Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-11-10
COPPER AND ITS USES.
The Electric Age of Today Wholly De-
pendent on This Metal.


Spokane CWash) Spokesman-Re-
view-Spokane is fast becoming a cen
ter of copper mining, and in the last
half dozen years the copper camps
near here in southern British Columbia
and in part of northern Idaho have
reached a size to rival the silver-lead
camps. Iron, copper and zinc have
been essential elements in the creation
of the Industrial and transportation
condition of the present age, as well as
the mechanical appliances which form
so important factors in ministering to
the necessities, comforts and conven-
icnces of the present day life. The
taking away of gold and silver would
chaos. Iron and copper. however, are
the main pillars of the metallic struc-
ture, while zinc, in addition to many
other virtues, possesses the unique
quality of being the only electrically
negative metal, and without it copper,
for electrical purposes, would be often
useless.
The uses of copper are innumerable
and great industries are dependent
upon it which affords direct employ
ment to several thousands of persons,
most of whom are skilled workmen,
and annually add in wages not less
than $5,000,0e0 to the wealth of the
world. The stone ages of humanity
were followed by the bronze age. in
which copper and tin were the only
metals used. The age of iron followed
that OF bronze, the steel age of the
latter half OF the 18th century being
lat higher development of the iron
age. While iron and steel are main
tanning their own position and gain
ing ground another metal has arisen
to claim at least a portion of the hon
ors of the goth century, and copper is
the foundation of the electrical age.
just as it was the fundamental metal
II the age of bronze.
OF the many uses of copper its appli-
cation in the many electrical devices is
the most important. In the hands OF
Franklin and Volta electricity was lit
tie more than plaything, while today
it has become one of the prime factors
oil life, and the uses that we consider
ynultifarious and the installations that
we deem immense are but precursors
OF greater things, of which we may
sometimes dream, and from which sub
atantial fabric the flash of genius and
the fires of labor will bring forth the
perfect fruit. A full enumeration of
the electrical uses of copper would re-
quire volumes. The metal is an in
tegral factor in all electrical installa.
tons. And as the use of electricity is
daily increasing it necessitates a cor
responding increase in the use of cop.
Iner.
Next to the electrical use of copper
It is extensively employed in engineer
ing: every engine has its brass oil cups.
frass and copper tubing is used in
many boilers, and brass, gun metal,
bronze and composition copper bear
iings are a necessity. Within the past
few years the practice has been re-
newed of sheathing the bulls of ships
with copper for the purpose of keep
ing the bottoms clean. Copper is al
so used extensively in architecture, as
roofing for buildings and in cornices.
Bronze gates and doors for churches
and public buildings are uses that an
nually increase the consumption of
copper. The domestic uses of copper
are innumerable. We have brass beds
and furniture, copper lamps and va
rlous kinds of fixtures, from parlor to
kitchen, in constantly increasing form.
Within the last few years copper has
been used in roofing passenger
coaches on railroads, and the ideal
passenger car of the future will have
steel frame covered with copper-in
| fact, the 500 cars being built to equip
the subway railroad of New York city
will be so constructed. In battle ships
and their equipment the use of cope,
is beyond estimate, and is ever increas-
ing. And so on through the expert
ence of daily life, in the arts, the
sciences, in war and in peace; in
utilitarian purposes and In mere orna-
ment the use of copper is constantly
broadening. making the market out
look for copper brighter than for sew
eraI vaarS mast