Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-18
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80 wen as tnat or iron when ii be-
es cheap enough. Economical processes
40 feoucuon alone are needed. Inere
Is more OF 1t In the world than there ia Of
Iron. 1t forms per cent of the matarial
OF the earth's crust Every CLAW bank 10 :,
mine or 1t. and nearly all rocks ere liter.
ally ore beds of it. At present it is com.
parauVeiy dear because no method has as
Se' oeen discovered for obtaining IL at
e"ah COST from common clays. The min
erals from which 1t Is now derived are COM
paratively rare.
Inns country produced eighty-three pounds
OF aluminium in 1853. In 1892 the outnut re
the United States was 26O, 900 pounds, Last
year one concern in Germany, at the falls
OF the Rhine, turned out 10000 pounds of
It. Inc domestic production is to be largely
Increased oy works at Niagara Falls, which
VIII utilize the power of the Niagara tunnel.
~ " january l, 1893, the total worlds out
put OF the metal has been only about 900
tons. But 1t is not long since aluminium
was regarded only as a curious exre-.man-
TAI creation of the laboratory Its history
Is all before it,
Some Uses of the Metal.
oiate pencils are among the novelties
made of it. The soft aluminium wire. with
sharpened point, works admirably upon
school states. Such pencils are much more
durable than the old-fashoned kind, suf-
tering less wear and tear. Shoes of this
metal are now employed for race horses.
MOI only DO they possess the advantage OF
| Esntness, but they are said to preserve the
| Feet OF the animals remarkably Racing
| shells are formed of single sheets of ahI-
mlnum one-nineteenth of an inch thick,
| weighing less than cedar. One such boat
| TOT TOUR oarsmen. lowered the mile record
nine seconds on the Schuylkill river last
| summer.
/ Inn, tS
| roonng in sheets like tin, the cost of it for
| mat purpose being about the same as COP
per. II may be rolled down to a thickness
OF o-lO,ooO OF an inch The beaten leaf" is
| now employed to a considerable extent IN
| decoration. 1t is thus used in leading
hotels Of New York and other cities. All
tne ornamental work of the transporta-
ton building at the worlds Columbian ex-
position was on base of thin aluminium
| roll. The metal TAX es' oil colors well and
sheets and plaques of it are being manu-
Iactured In great quantities for artists
one of the most important of future US
or aluminium is for kitchen utensils The
,neavy iron pot, which the cook can scarce
ly lift of the fire, will be Superseded nv
a vessel of the white metal that. while
equal in capacity and strength, NAV be
raised with finger This new material
sene ,,, Is Is as light as chalk. At the
OF hollow ware formed of 1T may be knock
60 apout TO any extent and bent into all
sorts of shapes without breaking An ,i,,
mlnum rot costs no more than n conner
one, and. unlike the latter II does not
nave to be lined with tin for culinary en-
tea kettles. coffee pots and covered dishes
Intended to retain heat it serves admira
bly,. ''''''i' d.
Various accouterments for German ona
French soldiers are now made of aIr,m,nun,
such as breast plates. helmets. belts and
buckles From the military point Of view
al .heso GAYS II Is of the utmost import
ance 10 save every possible ounce of weight
IN equipment in order that the fighting
man may carry the maximum quantity Of
ammunition Even cartridge shells are
pelne turned out In the same metal The
latter Is drawn down to the finest sizes
OF wire The addition Of small parcent-
sse OF II to type metal makes the TYNE
ment OF the last few years in the cnaIity,
OF steel castings IL due to an adroixturo
OF aiuminum. which renders the steel moro
somewhat OF the same ingredient.
Aluminium in Art Ca.ttprs
A new and beautiful alloy Is produced
by mixing % parts Of aluminium With %
parts of gold, the result being a rich r,,h,,
Unit. The white metal is also plated with
gold, silver and nickel. 1t is emploved in
making the finest kind of art castings hy
a company at Passaic, N. j., engraved
chased and repousse work being brought
eut with as much perfection of detail and
nhlsh as Is exhibited by electrotynes Tha
concern referred to turns out thousandS
OF medalions and groups of human asr,,ras
s anu ANIMALS mn In bas,relief. using molds Of
may be thrown across the room and 'i Ss,s
not break, as would iron castings sirniIarim
treated. They look like silver
Soun9lng- boards and stringed instruments
Aluminium. which is elastic and canahIe ~
vioratlons through wide range of tone-
plech. The material has the great advan-
tage OF being proof against moisture on,
DIV
Ever since the new metal became ayaila HE |
az moderate price 1t has been utilized bv |
ione ~ sl1n IN flying machines Before
because II Is so light and strong II is the |
substance from which the new Diana oS
c cns Maa,son Square Garden. New York, is |
csst. Other uses to which it is being mt
are Tor propellers for Ships valves for air
brakes, opera glasses, picture frames ciaar
Eases, medals. vases. salvers. watches, BIZ |
cycles. brushes and combs and forks ond
spoons. For these table utensils IL has The
olsaovantage that a slight coating Of its
own oxioe always gives it greasy feel. SO
this way. 'i'ei AL
AIuminum has number of wonderful |
properties Most striking among these is
iss heh.ness. Ten cubic inches Of it weigh |
less imam a pound. Iron is nearly four
times as heavy, gold nearly eight times
II ID not acted upon by organic secretions
Renee II Is most serviceable for surgical |
etc. H N''
1t Is almost absolutely proof against sea-
water and In that respect Is much better
than copper for sheathing the bottom of |
vessels. Unfortunately. those pernicious
mollusks barnacles. seem to thrive on it.
as they do on steel But an aluminium
bronze, made by mixing a small percentage
of the white metal with copper is free
from this objection and serves admirably
for the purpose.
Aluminium is only exceeded in malleabil-
fty by gold and silver. In point of ductity
II is seventh among the metals ranking af-
ter copper in that respect 1t is equal to
silver in taking and retaining a very high
polish. Fine effects are produced by first
furnishing and then stamping 1t so as to
show unpublished figures in relief
1t Is absolutely non ghetto. and for this
reason Is largely employed for electrical
appliances. A small percentage of silver
mixed with it hardens and strengthens 1t,
making 1t most suitable for many kinds of
and other scientific apparatus
The demand for 1t in astronomical and
other instruments Of physical science is
growing.
An Excellent Conductor.
It Is a remarkably good conductor Of heat
and Of electricity. On the latter account II |
was selected as the material of the pyrami-
dial cap which now forms the apex of the
monument This cap excited
great interest in 1885. when 1t was put on,
the metal being at that time worth IS a
L..