124 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



erable interest. From a quality of glass similar to that from which table-ware is 

 made, rods of glass, averaging half an inch in diameter, are drawn to any desired 

 length and of various colors. These rods are then so placed that the flame of 

 two gas burners is blown against that end of the rod pointed toward the large 

 "spinning" wheel. The latter is 8^ feet in diameter, and turns at the rate of 

 300 revolutions per minute. The flames having played upon the end of the glass 

 cyUnder until a melting heat is attained, a thread of glass is drawn from the rod 

 and affixed to the periphery of the wheel, whose face is about twelve inches wide. 

 Motion is then communicated, and the crystal thread is drawn from between the 

 gas jets and wrapped upon the wheel at the rate of 7,500 feet per minute. A 

 higher speed results in a finer filament of glass, and vice versa. During its pas. 

 sage from the flame to the wheel, a distance of five or six feet, the thread has be- 

 come cooled, and yet its elasticity is preserved to a n table degree. The next step 

 in the process consists in the removal of the layers of threads from the wheel. This 

 is easily accomplished, and after being cut to the desired lengths, the filaments are 

 woven in a loom somewhat similar to that used in weaving silken goods. Until 

 within the past few weeks only the woof of the fabric was of glass, but at present 

 both warp and woof are in crystal. Samples of this cloth have been forwarded to 

 New York and Chicago, and the manufacturers claim to be able to duplicate in 

 colors, textures, &c., any garments sent them. A tablecloth of glass recently 

 completed, shines with a satiny, opalescent luster by day, and under gas light 

 shows remarkable beauty. Imitation plumes in opal, ruby, pale green and other 

 hues, are also constructed of these threads and are wonderfully pretty. The chief 

 obstacle yet to surmount seems to lie in the manipulation of these threads, which 

 are so fine that a bunch containing 250 is not so thick as an average sized knit- 

 ting needle, and which do not possess the tractability of threads of silk or cotton. 



The weaving of such heavy fabrics of glass for ornamental purposes and for 

 curiosities is no new thing, nor, in our estimation, does comparative success in 

 such experiments warrant the enthusiastic claims of the Pittsburg manufacturers 

 touching the adaptability of glass for wearing apparel. Unless it is in their power 

 to change the nature of glass absolutely and radically, it does not seem possible 

 for them to overcome the ultimate brittleness of the separate fibers as to make the 

 fabric fit to be brought in contact with the skin, The woven stuff may be rela- 

 tively tough and flexible, but unless the entire fabric can be made of one unbreak- 

 able fiber, the touch of the free ends, be they ever so fine, must be anything but 

 pleasant or beneficial, if one can judge by the finest filaments of glass spun hith- 

 erto. Besides in weaving and wearing the goods a certain amount of fiber dust 

 must be produced as in the case of all other textile material. When the softest 

 of vegetable fibers are employed the air charged with their fragments is hurtful to 

 the lungs, still more injurious must be the spiculse of spun glass. 



However, although the manufacturers are likely to be disappointed in their 

 expectations of finding in glass a cheap and available substitute for linen, cotton, 

 or silk in dress goods, it is quite possible that a wide range of useful' application 

 may be found for their new {shxic. —Journal of Applied Science. 



