The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-05
REVOLUTION IN GLASS.
Old Art OF Blowing and Pressing SUI
perseded by New Methods.

perseded by New Methods.
New York Evening Sun.
What Is practically new art has been de-
veloped In France within the past two
years. 1t is a process for working glass YES
sells and pipes to large sizes. This process
is in itself so simple that II is hard to
realize why It was not discovered years
ago. The glass industry is one of the Oldest
known to man, and yet centuries passed
and the use OF the substance was confined
to plates for windows and vessels Of small
sizes, which was made by pressing or blow
ing. Heretofore the glass manufacturer has
considered 1t an achievement to make by
the old methods vessel which would hold
more than six gallons.
TO one Of the leading scientists OF France
Is due the credit for the discovery of the
new and valuable process by which glass
pipes can be made to compare in size and
strength with those OF iron and earthen-
ware, and glass vessels can be manufac-
tufed or any needed dimensions and fash
Toned TO almost any shape from a simple
jar to bathtub or coffin. This is done by
molding.
The problem of molding glass is an old
one tnat many ingenious men tried in vain
Tor years 70 solve The best Illustration that
can be given Of this successful process is
the casting OF section OF drain pipe. The
cylindrical mold is placed in an upright
position, with a core at the lower end ready
to be showed upward A large lump of the
molten glass is then placed In the bottom
OF the mold resting on the head OF the core.
When the core is pushed upward the
viscous substance flows down about its
SIDES, nlhng all the space between it and
the mold. The glass Is allowed 10 harden
partially, and then the core is withdrawn
and the mold split off. The product is a
splendid piece Of glass pipe uniform in
smooth on its surface. All the other forms
into which the glass is worked are made
on precisely the same principle, that of
forcing the core upward into the mold
by this method is attained what has hith-
erto been unknown in glass vessels-uni-
form strength and thickness.
The old methods of expanding the glass
IN a mold by air or forcing ii into a mold
about core have proved utterly imprac-
teal in any vessels other than those a
few cubic feet in size, for when. in the
sphere of the viscous substance in a square
mold and blows, the glass necessarily ex-
pands unevenly in filling the corners.
1t Is obvious that glass must in the future
occupy an enormously extended field OF
usefulness as a result OF this revolution in
the art of manufacturing it,. 1t possesses
impervious to all acids except hydrofiouric,
cleanly, and, If properly cared for, it is
practically indestructible.
No better sanitary drainage can be con-
ceived than that which will be afforded by
glass pipes. Iron pipes rust out, and the
glaze on clay pipes, now so generally used,
cracks and the pipes. absorb the refuse
matter flowing through them and become
unhealthy. Again, the problem of sewage
VIII be greatly simpNfed. The sewers in
most cities are simply brick ducts. They
and mortar absorb the sewage and conse-
quently decay. Glass sewers will be abso-
luteiy unaffected by these conditions and
Will allow the passage Of a greater volume
or sewage than any other kind of duct of
equal cross section, since the skin friction
Is very small France has been the first
country to utilize glass for this purpose. for
already several of its cities are laying glass
pipes.
A, decade ago there was great opposition
IN large cities to the introduction of cleo
tricity as a means for transmitting en-
ergy. This arose in part from the fact
that the heavy currents which traverse the
cess OF electrolysis the iron pipes with
which they come in contact The fact that
TINS electrolysis does occur is we'll known,
and the pecuniary loss caused to gas and
water companies Is not SMALL
rms trouble will be done away with by
IN the intrI,oduction of glass pipes, which will
oe totally UNAFFECTED by electrical currents,
as glass Is nonconductor The actual
transmission of electrical energy rrder-
ground will be rendered easier and cheap
er. AT present when wires are carried un-
derground they are encased in iron PIPES
which magnetic, with the ultimate result
or causing a resistance TO the passage of
energy resulting is considerable This
trouble will be eliminated by the use of
glass pipe, the nonconducting properties of
winch warrant its introduction to this field
1t is expected to prove of particular value
currents.
1t is interesting to note that glass pipe
can be made by the new process of the
same size and strength as an iron pipe
at almost the same cost.
The manufacturers OF electrical STORAGE
batteries have hailed the new process with
delight since one of the knotty problems
of getting suitable vessels for the ir1mer-
sion Of the battery plates. The largest
glass jars that have been made in this
eori try for storage batteries have been a
the proper working of a large battery
Consequently the electricians have been
compelled to use large vessels made of
wood lined with lead These are difficult to
keep clean and to insulate properly. The
great glass tanks which have been put in
use recently have proved admirably suited
to the purpose, as they are clean, afford
excellent insulation and are absolutely i'm
pervious TO the acids used in the batteries.
Pottery will and in glass a powerful rival,
for the latter will supersede 1t in all works
where chemicals are used, In canning and
pickle factories and creameres. Hereto
used clay pots glazed inside. Quantities of
these are destroyed yearly by the powerful
acids. In handling many of these acids it
has been necessary to use tubs of platinum,
be nodded, these primitive vessels of earth
must necessarily be relegated to the past.
The glass bathtub, too, is a novelty. The
faults OF iron and porcelain when used for
this purpose are we'll known. Glass tubs
will be cleaner and stronger than porcelain
and can be used also for sulphur baths 1t
IS said that the influence of this glass revo-
luton will extend even to the undertaken,
glass Colin a