The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-28
Gas FROM CULN and LIME
Valuable Discovery of I. l.. Wilson
of Spray, n. {.
MANNER IN WHICH 1T IS MADE
Board of Trade Is in Correspondence
with Mr.. Wilson with View TO
Having Him Come Here and
Conduct Experiments.

There is a prospect of Scranton in
creasing in Importance by leaps and
bounds, If arrangements can be made
with f. L. Wilson, of Spray, n. c., who
has accidentally discovered process of
manufacturing gas out of anthracite
dust and lime
The question has been discussed in
the metropolitan papers and the tests
which have been made convince experts
that the discovery will create Il revo-
luton in the gas manufacturing indus
try. \ Tribune reporter interviewed
Secretary Atherton, Of the board of
trade, yesterday, who stated that he
had written Mr.. Wilson on March 20.
inviting him to conduct experiments in
Scranton with Il view to organizing "A
company to supply this city, New York
and Philadelphia with the newly dis
covered gas, and pointing out the SUI
perior advantages Of this city for its
cheap manufacture.
The new gas is called acetylene, and
the history of its discovery shows that
it was accomplished in an accidental
manner
Mr.. Willsonwas bent upon solving an
other chemical problem and was using
an electric furnace, and a mixture of
lime and anthracite dust which he was
handling fused into a heavy seml-me-
tallic mass. AS he did not require the
material, he threw 1t into a bucket of
water, when the water eftervesced vio-
lcntly and emitted the heavy gas known
as aCetylene.
1t was subsequently ascertained that
the solid was carbide of calcium, a
pound of which yielded fifty-three cubic
feet of the gas.
Exhibition in New York.
Mr.. Wilson, a few days ago, ex-
planned his new process at New York
before the Society of Chemical Indus
try, when number of burners were at
tached to tank arranged in the room,
and the acetylene turned on.
The American Druggist and Pharma-
ceutical Record made an interesting re-
port of the event and certified that the
lights burned with dazzling brightness
and were white and steadfast, with no
blue center.
In discussing the extensive expert
ments which he has made, Mr.. Wilson
estimates that the gas could be sold
with profit at cents per thousand
cubic feet. A great inducement also is
that the gas can be manufactured in
private houses. The New York Sun
says:
A small converter in the cellar of the
house is connected directly with the or
dinary gas pipes formerly used to convey
the usual kind OF gas from the street
main. BY turning a valve, water is adj
mitted and the gas is generated in the con-
verter: upon turning it back the genera
tion of gas ceases. 1t is proposed to use
this method for country houses. The gas,
Il is said, may, by pressure, be changed
into liquid form and sold in that form in
closed and fitted cans read for attach
ment to the gas supply pipe OF a house.
Another proposition Is to use the solid
calcium carbide for Individual lights such
as a stand lamp, generating the gas on the
spot, or for lighting streets and railroad
cars. Ordinary burners being too large
for acetylene, smaller burners will be used.
II Is said that the burners will let out one
foot of gas an hour, and that the flame will
be about 50-candle power, and have only
one-half the heating power Of common
gas.
This Would De a Good Site.
The great Importance to Scranton in
volyed in this remarkable discovery Is