CHAPTER XXV. 



ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS CARBORUNDUM. 



The production of electricity in such enor- 

 mous quantities as are generated at Niagara 

 Falls has led to many discoveries and will lead 

 to many more. Products that at one time ex- 

 isted only in the chemical laboratory for ex- 

 oerimental purposes, have been so cheapened by 

 utilizing electrical energy in their manufact- 

 ure, as to bring them into the play of every- 

 day life. Still other products have only been 

 ili- overed since the advent of heavy electrical 

 <-ur rents. A substance called carborundum, 

 which was discovered as late as 1891, has now 

 become the basis of an industry of no small 

 importance. It is a substance not unlike a 

 diamond in hardness, and not very unlike it in 

 its composition. The chief use to which it is 

 put is for grinding metals and all sorts of 

 abrasive work. It is manufactured into 

 wheels, in structure like the emery-wheel, and 

 serves the same purpose. It is much more ex- 

 pensive tluui the emery-wheel, but it is claimed 

 that it will do enough more and better work 

 to make it fully as economical. 



