Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-15
EARTH CRUs. METAL.
WONDERFUL ALUMINIUM THAT MAY
TAKE The PLACE OF IRON.
The Soil is Full of 1t, but the Trouble is
in the "Reducing''-The Solution
Probably Rot Far of.
[Fiom the Cincinnati 1imes-star.l
VI I....,.4n Of the dav

Outside OF the world OF chemists anu
scientific men very little is known In
practical way of the new metal, aluminium.
Aluminium. or aluminium as it was origi-
nally called, is the metal that is going to
reyolutionize the world. 1t is known to
be one-seventeenth in quantity of~all the
earth's crust, and can be found in every
lump of clay, and in many other earths
and in rocks.
From the numerous virtues the metal IS
known to possess, it will in time be sub
stitute for many of the standard metals
and alloys.
A discovery of the present century, and
ND to few years ago. laboratory metab
it is practically new thing, and among
metal workers in a small way, it Is COM
parative stranger. -
The reason Of its slow adoption IS the
extreme costIiness of reducing the metal
from the cryoite and bauxite. Though
much is known of the wonderful qualities
of aluminium, though its advantages are
almost innumerable, as yet a method by
which it can be reduced" at working
cost has baffied the world to discover
When discovered by Wohler in the early
years of this century, he produced few
beads of the precious metal at an enormous
expense. So impressed W tn this metal, its
good qualities and promises, was Napoleon,
that he offered large reward to any one
who would discover way of reducing this
metal that would be practical.
In 1928 Deville succeeded in reducing
it much cheaper, and in 1850 he an
nounced that he could furnish this metal
to the world at S32 pound. Since then
rapid strides in the processes have been
made, and the market price is down to 81
and So pound.
But that is much too high.
In this little world of chemists men are
working almost night and day to discover
a method to "reduce aluminium"
In Cincinnati there are some men inter-
ested in its development, and they are
also seeking the golden discovery that as
yet is hidden in the heart of nature.
To the discoverer it will be a rich and
deserving reward, for it will be the means
of opening field of invention and use
fitness the extent of which cannot be con-
ceived
AT present it is known only to few
practical jewellers and small metal workers,
who have used it in experimenting more
than ANYTHING else. Some few things like
opera glasses, pens and such articles,
where high polish is necessary, have
been made with it. But it comes too
high even to experiment with extensively.
Mr.. Wood, of the firm of Wood & Boyd,
patent lawyers, has for years been a stu
dent of this metal He has devoted con-
siderable time and money experimenting
with the different processes of reduction,
and has discovered several new ways
whereby it can be reduced. But the same
objection comes in-they are all too costly,
and his methods are successful In every
way but financial way. He is thoroughly
informed on this metal, and thinks it has
an unbounded future when the right time
comes. Said he to a IImes-Stdr reporter:
81 have worked with aluminium for sew
eral years, and am not much nearer prac
teal result than when | started. ] have
6i..id several new ways of reducing the
metal but all too costly. But someone
will hit upon method yet, and then there
will be some wonderful results generally.
The firm that reduces this metal most sue
cessfully is the Pittsburg Reducing Com
pany. They will sell it for g and So, de-
bending on the quantity you buy. But it's
got to come considerably lower yet"
"What are some of the virtues of this
metal?"
"The metal aluminium seems to have
many advantages that no other single
metal possesses 1t combines the better
qualities ofmost ALL Here is little lump
which reduced Showing piece, light as
wood and resembling silver. Yon see it
is extremely light and of pretty sub
stance. Well, it is susceptible of polish
as lustrous as silver, and even more last
ing. The atmosphere or water will not
corrode or rust it. Since II Is SO much
lighter and is so abundant think what are
its possibilities in this line. 1t wouldsup-
plant tin in plating, roofing, etc. And
when its cost is reduced to 80 cents or
60 cents a pound it will more than COM
pete with tin. As an alloy to strengthen
copper and brass it will be invaluable.
AS an alloy for bronzing it is very success
full"
"In what quantities is it row reduced?"
Comparatively very small. The statis-
tics for 1887 show that 8, 400 ounces were
reduced in this country and AGA pounds
were imported, making the annual supply
little over 700 pounds. In 1889 the sup
ply reduced in this country was more than
six times 700 pounds, and this year it will
go still larger"
Another man who is also well informed
and who is an authority on the subject,
said: at will some day supplant iron,
steel. wood and brick Mark my word,
Cincinnati jewellers will be using it as a
common metal before many years
.'The cause of the present costliDess OF
pure aluminium is the scarcity Of the COM
pounds from which it has been reduced
Cryolite, which is another name for Ice
land spar, has to be imported from Ice
land, and other substances that have to be
used in the ordinary processes are rare
and costly. To get it in large enough
quantities to compete with tin and iron
some way must be discovered of reducing
IL from CLAW. ! can do that by process
which have discovered, and | thought al
the time when made the discovery that
/ had struck upon some valuable knowl'
edge. but can find no way of collecting
=. the beads of aluminium which my process:
leaves scattered throughout the whole
mass. can make it from bauxite for s.
per pound. but it will never be salable al
more than so cents. It is SO light rela
lively TO its mass that given amount vii
90 twice as far as tin.
Mr.. Woods piece of aluminium felt hghl
enough to float in water. He showed tht
reporter a bit of alloy, containing nicke
and aluminium with other metals, which
on its polished side looked like silver. HI
has applied for patent to cover his pro
cess of getting it cut OF bauxite, but tn,
matter has been pending for three years.
"The present processes of reducing ergo
lite are Eve" he said. 'The first known
is that of Deville. 1t consists of beating
the chloride of aluminium and passing tn.
vapor over dishes holding sodium anC
heated on the lower side to a red heat
Metallic aluminium is found with thl
double chloride Of sodium and aluminium