ESSAYS 127 



few years ago it was obtained wholly by purely chemical methods. Unlike the 

 examples already mentioned, the actual process of producing aluminium by 

 electrolysis was not derived directly from a scientific laboratory, yet it and all 

 other electrolytic methods would never have come into being but for the discovery 

 by men of science of the chemical effects of the electric current. 



Industrial chemistry has, in fact, been revolutionised by the application of 

 electrical methods ; and the foundation of the new branch was laid chiefly by the 

 genius and research of Davy and Faraday, being practically based on the laws 

 enunciated by the latter. Metals, such as copper and iron, are obtained in the 

 highest state of purity by electrolysis ; in the United States alone, more than 

 twenty million pounds' worth of copper are electrically refined every year. Silver, 

 gold, and lead are also refined on a large scale by electrical methods. Electro- 

 plating with gold, silver, nickel and other metals ; electrotyping, which is used 

 in every printing works to obtain copies of type and engravers' blocks ; the 

 electrolytic reproduction of medals and similar articles, and a hundred other 

 commercial uses have been found for methods which when first discovered were 

 considered to be of interest only to the world of science. 



The manufacture of aluminium by electrolysis is now an established industry 

 in most of the chief countries of Europe as well as in the United States. From 

 the position of a rare metal, aluminium has risen to a yearly tonnage exceeded 

 only by iron, lead, copper, zinc, and tin ; and it may confidently be expected to 

 take a higher rank in the near future. Other products of applied electric power 

 are carborundum and alundum. Early this year announcement was made that 

 satisfactory results in the electrolytic production of zinc from Australian ore and 

 concentrates has been obtained from a plant erected at Risden, Tasmania. The 

 plant has a daily capacity of fifteen tons, which, it is said, can be increased tenfold, 

 and the necessary electric power is obtained from a hydro-electric installation 

 belonging to the State. At present Prof. H. C. H. Carpenter is, however, of the 

 opinion that neither electrolytic zinc nor electro-thermally distilled zinc can 

 compete commercially in this country with that obtained by distillation with coal 

 in externally-fired retorts heated by gas. 



Owing to the relative absence of water-power, Great Britain has not been to the 

 fore in electro-chemical and electro-thermal development ; but there is good reason 

 for hope that the future will see much greater advances in this direction than would 

 have been anticipated a few years ago. It is becoming more evident every year 

 that abundant water-power is not an indispensable adjunct to electro-chemica 

 enterprises, and that other sources of power may possess decided advantages. 

 The Report on Electric Power Supply points out a practicable way in which 

 advance in this direction may be secured. 



A Chinese proverb states that he who holds the iron of the world will rule the 

 world. This is only a half-truth ; for China itself has probably as large deposits 

 of iron ore as any country in the world, but it has not the scientific knowledge 

 required to make the best use of them. The spirit of the proverb, however, was 

 probably one of the main causes of the origin of the present war, for the aim of 

 the great German ironmasters is to obtain a monoply of that vast deposit of iron 

 ore known as "Minette," which covers so large an area of Central Europe. In 

 1870 the contribution of Germany to the world's output of steel was practically 

 nothing. As a result of the treaty by which she obtained the province of Alsace 

 and the greater part of Lorraine, she secured a considerable proportion of the 

 Minette iron ore deposits which had previously been entirely in French territory ; 

 and the avowed intention is to increase her holding of the French ore-fields, which 



