The times., 1898-11-06
WONDERS OF LIQUID AIR
Some Results of the Experi-
ments of Professor Fair.
SOME FOREIGN ALCOHOL
GIycerine, Turpentine, Mercury and
Many Other Things Supposed to Be
Indifferent to Cold Are Reduced to
lee Crystals by Liquid Air-Steak
Frozen to the Hardness OF Iron.

The experiments with liquefied air at
the Polytechnic Institute Friday. after
noon, which ended so unfortunately for
Prof. Fay, who was handling the Won
derful fluid, formed most astonishing
series of phenomena, says the Brooklyn
Eagle. A great deal has already been
written about this strange fluid and the
effects which it produces upon both liq
uids and solids. But the most interesting
question concerning the fluid is whether
it can be made with sufficient economy to
warrant its use in commercial or indus
trial operations. That the evaporation of
the liquid-that is. its passing back from
the liquid to the gaseous state-is accom-
panied by the expenditure of much force
can be very quickly made apparent. In
fact. the effervescing is SO vigorous that
even very small quantity of it if placed
In a bottle which is corked tight, would
in few moments generate such pres
sure that the bottle would be blown into
atoms. Indeed, it is decidedly dangerous
to confine the liquid In air-tight vessels
which are not made of the strongest ma
terial.
Here, clearly, is force, which, provid-
ed it can be economically generated, will
not be mach longer embarrassed. For the
inventive genius of the age will make
short work of claiming up this very able
bodied element and making practical use
of 1t, provided its combined cost of manu-
facture warrants the cost of the harness.
Professor Fay was asked recently by a
reporter for the Eagle to say something
on this subject, but replied that he had
not sufficient information as to the cost
of the manufacture of the fluid to enable
him to give decided answer as to its
economy for commercial purposes. II got
the gas from Charles E. Tripler. of West
Eighty-ninth Street, Manhattan he said,
land 1 think his process of making it is
considerably more economical than any
other that has been devised He makes
it in practically unlimited quantities at
his laboratory and with comparatively
simple apparatus. Thus far he has not
attempted to put 1t on the market, and,
indeed, he does not care even to sell it TO
those who are willing to pay for it.
IT was fortunate enough to get from
him this five gallon can of the liquid for
the purpose of showing my class in chem
istry, and any of the other students in
the Institute who might be interested in
that matter, what the liquid will do. And
1 happen to know that Prof. Tripler gave
yesterday to Columbia College quantity
of the fluid and sent a can of it as well
to the Smithsonian Institution. But these
were exceptional cases. and 1 know that
though he Is receiving etters from all
over the country from persons who want
to get a little of the liquid for experiment,
he declines as rule to give 1t out As
to the economy of its manufacture, | do
not feel qualified to give a definite an
swer, but 1 can tell you what was said
by one of the party of scientific men who
examined Prof. Triplers apparatus in the
laboratory a few days ago. The man to
whom / refer said. after he had seen
how the air was being liquefied, and the
manifestation of its strong expansive
force, that it seemed certain the power