The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-12
HARVESTING THE AIR.
Pneumatic Force Is Employed
Everywhere in Paris.
PRINTING PRESSES RUN BY IT.
Electric Light Produced and Clocks
Moved by t-Apparently No
Limit to Its Uses.

Men began long ago to use air as
motor. They made it drive their ships
across the seas. They built mills and
compelled it to grind their corn and draw
their water. But it was capricious serv-
ant.
1t is in comparatively recent times that
they learned how to put harness on the
air and to use its power not when it would,
but when they would. The qualities of
which they availed themselves in thus
gaining control Of the motive force of air
were first its compressibility and secondly
It's rapid and powerful expansion when
freed from compression. However, it was
only after long experiment that they
learned how to use the power thus gained
so as to put it to practical service in in
dustry.
The first noteworthy success was in con-
structing the Mount Cents and the Mount
st. Gothard tunnels. The great machines
used for opening up the mountains were
worked by compressed air, which was
conveyed to them by pipes from COM
pressors located outside of the mouths of
the tunnels. For many years compressors
have been used in the mines of Europe
and In carrying on constructions under
water. But in all these adaptations there
has been much dissatisfaction. 1t came
from the imperfect machines used.
All the early compressors caused the
loss OF nearly as much force as they pro-
duced; indeed, the machine used at Mount
81. Gothard wasted more than was gained.
The manufacturers until recently did not
know that they could increase the power
OF compressed air by warming it, neither
did they know how to overcome many
minor annoyances, such as the accumula
ton on the stop-cock of frost and ice. In
recent years all the early difficulties have
been overcome and the awkward and
wasteful compressors or the mines and
tunnels have been perfected until they
produce motive power which today in
Paris is used for the greatest and the least
OF machines, by the largest factories and
by the independent craftsman, for the
heaviest and Tor the finest manipulations
The success of compressed air in Paris is
due largely to a gentleman of Vienna, M.
Victor Popp. Years ago Mr.. Popp became
impressed with the possibilities of this
force, but his applications received little
encouragement at Vienna. In 1878 he dis
played at the Paris exposition. His work
attracted attention and he concluded to
establish himself here. His first plant
was very small, consisting Of two small
compressOrs run by two motors, each of
six horsepower. The tirstiapplicatlon was
to what is now known far and wide as the
pneumatic clocks of Paris. 1t is now over
twelve years since these clocks were intro
duced and there are today fully 10000 of
them, public and private, in the city. One
hotel alone has 600. They require little or
no attention, they do not get out of order,
they are not expensive-recommen
enough in city where public clocks are as
essential as newspapers-stands and boot
blacks.
The twelve horsepower factory succeed
ed so we'll that one of 120 horse power fol-
lowed. This was enlarged to 5000 horse
power, and last December there was in
augurated second mandatory of COM
pressed air, which today has apparatus for
producing force of 5000 horsepower and
which looks forward to the day when it
will give three times that amount. The
feeble undertaking which begun dozen
years ago by turning the hands of few
clock dlals is today capable of furnishing
the city of Paris force of 5000 horse
power.
The most favorable place for studying
the process of manufacturing the power
is in the new factory. Through the cour-
tesy of the secretary of the Popp COM
y, l.
examine in detail this enormous plant
1t is situated in the outskirts of the city,
on the Seine, and is connected with two
railway lines. The buildings are IN iron
and brick. and cover space of about go
by 10 feet.
The machinery hall is of course the point
of interest, for here the air is compressed.
For this operation four compressors each
of 1900 horsepower, are employed. They
are run by vertical steam engines of Cor
liss distribution and triple expansion.
The COMPRISING cylinders are placed di-
rectly above the steam cylinders in the
factory. The air is drawn from the ex-
terror by the pistons of the two low press
ure cylinders and is collected in an inter-
mediate reservoir. From there it is drawn
by high pressure cylinder and driven
into the reservoir, from which it passes
into the pipes which distribute it through
the city.
The engine-house, situated at the side of
machinery hall, is furnished with twenty
boilers, arranged in groups of five. They
bear American names, Babcock and
Wilcox
The compressed air is conveyed around
the CITY by means of pipes, the diameter
of which in the case of the new factory is
1.64 feet, of the old a trihe less than foot
1t Is ordinarily said in Paris that all these
pipes are carried through the sewers. A
portion of them are. and the initiated may
easily detect them among the multitude
of wires, small lead pipes. of huge iron
condults, OF all varieties of conductors
which line the ceilings of these famous
Partisan underground promenades. The
greater part of the pipes are. in fact, laid
in the ground. and the company
claim that pipeage in the sewers
Is neither as simple nor satisfactory
as it is supposed to be. The reason
is evident if we remember that the pipes
must follow the cuts of the sewer must
adapt themselves TO its accidents and de-
mands. and must not interfere with any
of the numerous other conduits lodged
there. Placing the pipes underground is
also less costly than putting them i'll the
sewers.
The applications of the force are num-
berlesS. Probably the one at present of
greatest interest to Paris is the production
OF electric light The city is for the most
part still lighted by gas, but large expert
ments have been made with electricity.
and. slowly but surely it is winning the
place here which it has already in most
other large cities.
All that is needful to obtain immedi-
ateiy force 10 run an electric motor at any
speed Is a compressed air attachment
TINS may be put III space so small that
II need not be considered. and 1t requires
no other manipulation than turning the
stopcock. The space required for a steam
engine, the work ana dirt and danger are
al done away with. When il comes to
securing force at no further trouble than
turning stopcock, the problem of run
ming machine is certainly reduced To
minimum. Ii Is even less work than US
ing natural gas for fuel, for there you do
have 10 strike match as well as turn the