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  A-ye auld carbide factory  

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Uploaded: 09/29/06 12:19 AM GMT
A-ye auld carbide factory
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A shot from a recent hike in Gatineau Park, near Ottawa Canada, where there is a sign that explains ... "Tomas Willson (1860-1915) settled here in 1907 to study chemical fertilizers. The engineer, who had made a fortune with his discoveries and inventions in the field of electrochemistry considered this the ideal site for one of his most daring experiments. Within these walls, now in ruins, he condensed phosphoric acid to produce phosphate fertilizer. He earned his nickname "Carbide" by developing a methods for the production of calcium carbide. This substance is harmless when dry, but produce acetylene - an extremely flammable gas- when dampened with water. With Willson's process, acetylene could be safety stored in the form of inert calcium carbide. Today, the Willson house, located on O'Brien Point at Meech Lake, is used for federal government conferences." Today the site is almost completely grown in trees, including through the old factory roof. Another angle to follow.

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