THE CONQUEST OF NATURE 



The process is described as follows by an engineering 

 correspondent of the London Times in the Engineering 

 Supplement of that periodical for January 22, 1908: 



"This process is based upon the absorption of ni- 

 trogen by calcium carbide, when this gas, in the pure 

 form, is passed over the carbide heated to a tempera- 

 ture of 1,100 degrees centigrade in retorts of special 

 form and design. The calcium carbide required as 

 raw material for the cyanamide manufacture is pro- 

 duced in the usual manner by heating lime and coke 

 to a temperature of 2,500 degrees centigrade in electric 

 furnaces of the resistance type. 



"The European patent rights of the Frank and Caro 

 process have been purchased by the Societa Generale 

 per la Cianamide of Rome, and the various subsidiary 

 companies promoting the manufacture in Italy, France, 

 Switzerland, Norway, and elsewhere, are working 

 under arrangement with the parent company as re- 

 gards sharing of profits. 



"The first large installation of a plant for carrying 

 out this process was erected at Piano d'Orta, in Cen- 

 tral Italy, and was put into operation in December, 

 1905. The power for this factory is developed by 

 an independent company, and is obtained by taking 

 water from the river Pescara and leading it to a point 

 above the generating station at Tramonti. A head of 

 90 feet, equivalent to 8,400 horse-power, is here made 

 available for the industries of the district. The power 

 of the cyanamide factory is transmitted a distance of 

 6J miles at 6,000 volts. An aluminum and chemical 

 works are also dependent upon the same power station. 



