ACETYLENE GAS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2263, 15 July 1897, Page 28

ACETYLENE GAS.

EXPENSIVE WORKS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN OTAGO. For some considerable time past articles have appeared in the newspapsrs at Home and in the colonies bearing upon the new illuminstnt known as acetylene gas. Varied and conflicting accounts have beea given aa to its relative value with coal gas, and as to its adaptability for commercial and household purposes. The rapid demand for the new illuminant, however, in all parts of the world, and the immense sums of money that have been invest sd in the manafacture of calcio carbide, from which the acetylene is derived, have set at rest all the doubts that might have been entertained as to its general use and efficacy. The patent rights of acetylene in Australasia have been secured by Mr W. Tyree, of Nelson, and Mr E. F. Green, of New York. Tha latter gentleman has recently arrived in the colonies from America, and after spending a few months in Australia he came on tD New Zealaud in the Mararoa, which arrived here on Saturday last. The intentions of the holders of the patent rights are to erecb in the colonies a factory for the production of calcic carbide, eaoh pound of which will generate five cubic feet or over of acetylene, and each foot of acetylene is equal in belfcing power to over 30 cubic feet of common gas. The object of having a common factory for the whole of the colonies is that the carbide may be transported cheaply and with absolute safety anywhere. The firat questioD, therefore, which engaged the attention of Messrs Tyree and Green was as to the colony in which these carbide of calcium works should be erected, and after the fullest investigation they decided to select New Zealand. As Mr Tyree states, New Zealand appears to be specially " built" for the cheap and effective production of carbide. Lime, coal, and water power are to be found in gceit quantities in many places, and what is of great importance in the matter of cost, this combination is found in close proximity to water carriage. Thus the New Zealand caroide can undoubtedly be made cheaper than the American article, where they ] have to carry the raw material hundreds of miles in some places to the works. The next step to be considered was in what part of New Zealand the proposed worka should Ij9 bailt, and viewing the natural advantages Ofcago po3sesses, and also the fact tbat many influential Dunedin people have exhibited a livaly interest in the new industry, Messrs Tyree and Green favour the proposal to locate the factory in this part of the colony. The machinery for the production of the carbide will aloue cost £25,000. A company has practically been formed, and the shares are principally held in Dunedin. So as to lose no time in extending its operations the company in the meantime j have large shipments o° carbide on the water. ■ Already a number ol business places and private dwellings in the north and several Australian 1 towns have completed arrangements for the j introduction of acetylene as an illuminanfc. \ The discovery of acetylene administered a j severe blow at vested interests in America and ! England, and in the.former place a systematic attempt was made So detract from the merits ! of the new illuminant. The efforts, however, j to decry its commercial value were met by the plucky energy and enterprise of the inventor, j Mr L. Willson, of Canada, who erected works ; at Merritoo, and in the short space of 12 months i he and his firm are shipping regularly 60,0001b j lots to foreign countries, especially to Germany, j "The fact that the demand from Germany j alone," says a contemporary, "is 10 times the | present capacity of the works would seem to be j a sufficient answer to Mr Willson's former detractors, and at the same time an index of what future is in store for calcium carbide and j acetylene gas ; for in the application of chemistry and chemical products so the practical business of civilised life the Germans, it must be conceded, stand in the front rank." | Another cry wa^ then raised, and an attempt J was niide to frighten the public by denouncing I the gas as very dangerous, but if thty had little | ground for their former allegations it is confi- ' dently declared there was still less for ths assertion tbat the acetylene lighting was attended with danger. Oa the contrary, it is claimed that acetylene has been proved to be safer to use than any oftier artificial light. It is held that under no condition would it be possible to exerb a pressure sufficient to cause an explosion of acetylene gas as produced in a generator when using the same cara as with coal gas. In short, the reports as to its danger are alleged to have been purposely magnified and circulated by vested interests. The accidents that have occurred have been principally caused by experimenters who have had little knowledge of the gas. Wheu ia the compressed I form of 1-quid, acetylene is an article that will not be introduced in New Zealand. \ The flame produced by the new gas is oE the purest white, and the light from a bnrner which burns a foot an hour is nicre intense than that of a 100 -candle power incandescent lamp. The light, therefore, being of such intense brilliancy it is uußeceßsary and not desirable to employ it in such quantities as would ba consumed by the ordinary type of burner. Not only has the new gas gained favour by its intense brilliancy, but a big, if not the principal factor, which haa contributed towards its popularity is its cheapness. As previously stated, the ba3is of the gas is calcic carbide, which is simply powdered lime and coks fused together with electricity. Lime in this country is everywhere to be louud. There is an abundance or water power and an inexhaustible supply of coal. The g&s itself c*n be inexpensively supplied to private houses, shop*, or dwellings. All that a consumer would need is a generator comprising two small iron vessel?, ""which, placed mou^h to moutb, fit into each other and so take the shape of a little gasometer. This is partly filled with water and a piece of the carbide is placed inside. When the carbide touches the water gas immediately starts to generate, and the inside iron vessel rises just in the same manner that a gasometer does. The gaspipss are then connected with this generator, which can be placed in the back yard or anywhere, and nothing else remains but to light up. Messrs Tyree and Greeu are ah present exhibiting shis gas in a vacant shop opposite Mr E. F. Lawrence's butcher's shop in George street, it having been found impossible to secure any more convenient premises. A large number of gentlemen were present on Thursday, aud absolute ocular demonstration was afforded of the superiority of the new gas over the coal gas. Argument was not needed, as a gentleman present remarked, as the proof was self-evident and could be seen with the eyep. This exhibition of the ga? will be continued every afternoon from 2.30 to 5, aad every evening from 7 o'clock to 9 daring the next week, and anyone who can find time to take a run down will be amply repaid for his vmr. Mr Tyree informs us that the insurance companies in Europe and America accept acetylene at the same risk as coal gas. The regulations ' of the New Zealand Underwriters' Association | dealing with the subject will shortly be pub1 iislied.