Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-03-17
Washingtun STANDARD
OLYMPIA, WASH.
FEIDAY EVENING, MARCH II, 1899.
Liquid Air.

realized, revolutonize motive forces OF
all kinds, from the propulsion of rail-
way trains and steamships to the pro-
lection OF the l3-inch shell from the
giant cannon in the turrct of our
modern warships.
The discovery Of liquid air is the
subject oil elaborate treatment, by text
and illustration, in the current mum.
Der OF McClure's Magazine. The in
ventor Of the machinery to demon.
strate q principle, likewise his own, is
Charles f. Tripler, of New York City,
and his claim has been the subject OF
such ample demonstration as to dispel
any belief that the method and mech
anism employed by him partakes OF
anything OF the nature of the Keely
fraud, but is fair and honest develop
mcnt of a hitherto unknown principle
OF air when subject to certain previous
ly undiscovered conditions.
Mr.. Tripler's theory is that when at
mospheric air is subject to an exceed
ingly low temperature, it becomes
liquid. This liquid is clear and spark
ling. 1t boils on ice, freezes pure al
cohol and burns steel, like tissue
paper, and Mr.. Tripler dips up this
astonishing liquid in an old tin sauce
pan, and pours it about like so much
water. 1t is so cold that when placed
over hot stove, in teakettle, frost
not only incrusts the entire receptacle,
but thick coating OF ice gathers on
the bottom directly over the fire.
Liquid air froze mercury, which con-
geals at 40 deg. below zero, upon bar
OF iron, forming mallet, with which a
nail was driven into hardwood board.
1t froze alcohol into solid icycle in a
few seconds when that liquid is sup.
posed to measure all degrees of tenn
perature and only congeals at 2O2 be-
low zero.
Liquid air is formed by reduction
OF temperature to 3l2 degrees below
zero, an intensity Of cold Cor absence
of lieat) that can hardly be imagined.
When it rises above that degree, liquid
air boils, just as water does at 2l2 de-
grees above. As the normal tempera-
ture of human life is about 20 de-
grees, we are 1872 degrees warmer than
liquid air and as compared with that
temperature we are living in fiery
furnace.
The theory of Mr.. Tripler's adapta.
ton of his discovery to useful purposes
is based upon, LIST, means of reduc-
ing temperature sufficiently to induce
liquefaction of the air, and this he
claims to be able to do with the appli.
ances at his command; and I'd, the
immense power developed by the
vapor into which it is transformed sim.
ply by restoring the normal tempera-
ture. The process it will be observed,
is an inverse one to the development
of steam power. In other words, the
energy acquired under this process is
a storing up of power to be released
by conditions that are natural and all.
pervading, just as the bent bow speeds
the arrow when released from tension.
The development of power by steam
as by q constant application of the
goad, heat, just as the stage-driver ap.
plies the whip to his team in scaling
an ascent, for keeping an active force
up to its work in developing power.
The one is a release of coiled spring
and the other constant application
of energy to keep the spring bending to
do its work. The inventor uses the
expansive power Of liquid air to oper-
ate an engine, but strange to say,
after the engine is started it developes
enough power to reinforce itself nearly
threefold, or to CONCEAL enough liquid
air to perform three times the labor OF
its own creation. He demonstrated at
the exhibition of his apparatus that
three gallons of his product placed in
the engine operated the liquefer, con-
sisting OF a vacuum pump and con.
denser, with sufficient energy to pro.
duce ten gallons of the motive power.
AS this may go on indefinitely, the
ample resources of this wonderful ma.
chine may be at once seen. No boiler
is needed, no fire required, scarcely any
personal attention is demanded, the
heat of the atmosphere producing con.
ditions which operate machinery
that continuously gathers in from
the widest diffused element in nature
an energy of unlimited power, appli-
cable to all the uses of steam and high
explosives, and at the same time pro-
vide the means for its own renewal OF
force.
This power, after the machinery is
set in motion, being self-creative and
automatic, costs nothing except the
wear and tear of machinery and the
pay OF man or boy to drop little
oil on the bearings occasionally. II
will, if the expectations of its discov-
erer and inventor are realized, do
away with the heavy boiler and pom.
derous machinery of the ocean grey.
hound and add immeasurably to her
bouyancy and speed. 1t may enable
the railroad engineer to dispense with
firebox and fireman, and make it posi-.
bic for the express train to make still
longer run without stonninp for coal M