PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS- SECTION A. 21 



for the electrolytic deposition of metals such as copper, for many 

 synthetical chemical processes, for the smelting of iron and other 

 metals, and for the manufacture of special steels. 



The latest process for the production of nitrons compounds 

 is the invention of Messrs. Schoenherr and Haszberger. and is 

 being introduced on a very large scale in Norway. Tn this pro- 

 cess the air is passed through an iron tuhe in which an alternat- 

 ing-current arc of 5 metres' length is maintained under a pressure 

 of 4,200 volts; the air enters at one end of the tube by a series 

 of tangential holes, and the rotary motion thus produced keep.-^ 

 the arc confined to the axis of the tube. Each arc requires 

 600 H.P. The inventors claim a greater yield of fixed nitrogen 

 than is obtained under the Birkeland-Eyde method, and a com- 

 pound richer in nitrogen — namely, t8 per cent., against 13 per 

 cent. 



The owners of the patent, who have amalgamated with the 

 Norwegian Nitrogen Co., propose to erect large works in the 

 western parts of Norway, which, when completed, will utilize 

 about 400,000 H.P. 



The electric furnace has now passed the experimental stage 

 in Norway and Sweden. At the present time there are four 

 furnaces at work in Norway, and the same number in Sweden 

 for the smelting of iron, the largest being of 4,000 H.P. Owing 

 to recent improvements in electrode manufacture and furnace 

 design, it is now possible to construct furnaces up to 6,000 H.P.. 

 which will work for two years without needing extensive repairs 

 to the hearths. In Sweden there is no doubt that the electric 

 furnace has come to stav on account of cheaper production, and 

 because it is esoeciallv adanted to the smelting of finely divided 

 ores and concentrates. Electric smelting in Sweden has a 

 national value, inasmuch as its adoption will result in the develop- 

 ment of water powers which could not, in manv cases, be profit- 

 ably utilized for any other purpose. 



An electric furnace was started in Sheffield in March of last 

 year, and analvsis has shown the steel from this furnace to be of 

 excellent quality, which by test equalled the highest-class crucible 

 steel. 



An undertaking has recently been formed in Norwav with the 

 object of establishing an industry for converting iron and steel 

 scrap from broken-up vessels into high-grade ^teel by means of 

 the electric furnace, and a movement of a similar nature has taken 

 place in South Africa. 



Electrolvtic refining- of zinc has been pushed forward by 

 the Japanese, especially by Mr. C. Yoshida, and the process has 

 been very successful. 



The increasing use of electrical energy for motive power in 

 factories is indicated by the figures taken from the annual returns 

 of the horse-power of motors connected to the mains of the elec- 

 trical supply undertakings in Great Britain and Ireland, as pub- 

 lished by The Electrician. Although the figures are not com- 



