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By ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS

AT various times during the past quarter century proposals have been made that the basic Federal mining law of 1872 be repealed or amended, and that in its place a new and simpler law be enacted to provide for the entry upon, working, and the taking up of claims on the unallotted Federal mining lands in our western states and in Alaska. Serious discussion and study have been given such proposals but little has resulted there from, except perhaps a lively interchange of opinion and the conclusion that though the Apex law of 1872 is in many ways highly unsatisfactory and frequently a fomenter of strife and trouble, it still bids fair to remain with us. Under this act a greater part of the non-ferrous mining industry of the United States has developed. With all its short-comings it is the legal bridge that has carried over the innumerable caravans of adventurers and prospectors who explored our mining frontiers. For without any amendments of substance this act has for fifty-eight years been the guide in the location of our western Federal mineral claims and has stood unchanged during the most important period of our mining history. While Federal and state acts and amendments have been ground out by thousands and tens -of thousands the mining act of 1872, with a :strange tenacity, has remained as constant as the Rock of Gibraltar, and under it states, mining districts, and local customs have developed different codes for its application but its fundamentals have been unaltered. "Use doth breed a habit in a man"; until now the application of the law of 1872 has become a second mining nature.

Jan 1, 1930

By L. S. Cates

THE war is now behind us. We in the mining industry feel a just pride in the part that our industry and our men and our products played in defeating the enemy on the fighting fronts around the world. In five years of mobilization and actual combat, our mines and oil wells produced over 3 billion tons of coal, a billion tons of petroleum, 500 million tons of iron ore, 21/4 million tons of lead, 31/2 million tons of zinc, 5 million tons of copper, 14 million tons of bauxite, 17 million tons of sulphur, 68 million tons of salt, and 3 million tons of potash. It was an unparalleled performance. But what of today? Why the present low production and high costs? Among the black clouds in the mining sky none are so black as that presented by the labor situation. We know it is the result of the legislation and the interpretation of that legislation in the past ten or fifteen years. Since the passage of the Norris-LaGuardia Act in 1932, we have had nothing but a succession of laws, regulations, and decisions that have intensified the strength of the unions and made the operators of the mines and the sources of their financing prartirally impotent

Jan 1, 1946

By Kefton H. Teague

Attempts to locate domestic supplies of sillimanite have been unsuccessful until recently. This paper describes recent discoveries of sillimanite-bearing schists in the Southeastern States, with emphasis on geology of the deposits, mineral composition, origin, and reserves. Statements concerning possible methods of mining, milling, and utilization of sillimanite are given. Results from refractory tests on a laboratory scale are summarized.

Jan 1, 1950

By Smith, George Otis

THE matter that I have on my mind this evening is engineering's need of an open forum. Our fathers of three centuries ago were pro-testanta for freedom of speech and thought in matters religious; later, our fathers were revolutionists for freedom of speech in matters political; until today freedom of speech has become so universal throughout the land that even in the sanctuary of our homes, at times, we have to turn off the loud-speaker. Talk is not always a condition of progress, but light is everywhere necessary to growth, whether the growing thing is a blade of grass, a baby chick, or a young idea, and we must regret anything that tends to shut out the light from the operations of business and industry. Of course, I realize there is little that is novel in what I am saying. Indeed, I have found that Dr. James Douglas-a name we love to honor in our Institute-as long ago as 1907, gave an address at the Toronto meeting that any of us would be proud to be author of twenty-one years after. Dr. Douglas at that time spoke on secrecy in the arts and the text then taken by this leader in metallurgical technique and in the constructive management of big business was "the dangerous temptation to adopt secretive methods by very large corporations." In both thought and language Dr. Douglas was direct and vigorous and he needs no internreter. He advocated the wide open door for ideas on two counts: advancement of technical knowledge and education of public opinion. A few sentences will serve not only to prove the vision of James Douglas, but also, I hope, tempt you to hunt up his address in the Institute's TRANSACTIONS, and thus get his whole thought first hand.

Jan 1, 1928

By George A. Miller

ALTHOUGH the Andean mountain belt, which contains almost all the metal deposits of the other South American nations, does not enter Brazil, this country is rich in mineral resources, for in area it accounts for half the continent and geologically it contains almost all of the Brazilian Shield. This great mass of ancient rocks has been relatively stable for a long time and forms a great area of plateaus and highlands interrupted only by the syncline which carries the Amazon River across it to the sea. Lowland Brazil - the great flood plains of the Amazon. Tocantins, Paraguay, and Parana Rivers-is of no interest to the miner, and in fact supports but a small proportion of the country's population. The highland area is divided into unequal parts by the Amazon River; the north half is underlain by the north lobe of the Brazilian Shield which extends into Venezuela as far as the Orinoco, and into the Guianas, and is known as the Guiana Highlands. Mineralization appears to have been weak in the Brazilian portion of these hills. In fact most of the ore deposits are to be found in the States of Minas Gerais and Bahia, although the neighboring states of Sao Paulo, Pernambuco, and Piauhy can also boast of some deposits. Goias and Matto Grosso are as yet incompletely prospected but are considered to contain reserves for the future.

Jan 1, 1945

By H. W. Gillett

UNLIKE most previous Howe lecturers, I had not the good fortune to be associated with Henry Marion Howe, nor to be directly one of his students. Yet, through his writings, he has been my teacher, as he has of all American metallurgists. Instructive as his writings are-I use the present tense because Howe thought so keenly and reasoned so surely, seeing clearly, as if by intuition, what was hazy to lesser minds, that his writings are still vital-it is not, those books and papers, nor even the minds he trained in his classes, that were his most outstanding service. It was the spirit of Howe in his: approach to the problems of metallurgy, his broad-mindedness and fair-ness, his recognition of the need for theories and hypotheses to explain metallurgical phenomena, his willingness to use them as servants, as well as his questioning attitude-his refusal to accept them as masters-that comprise his greatest service. This most thoroughly warrants the honor the Institute pays each year to his memory. These traits I so respect and honor in any man that I glory in this opportunity to do reverence to him in whom they were so notably united.

Jan 1, 1939

By ALEC CROWELL

Mississippi has had oil production for only the past six years and natural gas production of minor magnitude since' 1926. The search for oil and gas commenced in 1903 and 1496 wells had been drilled in search of oil and gas up to Jan. 1, 1946. As the year 1945 ended, 659 wells were producing oil and gas from 23 separate reservoirs. The production for the year was 8,353,719,000 standard cubic feet of natural gas measured on a pressure base of 15.025 lb. per sq. in. abs., 15.316,009 bbl. of oil¬field water and 19,093,766 bbl. of crude oil and condensate. Production for the year 1944 was 2,636,067,000 standard cubic feet of gas, 14,979,793 bbl. of salt water and 16,420,346 bbl. of crude oil and condensate.

Jan 1, 1946

THE annual meeting of the Lake Superior Mining Institute was held on Sept. 7 and 8, Crystal Falls and Iron Mountain, Mich., being the principal centers of activity. Members of both institutes began assembling early, and by the evening of Sept. 6, some 60 had already arrived at Crystal Falls. The greater number arrived the following morning, however, and after the usual formalities of registration were attended to, the party were loaded into automobiles and set out on a tour of inspection of the mines near Iron River; some properties were passed through, and some were briefly visited to permit the inspection of any unusually interesting piece of equipment or detail of practice. The last stop of the morning was at the Caspian, Iron River, where the entire party was entertained at luncheon at the Caspian Club House. Both the food and the company were excellent, and as the weather was superlatively good (though the natives of the district modestly declared it was only ordinary autumn weather) the lunch was served on the lawn at the rear of the club, where the green turf, abundant flowers, and music by the band, added to the charm of good fellowship. The degree to which mining men have become addicted to golf was indicated by the large number of plus fours in evidence, whose wearers appeared just before lunch and disappeared immediately afterward.

Jan 1, 1928

By G. B. SOUTHWARD

MECHANIZATION is being developed to some extent in every coal field in the United States and it is rather difficult to say which State or section of the country has made the greatest advancement. Statistics now being compiled for 1928 will show the tonnage mined, the amount of equipment used in each of the coal-producing States, and the comparative tonnages and percentages of total tonnage mined in each of these States, and will reveal which field is making the greatest advancement as far as quantity of production is concerned. However, while the tonnage figures are of great importance there-are other phases of coal-mine mechanization, such as the types of equipment, the mining methods and coal bed conditions, which are of equal interest. The change from hand-mining practices in all of the various operations from the face to the railroad cars is, perhaps, more indicative than any other one thing of the real progress being made.

Jan 1, 1929

By Ira B. Joralernon

THREATS of a coming metal famine in the United States have filled many columns in magazines and newspapers in the past three years. This asserted menace has diverted attention from the actual results of recent exploration. Because no one had bothered to look into the facts, the statistical experts assumed that little ore was being found. They often subtracted the staggering tonnage of metals produced during the war from earlier published reserves, and assumed that the difference was all we had left. Naturally, they shuddered, with all possible publicity. For their figures showed an imminent lack of nearly all the metals needed for an industrial civilization, as well as for mechanized war. They concluded that only wholesale imports and development and production of metals by Federal agencies could avert the famine.

Jan 1, 1948

By Charles D. Walcott

Jan 1, 1901

By Augustus Locke

I WISH to urge on this Committee the task of evaluating mining geology. -My motive is as follows: It, is a. duty of the Institute from time to5 time, to establish the social perspective of the professions grouped within it, not simply to promote their use, but to determine with engineering definiteness their true powers and functions. This becomes the delegated duty, therefore, of this committee in respect to geology. Be- cause my own subject is mining, I shall confine my remarks to mining geology. But I believe that the evaluation should be made to include all of that geology termed economic. The perspective for such evaluation is shown in the nature of the public support given to geology. The federal Geological Survey, the leading organization on the economic side, is actuated by the zeal of a small group of devoted professionals who consider its work valuable, ' It proceeds, however, on a starvation ration of appropriations, and that implies that neither the corporations, the voters nor the vote getters consider it important. Altogether, in' the public consciousness, geology is negligible. That, at the same moment, .the profession should act with full confidence, while everyone else should act' with opposite motives, is not fitting. For us, as a committee, to remain incurious regarding such a disparity of beliefs is quite impossible.

Jan 1, 1931

By Charles W. Merrill

IF we follow the threads of the mining problems, upon which I have touched, we find them all leading to one great fundamental desideratum. The people of this State, of this Nation, and of this world must be brought to a better understanding of the basic nature of our industry-must be made more mineral-minded. It is my belief 'that there is not a man present among this earnest gathering of those interested in the mining industry, who has not a deep-seated and heartfelt desire that the existing unprecedented welfare and prosperity of the whole mass of American people be maintained not merely through our own generation but through the generations of our children and their children. In the decades to come there can be no question of the keenness of the foreign competition which we are doomed to meet, and in this great international contest that Nation which has the best balanced program of development and that broadness of vision in its governmental direction, which recognizes the necessity of a sympathetic attitude toward the upbuilding of such a broad pro- gram will be the Nation which will maintain and pre- serve that welfare of all of its people.

Jan 1, 1929

By Joseph A. Holmes

I. INTRODUCTORY. THE plans for the investigation of fuels and structural materials now being conducted by the Technologic Branch of the United States Geological Survey were, before being decided upon by the Director of the Survey, submitted for consideration to the National Advisory Board, upon which there are nine representatives from the membership of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, viz.: Messrs. John Hays Hammond, Robert W. Hunt, B. F. Bush, and E. V. d'Invilliers (representing the Institute); Messrs. Julian Kennedy and C. S. Robinson (representing the Iron and Steel Institute); Dr. Charles B. Dudley (representing the American Society for Testing Materials); Mr. F. H. Newell (representing the U. S. Reclamation Service); and Dr. Richard Moldenke (representing the American Foundrymen's Association). It seems fitting, therefore, that a report of these investigations of the past three years should be submitted to the Institute for publication in its Transactions. The above, together with other representatives of the national engineering societies and allied organizations, were invited by President Roosevelt to serve, along with the Chiefs of the several Government Bureaus who have charge of public works and large. fuel purchases, on the National Advisory Board to give advice concerning these investigations. The appointment of this National Board grew out of a wish on the part of the President, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Director of the Geological Survey not only that the appropriations for these investigations be expended in a manner most beneficial to the several branches of the government

Jan 7, 1908

By John E. Sweet

There have already been so many subjects of a purely mechanical nature presented to the Institute of Mining Engineers, that it is unnecessary for me to apologize for adding another to the list. When a new invention, or what is supposed to be a new invention, claiming simply an improvement on the well-known devices, is to be described, it is usual to point out the defects of the old and give a history of the object or the art up to date. But, as no doubt a large proportion of the members of this Institute know as much, or more, about the history and use of the steam-engine indicator than I do myself, I will not further preface the subject, than to remind you that what called for the Richards's improvement on the Watt's indicator was high speed; that the leading improvement was the reduction of momentum in the reciprocating parts; and that this was accomplished by making the parts lighter, and reducing the travel of the heaviest, of them, and consequently the speed and momentum. The use of the indicator has been extended, for the speed of steamengines and other prime movers has been increased, until one engineer at least, John Cooper, of Philadelphia, says, "I want an indicator that will work up to a thousand revolutions." .Mr. Thompson, of the Buckeye Steam-Engine Company, of Salem, Ohio, has improved on the Richards's indicator by another reduction in the momentum, which is done by putting the parallel motion nearer the fulcrum of the pencil arm, reducing both weight and travel. The characteristic feature of the indicator I am going to illustrate is a still further reduction in the same direction, which is accomplished by dispensing with the parallel motion altogether. As is often the. case, in putting a simple idea into shape, some difficulties

Jan 1, 1879

By Joseph W. Richards

ALTHOUGH bad grammar, the above query is probably, at the present moment, good sense. Why was the Institute started and why does it continue to exist? The small group of men who worked out the original idea felt keenly the necessity of mining engineers and metallurgists getting together in order to discuss their professional problems. That necessity still exists but it does not strike the present generation of engineers so keenly because they have always had the Institute: they do not know what it is to be without it. The Institute is a great graduate school of mining and metallurgy. All of its members who have something to say worth saying are the teachers; all the rest may be learners or critics. No university or technical school can match the experience and information which the authors of its papers possess, no institution of learning has a body of potential listeners so extensive and so vitally interested.

Jan 1, 1921

By Charles H. Fulton

(Cleveland Meeting, October, 1912.) I. INTRODUCTION. THERE are comparatively few accurate data on the melting-or the freezing-point temperature of metallurgical slays, or on related physical phenomena, such as fluidity near the melting-point, specific heat, latent heat, etc. With the exception of the work of H. 0. Hoffman,1 and some older work by R. Akerman, P. Gredt, and H. M. Howe, no information is available that is of direct interest to the metallurgist. Hofman's valuable work is the only one that refers to slags produced in the metallurgy of copper and lead. The classic work of J. H. L. Vogt,2 who views slays from the standpoint of physical mixtures (solutions in which the entities are minerals), has opened up a. new field in the study of slags, and has placed the investigation of such properties as melting-temperatures, etc., on a rational basis. The recent work of A. L. Day, E. T. Allen, and W. P. White, of the Carnegie Institution, at Washington, and of European investigators 3 on certain systems of silicate minerals confirms the value of the investigation of silicate series from this standpoint, and it is my aim to apply this method to metallurgical slaws, in order to gain exact data of value in metallurgy. The work recorded in the present paper is the result of an investigation of reverberatory-furnace slags made for a Western smelting company to determine exactly the influence of change in composition, within comparatively narrow limits, on the melting-point. For a general discussion concerning the mineralogical character of slaws and the principles on which this investigation is based, reference should be made to other work,4 for the subject is too large to be stated in this paper, except very briefly in the following outline 1 Trans., xxix., 682 (1899). 2 Die Silikatschmelzlösungen; I. Ueber die Mineralbildung in Silikatschmelzlösungen; II Ueber die Schmelzpunkt-Erniedrigung der Silikatschmelzlösungen (Christiania, 1903-04). 3 Doelter, Handbuch der Mlineralehevu:e (1911) 4 C. H. Fulton, Principles (of Metallurgy. Chapter viii., on Slags, p. 24.5 (1910).

Dec 1, 1912

By B. F. Tillson

ALTHOUGH most accidents occur through the A carelessness or misfortune of the workmen; that is no reason why we should not take all physical precautions practicable. The best way to approach the problem of mine safety is to acquire a personal feeling of responsibility for the accident and then plan how it might have been prevented had we known that it was to occur. A statistical analysis of the physical conditions contributory to accidents will give an indication of some of the methods or mechanisms that should be revised or safeguarded. The handling of rock or ore is a common source of minor injuries. Freedom from accident when mucking largely depends on the skill and care of the workman; this also is true, to a certain degree, to loading cars from chutes, but much can be done in the layout of chutes and their equipment to provide equal safety with less skill. Permanent stagings, or rigid units that may be easily assembled, should be provided so that the men handling the chute boards or gates and barring the jammed chunks will have a convenient safe footing for their operations. A stance to the side of the chute mouth is to one in front, because a man will not be liable to be struck by flying lumps or his bar, should it he caught in the mass, yet in many mines the workmen face the chute when loading a car. Fig. 1 shows the operation of a plank chute having special latches which support the chute boards in such manner that they may be conveniently dropped into place to stop the flow of ore.

Jan 1, 1926

By J. B. Urnfileb

THE function of gas in the development and production of oil has far reaching consequences that should be emphasized. The technical aspects of the subject have recently had a great deal of attention but less thought has been given to fundamental concepts underlying oil and gas law and the many customs and practices that have grown up in the industry. I shall re- view briefly the advance in knowledge of the subject and attempt to relate these concepts to legislative, judicial and operating problems. Early writers on oil and gas in Pennsylvania noted their close association in oil pools and their contemporaneous decline in output; also, that as gas pressure decreases so does production, that new offset wells reduce the output of existing wells, and even that tubing a well lengthens its flowing life. Expanding gas was deduced as the principal expulsive force. These fundamental observations had been made at least as early as 1880.l They were treated, however, as academic considerations and did not greatly influence law or practice for many years except to instil into all operators an urgent desire to hasten offset drilling to obtain as much of the flush as possible.

Jan 1, 1932

By DOOLITTLE E. M.

(Canal Zone Meeting, November, 1910.) The following notes are contributed, not with the idea of offering a complete history of the development of this very important process as applied to the Leadville district, but with the hope that the practice, as it was carried out in the Bi-Metallic Smelter, may still be of interest to others. The Bi-Metallic Smelter, at Leadville, Colo., was the first to make a commercial success of the process described in the following pages, which consisted essentially of smelting raw silver- and copper-bearing sulphide ores in blast-furnaces to form a matte, which was generally re-smelted with siliceous ores for a second high-grade matte. Robert Sticht, in his excellent monograph on the subject,1 has outlined briefly the plant belonging to this company. He says, in effect: The Boulder, Mont., enterprise set the example for others with whom the patentee (w. L. Austin) had been negotiating, and the old La Plata lead-smelter at Leadville, Colo., was fashioned into a crude, temporary experimental plant for the Bi-Metallic Company, and the feasibility of the process demonstrated by a trial run. Subsequently, the plant was considerably improved, and, being supplied with very favorable ores, continued to run without interruption from August, 1892, to June, 1893. In September, 1893, smelting was resumed in a completely remodeled establishment, some $200,000 having been expended upon the new work. Thus, aside from the Montana experiments, which, under the direction of W. L. Austin, began as early as- 1885 2 at Toston, and continued with indifferent success for six or seven years, the Bi-Metallic plant at Leadville may be said to have * Formerly Superintendent, Bi-Metallic Smelting Co. + Formerly Chief Assayer and Chemist, Bi-Metallic Smelting Co. 1 Modern Copper Smelting, E. D. Peters, 7th ed., p. 415 (1895). 2 Trans., xvi., p. 259 (1887-88).

Dec 1, 1910