The copper era., 1902-11-06
An Almost Priceless Metal.

The Cosmopolitan Magazine has of | tered $500 for the most able paper or
 contribution on the subject of "Ra- dium,' the article uct to exceed 5000
 words in length. The subheads of the papers are to include, first, discus sion of all facts at present known in relation to raium; second, discussion I of supplies Of ore likely to give cheap est radiam, and ,hird, discussion of method of extracting radium.
 The discovery of this rare and all most priceless -mssoe in commercial quantity offers a pe-4l -o;d for the prospactor and miner. The amount of radium ever yet collected or accum- ulated only weighs oue-thirtieth of an once, and it is estimated on account of its scarcity, that to collect an ounce an expenditure of S300,o0O would be re- quired, which would make a pound of this rare metal worth at least several million dollars, while it is said that the first grain of r;dium produced cost $10,000 for the pitch blende from which it was extracted
 The qualities ascribed to this metal is the power to give out almost incal- culable energy and light, and this quality is not diminished by constant use. It is claimed for 1t that its rays are so powerful that not only do they furnish light, but penetrate the most opaque bodies, giving to them, for a certain period, their power of radia- tion; these radiations seem to possess the double character of the diver tible cathode ray and the indiyertible X-ray of Rontgen."
 In an article on radium the Cosmo- politan says:
 Enough the experiments thus far made have beea-yery limited, long line of suggestions has been indicated. A trihing particle of radium brought into the vicinity Of electroscope re- suits in the discharge of its electrif- cation. The explanation is that the radiant activity Is such that the air becomes conductor of electricity sui ficiently to withdraw the electrifica- tion of the gold leaves. The ray sent out is apparently conductor of elec- tricity almost as if it were a copper wire.
 "Glass brought into contact with this m etsl becomes permanently of brown ori-vi:3 ---t, :, 1ted hue.
 oxygen Is converted ny ra.. ozone.
 "Some have estimated that but a small weight of radium would furnish a light Tor economic purposes so bril- liant that the human eye and body would have to bo protected from its in- auence. Once in place, however, it would be installed for all time. And there are scientists who argue that if it has retained these tremendous properties from the very beginning of it's creation, its powers will know no decrease with the ages. Thus far on- ly the most preliminary steps have been made toward the discovery of the properties of radium. As already stated the field for speculation seems boundless. For instance, what relation may not the one fact that it converts oxygen into ozone have to the future of chemistry?
 "If mans store of this wondrous substance, which only weighs at his time less than one-thirtieth of an ounce, can produce such miracles, what may not be the discoveries lying in wait for the ardent scientist who first succeeds in bringing together an appreciable quantity of this metal of latent powers? And with the pros pectors of the mountains once fairly directed in search of pitchblende or that ore which may be found to con- tain the highest percentage of radium, we may see within few years salts of radium attain the position of merchantable commodity, perhaps even to the extent of revolutionizing certain of the worlds industries" x-o,, ara h;ll;a,,z and Jvss