The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-03
PLANS TO COOL THE AIR.
Modified Hope Excited by Bells Re-
cent Talk.
Kansas City Journal.

Kansas City Journal.
The dictum of DR.. Alexander Graham
Bell that it is as barbarous 10 let people die
on account of excessive heat in their houses
as IL would be TO let them freeze. ought to
give hope TO millions of miserable human
beings. It probably means that the invenor
of the telephone is at work upon an appar-
atus which. if perfected, will be a greater
boon to mankind than the telephone has
been. The professor believes that the lack
of apparatus for cooling the air inside
dwellings is a reflection on the inventive
genius of the land. As he is such n large
atom in the sum total nature has given the
United States, his assertion is as severe
upon himself as upon half a dozen other
mortals put together. But if the doctor
does c~ontrive something that will drive
away the terrors OF summer all hope there
will be no Bell Telephone Company to snap
up the patent rights and then proceed 10
gouge every mortal who would like to use
it and would he willing TO pay a fair sum
for the privilege OF keeping cool while try
ing TO sleep.
There is undoubtedly a great deal OF
sound reasoning back Of the professors
opinion that cheap and rapid transporta-
ton has prevented inventors giving the
subject of apparatus for cooling houses
much attention. 1t has been profitable TO
devise machinery for cooling meat and
beer. but there has been no profit In taking
such measures as the professor suggests
for securing cooler living quarters. Land
lords have not been able to see any higher
rents in houses. the roofs Of which are so
much higher than the ceilings of the top
story rooms as to leave an air chamber
seven or eight feet high. and yet some
houses are known to be much cooler than
those constructed on ordinary lines, but
they don't bring any higher rent.
Professor Bell thinks the terror OF eXces-
siVe heat will be done way with. His no.
ton i that some modification of the cool
ing processes used in breweries and cold
storage warehouses will be adapted 90 COOL
ing a block or houses. In Paris, dry com
pressed air is distributed in much the same
way that gas is provided FOR Illumination.
II not cool air. then liquid air. the profess
sor thinks. Nill solve the problem. With
a pot Of liquid air in the garnet and a
furnace in the cellar. the scientist IS of
opinion that a HOUSEHOLDER would be pre-
pared for either OF the extremes likely TO
be experienced in a short space of time.
The only objection to liquid air. other
than the fact that il is about as ex-
pensive as trust controlled anthracite. is
that il must be used as soon as il is pro-
duced. Any attempt 10 confne IL pro-
dEces an explosion that would demolish
an ordinary house. II expands so rapidly
when II comes in contact with ordinary
atmospheric air that II is properly classed
as an explosive, il put into a small COM
partment. That practically takes LIQUID air
out OF the subject OF refrigeration FOR
dwelling houses and confines * TO COM
pressed DRY air 10 evaporatc the perspira-
ton on swelterlng mOrtalS and brine I'm
cold storage plants. or air chambers under
the roofs 10 absorb the heat
But as those who have money merely HE
away 10 the seashore or the mountains
when the heat becomes oppressive, there is
no incentive for inventors 10 work.
Ever1 day during the hot wave, excessive
heat had more victims than Mars claimed
on the field of battle during the war with
! Spain. Professor Bell calls attention to