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By William G. Pariseau, H. Douglas Dahl

Recent subsidence legislation indicates that mining engineers would be welt advised to be able to predict and control surface damage caused by mine subsidence. To date, such an ability is practically nonexistent. Model analysis is suggested as one of the alternative paths available which might yield fruitful results. Similitude requirements developed for a self-loaded body in static or quasi-static equilibrium indicate that complete similitude without centrifuging is an impracticability. However, a pilot experimental study which used a simplifying assumption to correctly model mine subsidence has produced results in qualitative agreement with field observations. The purpose of this paper is to present a discussion of the various approaches that can be taken in the study of mine subsidence phenomena. Particular attention is focused upon the rational selection and use of laboratory models. Broadly interpreted, mine subsidence is the deformation of the rock mass enclosing a mine. Depending upon a number of factors, the movement of the subsiding rock mass may disrupt gas and water lines or other buried utilities, damage surface structures such as buildings and bridges, dislocate streams, roads, and rail lines, aggravate acid mine drainage and fire problems, and generally mar the landscape. It is clearly a problem that no mine manager can safely ignore. It is also a problem that will grow with the general population increase. In the following discussion, a summary review of past and present approaches to subsidence studies is given. The possibilities of duplicating subsidence phenomena in laboratory models are examined, and an analysis of a particular type of model is presented. Some preliminary results obtained from a model of the particular type analyzed are then discussed. REVIEW OF PREVIOUS WORK Historically, subsidence investigations have been empirical studies in the field and laboratory or theoretical analyses of mathematically idealized media. Empirical and theoretical work in the United States has generally lagged behind investigations abroad. In the United States, field studies are mostly pre-World War 11. These are summarized in the Mining Engineer's Handbook. ' Field studies in Europe are more recent and more extensive. Those made in Great Britain are summarized in the Subsidence Engineers Handbook2 and represent observations made at 157 different collieries. Such studies by themselves are of limited usefulness as are all empirical studies. One can never be certain that conditions at one mine will be similar enough to those at another to warrant the drawing of like conclusions. European subsidence formulas rely heavily upon the "angle of draw" and "critical area" concepts. The angle of draw is defined as the angle between a vertical line through the face, and another line extending from the face to the surface at the point where movement is zero. The critical area is defined in relation to the least extraction necessary to produce maximum subsidence. Fig. 1 illustrates the angle of draw and critical area concepts. First and second "limits of influence" are also shown. The angle of draw and associated critical area concept are obviously not well defined, being dependent upon the accuracy of the surface survey. In Great Britain, the angle of draw has increased through the years from about 26 to 35°. In the United States, zero and negative angles of draw have been reported. In the authors' opinion, these purely geometrical concepts represent an oversimplification of subsidence phenomena and their use, in the United States at least, should be discouraged. Empirical observations of laboratory models containing layers of earth, sand, clay, and plaster were made by Fayol (cited by Peele) as early as 1885. An outgrowth of his work was the "dome theory," a verbal description of what is assumed to occur in subsiding rock masses. The dome theory has since fallen into disrepute. Theoretical analyses worthy of the name treat a subsiding rock mass as a deformable body. In these analyses, the actual rock mass is replaced by an idealized material that deforms according to a simple stress-strain relationship. The stress equations of equilibrium expressing the Newtonian laws of mechanical action and the geometry of strain furnish additional equations that must be satisfied. A loading criterion-generally understood, and in some cases stated explicitly-completes the theory.

Jan 1, 1969

By K. C. Sclater, B. R. Stephenson

Recent progress in oil-recovery methods has brought into prominence gas-energy relations in oil sands. The greater the effort made to utilize this gas-energy relationship to the best advantage in oil recovery, the greater becomes the need for more precise information concerning physical conditions as they actually exist in an oil well. The intelligent use of gas-oil ratios when considering production efficiency has been the subject of much recent discussion. It has been stressed that the pressure as well as the volume of gas must be known when considering the efficiency of a producing well on an energy basis. When methods of production are compared on an energy basis it implies a knowledge of pressure, temperature and physical properties of the fluids at the bottom of the well. In questions concerning gas-lift and the pressure control of wells usually there is a wide variance of opinion among engineers when energy relations come up for discussion. Perhaps this difference f opinion can be traced to erroneous assumptions made with regard to the physical conditions existing within the well. If erroneous assumptions are made it follows that computations based on these assumptions will give results which also will be in error. That erroneous assumptions are made is not to be wondered at because when handling a fluid composed of gas and oil, we are dealing with a complexity of hydrocarbon components each varying to some degree in physical and chemical properties. This means that the physical state of the gas and oil will depend not only on temperature and pressure but that it will be influenced also by the relative amounts of the various hydrocarbon components present. If water is present the problem becomes still more complicated. From these considerations alone it would appear that we can well afford to give some thought to devising more positive methods or means for obtaining data on physical conditions within the well rather than depend entirely on computations from casinghead data. If these data

Jan 1, 1929

By Arthur Green

A GROUP of 13 cities situated in Los Angeles and Orange counties in Southern California is engaged in constructing an aqueduct to carry water from the Colorado River at a point near Parker, Arizona, to a distribution point sear Riverside, California. The aqueduct will have a total length of approximately 241 miles, and is designed to deliver 1605 cu. ft. of water per second, or a little more than one billion gallons per day. The aqueduct crosses a barren, desert waste and the project includes approximately 91 miles of 16-ft. tunnel. The large amount of tunnel driving that has been done in this country in the past few years has resulted in some remarkable developments in equipment and methods. The building of the Colorado River Aqueduct, with its 91 miles of tunnels, has called on the best engineering knowledge in the country. New and better equipment has been designed for all phases of the work, and this equipment has been coordinated and adapted to the various conditions with a high degree of efficiency. The result has been that records for tunnel driving have been set under adverse natural conditions that exceed the estimates for progress under good conditions. All of the tunnels in the main aqueduct, except the Valverde and Bernasconi at the western end, have a finished diameter, inside the concrete lining, of 16 ft. Fig. 4 shows a section of the tunnel with the concrete lining in place. Fig. 5 illustrates the finished tunnel in three typical sections. The standard tunnel grade is 3.432 ft. per mile in the 16-ft. tunnels, but the Valverde and Bernasconi tunnels have a steeper grade and a finished diameter of 15 ft. 3 in. The rough bore of the large main aqueduct tunnels averages 12.95 solid cubic yards of material per foot of advance in timbered sections and 10.76 solid cubic yards per foot in unsupported sections.

Jan 1, 1936

By J. A. Corbyn

An analysts of mining investment from the point of view of financial optimization is presented. The method uses differential equations to describe financial performance rather than the more usual method of modeling mine accounts from year to year. The analysis shows there is a optimum mine life that can be easily determined if certain simplifications are made. Tables are given to facilitate computation of the optimum life.

Jan 1, 1985

By Louis Huber

DESPITE the fact that centrifugal fans were first developed for ventilating mines and that artificial ventilation was first practiced in mines, the lack of knowledge of mining men on mine ventilation in general, and on fan performances and characteristics in particular, is very much in evidence today. While it is true that mines are much better ventilated now than they were 20 to 30 years ago, we have made very little progress in the study of mine ventilation, or in mine ventilating fan design. Today the average mine operator is woefully dependent on the engineers of mine fan manufacturers when he is in the market for a fan, and this situation works to the disadvantage of both the operator and the manufacturer. The former may be imposed upon by an unscrupulous sales engineer and induced to buy a fan which is not the proper one for the mine; when it is operating it may be wasteful of power and even accessory to a serious mine disaster. More often, however, it is the fan manufacturer who is imposed on. If the operator asks the manufacturer to build for him a fan that will deliver a certain quantity of air against a certain specified pressure and requiring a specified number of horse power when operating under these conditions, the manufacturer may build a fan that will comply with these specifications to the letter. When the fan is installed it is frequently found that it is delivering a greater quantity of air against a lesser pressure or a lesser quantity of air against a greater pressure, and is requiring more horse power than specified in the first case and less than that specified in the second. In either case the operator usually upbraids the manufacturer for not meeting specifications, and refuses to pay for the fan. The trouble in either case outlined above is that the pressure necessary to force the specified quantity of air through the mine has been estimated incorrectly by the operator or his engineers. When a fan is designed and built to deliver a certain quantity of air against a certain specified resistance it will operate at its maximum efficiency only when it is operating under

Jan 2, 1926

By Robert L. Bates

An industrial mineral, says the Glossary of Geologic Terms, is "any rock, mineral, or other naturally occurring substance of economic value, exclusive of metallic ores, mineral fuels, and gemstones; one of the nonmetallics." Probably most geologists and engineers would accept this simple and straightforward definition, at least as a general statement. On analysis, however, certain anomalies crop up. For example, it may be considered arbitrary to include industrial diamond and corundum, but to exclude their precious varieties, gem diamond and sapphire. So the present volume has a section on gems and gem materials, in spite of the definition. Another problem arises when we try to define precisely what is metallic and what is nonmetallic. Bauxite and ilmenite certainly qualify as metallic ores, but both are also raw materials of important nonmetallic substances; hence they are included in the book. A third anomaly is that, by common consent of geologists, engineers, mineral economists, and others concerned, the term industrial minerals may include not only rocks and minerals but also certain manufactured products like cement and lime, and even mixed groups of natural and artificial products, such as abrasives and refractories. Thus the central realm of the industrial minerals is clear enough, but its boundaries tend to be indefinable. Since a definition that allowed for every irregularity in the outer fringes would be excessively un- wieldy, the one quoted above may be considered satisfactory. The expression industrial minerals is commonly equated with nonmetallics, and with the somewhat more precise phrase industrial minerals and rocks as in the title of this book.

Jan 1, 1975

By F. Keller

SOME PHRASEMAKER has aptly said that nature made aluminum light but research made it strong. Research has been a vital element in the past progress of the aluminum industry and its future growth likewise depends upon the application of the results of research. The role of aluminum products in World War II is well known and this metal will certainly be increasingly important in the postwar world. Some of the principal developments in the war years were in the field of high-strength aluminum alloys. New and stronger alloys were developed which enabled designers to get increased speed and performance in our fighter planes and bombers. The aircraft industry will continue to use these new materials for peacetime passenger and cargo airplanes. High-strength alloys will also find structural applications in trucks, buses, trains, ships, and bridges.

Jan 1, 1946

By C Gunther

The purpose of this book is to present the practical side of economic geology concisely and in convenient form; established facts and the applications of accepted views are emphasized; theoretical discussions and questions of genesis are avoided. Coal, iron, and placer deposits are omitted; they are subjects of specialized study that are fully and concisely treated in other works. The reader is assumed to possess a knowledge of mineralogy, petrography, and elementary geology. The arrangement adopted is based on Kemp's theory of magmatic waters, on Lindgren's conclusions on hydrothermal and secondary alterations, and on the theories of secondary enrichment enunciated by Emmons and Weed. No general classification of ore deposits is attempted, nor is any attempt made to fill by hypothesis the wide gaps, nor to explain the apparent contradictions that rank economic geology among the most inexact of sciences. The present knowledge of the subject is too incomplete to warrant such broad generalizations. The demand for good properties generally exceeds the supply. While mines of the first rank will undoubtedly be discovered from time to time, it is probably true that a great proportion of deposits having outcrops of commercial grade or of evident promise have been recognized and explored. A review of mining conditions over long periods shows that the rich discoveries belong to pioneer days, and that as time goes on the more important developments are the result of lower working costs, improved metallurgical processes, and an increasing knowledge of economic geology. As engineers in search of developed mines no longer expect to find properties having positive ore of greater net value than the price asked, so those in search of prospects should not expect to

Jan 1, 1932

By Stephen E. Merritt, T. Carl Shelton

Surveying and mapping are used to locate and visually portray objects, lines, or areas in relation to a reference point or line. The actual making of the measurements to locate the objects and points falls under surveying while mapping is concerned with putting the survey information into a graphical form. Generally, the type or class of proposed survey depends on the precision required. Some surveys may need only approximate measurements which can be obtained by simply pacing or by using an ordinary measuring tape; others may require much accuracy, thus calling for the use of an engineer's transit or theodolite along with a graduated steel tape for horizontal measurements, or a level and a graduated rod for measuring vertical distances. Mapping is likewise dependent on accuracy requirements. For example, a general layout showing the relative position of surface facilities may not call for a large scale of dimension or great precision whereas for detailed work, a large scale plus care in plotting points and drawing lines and curves are important factors. SURVEYING METHODS There are many kinds or types of surveying methods. Some examples include: land surveying for determining boundaries of land areas ; route surveying for locating roads, highways, right-of-ways, and haulways; city surveying for laying out lots, streets, and alleys ; and mining surveying for projecting mine openings and locating mining operations. There are other types of surveying than those named, but in general, the type of method to be used will depend on the purpose for which the survey is to be made.

Jan 1, 1973

By Stephen E. Merritt, John W. Straton, T. Carl Shelton

Surveying and mapping are used to locate and visually portray objects, lines, or areas in relation to a reference point or line. The actual making of the measurements to locate the objects and points falls under surveying while mapping is concerned with putting the survey information into a graphical form. Generally, the type or class of proposed survey depends on the precision required. Some surveys may need only approximate measurements which can be obtained by simply pacing or by using an ordinary measuring tape; others may require much accuracy, thus calling for the use of an engineer's transit or theodolite along with a graduated steel tape for horizontal measurements, or a level and a graduated rod for measuring vertical distances. Mapping is likewise dependent on accuracy requirements. For example, a general layout showing the relative position of surface facilities may not call for a large scale of dimension or great precision whereas for detailed work, a large scale plus care in plotting points and drawing lines and curves are important factors. SURVEYING METHODS There are many kinds or types of surveying methods. Some examples include : land surveying for determining boundaries of land areas; route surveying for locating roads, highways, right-of-way, and haulways; city surveying for laying out lots, streets, and alleys; and mining surveying for projecting mine openings and locating mining operations. See Fig. 1. There are other types of surveying than those named, but in general, the type of method to be used will depend on the purpose for which the survey is to be made.

Jan 1, 1981

By Stephen E. Merritt, John W. Straton, T. Carl Shelton

Surveying and mapping are used to locate and visually portray objects, lines, or areas in relation to a reference point or line. The actual making of the measurements to locate the objects and points falls under surveying while mapping is concerned with putting the survey information into a graphical form. Generally, the type or class of proposed survey depends on the precision required. Some surveys may need only approximate measurements which can be obtained by simply pacing or by using an ordinary measuring tape; others may require much accuracy, thus calling for the use of an engineer's transit or theodolite along with a graduated steel tape for horizontal measurements, or a level and a graduated rod for measuring vertical distances. Mapping is likewise dependent on accuracy requirements. For example, a general layout showing the relative position of surface facilities may not call for a large scale of dimension or great precision whereas for detailed work, a large scale plus care in plotting points and drawing lines and curves are important factors. SURVEYING METHODS There are many kinds or types of surveying methods. Some examples include : land surveying for determining boundaries of land areas ; route surveying for locating roads, highways, right-of-ways, and haulways; city surveying for laying out lots, streets, and alleys; and mining surveying for projecting mine openings and locating mining operations. See Fig. 1. There are other types of surveying than those named, but in general, the type of method to be used will depend on the purpose for which the survey is to be made.

Jan 1, 1981

By AIME AIME

PETROLEUM technology was the sole subject of discussion at the meeting of the Petroleum Division at the Baker Hotel, Dallas, Texas, Oct. 6-7, except for the brief talks by President Becket and Secretary Parsons at the dinner on Friday evening. Even on this occasion, following the scheduled official features, it was in order to talk "shop." W. E. Wrather and E. A. Stephenson, respectively Chairman and Secretary of the Division, had planned for a meeting of this nature and by preference, apparently, the 122 who registered fell in with the scheme wholeheartedly. Not because the competent local committee had not provided for it, but by choice, the members just did not sign up for entertainment or field trips, but did attend largely the three technical sessions and engage in earnest discussion of the approximately dozen excellent papers. In this connection, and without question, the high lights of the meeting were the papers by Morris Muskat and R. D. Wyckoff, and Prof. W. K. Lewis. The former, entitled, "A Theoretical Analysis of Waterflooding Networks," had been entirely demathematized by the authors for presentation at this and the Los Angeles meetings; the author of the latter, which was on the "Physical-chemical Relationships of Hydrocarbon Gas-liquid Mixtures at High Pres¬sures," had airplaned to Dallas in the company of Dr. H. D. Wilde from Chicago in order to present his paper at the final session on Saturday morning.

Jan 1, 1933

By Henry Fernald

THE accounting system or bookkeeping methods of any company are principally the concern of that company and of those who are in control of its affairs. Its published financial report is, however, primarily intended for those who are not already fully informed regarding its operations and finances. Whatever may be the advantages of standardization of accounting and bookkeeping methods, it must be admitted that a company has a certain right to handle its accounts and keep its books and records in whatever manner may seem to it best adapted to its affairs, even though such methods may differ materially from those generally adopted by others. In its financial reports it should not, however, either ask or expect that the statements it makes or the terms which it uses will be given in its case a meaning and interpretation different from that which they are ordinarily considered to have inn similar reports and statements of other companies. The particular form and arrangement of such reports is a matter concerning which there may be much difference of opinion. It is of little importance whether current assets come first or last in the Balance Sheet, but it is important that there should not be included under this designation any items which are not properly current assets within the generally accepted meaning of that term. The extent to which stockholders or others interested are to be made acquainted with the full details of a company's business is a question which the proper authorities must in each case decide. It should, however, be recognized that there are certain facts regarding a mining company which must be set forth in a financial statement if it is fully to cover the conditions and affairs of the company. For example, a financial statement which does not include or is not accompanied by a statement of the ore reserves of the company does not fully set forth its financial condition. This is true whether the absence of such a statement of ore reserves is because it is not desired to make public the figures or whether it is because the ore reserves themselves are not definitely known or accurately measured.

Jan 1, 1928

By Henry Fernald

THE accounting system or bookkeeping methods of any company are principally the concern of that company and of those who are in control of its affairs. Its published financial report is, however, primarily intended for those who are not already fully informed regarding its operations and finances. Whatever may be the advantages of standardization of accounting and bookkeeping methods, it must be admitted that a company has a certain right to handle its accounts and keep its books and records in whatever manner may seem to it best adapted to its affairs, even though such methods may differ materially from those generally adopted by others. In its financial reports it should not, however, either ask or expect that the statements it makes or the terms which it uses will be given in its case a meaning and interpretation different from that which they are ordinarily considered to have in similar reports and statements of other companies. The particular form and arrangement of such reports is a matter concerning which there may be much difference of opinion. It is of little importance whether current assets come first or last in the Balance Sheet, but it is important that there should not be included under this designation any items which are not properly current assets within the generally accepted meaning of that term. The extent to which stockholders or others interested are to be made acquainted with the full details of a company's business is a question which the proper authorities must in each case decide. It should, however, be recognized that there are certain facts regarding a mining com-pany which must be set forth in a financial statement if it is fully to cover the conditions and affairs of the company. For example, a financial, statement which does not include or is not accompanied by a statement, of the ore reserves of the company does not fully set forth its financial condition. This is true whether the absence of such a statement of ore reserves is because it is not desired to make public the figures or whether it is because the ore reserves themselves are not definitely known, or accurately measured.

Jan 1, 1928

By D. C. McLean, S. A. McKay

The purpose of this paper is threefold: 1) to describe actual ground control installations made at the various mines of the International Nickel Co. (Canada) Ltd mines in Sudbury, Ont. during a planned test program. 2) to suggest new ground control techniques which are now possible by the use of fully grouted bolts 3) to indicate the possible economic advantages to be gained by the use of resins and resin grouted bolts to control difficult ground conditions. Were a theme selected for this paper it would be: "Preserve the original roof in best condition possible by the use of smooth blasting techniques and fully grouted roof bolts — since the original rock is the best and cheapest material available for ground support." TYPES OF BONDED BOLTS As has been shown previously, there are several ways in which a bolt may be bonded. These are illustrated in Fig. 1 and 2. There are three general types of grouted bolts: 1) pretensioned, 2) post-tensioned, and 3) untensioned. The type which will be of most benefit to the user will depend upon the particular ground support problem involved. Despite the many arguments propounded for the necessity for using a tensioned bolt, ample evidence exists from actual experience that untensioned bolts can be effective in many instances. The outstanding characteristic of a grouted bolt is that it provides the user with a variety of rock consolidation techniques heretofore unavailable with conventional rock bolts. Many of the unusual characteristics of grouted reinforcing bar have been evaluated by researchers in the concrete structure field.' Underground application has largely been pioneered in the construction field, with especially good work being reported from the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority in Australia. Techniques developed there using cement grouted bolts are now being adapted in many large government construction projects in this country with excellent results. The ap- plications described in this paper are those in which Cyanamid's Roc Loc Mining Kits were used exclusively. SLUSHER DRIFTS AND FINGER RAISES (BOX HOLE BROWS, DASHES) A common mining problem especially where block caving methods are applied is that of maintaining the roof in slusher trenches particularly at the intersections of the trench with the feed raises (box holes) through which the large fragments of broken ore tumble. Typical sections are shown in Fig. 3 and 4. In Fig. 3, the drift is normally driven 7 ft wide by 8 ft high initially. The rock involved is a hard norite (diabase) which is usually competent but has "block cleavage". This roof has a tendency to fall out in large blocks when subjected to operating stresses. Depending upon the initial condition of the roof, the drift is either lined with 2 to 3 ft of concrete immedi-

Jan 1, 1964

By Joseph W. Richards

(New York Meeting, February, 1912.) THE Ashio copper-mine of the Furukawa Mining Co. is situated 18 miles from Nikko, and 109 miles north of Tokyo, near the center of Japan. The mine-waters are run over scrap-iron, whereby most of the copper is precipitated as cement copper, leaving iron sulphate with some copper sulphate in solution. After using in the wet concentrating ore-dressing plant, the waste water contains clay and ore-slimes. The only avenue of disposal of this water is the Watarese river; but as this flows through valleys in which the water is used for irrigating the rice-crops, it is necessary to purify and clarify the water before discharge. The water amounts to from 600 to 700 cu. ft. (from 17 to 20 cu. m.) per minute, and averages about 0.00025 per cent. of copper, representing more than 18 tons of copper per month. The water carries H2SO4, FeSO4, Fe, (SO,),, CuSO4 and other metallic sulphates in solution, and clay, ore-fines, slimes and basic. iron sulphates as suspended matters. To purify and clarify the water, precipitation by milk of lime has been used, in three different ways, as follows: I. First Method, Copper not Recovered. Milk of lime was run into the water, and the mixture run through six settling-ponds, and then through a sand filter into the river. Fig. 1 is a view of the settling- and filtering-ponds. In the first pond, sand and metallic hydrates free from copper collected; in the next five ponds, slime, calcium sulphate, and metallic hydrates carrying copper settled out. The effluent carried from 0.1 to 0.05 mg. of copper per liter

Jun 1, 1912

By Joseph D. Weeks

NOTE BY THE SECRETARY.—This address having been made the object of much hostile comment, arising, as Mr. Weeks believed, in large part from misunderstanding of its purpose and meaning, was, by his express direction, withheld from official publication in the Transactions until he should have so modified or added to it as to make such misunderstanding impossible. His illness and death prevented him from executing this intention; and, consequently, the only version of the address now in the Secretary's hands is one of which the author had forbidden the publication. Under the circumstances, therefore, it seems best to publish, in this place, only some portions of the address and its appendixes which have a historical value and are beyond controversy, giving at the same time a summary of its general nature, based upon the original manuscript and upon correspondence with Mr. Weeks. For this summary, the Secretary is alone responsible. The address was essentially a restatement of well-known and established facts, which it interpreted as proving that, of the three elements of the Bessemer process (namely, the pneumatic principle, the successful mechanical application of that principle, and the recarburization with spiegeleisen), William Kelly was the first inventor of the first, Bessemer of the second, and Mushet of the third. Mr. Weeks used the words " original inventor " in the sense (as he explained in one place) of first inventor, and neither asserted nor believed that Bessemer's con-

Jan 1, 1897

By Bruno V. E. Nordberg

HOISTING is one of the earliest endeavors of man with machinery, for hoisting was probably used by the early Egyptians. Treadmills were used for general hoisting until early in the nineteenth century and it was a short step only to attach a Watt steam engine to the rope drum of a hoist. One of the earliest steam hoists was built for a coal mine at Frisne, near Valenciennes, France. It was a remarkable piece of engineering created by James Watt in 1811, using a wooden drum on a vertical shaft. This followed the crude hoist by Holtzhausen in 1803, which used a drum of wood on a horizontal shaft.1 In this country there were examples of crude mine hoists, which have been developed into the efficient machines in use today. African and Australian mines show examples of both extremes, and have an array of fine hoisting equipment exemplified in those built by British manufacturers. The influence of both English and American engineering in hoisting is interestingly evident in Canada. The information available to the writer does not reveal this to be true of South Africa, although American-built hoists have been furnished. Mining camps develop their own style of equipment, adapted to local conditions. For instance, the Butte mining district adheres to the straight drum with friction clutches, because of the great number of levels from which hoisting is done or to which men and material are lowered and the necessity for hoisting or lowering unbalanced. The north Michigan copper country uses both straight and cylindroconical drums and hoists continually in balance, so that the drums are not clutched to the main driving shaft. The Joplin mining district, Missouri, has its own peculiar small hoists. Other individual mines or localities in which a number of mines have been developed show individualistic types of hoists, depending upon their particular problems. In each instance, however, the particular problem must be carefully analyzed, as conditions are seldom so near the same that a number of identical hoists can be used to advantage.

Jan 1, 1940

By R. W. Bond

The gas-lift is a comparatively recent development in the Oklahoma and Kansas fields. It was used to some extent in the old Dilworth field several years ago, but the first extensive installations were made in the Tonkawa and Garber fields in Oklahoma early in the year 1926. Compressor Equipment During the early development of the system, the equipment used generally consisted of small tandem compressors of about 250 cu. ft. per min. displacement, driven by automotive-type gas engines, using a short belt drive. These compressors were first installed at the individual wells largely as an experiment. After the experimental installations had proved the method a success, it was considered economically advisable to centralize the compressor equipment in strategically located stations. However, as the information in regard to "gas-lift flowing life" was anything but definite, and the most optimistic estimates in regard to it did not exceed six months, portability of equipment was still the first consideration in the minds of many operators, who continued to install srnall semi-portable com-pressors in their centralized stations. As electric power became available in the fields, the electric motor came rapidly into use as the prime mover for the small compressors. The operating cost of this motor is greater than that of the automotive-type gas engine for the same power output, but the greater continuity of service tends to balance the extra cost. Aside from the semi-portable units, a number of strictly portable compressors were used. These consisted of automotive-type gas engines direct connected to vertical compressors. The unit was assembled on one base and could be mounted on wheels or skids as desired. The chief objection to these, in the writer's opinion, was their small capacity— approximately 150 cu, ft. per min.—which made it necessary to use two, three, and sometimes more units per well, thus making the installation rather costly. However, they have been found valuable for test purposes and emergencies, where installation time is an important factor.

Jan 1, 1928

By John Birkinbine

Through the partiality of my fellow-members I have been able, during seven years' service on the Council of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, to note the development of technical societies, a subject which commends itself as an appropriate theme for me, in retiring from the office of President, at a time when we meet in convention with Canadian technical societies. Our next assembly, called at Chicago at the time fixed for an International Engineering Congress, offers additional reason for the selection of this topic. If subsequent statements appear to give to the American Institute of Mining Engineers greater prominence than to kindred organizations, they may be excused upon the ground of long association with and loyalty to its members, and to a personal knowledge of their work. Besides, data as to its growth and development are more accessible; and at a meeting of the Institute features connected with it may be considered as of greater immediate interest than those affecting other organizations. The purpose of this address is, however, to use the record of the Institute as indicating a similar development of other technical societies, rather than to claim preeminence for any organization; the work of each must speak for it. There is a general tendency to form associations at the present time. Organizations have been created and are active in every profession and in all branches of labor, trade, industry, commerce, manufactures, science and art. A record of such associations and their aggregate membership would be startling, and would show how large a percentage of the population of North America is connected with one or more of them; but the figures cannot be even approximately estimated. The class of associations representing national, state, or local trade interests, such as boards of trade, chambers of commerce, etc., may be used as an illustration. A late report shows that in the

Jan 1, 1893