THIRTY-FOURTH FRUIT-GRO^'ERS * COX^'EXTIOX. 



115 



]\IR. The result of an excess of water would be probably 



to lower the amount of g:as available, for the simple reason that the 

 presence of the body of water would probably take up some of the gas. 



:\rR. BLAXCHARD. Then, what is the best material for tents 1 



^IR. MASKEW. The kind of tenting material is a question that we 

 intend to take up as soon as the opportunity occurs in its entirety. We 

 have many experiments going on at the present time, and we are allow- 

 ing many of those to take the lead, and we expect to get benefit from 

 them. We expect to pursue this question of tent material and the 

 best material to overcome the leak of the gas. 



MR. BLANX'HARD. What is generally used ? 



^IR. ^lASKEW. In our experiments we use an eight and six-ounce 

 duck. If you went to ask a chemist if there is any difference in sul- 

 phuric acid, beyond all question he would say that sulphuric acid was 

 sulphuric acid the world over. He would probably not call it sulphuric 

 acid, but would call it H.SO^ ; that is. two parts of hydrogen, one part 

 of sulphur, and four parts of oxygen. When sulphuric acid is drawn 

 from the chamber at 52, it is H.SO^. When it comes from the still at 

 66. it is H.SO4. At 66- Baume. and at 84 specific gravity. 96 per cent 

 pure, speaking of strictly commercial acid, taken at the temperature 

 of 60. those terms are s^^lon^'mous. We find on the Pacific coast that 

 sulphuric acid is derived from two sources, one from sulphur and one 

 from pyrites of copper and iron. In the manufacture of sulphuric 

 acid from copper, brimstone is used. It is simply burned, and to that 

 is added nitric acid. The nitric acid, which is an expensive item in 

 the manufacture of sulphuric acid, is reclaimed and recovered by a 

 a Yery simple mechanical process, and is available for future use at 

 practically no cost whatever. Sulphuric acid at 66 is beyond cj[uestion 

 the best and the proper acid to be used. In the manufacture of sul- 

 phuric acid from iron and copper pyrites, these things are residue, and 

 we have our other chemicals which pass over with the other gases, 

 leaving the acid in the chamber of the still, and they can be refined out. 

 and whether they are or not will always be a question on an analysis 

 of each shipment. It is quite an expense to eliminate the zinc, the 

 nitric acid, and probably the arsenic from sulphuric acid derived from 

 pyrites, and it is a great saving to the manufacturer of sulphuric acid 

 from sulphur to get back the nitric acid which can be recovered without 

 cost. As a business proposition. I think it would appeal to you promptly 

 that the acid furnished is the sulphuric acid derived from a sulphur 

 basis, for the reason that these men. if they can get the nitric acid back 

 without cost, are going to do it. and with the p;^'rites it is refined to get 

 it back. 



^IR. CI'XDIFF. Have you determined the relative length of time 

 that it requires for the gas to escape? In seven to ten minutes it is 

 supposed to generate or fill a tent with the gas. Have you experiments 



