The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-01-08

tain stations where plants could be es.
tablshed 10 manufacture it. Where
water power is available along the line
this would save the cost Of fuel,
besides the cost of hauling IL
and the boiler and fire box.
Many curious experiments are made
with liquid air. II freezes mercury or
alcohol solid in few moments. 1t also
freezes other metals. Iron and steel be-
come brittle as glass. A tin cup which
has been filled with liquid air for a
few minutes, will, il dropped, shatter
into hundred little fragments like thin
glass.
A delicate rose that would wither and
turn black from frost bite, may be i'm
mersed for moment in liquid air with
out changing its color; but ii is frozen
so hard that the petals are like glass
and may be broken in thousand frag-
ments. India rubber becomes brittle
and breaks like earthen ware. Frozen
butter may be pounded in a mortar un.
til it is fine powder.
Lead becomes elastic. Ice becomes
milky like camphor, and crumbles into
fragments. Ivory and some other
substances becomes momentarily
phosphorescent. Leather is one
of the few substances that seem to
be unaffected by the low temperature.
A soft alloy, like solder, shows no elias
ITCHY and little strength at ordinary
temperatures, but ii it is wound into a
spiral and bathed in liquid air, II acts
like watch spring and will support
fifteen times the weight it did before.
When liquid air is left exposed the
nitrogen passes off first leaving great.
er proportion Of oxygen. As oxygen is
the substance that supports combustion,
some striking experiments are then
possible. Woolen felt saturated will
explode and burn like gun.cotton. Steel
itself, il dipped into the liquid, will
burn like piece Of greasy pork rind,
giving off very brilliant light.
This property of liquid oxygen may
yet be utilized in the manufacture of
high explosives.
Some OF the uses TO which liquid air
may be put are the following.
Asa substitute for compressed air.
With a pressure Of 1000 pounds to the
square inch compressed air requires
very strong steel reservoirs. But the
liquid, containing llR times as much
air and potential energy may be carried
In paper box.
In aerial navigation, Power may be
carried with very little weight.
In submarine navigation. Liquid air
after furnishing power by expansion in
! motor would provide a supply OF pure
lir for breathing.
In deep sea diving. The diver can
AXE his supply Of pure air down with
lin.
In Surgery, where cauterization is
necessary 1t will eat out diseased flesh
quickly and safely.
1t can be used in hospitals for pure
ool air 10 the patients. In fact, il can
'e used anywhere for cooling purposes,
md it will undoubtedly soon be practic-
'ble, for those who can afford it, TO
rider a gallon Of liquid air sent up TO
he house as they would now order a
allon OF ice cream.
A small dish of liquid air left open in
room would keep it cool and at the
anne time give off a supply OF perfectly '
ure fresh air.
The greatest drawback to handling or
transporting il is that there is a constant
gastage and il must be allowed vent,
r it would explode and tear TO pieces
he vessel containing it,
There is no doubt that liquid air will
oon be ON the market in all the larger
tiles, as il is now in many, and:there ;
GEMS no good reason why il should not a
elcheaply produced wherever power is !
and meet ready demand for
lany purposes. G