Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-05
THE COST OF A MATCH
To Be Greatly Reduced by New
Way of Getting Phosphorus.
METAL SHELLS FOR C0RPSES.
Electricity Now to Be Used to Lessen the
Danger From Fire.
AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF PLATING
METAL SHELLS FOR C0RPSES.
AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF PLATING

has made the question of its economical
production of much commercial import
ance, as well as of technical interest In
the method of manufacture at present gen.
orally employed, the chief cost lies less in
the raw materials than in that of the plant
and labor necessary tor the production of
phosphorus for them. Electricity has been
introduced into this process with increased
yield and decreased cost.
The new process is quite simple, consisting
merely in feeding in the raw materials, pass
ing the current between suitable electrodes,
and collecting and condensing the volatized
phosphorus in the usual way. When it is
remembered that formerly mineral phos-
pilates had to be treated with sulphuric
acid, the liberated phosphoric acid sep
arated from the calcium sulphate produced
at the same time by filtration, the solution
of the former concentrated by evaporation,
mixed with charcoal and heated strongly
in small retOrts, before reaching the stage
to which the mere application of current
now brings the raw material, the immense
advantage of the new treatment will be
seen. The most important feature involved
Is the application of heat in the very spot
where its usefulness is greatest: doing away
at one stroke with the clumsy practice OF
external firing at present employed in this
and many kindred industries.
Hotel Annunciators Out of Fix.
We very seldom realize how useful one Of
the modern inventions is until all of a sudden
accident or fate deprives US of it. Take for
instance the ordinary hotel annunciator.
One or two seasons ago the biggest hotel up
so to speak. by the sudden breaking down OF
its annunciatOr service. 1t was around the
Fourth of July, and the house was full.
Things were going on pleasantly, when sud-
IDENTIFY not single push button worked, and
the halls and corridors became alive
with angry guests who wanted to get
to the desk and find out why
their call made about so times, had not been
answered. In desperation the manager sent
q man on horseback across to the nearest
electrician, and meanwhile a doctor and the
man in charge Of the soda water plant tried
to expostulate with the furious guests A5
last one or two electrical engineers spend
ing the Fourth in the house volunteered
their services and soon found out that the
battery had never been refreshed. In many
of the hotels now the proprietors are intro
ducfng devices by which any one OF say. 25O
wants can be immediately signaled from
the room to the office. One device abolishes
altogether the big board of annunciator
drops. 1t consists of a circular arrangement
by means of which the number calling
makes its bow at little window, this being
effected by the revolution OF discs on which
the numerals are painted. In this way tho
no longer takes up as much
room as a circus poster or painting to be
bought by Congress.
ElectropIatins the Dead.
A method of preventing the decomposi
ton of corpses and animal tissues in gen.
eraI by the electro-deposition of metals on
the same has been going the rounds of the
scientific press of this and other countries.
This is not by any means a new idea A
has called attention to the
number of times that history has repeated
itself in this process of turning corpses into
metallic tatues, and in doing so has I'M
earthed patent of about 40 years ago, in
which the process is set forth in the follow
ing quaint terms: 81 proceed as follows with
the cadayer after it Is placed into my hands
in order to produce the desired result: First,
/ commence by closing all the organs by
means of molders' wax. Then cause the
body to assume the position it is to retain
and metallize it with solution of nitrate of
silver which is spread on the previously
creased surface ofthe body. The latter is
then placed in bath of sulphate of copper,
and proceed in the same manner as in
ordinary galyano plating operations. After
the subject is galvanized polish 1t, and 1T
,an then be bronZed, silvered or gilded. The
body is thus kept from putrefaction. and 1T
always preserves the same traits and all the
inish possible"
The Future of Storage Batteries.
There are few electrical appliances that
,licit such widely-varying opinions from
electricians as the storage battery. Some
toutly hold that for traction purposes the
will never be reduced TO
basis, while others just as en-
maintain that it will inevitably
,e the almost universal source of power for
ity electric lines. Be this as it may, the
forage battery will unquestionably come
nto general use for lighting in the near
uture. As q reserve when the machinery
freaks or is at rest and US regulator when
unning it insures that the consumer is
ever left in the dark. Buildings have been
.nown to have been lighted for five or six
lays by storage batteries, while for tenn
,orary lighting, for concerts, balls, etc,
hey form convenient method of INSTALL
ng, at q short notice, the electric light,
Viiile dispensing with the noise of running
accompanied by the ordinary
mount of smoke and dirt.
Distinguishing Fires by Electricity.
+ Tres have once in a while been caused by
Electricity, and it seems strange that the
cry source of danger can now be utilized
8 a cure for the i'll that it may create. The
ystems of automatic sprinkling generally
dopted are open TO many objections, and
re often found uncertain in action just at
he moment when they are required. The
nain diffculties which have hitherto stood
q the way are now overcome by the use of
n electrical sprinkler. This modification
the use OF a motor and pump, and
complete system of sprinkler" pipes,
7hich can be so arranged as to cover every
art of the building it is desired to protect.
'ush buttons are placed in convenient posi-
ions on every nOOr, anu THESE SIdrb lHo
rotor and pump and open any valves which
lay be required for the extinction of the
re. 1t is an immense advantage to thus be
BILE to gain control Of large masses of water
nd to localize the dow.
Modern Scientific instruments.
curious Illustration has been afforded by
ne new electric railway to Stockwell, Eng
nd, of the sensfbility of modern scientific
lstruments. An automatic record is kept
the Royal Observatory of earth currents
nd magnetic disturbances. These are
sually OF an atmospheric origin, or the re-
Its of variations in terrestrial magnetism;
ut, strange to say, since the opening of the
Underground electric line the registering
eedles at Greenwich have been regularly
lrown into vibration exactly ut the periods
hen the trains are running. As these are
fferent on Sundays and weekdays, there
ems little doubt that this Is the true cause
the disturbance. The railway tunnel is
Ter two miles from the nearest earthplate
with the observatory; but the
Irrents set up are sufficiently strong to
axe very distinct reflections.
A New Plating Process.
A plating process, which exhibits many
dical improvements on existing methods,
omises to come into extensive use in Eng
nd. The object of the process is to give
e baser metals, by electrolysis, a more ex-
nsive or more ornamental coating than is
ually given; coating, moreover, that will
It readily tarnish or cOrrOde. This can be
posted to any required thickness in an
hesive form, and will not crack or peel
!; it is as hard as nickel but far more
astic and not porous. The process is
lnd peculiarly applicable to the metal fit
lgs OF yacht cabins, as the metal treated
n be kept bright much longer than that
dinarily used. Chandeliers similarly
,ated will resist heat much longer than
herwise. This process appears destined to
We wide range of usefulness, inasuluch
it possesses special advantages in dental
plfcations, not only for instruments, but
mouth plates.