The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-09
NEXT THE ALUMINIUM AGE.
Wonderful Progress in the Produce
ton of the Metal.

From the New York Sun.
Aluminium, the youngest OF all metals,
is rapidly coming into general use. II
was discovered by Frederick Woher
German professor In 1877; but to st. Clair
Deville, a Frenchman, belongs the honor
Of being the founder Of the aluminium in
dustry.
The first article made OF this metal was
in compliment to Louis Napoleon-who
had helped Deyille--a baby rattle for the
infant Prince Imperial.
In 1865, when the first aluminium COM
pany was formed, the cost OF a pound Of
the metal was about $500 In 1889 Charles
NJ. Hall of Oberln, o., patented an cleo
trolytie process. He with a few OF his
friends then started a small plant on the
bank Of the Allegheny river eighteen miles
above Pittsburg. The first year the COM
pany produced seventy-fve pounds of alu-
minimum a day, which they sold for $3.50 a
pound. In 1895 a company built a large
plant at Niagara Falls. and this year they
are building additional works When
these are completed they will have an
output of 1l,OO0 pounds daily. This will
put the United States in front as the
largest aluminium producing country In
the world.
Aluminum's weight Is about one-third
that of iron. and only steel of the highest
quality and the best aluminium bronze win
give a greater strength for a given weight
that aluminium. 1t stands high in the list
of malleable metals, and can be drawn
into wire 1880 of an inch In thickness. Il
Is an excellent conductor OF electricity
ana would at 20 cents pound, take the
n all gfT sffrnV
In shipbuiiding, where lightness is de-
manded, aluminium meets every reauire-
ment. Corrosion and galVanic action are
easily overcome BY properly painting the
part subject to the action of the water
and by using aluminium riVets. France
and Germany have several torpedo boats
made of aluminium, and pleasure yachts
every year are being constructed Of this
metal,
In Germany two army corps are equip
ped with aluminium, which includes chev-
rons and every article of metal carried on
the person, even the bottoms on the
clothes and the pegs in the shoes. The
sword bayonets, scabbards aAld contents
are also made Of the metal In Paris
there is cab made of aluminium, and
some Of our best racing records have
been made by horses wearing aluminium
shoes and pulling aluminium sulkies For
decorating purposes IL is better than Sill
yer, because the air, which blackens sir
yer so quickly, has no effect on it, The
companies in this country Is said to have
remarked that the price alone kept aIu-
minimum from being used entirely In car
decoration. A short time ago an enter
prising firm in Ohio buzz several alu-
minium duclking boats, as well as a num-
Der Of row boats. They found they were
very successful, especially the ducking
boat, as this craft was extremely light
and non-sinkable
Price has been the only drawback to the
general use of aluminium but that will
soon be such that the rich and poor alike
will be able to enjoy the great advantages
which the metalsoffers. 1t seems likely
that the year 1897 will see aluminium sell
ing at less than IS cents a pound
Thus the growth of this wonderful me-
tai has been spreading out In all directions.
A few weeks ago am aluminium bicycle
was shipped to an eminent politician in
England, Mr.. Balfour. Here again its
beauty and nontarnishable qualities, to-
gether with its lightness, make 1t most
desirable.
Cooks of the twentieth century viii no
doubt demand that their employers supply
them with aluminium cooking utensils, as
the metal is an excellent conductor of
heat, and IT Is almost impossible to scorch
anything while cooking. Dentists are al
ready using It in making plates, as alum
mum has its advantages over gold, for
on contact with metallic substances no
disagreeable electric current Is set up. For
scientific Instruments, such as sextants,
transits, Levels, etc, where the inertia OF
a heavy moving part Is TO be avoided,
aluminium is the metal par excellence.
Photographers find aluminium fiash-light
powder better than the present magnesium
as It il cheaper ana not 80 liable TO ex-