Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-12-03
WONDERS OF ALUMINIUM.
NUMEROUS USES TO WHICH THIS
TOUGH META MAY BE PUT

~ every clay bank abounds,
novelties any longer" said Maiden
lane dealer in goods made of that metal.
"The novelty now consist in the ap-
plication. Aluminium ten years ago
was only produced after an expensive
and tedious scientific process. 1t was
worth as much if not more than silver
and the product Was so small that it
had no commercial standing, and was
only made up into paper weights or
fancy little triaes To day aluminium
is thoroughly established article of
trade. Its cost in the bar or ingot is
only one.twelfth of what it was twelve
years ago, and the price will continue
to steadily decline until it is as cheap
as timed iron, which it will ultimate
ly supplant for hundred uses. Every
jewelry aud novelty store to-day car
ries in stock an endless variety of
articles for toilet, table and personal
use which we're formerly made of sill
yer, or silver plate, but which are now
made of aluminium. The prices are
much lower than those which they
supplant. Manufacturers buy tho
aluminium in bar, ingot or rolled
sheet. The metal comes from Pitts
burg, one cancerh near that city turn.
ing out about ninety per cent. of tho
output in the United States.
The process by which cheap alum
mum is produced at it's present price
is iealously-guarded secret Expert
mental plants are in operation all over
the country, and the secret must sooner
or later become common property.
Then the aluminium age will dawn.
House furnishing stores are already
displaying all manner of cooking uten-
sils made of the light, tough aud non.
furnishing metal. and cuspidors made
of it are quite popular. 1t is also be-
ing used extensively for bath tub lin,
inGs and for outdoor signs in place of
zinc or brass. Wire and tubing Of all
dimensions are on the market.
A gentleman representing the prin-
cipal aluminium reduction works OF
the country stated yesterday that tho
coming year will witness. IL further re-
duction in the cost of the product of
at least fifty per cent. The building
of ships of heavy burden of aluminium
is among the probabilities. In the
clay banks of the country the practi,
cal scientist sees the house building
lumber Of the future.
In 1880 aluminium cost SIT per
pound; in 1886 it had declined to $S.
Then the electrolytic method of re.
ducing the ore was invented, and ill
1889 the ruling price was 81. Then
it began to replace brass, German sil
yer and nickel. The price had fallen
in 1891 to $1.50 pound, and with
this year dates the introduction OF
aluminium as commercial staple. In
1898 the new metal was as cheap as
copper. The prevailing price is to-
day from titty-three to sixty-three
cents per pound, in 100-pound lots,
according to quality. aud fifty to fifty.
eight cents in ton lots.
All the steel workers of the country
use large quantities of the new metal
as an alloy. The use of aluminium
was the secret of the wonderful fexi-
bility and strength of the Damascus
done much to encourage its USE Pom
toon bridges have been constructed
of it. Aluminium shoe pegs are alone
used in the making of shoes for the
army. 1t has been found especially
valuable in the fitting of torpedo
boats. A rowboat weighing 14j
pounds has q carrying capacity of II
boat weighing 500 pounds in other
metal. Bicycle frames are made OF
it. Lamps made from it do not ex-
ude oil. Food cooked il aluminium
vessels cannot scorch.
Comets and flutes made from pure
aluminium are as sweet i'll tone rs ii
made OF silver Many kinds OF surgi-
cal instruments are made of it. The
metal is three and half times lighter
than copper. Spun into fine thread
it will enter into the manufacture OF
draperies. Already "silk bows" have
been shown as proof of the posshili.
ties in this line New York World.