Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-17
Use or NCErNLnNE.
SuII Considered Too dangerous for
General illumination.

Not much has been heard about acetylene
gas lately in the columns OF the newspapers
OF the country. a good many people, says
the Hartford Times, started out a year or
two ago with the idea that there were for
tunes to be made in introducing acetylcne
gas generators throughout the country, and
that it would be easy to persuade people to
buy and use them. But these sanguino per-
sons soon found that in competition with
either ordinary gas or electricity for light
ing there was no field for acetlycne SO long
as calcium carbide continued to cost 4 cents
a pound Acetylene gives a very pleasant
light and it can be used with safety where
proper precautions are taken, but thus far
there has been no inclination to adopt 1t
except in buildings having no connection
with gas or electric lighting systems. How
ever, this may not continue to be the case.
very important improvement in the
method of producing carbide is reported
from Chicago. The News of that city says:
"a series of experiments in the produce
tion of calcium carbide was recently con-
Quoted at the Armour institute by Prof.
Freeman, head of the electrical department.
of the institute, and w. \. Premier, a chem
list, who graduated from the institute several
years ago. The apparatus used was huge
arc lamp enclosed in fire brick in the in
terror of furnace. The upper electrode
was hollow and through it was fed n powder
composed of 60 per cent of common lime
and 40 per cent OF coke. This powder being
carried through the upper carbon or cleo
trode directly into the electric flame, it was
melted by the intense heat and made light
so brilliant that it was impossible to gaze
on it without protecting the eyes with dark
colored glasses. All the power of the electric
nj Of ba Inc tttt wa IN
electrodes and calcium carbide in a molten
state ran away from the machine. 1t was
estimated that the carbide was produced at
n cost of half cent per pound. Many
chemists and electricians have been at work
trying to cheaper the process of making
calcium carbide, for on this depends the
cheapness of acetylene gas. Prof Freeman
says that the great point gained in the eX-
perimerts at Armour institute was the con-
tinuous production of the carbide we have
demonstrated said he, that it can be pro-
duced continuously by feeding the ground
lime and carbon into the furnace. This is
something that never was accomplished be-
fore. With a furnace there is no doubt that
the carbide could be produced in large guam
titles "
The only large source of supply of car
bide at present Is the Niagara Falls factory
and the price of the product is Az cents a
pound, or $50 per ton. If it can be sold at
l cent a pound and yield 100 per cent profit
to the makers by the new process, then the
use of it will surely increase very largely.
But it is doubtful If the attempt will ever
be made to concentrate the gas in large
reservoirs Acetylene gas is not a good
thing to have on hand. 1t should be con-
sumed about as fast as it is produced from
the dampened carbide The smaller the
insurance companies adopted regulations
some time since covering the use of 1t in
certain places, but it is not yet favored for
large establishments. We notice that Mr..
Edward Atkinson, president of the Boston
Manufacturers Mutual Fire company, in
view of recent renewed efforts to introduce
calcium carbide and acetylene gas into COM
mercial and manufacturing establishments,
has published cautionary circular in which
he says: THE purpose of this caution is to
call upon each and all of our members not
to make use either of calcium or aCetylene
gas without full advisement and consulta-
ton at the time the proposed application Is
to be made. 1t may happen that the use of
these materials may be made safe. At pres
ent they are not deemed so. Therefore, the
introduction of either, without the consent
Of the underwriters, would make an altera-
ton in the condition of the risk not con-
templated in the original contract 1t Is
therefore suggested that no new method of
lighting shall be permitted, even for expert
ment, without consultation