The broad ax., 1897-09-11

NASEC
For a long time in certain industries
heated bauxite has been used to make
very hard substances for the fabrica-
ton Of artificial millstones, to be uti-
lied in manufactures Of various sorts.
The object of manufacture was to pro-
duce a substance to take the place of
what is known as the emery of Naxos,
manufactured by the Greek govern
ment, and about which more braggado-
clio has been INDUCED in than about
anything else. Naxos emery did not
come up to expectations, but so great
was the outcry of the Greek manu-
lecturers when this was suggested that
the French dealers made up their
minds to find substitute, and in baux-
ite they discovered it. For a time no
one thought Of bauxite as other than
useful for the purpose for which it was
originally intended. But the idea final
~ occurred to some one that instead of
calcining the bauxite X would be a
good plan to melt it, This is exactly
what was done, and in this manner was
obtained a product harder even than
hauxite- which is nothing
Jess than alumina melted in the electric
furnaces. These were the steps lead
ing up to the grand climax, as II were,
which was followed by the birth of the
first counterfeit Of rare gems the world
ever knew, which even experts cannot
detect. A sayant bearing the sugges-
tive name Of Gin happened to have his
attention attracted to the matter at this
time, and the idea occurred to him that
possibly there was an opportunity for
development upon which no one had
seized. He gave the matter very Sc
rious thought, and finally it came to
him that the first step~in the course Of
development was to volatilize the alum
ina. This action was very easily ac-
complished in the electric furnace, the
operation giving rise to thick reddish
brown clouds which are so incon-
venient to those who experiment in
matters scientific. By combining GER
tain vapors with those of alumina, NJ.
Gin obtained rubies by the hundred.
The amazement, even TO the inventor
of the process, which this wonderful
achievement caused was promptly fol-
lowed by expressions of disbelief, even
from the friends of the very genius
who had given birth to the idea Make
rubies," they said. What nonsense.
viii this man not tell rs next that
he can manufacture a fortune in dia-
monds before breakfast"
NJ. Gin told them all that they would
!. believe him in time, provided they
would have patience, but still they SCOT
fed, and so the inventor went on, de-
termined to prove to the world that not
only was he right, but that his deduc-
tons had been absolutely true from the
first. His patience was rewarded at
last. and now the most skeptical Of the
scoffers will not only admit that NJ.
Gin is right, but that they should have
believed him from the first. After the
scientist had perfected his apparatus
he set about protecting 1t, and thus II
Is that while few have been aware OF
the existence Of the process, NJ. Gin
has been quietly making it impossible
for any one to reap the beneht OF his
brain by imitation, and has patented
his process both in Europe and the
United States. In only one country
did he meet with skepticism in so greai
a degree that it caused him trouble
and that was Germany. Here the ON
eials scoffed at him. They would not
they said. grant him anything at al
unless he gave absolute proof that what
he claimed was correct. What non
sense II was, they declared, to talk Of
yaporizing alumina. NJ. Gin sent the
patent once large case Of his primary
products and huge box OF rubies. Tit
establishment Of the officials may b
imagined. The precious patent was a.
once sent to the inventor. The enect
of this discovery upon the market fol
precious stones cannot at present d
definitely estimated It is a well-knoWr
fact that a first-elass ruby Is almost a
valuable as q diamond. according q
present prices. Not only that, but
fine ruby Is really q rarity, and the de
mand. therefore, is so great that theI
are snapped up by dealers as rapidly
az their discovery is announced. ID
Gin has not yet attempted to marke
his rubies, but experts have told hin
that he should have no difhculty in do
ing 20, because they could not tell then
from the genuine unless some one els
showed them which we're the natura
and which the manufactured rubies
II Is expected that the first consign
ment OF the artificial gems viii be plac
ed upon the market about the nrst Q
October. and It is also announced ina
they win be introduced simultaneous
" throughout Europe and the Unite'
States.