CHAPTER XXVII. 



ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS ALUMINUM. 



Another comparatively new article of manu- 

 facture now produced in large quantities at 

 Niagara Falls is aluminum. Until within the 

 last few years this metal was not used to any 

 < xt< nt by manufacturers, because of the great 

 expense attending its production. Now, how- 

 ever, it is produced in such quantities as to 

 make it about as cheap as brass, bulk for bulk. 

 Aluminum is a very light metal, with a color 

 somewhat lighter than silver; its specific 

 gravity being about one-third that of iron. 

 Aluminum is found in one of its compounds 

 in great quantities in nature, especially in cer- 

 tain kinds <f day and in a state of silicate, as 

 in fcM-par and its associated minerals. It is 

 found in grc-at quantities in southern Georgia, 

 win-re it is mixed with the red oxide of iron 

 that abounds in that region. Here, it exists 

 as alumina, which is an oxide of aluminum. 

 Before it is taken to the reduction-works the 

 alumina is separated from all other sub- 

 stances. It is a white powder, tasteless, and 

 not easily acted upon by acids. 

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