The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-12-12

Its Cbeapness VIII Work n Revolu-
tion In Mechanical Construction
Process of Production a Secret.
Il X RTICLES made of alumi-
"A nun, the bronze with which
IN every clay bank abounds,
can hardly be clnssed as
novelties any longer" said a Maiden
lane dealer in goods made of that metal.
"Fhe novelty now consist in the ep-
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 trifles. 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 a hundred uses. Every
lewelry and 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 sil-
yer, or silver plate, but which are now
made of aluminium. The prices are
much lower than those which they
supplant. Manufacturers buy the
aluminium in bar, ingot or rolled
sheet. The metal comes from Pitts
burg, one cancern near that city turn
ing out about ninety per cent. of the
output in the United States.
The process by which cheap alum
mum is produced at its present price
is jealously-guarded secret. Expert
mental plants are in operation all over
the hecountry, 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 and nom
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 the
coming year will witness a 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 Sl7 per
pound; in 1886 it had declined to SO.
Then the electrolytic method of re-
ducing the ore was invented, and in
1889 the ruling price was 81. Then
it began to replace brass, German sill
yer and nickel. The price had fallen
in 1891 to 80 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 fitty-three to sixty-three
cents per pound, in 100-pound lots,
according to quality, and 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 hexi-
bility and strength of the Damascus
blade. The German Government has
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 tie
army. 1t has been found especially
valuable in the fitting of torpedo
boats. A rowboat weighing I46
pounds has a carrying capacity of
boat weighing 800 pounds in other
metal. Bicycle frames are made of
it. Lamps made from it do not ex-
ude oil. Food cooked in aluminium
vessels cannot scorch.
Comets and flutes made from pure
aluminium are as sweet IN tone as il
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 possibili.
ties in this line. -lJew York World.