The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-11
RUBIEs MADE ny FRENCH GENIUS
BauNite Is the Material which Led to
the FOrtune-MRking Discovery.
From the New York Jou

From the New York Journal
They make rubies by the ton in France
nowadays This is the latest effort of
French genius. 1t was brought about by
means of bauNite French material. and
the discovery has set all the savants of
Europe To talking.
For a long time in certain industries
heated bauXite has been used to make
very hard substances for the fabrication
of artificial milstones, to be utilized in
manufactures Of various sorts. The OBJ
ject of manufacture was to produce
substance to take the place of what is
known as the emery of NaXos. manufac-
tured by the Greek government, and
about which more braggadocio has been
INDUCED in than about anything else.
NaXos emery did not come up 10 expecta-
lions but SO great was the cutlery of the
Greek manufacturers when this was sug-
gested that the French dealers made up
their minds TO find a substance, and i'm
hauXite they discovered H.
For a time no one thought of bauxite as
other than useful for the purpose for
which it was originally intended but the
idea finally occurred TO some one that in
stead Of calcining the bauXite II would be
a good plan TO melt il. This Is exactly
what was done and In this manner was
obtained a product harder even than
bauXite-dam which is nothing
Jess than alumina melted in the electric
furnace
These were the steps leading up TO the
grand climax, as IL were, which was fol-
lowed by the birth Of the first counterfeit
OF rare gems the word ever knew which
even experts cannot detect. A savant
bearing the suggestive name OF Gin hap
pcncd 60 have his attention attracted TO
the matter at this time, ana the idea oc-
CURED TO him that possibly there was an
opportunity for development upon which
no one had seized. lie gave the matter
very serious thought ana finally IL came
10 him that the very first step IN the course
OF development was 70 volatllze the alum
ina.
This action was very easily accomplished
ia the electric furnace. the operation Civ
ing rise 90 the thick reddish brown clouds
which are so inconvenleut 20 those who oN-
pertinent in matters scientific. By COM
blulng certain vlpors with those OF alum
ina Mr.. Gin obtained rubies by the ton.
The amazcment. even 60 the inventor of
the process. which this wonderful achieve
mont caused was promptly followed by cN-
prcssious Of disbelief, even from his
friends
After the scientist had perfected his APP
paratus he set about protecting ID. and
thus 10 In that while few have been aware
OF the existence OF the process, Mr.. Gin has
been quietly making Il impossible FOR any
one 90 reap che benefit OF his brain by inn
itatIou. ana has patented his process. both
leo Europe and the United States.
The effects Of this discovery upon tho
market for precious stones cannot nt pres
cnt Boz definitely estimated. u ls wen.
known face that o. nrst-elaaa ruby r. almost
aH valuable as O. diamond. according 10
present pricoH Not only that. bat a nuo
ruby O. really rarity. ana ihe demand.
Therefore. iH so great th1t thcv are anap-
rod up hy dealers aH rapidly ne their dis
oofrrg d. announced.