The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-01-12

At a time when mining is . just
emerging from a period of acute de-
preston, from malaise the chief
symptom of which is unreasoning pes
simism it may be desirable to remind
ourselves of the extent to which the
use of metals enters into our daily
life. Most of us begin the day by aris-
ing from a bedstead made OF brass,
which is an alloy OF copper and zinc.
Our movements are aided by steel
bed springs. AS we go to the bath we
open a door by means of brass knob
more copper and zinc. Inside the
bathroom we are surrounded by evil
dences of the fact that our comfort is
dependent largely upon the service of
metals. The word plumbing" signifies
the use of lead, for ''plumbum" is the
Latin for lead. and its abbreviation,
Pb, is the chemical symbol of that
modest metal. The fixtures are nickel
plated that is, either brass, cast-iron
or wrought-iron coated with nickel. to
prevent rusting. The bath-tub usu-
ally made of sheet iron coated with an
enamel that istelf is the product of
mining operations, for it is a vitrified
form of clay. Returning to the bed
room, we see a pin on the floor and |
pick it up. Most pins are made of |
timed brass. but the cheaper kinds !
consist of tin-plated steel wire A
mere man hardly realizes how great
10, Of vi, I
when he buys a shirt or prepares to
wear one that has come from the laun-
dry; but to womankind the pin is the
prime implement of their engineering;
their idea of chaos, we are told. is "at
incOnvenient moments to come I'M
done" It is estimated that O,S75, OOO.-
900 pins were used in the United States
in 1918. More than half of the factories
for the purpose are in Con-
necticut.
Let us suppose that we are now |
ready for breakfast, having shaved !
with a steel razor by the aid of soap in (
4 nickel plated container. We go down i
stairs, passing over brass rods on the /
stairway and opening more doors with Il
BRASS knobs. In the dining room we
ind metals galore. On the table {
shines the silverware that kind friends
rave us when we were married. The
poons and forks are of silver, alleged
With little copper to harden the met is
j. The knives are made of steel or of "
ilver-plated steel. The big tray is al
Sheffield ware, which is silver-plated a
opper In the corner stands a lamp 81
n bronze pedestal. Bronze is an Il
Hoy of tin and copper The light r
ONES from tungsten filament heat la
by the energy transmitted along it
copper wire. The various fixtures
re made either of brass, bronze. or ps
ickel-plate, which together involve w
he use of copper zinc, tin, nickel and or
on. brass fender lies in front of &c
he Fireplace, and leaning against it lin
e tongs and poker made of brass and tn
on. The comfort of the breakfast 60
BILE is aided by an electric toaster. wi
e coils of which may be made of tn
'rman silver, an alloy of copper, zinc tn
Id nickel. Afterward, if our observer at
"opens 10 be the lady of the house, dr.
e will go into the kitchen to consult he
e cook There she sees metal on
cry side. The stove is made of iron. sci
tn nickel and enamel accessories. en-,
lie pots and pans are made of tin val
ated iron, enameled iron. copper or be,
minimum. The CLINT of a copper ket- fut
suggests cleanliness. NickeI-plated TO
snsils are numerous. The plumbing ma,
speaks lead again. A well-ordered
chen is scrupulously clean and is
nted at frequent intervals. The
lite paint is made either of lead OK n
or zinc oxide; its ingredients are Tn,
'duced from the ores of zinc and T
d. That reminds us that paint is No
d all over house. especially on the A
f. the various pigments being de-
ed from metallic ores The roof it. For
may consist of metal-copper. zinc Is
various kinds of sheet-iron in the And
n of shingles or tiles. On the win A
IS are brass rods and under the ia -
and heavy chairs are castors II
lie of soft iron and brass The cleo of
heater has nickel plated base leav