ACETYLENE, THE SO-CALLED NEW LIGHT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10590, 7 September 1896, Page 3

ACETYLENE, THE SO-CALLED NEW LIGHT.

TO TH* KDITOE. SiRi —Permit.me again to refer to the above interesting subject, and also to reply to the letter signed John Hercus, ia whioh he states I that I have been precipitate in writing re aoety- j leue, and that my information is not up to date, consequently of no value. Although he admits that I was quite correct in quoting £37 per ton, as that was th« correct price when Mr Eunson's experiment was taken notice of tiiree weeks ago, and that by later advices the price in giveu at £4 a ton, he carefully refraiu? from .slating that it is quoted (market price) at £4- a ton. I have hefore me cost given *t £1 a ton, while the very lowest selling price is 45fr per ! kilogram or 81dol 50c a ton of 20001b. This quotation per last San Francisco m*il. For the bauefit of those iuterasted on the subject allow me to quote from the June I number o!? the "Progressive A-ge" :—" Owing I to the interest manifested in America among all ! I those interested in the problem of illumination, I ! and considering that the data given publicity.! j arc clouded with considerable doubt in ev&ry iustfiuee, they have been furnished by men who, without exception, have beoD in the employ of parties largely interested in the sslo of carbide of calcium or acetylerio geiiftmtui'S [so that history is only repeating itself here—]'.-he figures as to cost varying from sdpl to lOOdnl. In order to make thorough and impasiial tests and to determine accurately the cost" of manufacturing carbide of calcium the 'Progressive Age,'with its mu'al commendable enterprise, and at a cost of several'thousand dollars, appointed a commission of investigation and to operate'at the works, at Spray, N.O. The commissioners selected were: Professor E<iwin J. Houston, (inventor of tan Thomson-Hor.oton electric system), Dr A. E. Keuuelly (who for a long time was associated with Thomas A. Edison), and Dr L. P. Kianicut (professor j of chem'mi.ry, Harvard College). These I names in the scientific worid| are Biiflieieofc j guarantee of the scourAteneas of data." The I result of their investigation is that they h*ve j giveD to the scientific world a monograph of the greatest value, and the most complete up-to-date report on the subject of acetylene that has ever beeu given to the scientific world, j The report is supplemented by a noce of all patents obtained or applied for up to Jams last in connection with carbide or acetylene, together with a short renew of over 160 articles which have appeared in the various scientific journali) in Europe and America, from which I will make a few extracts. Tbe actual cotb of production of carbide of calcium at Spray, under the most favourable conditions by the commission referred to, was 32d0l 76c per short ton of 2000!b. The gross yield of the carbide was 78 per cent. To this add preparing for the market—tinning, freight, and & reasonable profit would enable it to be Bold at perhaps 50dol a ton of 20001b. We think it safe to say that with the conditions existing at Niagara' Falls, where power can be produced more cheaply than at any other locality, calcium carbide cannot be manufactured at less thaa 75d0l a ton. But perhaps Mr ' Hercus would prefer British authority in preference to data from the home ef acetylene, as I have quoted. I will quote a few extracts from a, paper rsad before the Incorporated Gas Institute in Juna by Professor Vivian B. Lewes, Royal Navtl College, Greenwich, on acetylene. In speaking of the great variation in prices*' quoted aa to the probable cost of carbide he said -.—" Even as lata as.last month a paper read before the Franklyn Institute stated that there w»s a probability of making carbide at £1 a ton. This appears to me to be an absolute impossibility. I have information, whioh I believe to be reliable, that it is being made in Germany at £9 10s a ton, and the figures are strengthened by the consideration that the Swiss Aluminium Company are selling it picked in hermetically-sealed tins at 6d per kilogramme, or £25 a ton." He further says:—"One of the first things that strikeß one on looking at the acetylene flame is the intensity of the light emitted, and after having looked »t the flame for a few minutes one feels that such local intensity cannot bs good for this opl.ic nerves, and that it is necessary to find methods to ceutralise the irritating effect of such high power lights on our visual organs." This is the opinion of the highest authority on the suhjecfc in the United Kingdom. Then, as regards safety, I quote from a recent number of the "Progressive Age":— " It is to be hoped that the disastrous explosion which occurred in a Newhaven, Coun., factory a few days sgo resulting in the loss of never*! lives and destruction of much valuable property will serve as an awful warning to tht.t altogether too numerous class of experiineuters who rush headlong into demonstrations which require the utmost caru, coupled with an intimata knowledge of the commodity they are handling, and an accurate knowledge of tho properties of this gas or, as in thin instance, as a result ok' inexperience the penalty is death. Therefore, only man accustomed to dealing with snnh nffairs can be trusted to engage iv demonstrations with reasonable promise that danger can be avoided." Tho New York and Philadelphia Board of Fire Insurance Underwriters have issued circulars disapproving of the use ef acetylene gas on the premises of insurers over which these bodies have jurisdiction. So, in conclunion, I think that •the above facts plainly show that as far as co«, brilliancy, purity, and safety of acetylene is concerned I have little reason to be jeslous of it M a rival of my specialty.—l am, &c, J. Watt, , Manager Bulolutba Watee Gas OompaDy. Balclutb.lv, September 5.'

Floriline.—Fob tub Teeth and Breath—A fewdrbpaofthe liquid "Floriline" sprinkled on a wet toothbrush reproduce! a pleasant lather, which thoroughly cleanses the teeth from all parasites or impurities, hardens the gums, prevents tartar, stops decay, gives to the teeth a peculiar pearly whiteness, and a delightful fragrance to the breath. It removes all unpleasant odour arising from decayed teeth or tobacco smoke.. "The Fragrant Floriline," being composed in part of honey and sweet herns, i> delicious to the taste, and the greatest toilet discovery of the age. Price 2s Gd, of all Chemists and Perfumers. Wholesale dep6t, 38 Farringdon road, London.-^fADVT. .