The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-28

tically, for it demonstrated the fact
that nitric acid could be produced
from the atmosphere, and left as the
problem TO be solved that of produc-
Ii In such quantities and at such cost
as would make it good commercial
proposition.
Later two Norwegian scientists.
kristian Birkeland and Samuel Eyde.
worked out a plan and invented ma
chinery by which this could be done.
They built plant close by great
hydro-electric development in the
mountains of Norway, from which
they secured cheap power in plenty,
and there calcium nitrate is being
produced In competition with the So
dunn nitrate dug from the mines of
Chile. The Birkeland- Eyde appara-
tus consists principally of a steel
drum eight feet in diameter and two
feet deep, lined with fire-brick and
set up on its narrow side. Reaching
out from opposite sides Of this drum
are two U-shaped copper tubes, their
curved ends approaching within one
third of an inch of each other. A
horseshoe magnet embraces the
drum. mounted at right angles to the
tubes. When the current is turned
on, small electric flashes leap out
between the tubes so rapidly that they
seem to the eye to form a steady
flame. This flame, responsive to mag
netism. which spreads it into a six
foot disc of light-a greenish- blue disc
tnat rOars with the accumulation Of
the myriad tiny cracking noises Of
the countless flashes as they pass
from tube to tbue. The heat is Z
600 degrees Fahrenheit and water
must be continually circulated
through the copper tubes to prevent
their instant destruction. Even with
the water they only last 800 hours.
So intense is the glow from this disc
that the eye cannot gaze into it long
glasses. Into this fiercely flaming
disc, air is fed, and as it passes
through, two per cent of it Is con-
verted into nitric oxide, which must
be quickly and carefully collected and
treated to prevent its decomposition
into its original elements. nitrogen
and oxygen. Being brought into con-
tact with water. the nitric oxide
changes into nitric acid, which Is
sprayed into watts Of granite filled
with limestone. with which It COM
bines with much effervescence, MAX
ing calcium nitrate. Seven different
chemical changes take place in the
process. which finally results in this
substitute for Chilean saltpeter. The
substitute is called ''Norwegian salt
peter" and sells in Europe for $3S.75
a ton. whereas Chilean saltpeter COM
mands $45.62.
Two German scientists, Schonherr
and Hessberger, invented for q Ger
man chemical company an apparatus
which, while simpler than that Of
Birkeland and Eyde, gets a greater
percentage of nitric oxide from q Civ
en- amount of air. The chemical pro-
cess is the same. The German in
vention was primarily intended for
the purpose Of securing the sodium
nitrate needed in the manufacture of
"aZo" dyes, but it has proved so sue
cessful that. while the nitrate used in
making the worlds supply of "azo"
dyes is practically all furnished by it.
a large amount Of nitrate fertilizer is
also produced. The Schonherr- Hess
berger process depends also on hydro
electric heat, as the cost of fuel nee
eSsary to generate the current used
by the use Of steam would make the
price of the product prohibitive
The gathering of nitrogen from the
air calling for the use of such a tre-
mendous amount Of electric energy,
plants must perforcc be located at
points at which power can be devel-
oped at small cost and where there
is no sale for it for purposes which
can afford to pay higher prices The
South. therefore, is peculiarly the
place for such plants, because in that
section sites for such DEVELOPMENTS
abound, at which power can be
cheaply generated, and from many
OF which it cannot be economically
delivered to manufacturing plants OF
other kinds. Then. too, the South is
becoming more and more user OF
lertillzers. and with its broadly-cX-
panding agricultural interests and its
rapid adNanCe in scientific intensive