Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-08-12

clay into white and shining blocks OF
silvery aluminium. Even now, with
the existing methods OF elaborate
chemical treatment, or the in
tense heat of the eleetrl-
col furnace, pure aluminium can be
bought for rs. pound in Germany,
and at IS. Cd. pound in England.
The present cost Of aluminium, though
still higher than any Of the cheap met
ais, has brought il within the range OF
everyday life, and its present uses
limited as they are, necessarily pear
some relation to the great question OF
the future Of the new metal. aud the
possibility OF realizing the hopes OF the
metal-worker anu the engineer. FOR
all personal equipment which must De
carried by the army aluminium is rap
idly taking the place of every other
metal. It's lighthess is It's obvious
recommendation in this case ln
the German cavalry even the
stirrup 'irons" are now MADE OF
aluminium. The meas water bottles
are also OF the same light and strong
material. Nearly all the small articles
OF luxury and ornament usually maoe
In silver or brass are now produced 10
aluminium, though, where weight Is not
drawback, the gain Is rather one IN
appearance than in construction. Yet,
aluminium thimbles, penholders, paper
knives, TASKS, or cups are so Tar supe-
rior to those made OF tue ordinary ma
terialS, that no one who has once maze
use of them in the new metal will read
lily return 10 the older form.
A far more important and slgnlncaht
step Is the recent construction OF iarse
aluminium launches on the Lake OF ue-
neVa, and OF the aluminium house al the
Worlds Fair at Chicago. In the former
case the object proposed was double
the gain OF nearly two-thirds In ilght-
ness in the hull, which, In the case OF
pleasure boat with small engines, WouId
naturally result in greater compare
tive gain of efficiency than in the enor-
mously over-engined torpedo-ooat or
fast cruiser, and reduction OF the sur
face friction by the use OF
smooth, polished and non
corrosive material Both these results
are said to have been obtained,
though the great preponderance In cost
OF the aluminium even over the best
steel, renders the use for such purposes
at least at present beyond the sphere OF
practical commerce. The aluminium
house, also, should contain the elements
of constructive success. So light and
tough material is better suited for the
construction OF a movable house than
any other. Moreover, aluminium, Whlch
itself possesses high degree OF specinc
heat, does not readily absorb heat ITSELF
and thus is not liable to the chief obJec-
ton OF iron buildings In hot countries.
As a roofing material aluminium should
be most welcome TO the builder. In
plates or scales, two-thirds lighter than
copper, uncorroded by air, and undlm-
med even by the sulphur OF London
smoke, it should make a roof Ut Tor
palace Of romance.
It is for use at sea that the most
marked quality Of aluminium, light
ness, obviously fits it. The marine en-
gineer and the naval architect, who are
already looking in this direction for
reduction In the weight which is insep-
arabic from loss of efficiency, whether
In speed or cargo, cannot neglect the
possibilities OF a metal which, when
mixed In the proportion OF to 50,gives
to aluminium bronze a hardness and
toughness which make it almost as re-
liable as steel, aud which, II the pro-
portions could be reversed and the
strength preserved, weuld reduce
the weights of ships and ma
chinery alike by two-thIrds. This is
problem which avails the mealurgists
for solution. The reduction in cost,
Judging by analogy, can only be a ques-
ton of time and research. The best
steel now costs little more than half
penny a pound; while aluminium is 80
times that price. Aluminium, however,
exists in far greater quantities than
iron, is more widely distributed, and
neither the limits Of time nor the his
tory OF metalurgy forbid US to conjec-
ture that, as the world has seen It's age
OF stone, its age OF bronze, and its age
of iron, so 1t may before long have en-
barked on a new and even more pros
perous era-the age Of aluminium.