New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-07
'REJECT SEA GOLD PAPER
Chemical Society Laughs at Dr.
NageI's Explanation.
HIS PLAN "N0T SCIENTIFIC"
Says He Can Extract Gold from
Ocean at So an Ounce and
Potash at S3.15 a Ton.


vince the New York Section Of the Ameri-
can Chemical Society that he could extract
gold from sea water. but he bumped into
snub that staggered him. Every man OF
the good sized audience which file the
little hall OF the Chemists Club, at No. 80
East 4lst street. turned thumbs down on
the small Austrian, whose explanations, in
slightly broken English. fell on incredulous
ears and knocked at antagonistic minds.
He tried 10 laugh with them when they
laughed at him. lie drew diagrams and
figures on the blackboard to aid his expo
sition, and he wrote there the names which
orally he had difficulty in making them
understand. All to no purpose. 1t was
moved:
THAT the New York Section refuse to ac-
cept the paper as d scientific contribu-
ton"
And the ayes had 1t with a unanimous
roar.
Or. Nasel. who is himself member Of
the New York section. and lives at the
Chemists club, made public i'm the news
papers of Tuesday morning the results of
his experiments conducted at Bayshore'
Long Island, the same results which he
was to present to the chemists last night.
lie declared his ability TO manufacture
sold for So an ounce. as against the present
market value of 500 o. and TO extract
potash from the ocean at IS Is ton. The
figures he presented were revolutionary,
and he supported them in A measure by
making known his engagement to read the
paper before the New York section.
Or. \. G. Langmuir, chairman of the
section presided at last nights meeting.
DR. Nagels paper was the second read.
lie had on the desk a vashboier OF water
containing 1.S grams of gold TO every
100000 grams OF water. Into tin tube,
filled with blast furnace Stag and sur
mounted by a wide funnel. he conveyed
this artificial gold solution by the dipper-
fuls. He maintained that on every particle
of the Stag was deposited minute accu-
mutation of gold. which could he readily
separated from the Stag.
In effect the discovery DR.. Nagel thinks
he has made is that Of utilizing metal solu-
tons of such weakness that hitherto they
have been deemed valueless by pumping
them through a filter composed of blast
furnace Stag treated with solution of cop
peras He figures that, with an initial
outlay Of $4,000 for plant by the sea-
shore, one could produce $500 worth of gold
day. or s., 10000 worth Of gold a year.
When he had finished his brief and appar-
entity conservative paper on the subject Dr.
I,angmuir rose. and, addressing the audi
ence, read extracts from the newspaper
articles dealing with the discover" lie
said that. I'm view Of the "sensa tional' tone
OF the articles and the use Of the clubs
name and those Of its officers In connection
with them, he thought Or. Nagel should
first say whether he had been quoted cor
rectly. and then proceed to make good"
before the chemists
The lecturer corroborated the interviews.
He tried to demonstrate with the help Of
the blackboard the rcasonableness of the
figures. Silence reigned until he had fin
shed
Then Dr. Charles +. McKenna, former
chairman Of the section, rose TO ask Or.
Nage whether he had made any reserva-
ton in presenting his discovery.
Yes" was the incorporating reply.
Then. Mr. Chairman" said DR.. Nc
Kenna. Il object to the acceptance OF this
paper as a scientific contribution
DR.. McKenna said he would make this
motion. Applause followed, and the mo-
ton was promptly seconded. Or. Gaines
got up 10 demonstrate al what he thought
was dscourteous treatment Of Dr. Nagcl,
but Immediately Or. Charles Baskerville
leaned TO his feet. called Or. Gaines out of
order. intimated that the question was too
important for sentimental consideration
and called for discussion
There followed in quick succession such
questions as: How much gold have you
extracted 10y this proccss?' Where did
YOU get the slag?' "Why aid YOU use Stag
rather than another sort Of filtcr?' DID
YOU test the Stag for gold before pumping
your solution through it,
TO this last question Dr. Nagel replied in
the affirmative saying he had found seven
cents worth OF gold in it on one occasion,
Int. he admitted that he did not know
whether this gold came from the Stag or
from the copperas with which it had been
treated. a general guffaw greeted him.
one man got up in the gallery and re-
marked:
'I submit. Mr.. Chairman, that this same
process has been practised in Wall Street
with great success for a number Of years"
There was another laugh.
DR.. Baskerville told the audience that he
personally did not object to the reading OF
papers, no matter how unusual their con-
tents might be- before the section, but he
did object TO their publication in the news
papers beforehand The original motion
was put. and not mo" responded.
DR.. Nagel descended slowly from the
platform while the whole crowd trembled
with embarrassment. lie explained later
that he thought his rebuff due to jealousy
of the newspapers and not TO the fact that
he had withheld from his hearers the secret
Of the exact concentration Of the copperas
solution with which ne treated his Stag.
FIR tha; was all he did withhold from them.