The St. Louis Republic., 1902-07-13
IRFANTS' WEAR

The hot Stag strikes the upper part of the
rail and heats II 10 such a degree that the
mold Is opened. \ blow or two with a
hammer separates the Stag from the upper
part Of the now solid rail. and the operation
Is complete.
Other Mysteries of ThermIte.
1T IS remarkable that. though the con-
tents ot the crucible flows out at "A temporal
tu-e little below 80 degrees Fahrenheit
ne outside OF the crucible may be held in
the bare hand almost Immediately. because
the development OF the heat Is too rapid TO
AFFECT surrounding bodies unless kept In
contact with the molten mass longer than
II remains in the Crucible.
SO great Is the heat that the rail would
be still hot To the hand at the end of eigk.
or ter hours IL the mold were allowed 10
remain unopened 80 long. The practical
utility OF :hr Invention IS shown by the fact
that steel rails are now welded by this
process In Berlin. Mlnich. Hamburg Cassel
and other German cities.
1t Is also success in welding pipes into
continuous lengths. miles long. IL necessary.
For pipes only the Stag mot the molten
metaD - allowed i'm contact with the pipe
joint. Many other uses have been suggested
Tor thcrmite, and IL will work n revolution
IN the sreat Industries Of iron. steel and
other metals.
in conclusion It may be remarked" says
me scientist, that the thcrmitc mixture is
safe to handle and safe 10 store-as safe 80
sawdust. Only very high surrounding
temperature or the ignition OF the prirning
material VIII make II burn or course Il Is
AftFfA aAh-EA 20 TIE aNANAAAr ulLli "A ltInOL-
stratiun is to be made. The constituents Of
thermite may be transported separately. to
be mixed on the spot Until they are miNel
they are as harmless as sand
Ideas That Make Men Free.
Such are the wonders OF chemistry, suz-
Sesting Emerson's claim. Thought ssts
men free" BY a. simple prOcess-hame ap-
pied TO metal filings-prison bars melt and
vaulted dungeons flow like water.
Everybody has seen sluminum. II is a
ap. sltvery metal. as light as cardboard.
yet. In is various forms. Il cpmpoSes about
cnc-tVe el.th OF the great earth's crust Mar
vsious TO relate. many metals are OF the
aluminium form. Mixed with copper every
day. aluminium becomes the cheap gold II
commerce. as used for cheap watch cases.
JeNelFN and settings Tor artificial stones.
now widely displayed in show windows.
Ihese stones. almost as hard as those OF
nature are OF corundum. an oxide OF aiu-
minum- This COrundum. referred TO above.
II me IamouS substance recently manufac-
tured by electricity At high temperature. II
- KIND OF precious substance Itself. near
ly as hard as the diamond. and among the
gems OF its various forms are sGpphircs.
afnethysts, rubies and topaZes.
chromium ts Of a dull green color and Is
popular with manufacturers for tmpar;ing
green tint TO porcelain. The most tmpor-
tant use Of pure chromium ts TO harden
for battleships.
Another wondrOus element is chromium.
IN Its pure state Il is OF a tin-white color.
ike aluminium After fusion IL is even
harder than corundum- IL oXidiZes slowly
anf IN oxygen burns wildly. 1t does not
occur native but Is found In chrome iron
stone. lead chromate and meteoric iron. On
OF Its forms Is supposed TO be the gree
that gives resolendent Iuster to the emer-