The times., 1899-11-26
THE NEW ILLUMINANT.
AcetyIene Gas. It's Development. and
It's Many Uses.
From the New York Sun

Acetylere is 4 new word in the diction-
airy, and acetylene gas, as a commercial
product is less than FIVE years old. The
use of it for illumination, when still in
the early experimental stage caused some
severe explosion, both in Europe and this
country Evidently it was something the
general public might better leave alone
until safe methods of handling it and i
behavior under various conditions were
fully ascertained. A great deal has been
said for and against it, but many eminent
men who have nothing but scientific in
terest in the production of ace.ylene gas
agreed that no other illuminant has ever
made more rapid progress toward becom-
ing practicable and desirable commodity.
Whether its general use can yet be en-
couraged is a question for disinterested ex-
perts to settle. That its usefulness is in
creasing, however, is shown by the fact
that the manufacture of calcium carbide
from which the gas is generated by the
application of water, has already become
a large business. At the end Of 1895 there
were twenty-nine establishments produc-
ing calcium carbide in Europe ana this
country and fifteen new carbide works
were building The demand in this coun-
try was so large that the home manutac-
turers late in the year had no surplus fer
export and the new works which were to
be built at Niagara Falls and Sault Ste
Marie Mich. were expected to increase
the American product by $50 tons a day.
The chemical product, calcium carbide,
has long been known, but it was not dis
covered till 1894 how it could be produced
so cheaply as to make it a commercial COM
modify Ii is made of coke and lime finely
ground mixed in proper proportions, and
then fused by a degree of heat which cleo
tricity alone can supply. The product was
of no general interest till after Maissan, five
years ago, succeeded in producing it by
placing the mixture of lime and coke in an
electric oven which was heated to $500 de-
grees. Centigrade. AS the production Of car
biGe and its leading properties were known
TO chemical literature, Maissan did not re-
gard his process as patentable, and it was
free to all who wished to use It, Many
later Improvements in the processes and
machinery used in its production have been
protected under the patent laws of Euro
psan states and this country.
The numerous bicycle riders who now use
acatyIene gas lamps are familiar with the
appearance of calcium carbide. 1t is q hard
bluish-black crystalline body, and is sold
in large and small sizes For bicycle lamps
it is usually from a quarter to a half-inch
thick and each wheelman generates the
gas he uses by the simple process of per
hitting water to trickle from the top part
of his lamp upon the carbide beneath IT,
Carbide may be transported to any part OF
the world, and the gas is generated in re-
ceptacles at the place where it is consumed
by allowing water TO drop slowly on the
carbide.
Over three years ago the system of light
ing by acetylene gas seemed to have been
generally accepted by scientific men as
ditioGs, safe and economical The result
was greatly to increase its use and this led
to so large an extension of manufacturing
facilities that the supply of carbide in
Europe at the end of last year was greater
than the demand If it is found satisfactori-
ly TO fulfill the larger uses that are just
beginning TO be made Of II, the demand for
the gas will continue 10 increase. The
town Of Tata -Tovaros in Hungary, for ex-
ample, has just installed the gas in its
streats for public lighting. the carbide be-
ing brought from Switzerland. the gas gen
Grated in the town and forced through five
miles of pipes to feed 15S burners. The re-
suit Of this experiment will be watched with
interest. Some large summer hotels and q
considerable number of private residences.
villas and factories in Europe and our
country are now illumined by the gas, but
this is perhaps the first attempt to light
the streets of a town with it,
The strictest regulations as to the trans
portation of carbide and the use OF gas
are now everywhere enforced. In Berlin
he use of acetylene is permitted only aft
er experts have examined the generating
and burning apparatus and certified as to
lheir perfect safety. The sale and use of
calcium carbide and acetylene are also
carefully regulated in New York city. OF
course in transportation the carbide must
be kept wholly free from moisture, or the
gas Is generated. 1t cannot be brought in
TO the city or stored here except in her
metically sealed iron receptacles. and no
package must weigh more than 100 pounds
At first 1t was difficult to induce steam
ships to accept carbide as freight but it is
an easier matter now, and considerable