Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-05
The Aluminium Age.

INiN tao A4AhAH's-
II is reported that ct the Essex Krupp
Gun-WoIks, nesr Cologne, Germany,
tie metal aIuuinum is being rapidly
turned ont in l00-pound ingots at a cost
Of - cents per pound. II this is tine
jts full significance is not realized by tue
public, for this silyery metal IS the most
abundant in nature. Common clay
everywhere contains from TO 10 pounds
OF il in every 100 pounds. 1t IS there
fore more common than iron or all the
metals taken together. The cost OF
extracting it has been tho great and
only hindrsnce TO jts general use. in
1853 its value was $40 per pound, Snd
the following year 3 chemical discovery
dropped its price 10 81. A steady de-
crease since then has taken place 10 about
s. per pound, At which price its uses sr9
enormous, but nothing to compare with
the alleged Knapp 25-cent value.
As iron weighs three times Us much,
and is therefore one third as bulky as
aluminium. when the latter can be OBJ
tanned at three times the price Of iron
that metal will be supplanted rapidly.
Even at the Krupp price 1t will pay to
build railroad trains OF aluminium be-
cause of the greatly reduced weight
afforded. This lightweight OF trains
is prodigious expense to railways,
nine tenths OF which couid be saved
by constructing freight and passenger
cars OF aluminium weighing from halt
a ton to ton each. The adsptability
for THIS purpose may be instantly seen
in roughly STATING aluminium to be far
stronger than steel aud as hight as chalk.
Locomotives needing traction weight
would still be made of iron AMI steel,
though they could be reduced III weight
materially IN proportion to the dimin-
ished dead weight. or the old engine un-
changed would he enabled to add ten
aluminium cars for each one Of the cid
stvle discarded. IL would be equiya-
lent 10 doubling the freighting capacity
by counting the weight OF present cars
aud their contents as equal IN reducing
the car weight to Il practical zero.
Aluminium conducts electricity better
than iron, the comparison beng one
third as well Is copper, while iron IL one
seventh, hence aluminium will be used
for telegraph lines. The metal being SO
light and strong inch rods of 1t will hold
up the wires as well az the largest tele-
gTsph-poles under greatly reduced
weight.
Houses could be easily constructed by
pouring the metal into ordinary sand or
metal moulds. II melts easier than sill
Yer. Every part Of the domcile could
be cast on the spot III this way into a
solid mass of metal more rigid and du-
rabe than stone. Movable parts, such
as doors, windows. trausoms, scuttles,
could be made OF the same bright metal,
and just as heavy or light as desired.
Ships larger than the Great Eastern,
with lees draught. could be constructed
nearly entirely Of aluminium. including
the machinery and boilers, which at
present weight down vessels SERIOUSLY.
The stone age held last our ancestors
in condition but little better than that
81 our arbOreal progeniiors, the spes ;
the bronze age was great step ahead,
and the iron age usheTed in civilization
and made it possible We are now
living IN the latter part OF that period
and beholding the dawn Of the alumni
mum age, which will confer blessings
millions OF times greater than can be I'M
6erstood under existing circumstances.
The possibilities OF cheap aluminium are
limitless. Aerial navigation will be eff
iectually settled and moDstrous alumni
mum air-ships viii literally give wings
10 commerce and settle the tariff ques-
ton by rendering trade as free as the
medium in which it will be con-
Quoted. Cities of solid aluminium
will spring up everywhere, fire.
proof, indestructible, paved with the
white metal, lighted by electricity pass.