The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-02-25
TluES RlcAkARKlAIsLE SI14I.ulaINAT-
|. ING 2QHALE1lEa8 OF ACETY- i;
LEM, AsREEOLUTioN
IN METAL WORKING. -.

| ~ u =. '-F
A. reprint and revision Of Bulletin
No, 5T%ot the State Department OF
Agriculture OF Pennsylvania has
been issued My the Department OF
Chemistry Of The PsinsylVania State
Collage under the authorshipHof Geo.
Gilbert Pond; Phi. IS The whole sub
1ect OF Calcium Carbide and Acety-
lene is covered r most ly
without the nseS OF technIcai lank siage
and theI b6Nk contains Soomple &na
authoritative infor nation, so Simply
told that the pubic generally will
find the b6ok not only inatructive
but cStreMelS Interesting. {. -.
The use lofsAcetylene com mercially
Is AN evolution covering ten or
twefve years. The, rapid strides IN
which the new iliominant has. made.
especially IN country homes, is maxi
ing it a formidable competitor, for
favor wherever illumination Is re-
Qaired. 1850 -,..>~ ~, "a ~. -. -
The spectral analysis OF tn o. Tight
shows 1t tS he, q practical, dnplica-
ton. Of s0nfight. so, that colofs. have
'hetr traeSHalpe: when illuminated by
this brilliant gas, :, Recently the use
Of Acetylene for the HEADLIGHTS of
antom1 oiles, it's adoption by the
Government for beacon high ts,s light
houses. forts and indian schools, has
given Acetylene new impetus.
PROFESSOR Pond has shown that,
the dweller In the country home can
secure this excellent: illuminant- at q
cost which compares to the advHn-
tases Of Acetylene, with city gas
when burned in the open flame bur-
ner costing dollar per thousand
cubic feet. .... . e.: ::
The Board, of Engineers of the
have, after a yeats examination OF
the subject. declared that Acetylene
when installed with approved appa-
ratus, is safer than the illuminants
which it replaces and the National
Board OF Fire Underwriters has revi-
sed Its rules In such a manner as to
encourage it's more rapid introduce
ton. Calcium Carbide which has in
some quarters been regarded as a
dangerous substance, has been in
vestigated and declared without ha-
zard by the Fire Underwriters. These
facts, win come in the nature of
great. surprise to many who have
regarded Acetylene as dangerous.
In dealing with this phase of the
subject, Professor Pond has given
thorough information as to the safe
use of Acetylene and the precautions
oh Yc& no lob
stance, the same as with any other
illuminant
An interesting phase of the sub
iect is the remarkable use OF what
is known by the oxy-actyIene blow
pipe. BY burning Actylene in an at
mosphere OF pure oxygen, the high
est temperature in chemistry Is ev-
oIved, practically equaling the cleo
tric .arc.{ A pencil OF fame two. or:
three incFfes loSg,S 1s1lds NOS larger
than the barrel OF fountain pes,
can be drawn across a piece ofssheat
metal and literally melts the r>etaI
In two The process can pc -"ver5ed
and sheet metal, iron, brass, Cop,
L.
the ordinary metals can be. literally.
together and, curioBsly, the
joint is SO perfectly formed that a
file will not disclose the point of
fracture. Bridge Orders have been
cut with great rapidity and it is
stated that this simple pencil of
fame promises a revolution in the
methods Of metal working estab-
Iishments.
Another curious phase of the sub
ject is the fact that Calcium Car
bide at certain temperatures has the
power OF fixing the nitrogen Of the
air and in this way will produce
fertilizer called cynamide, which i,
found equal to the Gillian nitrates.
Few people realize that fifteen mil
lion dollars worth Of Gillian nitrate
have been imported into this coun-
try and used by the farmers here
during the past year.
Calcium Carbide Is rock-like
substance produced by melting to-
gether lime and coke in the electric
furnace. 1t is not affected by any
except water, and when
brought in contact with water, gives
OF rapidly the gas known as Acty-
lene.
The, Bulletin on Calcium Carbide
and hctylene can be had free by ap->
plication accompanied by six cents
postage to the Department Of Chem
istry. The Pennsylvania State
College, State College, Pa.
For Information concerning the