PRODUCING CHEMICASL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 117, 4 February 1918, Page 4

PRODUCING CHEMICASL

1 POSSIBILITIES OF WATER-POWER. ''One of the sources of Germany's strength has been her control of the chemical industries," writes Mr. L. Birks, Electrical Engineer to the Public Works Department, in the "Now Zealand Journal .of Science aDd Technology." "Hundreds of thousands of horse-power of electricity are used by Germany to manufacture soda, potash, acids, carbide, nitrates, explosives, and dozens of otlier essential products. As a result of the war the cost of these chemicals in New Zealand become practically prohibitive, and Germany has been enabled to carry on the war, which she could not have- done without these products of electric power. "Lake Coleridge powor has already enabled sulphate of iron, formerly imported by the gasworks for purifying the gas, to he replaced by hydrate of ■ iron produced from the old tins from i the destructor. A further development ' of tlie seme industry will yield an iron- . oxido paint previously imported. Other : scientific developments are in lmnd. ■ which will produce in the near future ' commercial results of the utmost :m- ---■ portance in making a self-reliant comi munity of New Zealand. "Caustic soda cost £12 per ton bel fore the war. It is now costintr £jk ) per ton, and will probably shortly Dβ unprocurable. Arrangements are being completed for the local manufacture of caustic soda and hydrochloric acid by the electrolysis of common salt by means of Lake Coleridge power.