The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1908-09-09
USE OF ACETYLENE GROWS.
May Rcvolutionisc Lighting and Met.
al Working.

From "A book notice OF a bullrtii
on Calcium Carbide and AcctS lcnc
issued by the Department of Chem
istry OF the PENNSYLVANIA State Col
lege.
The use of acetylenc commercially
Is an evolution covering ten or twelv,
years. The rapid strides which III,
new illuminant has made. especially
In country homes. Is making It u
formidable competitor for favor
wherever illumination is required.
The spectral analysts OF the light
shows It to be n practical duplication
OF sunlight. so that colors have their
true value when illuminated by this
brilliant gas. Recently the use ot
acetylene for the headlights OF auto;
mobiles. It's adoption by the govern.
ment for beacon lights. lighthouses.
forts and Indian schools. has given
acetylene new impetus.
Professor Pond has shown that the
dweller in the country home can Sc
cure this excellent illuminant at a
cost which compares to the advan-
tage OF acetylene. with city gas when
burned In the open name burner cost
ing q dollar per thousand cubic feet
The board Of engineers OF the Ma
tioual Board OF Fire Underwriters
have. after a years examination of
the subject. declared that acetylene.
when installed with approved appar.
atus. 10 safer than the illuminants
which II replaces. and the National
Board OF Fire Underwriters has re-
vised It's rules In such manner as
to encourage its more rapid introduc-
tion. Calcium carbide. which has In
some quarters been regarded as n
dangerous substance. has been inyes-
tigated and declared to be without
hazard by the fire underwriters
These facts will come In the nature
Of \ great surprise to many who have
regarded acetylene rs dangerous. In
dealing with this phase of the sub.
ject. Professor Pond has given thor
ough information as to the safe use
Of acetylene and the precautions
which must be taken with this sub.
stance. the same as with any other
illuminant.
An interesting phase OF the subIcc,
is the remarkable use OF what is
known AZ the oxy-acetylcne blowpipe.
BY burning acetylene In an atmOs-
phere' Of pure oxygen. the highest
temperature In chemistry Is evolved.
practically equalling the electric are.
A pencil OF fame two or three inches
long. and no larger than the barrel
OF fountain pen can be drawn across
a piece Of sheet metal and literally
melts the metal In two. The process
can be reversed and sheet metal,
iron. brass. copper. aluminium. and
In fact any Of the ordinary metals
can be literally melted together and,
curiously. the joint Is so perfectly
formed that q file will not disclose
the point OF fracture. Bridge GRID
ers have been cut with great rapidity,
and It is stated that this simple pen
ell OF flame promises a revolution In
the methods OF Woodworking estab-
lishments.
Another curious phase OF the sub
ject Is the fact that calcium carbide
at certain temperatures has the power
OF fixing the nitrogen OF the air and
in this way will produce a fertilizer
called cyanamide. which Is found
equal to the Gillian nitrates. Few
people realize that Sl5 900 900 worth
Of Chilian nitrates have been import.
I'd into this country and used by the
farmers here during the past year
Calcium carbide Is q rock-like sub
stance produced by melting together
lime and coke IN the electric furnace.
II 10 not affected by any substance
sxespt water. and when brought in
contact with water 1t gives on rapid.
" the - kaown ss .acetylsne.
The bulletin on calcium carbide
sHd sSstylsns an be had free by ap.
plicstion. accompanied by six cents
postage. to the Department Of Chem
istry, Of the Pennsylvania State Col.
isgs. Pa,
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