The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-06
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.

DO you Know why soda water spark
les and produces as you drink it that
prickling sensation to palate and
throat, or why beer foams, or why
champagne produces diamond-like
bubbles?
1t is because of the presence of car
bonic acid gas, and when the gas has
escaped from any of these beverages
they become fat In soda water the
gas is introduced artiflcally; in beer
and wines 1t is produced by the chemi-
cal action Of the respective constitu-
ents which enter into their composition.
1t is a singular paradox of nature
that this gas taken into the system by
inhalation is a. deadly narcotic poison;
taken into the stomach with whole
some beverages in reasonable quantity
it is healthful and invgorating.
Carbonic acid gas is in the atmos-
| phere everywhere, but II Is discarded
and thrown off by the human system.
and is absorbed by plant life, and In
| largest quantities by those vegetables
| that are most commonly in use. the
| deadly effects of this gas are frequent
| ly eXerted upon persons sleeping In
! rooms heated by stoves, in which an
! thraCite coal is most commonly used as
| fuel. At night the dampers are closed;
| the combustion of the coal produces
carbonic acid; it escapes, and the sleep
| ing inmates unconsciously become It's
victims. One of the most popular
! methods of suicide in Paris is that or
! lighting a fire of charcoal in room
The gas is produced and the self-de-
structionist takes a painless fall into
the unknown.
These facts are generally known to
we'll read persons, and, while many are
familiar with the natural action OF the
gas, wonderful as it is, its recent de-
velopment in a commercial sense is
even more wonderful and interesting
to the world todav than any natural
phenomena yet discovered in connec-
tion with it.
GREAT POSSIBILITIES.
1t is fast becoming a factor in the
material prosperity of the age, and al
ready, as viewed from a commercial
point of view, ranks as hitherto un-
known quantity dragged from limltless
space and harnessed for the beneht or
commerce and the enrichment or man.
It is being liquidated. 1t is on the verge
of being controlled as motive force
Machinery has already been construct L
edto so utilize it. Its future of usetul-
ness may only be guessed at. Just noW'
however, the method Of manufacture
of this wonderful gas, force or constit-
uent-it is not a substance-is mat
ter of considerable interest. 1t is not
generally known that such a plant is
in operation in this city. 1t is located
along the Pennsylvania railroad in
Shadysde, in close proximity to the
mansions of some of Pittsburg'
II Il Anp
from the works is Alexander Bradley S
grand old place A little further away
is the mansion of Harvey Childs, and
to the north up Winebiddle avenue are
q dozen handsome mansions. The
works sit down in that deep, narrow
ravlne that is traversed by the railroad
and they can be seen from few of the
adjacent streets, and the best point
of observation is from the viaduct ovel
the Pennsylvania railroad at Millvalt
avenue.
From the interior view the works
would not attract unusual attention
There is an L-shaped two-story brick
building, a few sheds, and within the
area of the l. is an ordinary good
sized receiver, or gas tank, Just like tht
tanks used to store coal gas, with I
narrow moat filled with water sur
rounding it to prevent the escape OF
the gas. The basis of the gas is mag
nestle, a species of limestone, but o.
vastly higher grade than that ye
found in this country. Pennsylvania
limestone could be used, but the results
are not nearly SO satisfactory. Thi
magnesite is found to the best adVan
tage is an island in the Mediterranean
Sea, is brought by vessels TO this coun
: ry, thence by cars to the works.
PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE.
The process of manufacture Of tht
! gas is exceedingly simple. 1t consists
of burning the magnesite in retorts
under an intense heat, procured from
coal gas manufactured on the ground
At this plant are two furnaces havin!
, the external appearance of good dsizet
foundry furnaces. The retorts, o
t burning chambers are within these fur
naces-four in each. The magnesite /
0 placed in these retorts and roasted
until all the gas within the stone is eX
| tracted. The gas passes from the to-
of the retorts into a chamber, wher
v 1t is washed and freed of any impuri
ties and thence passes into the bi
q tank or receiver. That is all there /
|
that is the easiest part of the process:
: In the tank it is practically worth
less. To be valuable it must be pu
8 in portable form. More than that,
must be given force or power, and, I
s do this. it is subjected to enormou
pressure. And under this treatment
assumes what is called q liquid form.
The compressor Is a powerful engin
q with two cylinders One is the StpaI
or power cylinder, the other the com
g pressing or liquefying cylinder. Th
gas is conducted from the receiver I
u the ompressor-liquefyer is a NOR
O. comprehensive name-for this cylinder
The receiving pipe is much larger tina
d the discharge pipe, for the gas il yer
elastic and must here receive that pres
It sure that makes it valuable. From tn
!; liquefying cylinder the gas passe
d through a small tube of lead, an
y. through this tube, the drums in whic
- the gas is supplied to consumers al
filled. These drums at first glance rt
n semble tube five inches in diametC
and five feet long, with n valve screwe
on to one end. Bat they are heav
- tubes, made OF steel three quarter
Of an inch thick and tested to stand
Is pressure of 300 pounds to the squai
inch, These tubes are not only cos
IS ly, but the manufacturers find it nece'
ID sary to own $4,000 of them, distribute
between their factories in Pittsburi
10 Chicago, St.Louis and Milwaukee. Neal
TREATMENT