The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-10-16

Electric Power.
Aluminum IL bv far the most abundant
~ 81, v,et.I. :. Il q .t,t,.,,t e 1870.
:. -. s.s;. - I;.s,. - 90
:. ,ess IONS .S - .s.s .pwa.u y. ~
known minerals. tne Moss Wideiy dis.ri-
buted of which Is common clay, of which
aluminium constitutes % per cent 1t
exists in less proportions in sand and
pranite and nearly everv nrecious sfnna
ov.a its ct,;.f he.ntics and arc.Il.rc. =,
i. - - 1870 r..,s,, - 49,
sA,a wi Oo " slo
II viii cut even the diamond.
contains large percentage of aluminium.
Cryolite. the weli-known mineral SOAP
fo,nd IN .nch abundance In A(sraerlend
fr~,,;.has tta r-..,a.t v,a-c.rts,s -
.s..".- - -
., n. q any Dsse, anu = one 2, Ine
chief sources OF It's present commercial pro-
duction. Emery, closely allied to corun-
dunn, is also prolific source Of the metal.
The beautiful sapphire il almost wholly
conn osod ri aluminum
nv. -.r.I !. -h;t. =, ..l~. =,
.s =, = "e - so. s.'a ne - -
.ussle " snsel' w. nos uesvl uoeH aounu
IN pure state. IL 10 a. maiieaole as gold
and nearly IS tenacious as iron, while
much more soft and ductile. 1t melts at
800 degrees Fahrenheit, and does not OK
idize even in a moist atmosphere, and is
not furnished by gases, and not affected
by any of the acids. with one exception,
and very few of the alkalies, chlorine be-
ing the most active of the latter. It is
thus especially adapted to the manufac.
ture Of culinary and other utensils
where copper and iron are Objectionable.
Its great strength and exceeding
lightness make il invaluable in the con.
struction of articles for the use of troops in
active service, Tor surveying and exploring
parties, for optical instruments and q mui.
titude Of other purposes where the quail
is very great, enabling wire OF exceeding
fineness to be drawn from it 1t can be
hammered, rolled, spun, brazed and even
welded more readily than copper. and. like
this latter metal, its softness and capacity
to be worked is much increased by heating
and then suddenly cooling by plunging III
water.
Aluminium has been well styled ssthe
metal of the future" At present it is but
the faithful servant of iron and steel, but
as its extraordinary qualities are being
widely demonstrated in actual use. and as
the methods of its production are being
constantly cheapened, while the ores are
more widely distributed than those of any
other, do not think am over sanguine
in assuming that the day is not far distant
when aluminium will stand at the head of
the list of metals employed by the engineer
and artisan. Let us see what is the charac-
ter and scope of the present duties Of alumi-
mum. Ten Der cent Of aluminium added to
copper gives il the strength of steel. ssSim-
pie castings of the MIXTURE" saws London
E,a0;neeria0. the highest AUTHORITY upOn
sucn subjects IN the world. shave 4 tensile
strength of 10000 pounds to the square
inch. and il it be rolled and wire drawn.
double this strength can be obtained. y
Again. says the same authority, 'sIf LILO Of
: / Der cent of Aluminium be added to 4 cru
chile of melted wrought iron the metal be-
comes quite fluid and can ba run into
mods for the production Of small
castings without anv difficulty. In 4
similar manner steel Yields to its smell
and abandons its inyeterate habit
of forming blow.holes. producing
sound castings. free from the hidden flaws
which have so often brought diScredit
upon this valuable metal. So with small
additions to.cast steel. as with wrought
iron, the tensile strength is greatly In
creased, and perfect castings with smooth
and fine grain surfaces can be made. .
AvSA vyoxx In 10.