The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-29
% Canal Stree

- Nuuai otIsts.
II can scarcely be realized by tho readers
OF II News that the amount OF capital
invested by the citizens OF New England
ana Eastern States In the new South COM
prises two-tbirds OF the actual Investment
made there during the last decade, one OF
the most recent investments made by
leading citizens OF providence being the
INCORPORATION under the laws OF Virginia
In 1892 OF the Msthieson Alkali Works,
whose plant Is located at Saltville, Va, on
the line of the Norfolk q Western X. X,
"A little over 800 miles from Norfolk. The
location Is one of the most picturesque to
be found among the Blue Ridge range of
mountains in Southwestern Va, its alti-
tude being 1000 II. above the level of the
sea. This high altitude renders the eli
mate a pleasant one. being nearly similar
10 that OF Southern New England, only
much more salubrio us and equable. The
property owned by the company for the
location OF their plant IL very extensive,
while the works comprise immense build
1ngs, which were erected and special y de-
signed Tor the purposes of the bust less.
Through the impetus given by the estab-
ishment OF these vast works, the town
has grown from q comparatively small
village 10 a thriving inland city OF nearly
1000 prosperous people, who derive their
employment In a large degree from the
Mathieson Alkali Works, over 500 en-
ployes being furnished constant employ
ment In the different branches OF the in
dustry. The manufactured products are
salt, soda ash, and caustic ,oda, which are
sold entirely In the United States, the
supply OF these products being equal 10
the demand Of home consumption. This
essential requisites for the manufacture OF
salt, soda ash and ceustic soda are an
abundance OF rock salt, limestone, and
cheap fuel, which essentials Nature has
provided In this locality. In addition TO
the manufacture Of soda ash by the am
monia process, the company also manu-
facture caustic soda by converting a part
OF the MANUFACTURED product OF soda ash,
as Is done 10y every other manufacturer Of
causiic soda today in the world. The
ideal way, however, of producing caustic
soda and chlorine - by the slec,rolysis of
salt. This has been accomplished by Ill.
Y. Cnstner, under what Is known as the
"Castner Process" which is the o1ly
method thus far devised whereby this can
be accomplished Oh a commercial basis.
This method has now been in operation
for more than "a year, producing success
fully and without breaks, day III and oay
out. what the inventor claims for II. Ii
has also been purchased OIL the continent
by Messrs. solyay IL Co., the largest alsali
manufacturer in the world, and licensed
by them to many of the highest technical
manufacturing chemists on the continent.
An extensive company has been formed,
and large works are under construction
Tor It's use In England. For many years,
scientific experts have sought to DO this,
but the difficulties have been insurmounl-
aNie. They hav. found that their cleo
trodes were soon exhausted, the m
decomposition which tool place was dit
ficuit of control, and almost without ex-
ception a diaphragm has been employed,
which invariably has been found trouble
some, expensive, and altogether imprac-
ticatie. Cashier, by q very clever me-
chanical device, not only causes an abso-
Lutte decomposition, but nc equally as
absolutely controls the two elements after
decomposition, and delivers them TO their
various reservoirs in a workable and pure
condition. The other great trouble which
has heretofore vexed scientists mas been
the great loss occasioned by the necessity
of constantly renewing their electrodes.
Cashiers method meets this difficulty ab-
soluteiy. lie employs as one OF his cleo
trodes a moving BODY of mercury, and as
the other a specially prepared carton, the
life OF which Is such that the expense OF
manufacture from this source is practi-
caily done away. This method OF manu-
facture, ideal theoretically, proves itself
ideal practically, giving the two dement's
OF caustic soda and chlorine gas in a pure
ttate. and at a price which dsties COMPETE
ton by any known means of production.
The Mathieson Alkali Works own these
patents for the United StGtes absolutely,
and are proceeding at once in the con-
stTuctlon OF extensive plants throughout
the country, arrangements having slready
heep entered into with this end in view.
The demands for chlorine in its various
uses for the manufscture OF chloride of
lime, chlorate of potash and chlorate OF
soda, rs well as fer the determination OF
gold and other ores, are OF exceedingly
large Observation-Disclosures country has
hitherto depended almost entirely on Eu-
gland. The Mathieson Algali Works,
therefore, will have extensive ramihca-
tions throughout the country, as il will
aim 20 supply all of this demand. There
fore, when one visits the plant at Saltvilie,
its mode village, its enormous works and
IDEAL location, he sees not all OF the en-
terprise, but enough TO we'll repay a visit
TO the locality. lie cannot fail to be in
spired by the busy Industry, which has so
suddenly sprung up in "A section OF the
country that heretofore has been passed
by in the rapid strides of Industrial de-
veloprlont throughout the North. Tie
products OF the company are extensively
manufacturers OF chemicals o all kinds.
bnd glso IN cotton, paper and wooden
mills. 1t will thus be seen that their
manufactured products play an important
part in the various branches OF the COM
mercial iiie and activity OF this country.
Tine officers OF the company are: Edward
IL. Arnold, pres. JAMES Nj. Edwards, Isl
vice-pres. and treas. q. W. u. Mstttson,
I'd v~ice-pres., and John Russell Giadding,
asst. treas. and sec. The main office is
located at 80 Canal ST., Providence, H.. l.,
and the New YORK Office at 81 and 33 Pine
st,ln addition TO the Offices al the works.
IrTA GnHn