The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-12

stitution. London. on the advanced chemical
metallurgicnland manufacturing processes o
the present time DIR. Swinburne made .specia
reference to electrical tanning. and to the re-
markable results which had been obtained bJ
means OF combination OF the elecri
cal current and mechanical agitation
Though tho phenomenon has not vel
been theoretically and thoroughly inves-
tigated. pr. swinburne Is o. the onin tSn
skins are full OF minute interstices, and also Of
minute cells, and. though the agitation SUI,
| flces to hasten the penetration OF tanning iluid
required 10 force It through the walls Of the
cells. Reierring TO the subject OF electrolysis.
| he showed that OF water with II current of about
| thirty ampcrcs. 100 volts pressure the current
light under the surface OF tho water, ,and even
| fuses tho noint OF the iron anode: These OK
perlmenis. 1t Is easy to see. are OF an impor-
| tdnt practical character
| most economical result has attended the
recent improved processes in manufacturing
| wood pulp for paper. contrasting singularly
with tho fact that, years ago. purchasers OF
| sprucewood for pupwere I'M eli cd TO pay arger
prices for smooth. clear material than for any
other description. 1t being customary in those
days to spend much time in boring out the
knots before grinding the wood into pulp. Now.
however, 1t Is found that the whole substance.
the specific gravity Of the Knots being 80 m uch
greater han that OF tho average pulr. they
ss dn to to the bottom an ani can be removet lg
the knot loft after Icing in tho digesters than
there would be Of the ground wood puln whore
prefers logs OF full size, on account OF tho
largrr percentage OF clear wood. but in many
sections much use Is made OF the small size.
Recent chemical experiments prove that
hydrogen and oxygen gases will combine with
tremendous violence at very high pressures-
200 pounds to the square inch. In these ex-
periments n small glass tube was employed.
into the ends Of which two platinum wires
were fused. and. after Introducing n cubic cen
timetre OF aciduated water. the tube was her
metically sealed. then placed in n large glass
vessel OF cold water and an electric cur
rent OF six volts passed through it.
The acldulated water was rapidly decom-
posed into hydrogen and oxygen gases. tho
action continuing as theoretically after ten
minutes had elapsed: fifteen and twenty
minutes passed. tho action within the minute
vessel cont inuinE: exactly TWENTY-FIVE minutes
violent report. terminated the experiment
shattering the, glass vessel, and scattering
explosion may be understo TODD from the fart Of
the sealed tuue being but an inch and half
metre OF water. nevertheless portions OF tho
glass were hurled Will sufficient forro in the
Immediate neighhorhood of the explosion to
penetrate n wooden bench to half nn inch
Successful use appears to be made OF tho
novel automatic device lately introduced on
some OF the German railways for ascertaning
and definitely indicating defects existing in
the track. The principle OF the apparatus as
explained. ia based on The fact that every low
point. or other similar defect. on the line Of
the track causes n shock Of greater or less in
tensity in "A car PASSING over it. The arrange
ment of the apparatus in the inspection
car IL sue that. II the shock exceeds
viro is brought into operation. and from Which
either a rcd or n blue liluid is sprayed over
the ro1dbed makins, stripcs from one foot to
the track sections requiring any attention
being thus very plainly marked. such an APP
nerily detected by a track walker. and affords
early and timely evidence OF imperfections in
the roadeeI.
The Claims which havo boon put forth in be-
half o! tho now abrasive material known as
cnrborundum are endorsed BY so reliable an
authority rs the Engineering Nc,cs. 1t is new
chemical compound OF simple form. consisting.
as nearly as can DO determined Of carbon and
silicon. ono atom of each element to n mole.
culc. Physically. it IS a crystalline substance. |
very brilliant. and usually OF II dark color. the |
latter however. varying with tho materials |
used in Its preparation. The crystals are ir- |
regular. resembling hort. and arc commonly |
oc;ahcdral. though othcr we'll defined forms
and "oloriess: they nr. extremely hard
and highly refractory. w:hstantinG for
ast fhf from ne an a" I So% ppe
medate in its nhysc"i tharaeteristics ' be-:
tween the carbon crystal, the diamond and |
the silicon oxide crystal quartz. though re- |
somhling tho former moro than the latter. In |
jecting a m ixture of coke with silica. Or sill |
cate OF alumna. and lux of common salt to
.ht a ii III OF tho heat OF an electric furnace. |
tlis bpinp nccomDli shell ny forming an cleo |