PROGRESS OF CHEMISTRY IN SOUTH LANCASHIRE. 11.5 



Since Mr. Muspratt began his works the price of soda has been reduced 

 60 per cent., although the raw materials have fallen only 10 per cent. 



There are about fifty soda-works in Great Britain ; and the following 

 amounts are made, as far as is known : — 



3000 tons of soda-ash per week. 

 2000 tons of soda-crystals per week. 



2,50 tons of bicarbonate of soda per week. 



400 tons of bleaching-powder per week. 



About 10,000 persons are employed in these operations, exclusive of those 

 engaged in procuring salt, coal, pyrites, and limestone, and in the transporta- 

 tion of the materials. 



The new French Treaty reduces the import duty into France 15 per cent., 

 or 36*. per ton. At the time of making the Treaty, it was estimated that 

 59,000 tons of salt were used in France for soda, and 260,000 in Great 

 Britain. 



The following Table gives the amount of materials used at present for the 

 production of 1 ton of soda-ash, and their prices : — 



£ s. d. 



1^ ton of Irish pyrites 1 15 



1 cwt. nitrate of soda 12 



li ton of salt 10 



1:^ ton of limestone 10 



3] tons of fuel 1 1 



364- 8 



III. Bi.EACHING-PoWDER. 



In some alkali-works the waste hydrochloric acid is employed to evolve 

 fcarbonic acid from limestone for the manufacture of bicarbonate of soda from 

 soda-crystals; in others the acid is used for the preparation of bleaching-pow- 



I 2 



