The age-herald., 1902-03-30
ELECTRICITY TO CUT STEEL.
{. Carbon Point Which Cuts Through Iron Bars and Armor Plate.

From the Chicago Record-Herald.
 Julius E. Haschke, a Chicago electri- clan, is discovering way to apply elec- tricity to iron and steel so as to cut or burn the metal as warm knife blade does a hard chunk of butter, has brought to bankers and other guardians of public treasure feeling of insecurity. MT. Haschke did not invent his carbon point the name given the metal cutting device for the purpose of opening bank safes, nor does he wish, so he says, to aid or abet in any way the dark lantern fra ternity, yet he is able to cut into two pieces the thickest iron bar or steel plate.
 It makes no difference to MT. Haschke whether he is called upon to cut in two big boiler plate in Milwaukee or sever asunder great steel ribs in the Rookery building, Chicago-he goes about his la bor with full confidence that he can carry out his part of the contract. MT. Hasch- ke's experience in Milwaukee a few faYs ago Is an example of what the carson point can do. A big boiler foundation was 10 be removed from the basement of a building. It was almost impossible to get the great mass of metal out as it lay.
 MT. Haschke's simple invention was mentioned to the interested persons and he was invited to go to the Cream City.
 
 .teel house, placed two pairs of blue spectacles to his eyes and after connect ing his carbon point he touched the steel plate Persons standing far back in the basement saw lurid flame shoot up; if was a white light and produced ex- treme heat. The light well-nigh blinded the spectators, but the operator was well protected and did the work.
 At the rate of a foot in five minutes and cutting or burning away wide space in the plate the carbon point with its terri bie power worked along. MT. Haschke had no trouble whatever in handling the work, and those who watched him left The place aware of the value of the dis covery of the Chicagoan,
 It is reported that bankers in Chicago and Milwaukee have been Investigating the Haschke carbon point, and that they feel it's value as an agency for criminal n.e is virtually nullified by the fact that considerable voltage is required and that . bright light is caused by the carbon no,nt i|its operation on steel or iron.
 "Mv apparatus is simple and can be
 a~oted with a current of only fifty ,,n1ts said MT. Haschke. Such voltage ~ electricity can be obtained by tapping the wires of almost any large building. The modern building is alive with electric -,,i,ee and a shrewd operator could easily An6 4 "n fife mower needed to use his carbon
 n,r+ Rut I have avoided the necessity ps tanning wires by inventing little stor- oao battery, which I use when my work ,s reonired in this capacity. This battery has twenty-eight cells and I am able to ot inst as satisfactory results as With 2 d,rect or alternating current
 Tho inventor added that the power .ntoired in an ordinary electric automo- Su, p,o,,ld be insufficient to do the work. An illustration of what the Haschke de- .soe cnu do was demonstrated last sum- ,,er at the Rookery building. The rear ,,ortion of the third floor had to be raised. aiy o9-inch beams of wrought iron were to he cut. Power was obtained from the ,J.,t in the building, and Mr. Haschke ,,erformed the task in slightly over two serrs If was estimated al the time that chinping or saving the beams would have caused six men to work for at least four days.
 .,rhor of electrode is attached to wood handla hv means of metal clamp; to th,a c,,mp Q wire Is fastened, the other hairg connected with the object to be oneroted upon. If a safe, the second wire ,ss attached to hinge or lock, as the f,ncv of the operator dictates.
 Tha eyes and face of the workmen are .,atec,e5 against the glare and the heat ,,,, . box cs aluminium CT sheet iron. The ..rhoo po,rt is thrust through hole in o,,a sise of this box. The box used by M- Haschke .s small and its inns- sides ,,s, lined with asbestos Driil-proof Bes- g.mer or crorner steel arc cut a5 easily nj, the softer metals with this remark able Invention.