Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-03-09

the former; the country newspapers toward
the latter: meanwhile the sun rises and sets,
the moon wakes and waues and the preces-
sion Of the equinoxes halts not.
--~~~~~~--
[coNMUNIcATED.l
Baltimore, Feb. 81, 1890.
MR. EDITOR:
Fully appreciating the desire Of
your readers to keep abreast Of tho times, Il
occurred to the writer that they might read
with interest some menorands taken at
lecture, with demonstrations, on Liquid
Air." at which he had the much desired
privilege Of being present.
1t is matter of general knowledge that
for centuries it has been the endeavor Of
chemists to liquefy gases, which can only be
done by lowering the temperature. This
had been accomplished In all instances save
cir, and until 1895 all efforts to liquefy it had
failed, in fact, Until within the last four years
atmospheric conditions had puzzled the
chemists and scientists, but within this time
at least half dozen new properties of air
have been discovered, the most important of
which is its liquefaction,
The lecturer, W. Simons, Phi. D., N. D.,
who lectures on chemistry in the B. G. D. 81,
college of P. 4 8. and Maryland College Of
Pharmacy, is one of the authors of this
product. His lecture was given before the
students of these colleges and select com.
pany of his friends. He sent TO New York
where it is made and secured tank Of the
tons. The first part Of the lecture was de-
voted to the attempts to gain low temper
ature and the recounting of the successes
obtained by each up until the present Time
this was followed by an explanation Of the
system of gaming the low temperature Of
oyer 400 below zero, which is required to
lquefy the air, and followed this with the
demonstrations.
The air is first admitted into q cylinder
where 1t is compressed to one.tenth Its
volume; this compression means that the
reduced volume of air has become very warm
and in order to cool it, 1t Is passed in pipes
through tank containing cold water, which
reduces 1t to the normal temperature, and
and that means that the satte amount of air
Is carrying only portion of Its heat sufficient
to keep ct normal temperature volume
of one.tenth its original volume. In this
condition 1t is passed into sscond cylinder
where 1t is subjected to further compression
of 1000 pounds to the square inch, and after
being again cooled 1t IL passed into third
cylinder where it IL put under q further
compression Of 2400 pounds per square inch.
This makes the volume very small, and 1t
can be readily seen that when this air Is left
to suddenly expand to its original volume
this small amount Of heat to 90 large vol
ume would bring it to an enormously low
temperature, but not yet sufficiently low as
to cause 1t to become liquid. After leaving
the third tank 1t passes through q long pipe,
which is encased within another pipe; after
passing through this it is released but caused
to pass back through tho larger pipe, aud
thus reduces the temperature of the air in
the smaller pipe to that of the compressed
air on it, sudden expansion, and leaves this
air In Its compressed state at temperature
as low as the compressed air has attained on
its sudden expansion. This air IN the smaller
pipe Is now released into tank where 1t can
resume Its original volume, but the mere mite
of warmth In it has to suffice for the larger
volume and this brings the larger volume to
such low temperature that 1t becomes .
liquid and We have before US the wonder of
the age, liquid air.
Of the demonstrations the writer need
only say they were most interesting and
must be seen to be appreciated Copper and
steel put into the liquid become 10 cold that
they may be broken with the fingers like
thin glass; beefsteak, onions, flowers, parafin.
when dipped into the liquid may be pulyer-
into q fine powder; the lecturer made ham,
mer out of frozen mercury with which he
drove nail into board; alcohol becomes
like ice and could be eaten. so that the lee
turer said it is possible to cat alcohol and
(jokinglyy drink air.
| Among the many demonstrations was one
which is of especial interest. He put some
| Oh tuC llQulu Ia q COuCC pOt buu pun ~ OVCA
q strong fire: after leaving 1t for few min
utes he put In some warm water and then
poured out the contents which proved to be
several cakes of ice 90 cold that when struck
with hammer they became powder.
The writer had the privilege of having Q
vessel of the liquid air In his hands and also
parts of number of the articles which had
been frozen in 1t.
This article is written IN the hope that II
may give q little insight into one OF the
greatest scientific discoveries of the age TO
those who were not 80 fortunate as to have
CLEANED this knowledge heretofore, and If II
has done 80, Its mission Is accomplished
~ 60 - T. "a