The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-30
THE SUPPLY OF ALUMINIUM.
Patents That Enable One Concern 10
Control It's Manufacture Here.
New York Sun

new 1Ofk ouHs
Although small articles in aluminium
have not had the popularity that was ex-
pected for them. the demand for the metal
is steadily growing, and the maunfactur-
plants The manufacture of the metal in
this country by the cheapest process Is
now controlled by single concern, the
Pittshurg Reduction Company, which owns
the patents and has compelled all other
manufacturers to abandon the use OF the
patented process and retire from the ousi-
ness. There are but two factories In the
country-one at Niagara, ~. Y, the other at
New Kensington. Pa, about twenty miles
from Pittsburg. The New Kensington fac
tory turns out about half a ton OF a.umin-
and a half tons day. The capacity or the
latter will soon be doubled. The Cowles
aluminium factory at Lockpor.; N Ne IL :;
litigation with the Pittsburg heduction
Company. Aluminium sells now in ton -ots
at 80 cents pound mnsTe Is he ysrv
many years before the price Is reduced
much further, by which time the use OF the
metal will have greatly increased
Aluminium suffers somewhat In contact
with salt water from the fact that the
metal as thus far manufactured contains
about one-half OF per cent. OF sodium. IL
is believed that IL this can be removed the
metal Will resist the action or salt water
The production OF aluminium that is PROOF
against the action OF sea water Will greatly
widen the field of the metal. Ii Is already
extensively used as substitute for iron,
lead and copper in piping for various pur-
poses, and IL is likely to supply the pace
OF architectural iron in some cases. IL Is
coming into use In bicycles. II is believed
that a strong fourteen-pound bicycle can be
made of aluminium. AS yet, however, the
aluminium bicycles are not much below the
weight of the lightest steel machines-
Meanwhile the students are at work upon
the problem of cheapening the metal and
upon that of producing IL absolutely free
from sodium. Oddly enough the earlier
processes of producing aluminium had Tor
their main object the production OF sodium,
and aluminium was merely a by-product-
That was in the days when aluminium was
either merely a plaything OF the labora-
tory or an expensive luxury.
The company that controls the manu-
facture of aluminium In this country mas
dangerous rival in German company
of immense capital with works at Nep-
hansen, Wurtemburg. and Michel. France
This concern manufactures by the patent
ed process in successful defiance or the
American owners Of the patents
IL is believed that the foreigners can pro-
duce the metal somewhat cheaper tnan the
American manufactures, but the latter are
amply protected by duty OF 10 cents per
pound. The German concern produced IN
wurtemberg,- In 1894. 1,2OO.0o0 pounds or
aluminium, and in France 10000 pounds.
while i'm the Same year the American prod
uct was $4,000. The price OF aluminium In
Paris In 1856 was 500 a pound. price tnat
made II even then much more valuable
than silver though silver has since greatly
fallen In price. The price OF aluminium at
Pittsburg in 1894. was so cents pound.
being one two-hundredths OF Its price or
FORTY wears ago. Its price last year In
Wurtemberg was s. cents a pound.