
the properties and uses of aluminium.
1t is the most abundant constituent
of the earth's crust. Every bed of
clay, every ledge of slate, is veri
table ore-bed of aluminium; for the
basis of all clay is alumina, which is
all oxide of the metal. Aluminium is
a white metal, next in luSter to silver
1t is only one-third the weight of iron.
being lighter than glass; in fact, it is
about as heavy, bulk for bulk, as
chalk or pine wood. Hence IA pound
of aluminium is much larger in bulk
than a pound of iron. 1t is as NAL
ieable as gold, more tenacious than
iron, and harder than steel, being
next to the diamond in hardness. 1t
melts at 1900 deg, at least 600 deg
below the melting point OF iron. 1t
does not rust in the open air, nor tar
msh by contact with gases, AS does
SILVER The enumeration of its prop
critics sounds like fairy tale.
When one is asked to enumerate
the uses to which it can be put.
the mind is bewildered at the vast
possibilities. 1t is the ideal metal
for railway use. An aluminium steam
ship will weigh only oue-third as
much as an iron one of the same size:
henrn She Will hnrn ,.l - 4,