CHtNllCM 
D.B.DcLANDlCO 
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other manufacturing purposes, Hits soda ash 
is dissolved in hot water up to the point of 
saturation and the solution run into shallow 
pans, wherfe it rests until crystalization is 
effected. 
One more process completes the trans¬ 
formation of salt into bicarbonate of soda. 
The crystals of the carbonate are placed in 
shallow wooden travs, and packed up in 
tiers in the carbonating rooms. These rooms 
arc made of brick, and are air-tight when 
closed. When filled with the trays of crys¬ 
tals, the doors are closed and valves opened 
■which admit pure carbonic acid gas. This 
displaces the air, which pusses off through a 
valve. Alter ten or twelve days’ exposure 
to the gas, the mass is dried in a kiln under 
moderate heat. It. comes from thence in a 
crusty State, and undergoes grinding in suita¬ 
ble mills. It is then in the form of a fine 
white powder, familiar to all who have pen¬ 
etrated the precincts of the kitchen. 
1 lie illustrations on this page were drawn 
by one of the Rural’s artists, from the 
Chemical Works of Messrs. D. B. De Land 
Alr-RATU 
THE PACKING ROOM, 
THE GAS ROOMS 
— EXTERIOR VIEW. 
CHARCOAL FURNACES FOR MAKING GAS. 
The next step is to convert the sulphate 
into the carbonate of soda. To effect this, 
perfectly dry sulphate is mingled with some 
carbonaceous substance, as coal or sawdust 
and lime, the whole placed in a power ltd 
furnace and brought into a state of fusion 
together. The resulting mass is called black 
ash, and contains about twenty per cent, of 
carbonate of soda. To obtain this pure, the 
mass is broken line, lixiviated, and the 
liquor, after being condensed by boiling, pro¬ 
duces the carbonate by crystalization. This 
is known in commerce as Soda Ash. 
To obtain a purer carbonate for the man¬ 
ufacture of the bicarbonate and certain 
In the manufacture of bicarbonate of soda 
for the purpose of cooking, this is an im¬ 
portant item. 
The success of this Arm affords a fine 
illustration of the reward which energy, 
industry and integrity may reap in legiti¬ 
mate business enterprise. In 1852 the senior 
member of the Arm, Mr. De Land, began 
the manufacture of saleratus on a small 
scale. His working capital was less than 
two thousand dollars. His business capacity 
and integrity of character wou prosperity 
from the outset, and the large amount of 
capital necessary to conduct an extensive 
worked up, but the aggregate of their wages 
is less than t hose of one man, and the cost 
per pound of tobacco is only about one-sixth 
as much as by the old hand process. 
-♦-*-»- 
CARE OF THE WATCH. 
1. Do not make a toy of it for yourself or 
the children. Never open it except for nec¬ 
essary purposes. 
2. It should he regulated to about mean 
temperature, and always kept as near the 
same temperature as possible. 
8. It should not be allowed to st»p. Better 
that it be kept running all the time. 
4. Keep it in as uniform position as pos- 
key, and that firmly, evenly, avoiding all 
quick motions or jerks. 
9. Set your watch with a key; never turn 
the hands by any other way. You may 
turn the bands either way without danger, if 
they do not move very hard. 
10. On regulating a watch, should it. he 
going too fast, move the regulator a trifle 
toward the “ slow,” and if going slow, do 
the reverse; you cannot move the regulator 
too gently at a time, and the only inconven¬ 
ience that can arise is, that you may have to 
perform that duty more than once. 
11. Take note that your watch, even if a 
good one, will sometimes be guilty of “ irreg¬ 
ularities” in consequence of change of tem¬ 
perature, from the effects of which none but 
a chronometer is exempt; also, from the 
jerks and jars of travel. 
12. If you And any difficulty which you 
do not understand, g<* at once to a good 
watchmaker.— Watch Repairer's Guide. 
-• 
USEFUL AND SCIENTIFIC ITEMS. 
Magnetizing Steel Blocks .—Cubical blocks 
of steel, or largo plates, cannot readily be 
magnetized. But if slits be cut in a block so 
as to convert it hit® a series of plates con¬ 
nected by transverse bars, a permanent mag¬ 
net may be made. 
only fifty per cent, of heat rays, lie attributes 
the painful effect of artificial light upon the 
eyes to this large amount of heat rays. By 
passing artificial light through alum or mica, 
the heat rays are interrupted and the light is 
rendered more pleasant and less injurious. 
Geological Formation of Egypt .—Professor 
Owen, who accompanied the Prince of 
Wales on his late expedition up the Nile, 
made some interesting statements at the 
dinner given by the British Geographical 
Society. From an examination of cuttings 
along the Suez canal, lie was satisfied that 
Egypt was once an ocean bed, and was 
slowly raised to its present altitude. Speak¬ 
ing of the ancient Egyptians, he says, cth- 
nologieally, we learn, from sculptures and 
figures of the gecond third and fourth dynas¬ 
ties, that the founders of such governed 
society in the fertile soil of Egypt were cer¬ 
tainly not African, nor Ethiopian, but Asiat¬ 
ic, with indications of a more northern 
origin than the Assyrian or Hindoo. 
How Oroide is Made .—“ Oroide,” the beau¬ 
tiful alloy resembling gold, is a French dis¬ 
covery, and consists of pure copper, 100 
parts; zinc or (preferably) tin, 17 parts; 
magnesia, 0 parts ; sal-ammoniac, part; 
quicklime, 1 part; tartar of commerce, 9 
parts. The copper Is first melted, then the 
muirnncld cftl.'lllimfMlinf 1 InhA nnrl ♦ ovtnv in 
Scientific ftnb fistful. 
HOW SODA IS MADE. 
In the domestic economy of the good 
housewife, Bicarbonate of Soda is one of the 
articles of most frequent use. And a day 
seldom passes, good reader, but that in 
, bread, cake, pics or pastry you eat—not soda 
precisely, but the iuvisible and harmless air 
into which, through the heat of the oven and 
certain chemical combinations, the once pal¬ 
pable. and distasteful powder lias been 
changed. Like many other articles of most 
ordinary use, the process of its manufacture 
and the chemistry of its operation are not in 
general well understood, and so we will try 
briefly and plainly to describe them. 
Common Salt, or as the chemists name 
it, Chloride of Sodium, is the great source of 
supply whence Soda is derived. Immense 
quantities are used for this purpose, for, 
aside from that required by t he bread makers, 
other branches of manufacture consume far 
greater amounts. The first, step in the pro¬ 
cess of making the bi-carbonate of soda is to 
mix sulphuric acid with common salt. A 
violent effervescence ensues, and hydro¬ 
chloric, or muriatic acid is evolved. When 
the action has nearly subsided, heat is ap¬ 
plied to the vessel containing the mixture, 
the acid driven off, and a dry mass remains, 
which is sulphate of soda, or perhaps more 
commonly known as Glauber’s salt. The 
dry mass thus obtained is, however, not 
chemically pure, as it. usually contains a 
trace of acid! By dissolving it in water, 
neutralizing the acid with carbonate of lime, 
and allowing the solution to crystallze, pure 
sulphate of soda may be obtained. The 
muriatic acid which results from the process 
above described, is saved, and made a source 
of profit in the manufacture. 
Hsi'- 
X ' A 
EXTERIO 
& Co., located at Fairport, Monroe Co., 
\\ estern New lork. This enterprising firm 
arc as heavy dealers in and manufacturers of 
soda, saleratus, cream of tartar, &c., as any 
others in this country. There is probably 
not, a reader of this paper who is unfamiliar 
with their goods. They are scattered broad¬ 
cast. over the West and Southwest, and sold 
to some extent in every State in the Union. 
Their location is peculiarly favorable to 
great, success in the business.' Material may 
be taken to and from their establishment by 
either water or rail transportation. The ex¬ 
pense of manufacture is much less than if 
the business were carried on in a large city, 
lor they are enabled to obtain an abundant 
supply of charcoal, which supplies a gas 
much purer than that made from stone coal. 
U VIEW OB’ THE TAVI LlL’Oli'T CHEMICAL WORKS. 
and extending business was procured with siblc. If in the pocket, better that the , ! l!ims Ina ^ 10 very 
little trouble. In 1858 Mr. De Land visited pendant ring be up-right. ^ rca c M’l m the ocean with impunity. 
Europe for the purpose of getting the latest 5. Out of pocket, if it hang on the wall, let Splitting Cast Iron.—Large masses of cast 
and most scientific information concerning it be upon some soft, surface. Never allow it h'on may be easily split by drilling holes in 
the manufacture. On his return Mr. J. Y. to lie on bare marble or other hard surface, them, and filling with water. A steel plug 
Pierce became a partner, and aided with H it lie ou any surface, let it be with face up, bobl K inserted as a piston, a short, quick 
bis large mechanical knowledge, and invent- and pendant ring t urned under go as to keep blow witb a light steam hammer causes the 
ive skill in constructing and arranging new tine upper part most, elevated. water to exert a pressure in all directions 
and extensive works. Still later, Mr. If A. G. Let your key fit exactly, and be kept alll hcient to burst the mass. A plate twenty* 
De Land was admitted in the firm, having perfectly clean. By the former, you may nino and a half inches thick was thus split 
been from the outset general agent for the save breaking chains, mainsprings, ratchets, b,te a block of ice; and the pieces flew twcu- 
sale of its goods. With increased facilities clicks, etc.; by the latter, prevent introduc- ^ thirty teet by the immense force, 
the business expanded rapidly, untH, from ing much dust. Heat and Light Rags.—O y 0r ninety per 
the small beginning we have indicated, it 7. Wind, if possible, at the same hour cent- of the rays issuing from most kinds of 
may now be stated in round numbers to be each day. artificial lights are, according to the German 
half a million a year. The production of 8. While winding, hold your watch chemist, Landsberg, calorific or heat rays 
goods averages from seven to ton tons daily, steadily in your left hand. Turn only your and as such non-luminous Sunlight lias 
vessel and evaporating it by 
bolding it over a lamp, taking 
care it docs not ignite. The 
smoke will fill the room and 
expel the mosquitoes. 
Height of Lunar Mountains .— 
The German astronomer, Maed- 
ler, has measured the height of 
^ 1,093 mountains in the moon. 
Twenty-two of these arc higher 
than Mount Blanc, which is 
•. v within a few feet of being three 
v miles high; six are above 19,000 
feet. The highest observed 
mountaiu in the moon is 24,844 
feet high. 
Fish Life in Deep Water.—A 
curious experiment is said to 
have been recently performed in 
-- France to ascertain whether 
rg-y* - fishes can live in great depths 
—of water. The fish were placed 
J 5 ” in vessels of water made to sua- 
tt>ri J ~ tain a pressure of four hundred 
atmospheres, under which they 
gi ^ *--'5 lived and preserved their health. 
It is therefore concluded that 
fishes may penetrate to very 
great depths in the ocean with impunity. 
Splitting Cast Iron.—Large masses of cast 
iron may be easily split by drilling holes in 
them, and filling with water. A steel plug 
sale of its goods. Willi increased facilities 
the business expanded rapidly, untid, from 
the small beginning we have indicated, it 
may now he stated in round numbers to he 
half a million a year. The production of 
goods averages from seven to ten Ions daily. 
The illustrations represent but a small 
portion of the machinery of the works. A 
most intense fire is kept constantly in the 
charcoal furnaces, from whence the gas is 
conducted in pipes to the gas rooms, which 
arc built of brick and supported on arches 
and piers. The engines, mills, evaporating 
vats, «fce., are built on an extensive scale,but 
would occupy too much space to illustrate. 
A large force of women is employed in the 
packing room, whence most of the goods 
issue daintily folded in bright red packages, 
to bo inclosed in larger boxes and scattered 
broadcast over the land. 
ty to thirty leet by the immense force. 
Heat and Light Rags .—Over ninety per 
cent- of the rays issuing from most kinds of 
artificial lights are, according to the German 
chemist, Landsberg, calorific or heat rays, 
and as such non-luminous. Sunlight has 
