620 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. DoC. 



iiui^iiesia-bromine (MgBr-) of Ohio briue — tlio largest producer uext 

 to Michigan — averages 0.01)7 per cent., and the Western Pennsylva- 

 nia 0.14 i)er cent, iiy the use of the electrical current the extrac- 

 tion of bromine is much less expensive than formerly, and by the 

 Dow process bromide containing less than 0.3 per cent, of chlorine 

 is made without difficulty. 



This special attention has been called to salt and bromine be- 

 cause both are to be had in so many counties of the State, and the 

 former is so essential on every farm. With comparatively little 

 outlay many farmers could produce their OA\n salt, could sell their 

 overproduct to their immediate neighbors, and have an additional 

 revenue from the .sale of the bromine. Of course care would have 

 to be exercised in bromine manufacture and subsequent handling, 

 as it is very poisonous. From it are made, in addition to bromide 

 of potassium, hydrobromic acid, oxygen bromic acid, bromo-acetic 

 acid, bromo-succinic acid and hypobromous acid; also bromoform 

 and bromo-caffeiue, the latter preparation quoted at |5 an ounce, 

 wholesale. Then bromine is used for bleaching and disinfecting 

 pui'poses, and extensively in the manufacture of aniline dyes. The 

 bromide of potassium is most importantly applied, in medicine and 

 photography. Bromide of ammonium and bromide of cadmium are 

 also used for the latter purpose. A few years ago potassium bro- 

 mid<; was frequently used in the separation of some of the precious 

 metals, but with such indifferent results that it is little sought for 

 now for that purpose. 



PEAT FOR FUEL. 



Coal is becoming so high in price that farmers and others are be- 

 ginning to seek other kinds of fuel. In other states, notably Mas- 

 sachusetts, Michigan and Wisconsin, peat is gradually finding favor. 

 In Pennsylvania we have a number of peat beds. The most ex- 

 tensive and valuable thus far found are those of Dauphin, Lacka- 

 wanna and Lawrence counties. Machinery lias recently been in- 

 troduced whereby peat can be mined, dried and manufactured into 

 briquettes ready for use at about |1.30 per ton of the manufactured 

 product. This is now done every day in the three states mentioned; 

 also in Canada. In some respects the peat thus prepared is super- 

 ior to coal, as it is nearly smokeless; and, whatever smoke or odor, 

 there is no injury to the lungs. Then a well-lighted peat fire throws 

 out more heat than a similar aTnount of coal, weight for weight, and 

 will not go out until every atom of fuel has been consumed. 



Now, having touched upon four very important items connected 

 with the welfare of our great Commonwealth — silica sand in the 

 construction of our homes and the purification of our water; lime 

 for building, and the increased fertilization of our fields; salt for 



