The record-union., 1897-07-17
WenstOCk Lubn C Co.. 4OO-4I2 Street. Sacramento

with an electric current. In his expert
ments on zinc deposition Cowper-Coles
obtained good bright deposits from a
solution of forty ounces of zinc sui
phate and five ounces of ferrous sui
phate to the gallon of water. Zinc plat
ing is now done by continuous process
in France. AS the wire is made the
plating is put upon it, and the whole
product, plated and all ready for the
market is rolled out in one operation
Even a new substance has been pro-
duced by electrolyzing metals. BY
eiectrolyzing molten silver chloride and
sulphide between platinum plates, free
from iridium and protection from the
action of the air, a new dark substance
was obtained, which could not be de-
composed, was infusible and very re-
sistant toward acids. 1t appears to be
a really new product. This naturally
carries the subject into the domain
of the electric furnace, in which so
many new substances have been made.
Heading the list, carborundum has de-
veloped into a large industry. The pro-
duction of the carbides by this means
has been freely commented upon. The
annual production of carborundum is
estimated in one factory to be nearly
GOO tons per annum. 1t will probably
take the place of ferro-silicon in making
steel. 1t is stated on good authority
that if the cost can be reduced to six
cents a pound the demand in Germany
alone will exceed =, 800 tons annually.
In fact, many substances have been
taken out of the electric furnace which
n a.
ture. Silichromite is obtained from a
mixture of natural chronic iron, sand
and carbon. 1t is an abrasive material
of good use in the arts. Ammonia and
nitrides have been obtained from the
furnace as follows: Oxygen, compounds
Of such elements as boron, silicon, mag
nesium, titanium and vandanium, capa-
ble of combining with nitrogen at a
high temperature, are exposed to the
heat of an electric furnace in the pres
ence of free nitrogen and carbon. A jet
of sand is blown in while generator gas
is introduced. On entering the hot zone
of the furnace the sand evaporateS and
the nitrides so formed are treated with
steam to obtain ammonia. Moissan
made veritabe diamonds in the electric
furnace and we have it on the author
ity of Professor Dolbear that worthless
fragments of rubies and emeraldS are
easily fused together into large and
precious gem by the same means. The
latest report concerning the furnace is
that uranium can be produced from it..
The electric tempering processes now
in vogue are somewhat in the same line
and they gain interest when it is point
Ell out that the tests of old Damascus
blades and of electrically tempered
blades show the latter to equal the for
mer in nearly every respect. Electric
arc welding is also in the same category,
and it is now practiced on a commercial
basis both here and abroad Something
in the same line is the recently accom-
plished safe breaking" by electrical
means.
Reinke has proven that turbid beer
can be fined to a brilliant condition by
suspending electric lamps. in the fer
menting vessels. The light brings
about a much quicker and better clar-
ification, the yeasty matters being rap
idly deposited together with the resin
Gus, albuminous, anad glutinous sub
stances which are always present. 1t
is not the effect of temperature. Wines
and whisky can be aged by passing
an electric current through them, and
a patent for one process of the kind
has already been issued. The fer
mentation of cider can be arrested
electrically, according to one author
ity. Pinto claims to be able to pre-
serve meat by electrical means. The
meat is immersed in a thirty-six per