Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1911-02-16

Oe0tC8Be0 b0e luW@0ttOn ueSCfl0e0
in the patent 10 the people Of the
United States forever. The instru
ment abandoning les rights to the
Savene- Cahen pate at was according
ly prepared. aid was recorded in
the Patent Ofica. Commissinner Of
Labor Neil, Ei~in r A. SsligmaD
and Jackson Fl. Ralston acting as
trustees. The relipquishment is
also signed by Edward r Stittinius.
president of the Diamond Match
Compsny.
The effect that this will have on
the match industry OF the United
States is far-reaching. IL will en-
able every match manufacturer 10
the country TO operate without en-
dangering the health OF his en-
ployees or putting upon the market
q substance well known to be poi
souous and disesse-spreading
The Sevene- Cahen substitute for
white phosphorus. while being
harmless TO the health OF the work
men, possesses q definite chemical
composition and is easily ineamma-
BILE. This sesqui-sulphide Of phos.
phorus is obtained in q state If pur-
ity bv distiIla'ion The formula de.
scribed in the patent is as follows:
Sesqui snlphide of phosphorus, 80
grams; chlorate Of notash. 800 grams;
peroxide of iron. 10 grams; zinc
white. 40 grams; powd, red glass,
40 grams; glue. 100 gram water,
29O grams. The advantage OF this
formula as claimed OVER the various
preparations OF nixad pastes for
matches, such as u mixture o: amor.
phous phosphorus AID sulphur eth
ar in powder or the state of fusion,
is due to the fact that the sesqui-
sulphide OF phosphorus is very sta
BILE, resists moisture, and can easily
be utilized and manipulated indus
trislly.
II is not known whether the ac-
ton OF the Diamond Match Company
in thus freely giving to the people
Of the United States the use OF this
valuable formula will have the effect
OF rendering unnecessary the pro-
posed legislation against the use OF
white Dh"s ohorus. but as the Sew
ene-Cshen process has been used
with great success bv the Diamond
Match Company and il is the only
non-deleterious substitute that is
commercially practical. there ap-
pears to be no good reason why the
other mat utacturers of matches 10
the United States shall not now use
the harmless process, thus doing
away altogether with the use OF
white phosphorus.
The legality of the document sign
ed by the Trustees and the Diamond
Match Company will hardly be
q Questioned. While the patent has
about i've years to run, il is assum-
ed that the contract between the
Diamond Match Company and the |
inventors has been fulfilled, or will |
continue to be fulfilled. Stree the
inventors arc TO. recited in the in
strumo mt lately recorded in the Pa
tent Office as being parties at inter-
est, it can be reasonably deiuced |
that their claims under the patent |
have already been satisfied.
There is apparently no string"
tied To this free will Offering to the |
public, and the Diamond
Match Company by this act places
itself in the position of a public |
benefactOr. 10 these days OF mono
poles and trusts it is an unusual
spectacle to fed a large corporation |
hing for the benefit Il the
public interests which IL taken ad-
vantage 81 Can be made to yield hun
dreds Of thousands of dollars
Scientific American.