Reduced cost of liquid air production is indicated by an article in the London "Times." Recent experiments in England of an invention by Mr. Kundsen, a Dane, furnished liquid air at one sixth of the present market price, and give promise of an ultimate low price of a fraction over 2 cents per gallon. The result is secured by purely mechanical means, without an atom of added chemicals. Atmospheric air is first purified and then compressed by 2500 pounds to the square inch. It is finally reduced to 135 pounds to the square inch, which then cools and liquefies the high-pressure air.

The oxygen gas produced by separating the nitrogen from the liquid air is claimed to be purer than by the old methed, and can be supplied in the liquid as well as the gaseous form. One gallon of liquid Sir equals approximately 128 cubic feet of oxygen gas, which retails at 6 cents per cubic foot. The new price is 1 cent. Liquid air has been successfully used in coal mines as as an explesive, being quite safe where fire damp and other explosive gases exist. Liquid oxygen is also used for welding steel pipes, boiler shells, and plates tor shipbuilding instead of riveting.

That oxygen and nitrogen can be separated from liquid air and sold at retail at $1.20 per gallon shows great commercial possibilities. The use of nitrogen for agricultural purposes opens yet another field. The maturing ef liquors will be helped by liquid air. as also the preservation and purification of milk. As a motive power its use is considered to be quite practicable for small powers. The British Government is already carrying out a number of experiments with a view to the utilization of liquid air for various purposes.