The Anaconda standard., 1895-12-21
1T is A WONDERFUL GAS.
Acetylene Likely to supercede Coal Gas
for Illuminating Purposes.

Acetylene Likely to Supercede Coal Gas
for Illuminating Purposes.
From Bradstreets.
1t is only comparatively recently that
the general public have begun to awak-
en- TO the Importance of the commercial
production of acetlyene gas. The COM
bustion of this gas has been described
as producing something akin 20 sun
light Even the brilliancy of the arc
electric light. not to mention, OF course,
the milder incandeScent electric light,
pales its fires before the burning light
given by this new illuminant. Such, at
least, is declared by those who are In
a position to know. 1t has also been
announced that Illuminating gas COM
panies throughout the country have,
in many instances, acquired the right
to use acetylene gas, the idea being
that Its primary Importance consists In
Its use as an enricher.
Now, however, IL one may judge from
published opinions and statements by
those who are regarded as experts, the
value of acetylene gas as an illuminant
is to prove trivial as compared with its
real commercial Significance. II may be
recalled, the gas was discovered some
what accidentally; that IL Is evolved
by heating a mixture of coal and lime,
or charcoal and chalk, into an electric
furnace, and throwing the resulting
compound into water. Here was
cheap and easily procurable substance,
which, as described, was primarily to
raise the illuminating power of ordi-
nary Illuminating gas, and which In
time. as has been projected, would be
carted about and delivered from door
90 door, in business places and shops.
in tanks, ready for use, much the same
as tanks are delivered TO proprietorS OF
soda water fountains. II has even been
outlined how specially manufactured
lamps containing acetylene within them
A.. ptft To ftta f0r a An
or for days would practically supersede
many of the older forms OF illumina-
ton and, in fact, one had almost be-
gun to wonder what would become of
the enormously expensive Illuminating
distributing plants with which the
streets of cities and towns are now
lined.
Now, however. II appears that the IL
Eliminating powers of acetylene gas, as
stated, are among the least important
of Its commercial qualities. Acetylene
is turning out. IL is declared, to be even
a more extraordinary substance than
the widest flights of the imaginations
of its discoverers suspected. II all that
Is claimed for IL be true IL means the
cheaper manufacture of a great many
substances used in the arts which here
tofore have had TO be produced labori-
ously and extensively in commercial
and chemical laboratories.
Thus" says an exchange. "acetylene
on being passed through an iron tube
heated to dull redness. turns rapidly
and completely into benzine. This is a
product of prime Importance, and is
the base OF many organic substances.
In illustration OF the transmutations
which can be effected II may be pointed
out that II the resultant benzine vapor
be passed into strong nitric acid IL Is
transformed into nttro-penzine and this
on treatment with hydrochloric acid
and iron filings goes into aniline. With
the formation of aniline the road is
opened for the production of the i'm
rnense series OF dye substances OF
which aniline IL the starting point.
Instead OF Transforming acetyiene into
anIline, however. Il may be changed
into carbonc acid; thence II is but a
step 10 picric acid. the foundation OF
the modern high explosives, or IL may
be made into aniline. and then boiled
with acetic acid. when II Is transform
ed into antifebrin. the well known fe-
Yer specific
Again. by passing through a tube
heated 10 bright redness. naDthalene is
produced. which Is also the starting
point Of a legion OF valuable chemi-
Gals. IL would seem as though almost
all the needs OF man were 10 be salts
ned by this prOtean substance. The