CALCIUM CARBIDE: CORRELATED INDUSTRIES. 
5. The above (which are also indicated in the diagram appended) are probably 
the chief outlets for a large supply of Australian-manufactured calcium carbide; 
or, rather, these are the technical industries that have grown up in the very few 
years that have elapsed since cheap acetylene has been a commercial fact, but 
it must be borne in mind that further developments at least equal to these may 
be expected during the next twenty years. 
The importance of these industries is well illustrated by the accounts that 
have been published of the carbide works at Odda, Norway, where the output of 
carbide amounted to about 50,000 tons in 1914, with the expectation of a con- 
siderable increase. 
Any encouragement that can be given to this manufacture may be expected 
also to react on the correlated industries mentioned in this memorandum. 
CHART OF THE CALCIUM CARBIDE INDUSTRY. 
~ used direct 
| for lighting — 
__ stored as a solution in acetone 
~ welding iron and steel 
— for heating — 
__ cutting iron and steel 
__ Acetylene 
—for power —|—used as fuel in explosion motors 
for power 
Calcium _ | aleohol — —for making acetone 
carbide 
as a chemi- 
_ for use in many chemical 
— caltomake | 
—— processes 
_ fine chemicals 
~ as an agricultural fertilizer 
= —ammonia and ammonium salts 
Cyanamide— 
—cyanide for gold extraction 
__dicyandiamide for toning down explosives. 
In conclusion, it should be mentioned that in Tasmania the erection of a 
plant for the manufacture of calcium carbide has been completed, with the 
exception of the necessary electrodes. As soon as these are available, either 
from abroad or of local manufacture, carbide will be manufactured at the rate 
of 100 tons per week. 
———————— 
Clearly we can have no research work without competent 
research workers. And in the absence of any earlier organized 
effort in this direction, we must look to the rising generation . 
to supply our present needs. Hence the prime necessity, not 
only of fostering a love of research in young students, with 
good natural aptitude, but, in addition, of placing within 
their reach the means of taking up any line of work which 
happened to appeal to them. 
—Professor A. J. PERKINS.. 
189 
