134 



CHEMICAL MANUFACTUKES ON THE TYNE. 



As a further instance of the care that is now bestowed in condensing, 

 we append also the result of some recent experiments conducted at the 

 Walker Alkali "Works to ascertain the actual quantity of muriatic water 

 condensed. The daily produce was conducted into large stone cisterns 

 prepared for the purpose, and the strength, depth, &c, was carefully 

 ascertained. The salt used was also tested daily for moisture and 

 impurities, such as sulphate, sand, &c. The former was found to average 

 6 per cent, and the latter 1 per cent, during six months' trial, thus 

 leaving 92-5 per cent. Na. CI. =577 H. CI. in 100 parts of salt used. 



The crude sulphate of soda produced was also daily tested for 

 common salt left undecomposed, which is deducted below : — 



January 



February 



March 



April 



May 



June 



100 parts of salt gave 



H. CI. 



58-3 



Test of 



Sulphate. 



2-59 



53-0 



2-24 



54-2 



2-26 



57-4 



2-14 



58-4 



2-98 



539 



2-12 



Average H. CI. . . . 55-8 



H. CI. left in sulphate of soda 1*52 



2-45 



Los3 per cent. 



57-32 

 0-38 



57-70 



A patent was obtained in 1860 for the use of the weak acids in the 

 place of water in condensing, which has been successfully carried out in 

 the above works, and it will thus be seen that the whole of the acid pro- 

 duced was obtained and calculated without difficulty. Muriatic acid is 

 not entirely free from impurities, and on account of its containing 

 arsenic, iron, sulphuric acid, &c, it is not applicable to all purposes. ' 

 The total quantity of hydrochloric acid produced is about 180,000 tons 

 per annum. 



Manganese. — Manganese is imported from Germany and Spain ; 

 but it is chiefly from the latter country that the richest ores are now 

 obtained, which are found in hills consisting of schistose rock, which 

 sometimes rise to a height of 800 feet from the level of the plain ; but 

 it is also found in " pockets," and, in the latter case, it is quarried by 

 picks, and occasionally gunpowder is used. The quality of the ore varies 

 from 50 to 90 per cent, per oxide, and to obtain the richer ore men and 

 boys are employed to break and sort it, which is then put into sacks 

 and carried a distance of twenty to thirty- five miles, on mules' backs, to 

 the ports of shipment in the Mediterranean. The richest ores are 



