The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-12
Patents That Enable a single Concern
to Control Its Manufacture Here.
New York SUI


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 manufacture
ers In this country are charging their
plants. The manufacture OF the metal in
this country by the cheapest process Is
now controlled BY a single concern, the
Pittsburg Reduction Company, which
owns the patents and has compelled all
of the patented process and retire from
the business. There are but two factories
in the country. one at Niagara, N. Y, the
other at New kensington, Pa. about
twenty miles from Pittsburg. The New
Kensington factory turns out about half
a ton OF aluminium a day, the Niagara
factory about one and a half tons a day.
The capacity OF the latter win soon be
doubled. The Cowles aluminium factory
at 1cckport, n. Y. closed some time ago.
in consequence of litigation with the Pitts
burg Reduction Company. Aluminium
sells now In ton lots at 50 cents pound
There Is handsome profit at this price
and II cannot be very 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
abou, one-haf Of one per cent Of sodium.
II !s believed that IL this can be removed.
The metal will resist the action OF salt
water. The production Of aluminium tina.
Is proof against the action OF sea water
VIII greatly widen the field Of the install
], IS already extensively used as A substt.
tute for iron. lead and copper in p,ping
for various purposes. and II Is likely TO
supply the place OF architectural iron In
some cases. II Is coming into use in b.
cycles. II Is believed that a strong IL
pound bicycle can be made OF aluminium.
As yet. however. the aluminium BICYCLES
are not much below the weight of the
lghtest machines.
Meanwhile students are at work uron
the problem OF cheapening the metal
and upon that OF producing II absolutely
free from sodium. Oddly enough the
earlier processes Of producing aluminium
had for their main ooiert the rrnan~fisu
OF sodium, and aluminium was merely a
hy-product. That was n the DAYS when
aluminium was either merely a playthtrx
OF the laboratory or an expensive luxury.
The company that controls the manu.
sac;ure OF aluminium IN this ccuftry has
a dangerous rival In q German company
Of immense car.tal with works a. Neu-
hsuser. Wurtembsrg. and at Michel
France This concern manufactures by
the patented process In successful EeS
ance OF the American owners OF the pat
eats
Il IS believed that the foreigners can
produce the metal somewhat cheaper
thar the American manufacturers. bu,
the latter are amply protected by a DUTY
Of 10 cents a pound. TIE German concern
produced IN Wnriemburg n lSs. ] So ~
pounds Of aluminium ard IN France no 01s,
pounds. while in Fhe same year the Amer
lean product was S40,e. The price of
aluminium in Paris In lSss was 800 a
pound. a price that made It even then
much more valuable than silver. though
silver has since greatly fallen In rr5ee
The price OF aluminium at Pittsburgh 1894
vas 50 cents pound. being one two
huad-eths OF its price OF forty years ago
Its price last year il wurtunuberg wa, q
cents a pound