The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-22
ALCOHOL.
A Newark Inventor Discovers n Process to
Transform tho Liquid.


An inventor in Newark has succeeded in
finding a compound which will hold alcohol In
suspension in a solid form. and he declares
that his discovery is both new and useful.
Whether 1t be true that no one else has ever
before succeeded In getting alcohol into a solid
form. 1t is certain that no one has put in into
the market in that shape. There is no doubt
as TO the usefulness and advantage of such a
compound. The inventor contemplates its use
solely as a fuel. Whether it could be used for
other purposes does not appear. but there seem
to be other possibilities for 1t.
After the inventor had exhibited a sample Of
the solidifed alcohol to a Sun reporter and ex-
planned its uses, he offered to prove the char
acter OF the compound in a practical way by
making some of It for the reporter II the re-
porter would go to his workshop in Newark
and take with him his own supply of alcohol.
TIL only stipulation made was that the alcohol
should be at least o5 per cent. in strength. as
the presence Of water would prevent the sue
cess OF the process. Tit reporter accepted the
proposition and went to Newark. taking with
him a half pint whiskey flask. filed with 95
per cent. wood alcohol.
The inventor measured out the alcohol. and
then.for every two ounces OF 1t. added to it a
slice'ofa a waxy compound shaped like a piece OF
pie. and cut from a box the size and shape OF a
stove backing box. Each slice OF this COM
pound was about an inch wide at the circum-
ference Of the box. half an inch thick. and X
inches long. What this was composed Of is the
inventors secret. 1t felt waxy. and was light
and porous, and. from its smell had evidently
been prepared with wood alcohol.
The alcohol and this compound were heated
together in a water bath until the alcohol boiled.
and at that temperature the compound in II
melted and mixed with 1t. forming a clear
liquid except for a pink %coloring which was an
arbitrary addition to tho waxy compouni
The mixture was now set To cool and IN a
short time 1t became a stiff paste.
1t is IN this form that the inventor purposes
to put, it OF, the market, Although 1t smells
strongly OF the alcohol, the mixture seems to bs
ounce, tin boxes three months ago have lost
little, by evaporation. II a lighted match is
touched to the alcohol paste II melts on the
surface and takes fire. burning freely with the
characteristic blue alcohol flame. only with n
tlnge of yellow added at the outer part. Burn
ing freely in the box and giving a flame bir
enough to. heat a chatting dish. a two-ounce hoy
OF paste kept lighted for about two hours
where the same alcohol In n liquid form would
haye burned out in ten minutes.
the reader. Alcohol is one OF the most desira-
bic OF fuels for many purposes, and in a form
where IL can be transported without danpar az
It's leaRlng OF, spil!inR would have an added
Halne Ior hunting and canoeing trips and for
fluid. my lady can have boxes Of the paste to
lght under her chatting dish or TO heat acurling !
iron. and a man can use ii to heat shaving
water ,orto make a toddy. II the mixture 10
neated 10 q, melting point and then kent in ag'-
ne hardening compound separates and is held
IN, suspension. In this state the LIQUID alcohol
might be, recovered. and this suggests other
uses tor the compound{G Il