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By Gill Montgomery

At this moment in the history of the world, the all- pervading and universally most important fact is that the world population is beginning to outgrow its food supply, and the United States has suddenly lost its ability to give away huge food surplus to any nation in the world with a food shortage problem. This, of course, means that, all of a sudden, our government must completely reverse its former bureaucratic stance regarding crop controls and agricultural price supports, to out-right incentives to increase farm production and bring more idle land into food-growing use.

Jan 2, 1967

By B. M. Larsen

Jan 1, 1948

By B. M. Larsen

Jan 1, 1948

By W. A. STERLING

IN the opencut iron mines of the Mesabi Range in Minnesota, the trend in mining is in the development of mining equipment and mining methods which will move surface overburden and ore-bearing materials with less labor and at a cheaper cost. This is a must for most of the independent operators. Their reserves of direct-shipping ore are extremely small and their operations are being conducted in small, or intermediate pits, with a high stripping ratio in the outer fringes, or shore lines of older pits. and in ore bodies passing from direct shipping to the washing and the intermediate, or retreat ore state. The trend is toward deeper stripping, longer and steeper hauls, and the necessity of moving a total of from three to five or six tons of overburden and ore material for each ton of shipping-grade ore produced. This naturally calls for greater production, with larger shovels, or draglines. cheaper drilling and blasting costs through the drilling of larger-diameter blastholes, and cheaper haulage through the use of trucks of larger capacity and more extensive use of belt-conveyor systems. This trend is notable both in stripping and mining.

Jan 1, 1948

By Ta M. Li, Russell A. Carter

The first century of mining in northern Idaho's Couer d'Alene District will soon he drawing to a close. Like so many other great raining districts, it has been a period accompanied by a rich and colorful history. From its early days as a gold rush camp, the district has evolved into the leading silver producer in the US, but the going has not been easy: early-day labor disputes, the challenge of mining for profit in some of the deepest mines in the Western hemisphere, and the constant search for new reserves at great depths have taken their toll of mines-and miners-along the way. To these traditional mining problems have of late been added the burden of inflationary cost increases, pollution control, and reclamation. A recent visit to the district by MINING ENGINEERING, how ever, revealed that the deep commitment of the operating companies and the quiet competence and vitality of their engineering personnel are key factors in the continued prosperity of the district.

Jan 7, 1976

By S. S. PRENZ

Discussion held at the sessions of the Canal Zone meeting, November, 1910. [SECRETARY'S NOTE.-As a result of this discussion, an expression of opinion covering all points of unanimous agreement was adopted and signed by members of the Institute party as individuals. This statement, which was printed in the Bulletin of December, 1910, is reprinted below, as an introduction to ,the detailed report of the discussion. It should be clearly understood that it does not constitute an official declaration by the Institute, the rules of which forbid any such action. At the New Haven meeting of February, 1909, a free discussion of the plan of the canal took place, in which the critics of the present scheme had full opportunity to state their views. That discussion was continued at considerable length in the newspapers ; but the Institute was never committed to either side. In this latter instance, the situation is precisely similar. Certain members and guests of the Institute, having had the advantage of later developments and of personal inspection, have expressed the conclusions at which they have arrived on their own responsibility ; and these conclusions are published by the Institute, subject to further discussion, like any other part of its proceedings. The general statement referred to contained a promise that the full discussion, of which it was a result, would be subsequently printed ; and this promise is fulfilled, so far as practicable, in the subjoined report, concerning which I beg to offer the following explanations: 1. It is made up of the remarks of the members of our party, as subsequently written out and mailed to the Secretary. 2. In editing these contributions, I have condensed the material considerably by cutting out much repetition of opinions and phrases ; and in such excision, I, frankly confess, the authors whose communications were delayed, have been the sufferers. Nevertheless, there is a good deal of repetition left, as there must be, when so many persons had talked so much, and come to agreement upon so many points. 3. It has been found impossible to preserve in this report the actual order of the free and informal oral discussion represented. Consequently the several contributions have been arranged in alphabetical order under the names of their authors. References to "preceding speakers," etc., must therefore be construed as referring to other speakers, preceding or following.-R. W. R.] S. S. PRINZ AUGUST WILHELM, AT SEA, November 14, 1910. We, the undersigned, members and guests of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, after a visit to the Isthmus of Panama, and inspection of the work of the United States Isthmian Canal Commission, and after full discussion of our individual impressions, find ourselves in unanimous agreement as to the following conclusions:

Jan 1, 1911

By D. L. H. Forbes

(New York Meeting, February, 1912.) Introduction.. THE application of the cyanide process to complex sulphide ores for the extraction of their bold and silver is no longer a novelty, but, as an example showing modern tendencies in this direction, the following description of the new milling process at the Lucky-Tiger mine is offered: The extraordinary richness of the ore in the upper workings of this mine made any thought of milling in its early hays seen unnecessary. Its location in an almost inaccessible part of the rugged mountains just south of the Arizona boundary-line, and 60 miles from the town of Douglas, made the expense of bringing in machinery and supplies a very serious consideration. But, after the property had been shipping high-grade ore on mule-back for a few years, there remained in the mine a considerable tonnage of vein-matter that was too low in value to ship, but which it was thought could be milled near the mine at a profit. The first milling-experiment consisted in the installation of Nissen stamps in conjunction with concentrating-tables and Frue vanners, but, as the ore from the upper workings contained most of its silver in the form of cerargyrite, this type of mill was not successful. The proximity of the mine to the great copper-concentrating mills of Cananea and Moctezuma naturally made the influence of copper-milling, ideas felt in the company's next installation. At considerable expense a stage-crushing concentrating-mill, with a capacity of 100 tons per day, was built. This mill was modeled along the lines of the most approved practice in copper-concentrators at that time, the main idea being that crushing by stages in rolls was necessary in order to prevent losses from ?sliming." Largely owing to the fact that, when the mill

Aug 1, 1912

By E. D. Gardner

IN 1947 the metal-mining industry . passed through a year of readjustment; catching up on development work has caused production to suffer. Skilled labor has been short in most mining districts, notwithstanding the highest wage rate paid in the history of the industry. The trend has continued toward increased mechanization and refinements in practices and methods to increase the tons produced per man-shift. Improvements in procedures, however, have not kept pace with rising labor rates; and, in general, labor costs per ton mined have steadily increased since the war years. Prices of base metals have been the highest in a generation, but most producing companies can afford to pay the high wages. Capital expenditures have been approved for improvements to increase the output per man, both to reduce unit labor costs and to increase output. Surveys indicate a continuing

Jan 1, 1948

By Persifor Frazer

1. SMOKE PREVENTION. Report of Select Committee of House of Commons (1843). Nuisance considerably abated in Leeds (Wm. Backerd, July 13, 1843, 239 pages). A synoptic index, p. 211, gives, in alphabetical order, the digest of every subject taken up. 2. FUEL : ITS COMBUSTION AND ECONOMY. D. Kinnear Clark, C. E. 24mo, 1354 pp. Crosby Lockwood & Co., London (1880). Includes abridgement of treatise on combustion of coal and prevention of smoke, by C. W. Williams, A.I.C.E. 3. DIE RAUCHSCHÄDEN IN DEN WÄLDERN DER UMGEBUNG DER FISCALISCHEN HÜTTENWERKE BEI FREIBERG. Dr. J. v. Schröder, Professor in Tharand, and Dr. A. Schertel, Vorstand des Hüttenlaboratoriums zu Freiberg. Royal 8vo, 27 .pages, 19 pages of tables and a map. Ernst Maukisch, Freiberg (1884). (Aus dem Jahrbuch für das Berg- und Huttenwesen, 1884.) In 1861, Reich and Stockhardt examined the extent of injury to vegetation by the Muldner works. Needles and twigs of pine showed in 100,000 parts : Pb, 5 to 50 ; As, 3.3 to 14.3 ; S02, 62 to 120. In the top twigs, 5 to 8 ; needles, 10 to 16 ; thicker twigs, 10 to 22 ; thinner twig-ends, 17 to 54 of lead. Lead greater in amount in sickly twig-ends with few needles ; also in the bark than in the naked wood of the trunk, which had hardly a trace ; also in the part turned toward the works than on the opposite side. Pb and As diminished in the vegetation with distance from the smelter ; and the same with regard to the soil. Fresh snow was collected, and SO, As, and Pb detected in it.

May 1, 1907

By Sherwin F. Kelly

MANY baffling problems of crustal geology-of warping and folding, elevation, subsidence, and great dislocations of the earth's surface-may now be on the verge of yielding to the science of geophysics. Electric, magnetic, gravitational, geothermal, and seismic methods are being turned to the gathering of geological evidence buried by deep layers of rock, or lying beneath the waters of the oceans. In this hope, B. L. Miller expresses the opinion that these geophysical studies will sup- ply useful data bearing-on some of the more theoretical problems of North American geology. Among these for example, is the explanation of how Appalachia disappeared. This ancient land mass is supposed to have foundered beneath the Atlantic Ocean after the close of the Paleozoic era and the question arises, was it warped or faulted downward? The geophysical data, though meagre, indicate that the surface of the dense, basal rocks, the probable remnant of ancient Appalachia now underlying the Continental Shelf, slopes downwards to a depth of some two miles below sea level at a distance of 140 mi. from shore: thus suggesting that the subsidence was the result of warping downward rather than abrupt faulting.

Jan 1, 1938

By AIME AIME

R. A. Hadfield, W. H. Bleckly, The Rt. Hon. Sir James Kitson, Bart., M. P.', E. Windsor Richards, E. P. Martin, Andrew Carnegie, Sir Hugh Bell, Bart., Bennett H. Brough. Patrons. Adamson, Joseph, & Co., Hyde; Aird, John, & Co., London ; .Akrill, C., & Co., Ltd., West Bromwich ; Anderson Foundry Co., Ltd.,. Port Clarence, Middlesbrough ;. Armstrong, Sir W. G., Whitworth & Co., Ltd., Newcastle-on Tyne ; As¬sociated Portland Cement Manufacturers (1900), Ltd., London; Babcock & Wilcox, Ltd., London; Baird, William, & Co., Ltd., Glasgow ; Baldwin's, Ltd., Stourport; Barclay, Andrew, Sons & Co., Ltd., Kilmarnock; Barrow Hematite Steel Co., Ltd., Barrow-in-Furness; Bayliss, Jones & Bayliss, Ltd., Wolverhampton ; Beardshaw, J., & Son, Ltd., Sheffield ; Bell Brothers, Ltd., Middlesbrough ; Bolckow, Vaughan & Co., Ltd., Middlesbrough ; Booth, Joseph, & Bros., Ltd., Leeds ; Briton Ferry Works, Ltd., Briton Ferry; Butlin, Thomas, & Co., Ltd., Wellingborough ; Butterley Co., Ltd., Alfreton ; Byrne, James, & Co., Middlesbrough; Cargo Fleet Iron Co., Ltd., Middlesbrough.;. Carnforth Hematite Iron Co., Ltd., Carnforth ; Cochrane & Co., Ltd., Middlesbrough ; Coltness Iron Co., Ltd., Glasgow ; Colville, David, & Sons, Ltd., Motherwell ; Consett Iron Co., Ltd., Consett ; Cooke, William, & Co., Ltd., Tinsley ; Craggs, R., & Sons, Ltd., Middlesbrough ; Darwen & Mostyn Iron Co., Ltd., Mostyn ; Dorman, Long & Co., Middlesbrough ; Dunlop, J., & Co., Ltd., Glasgow ; Ebbw Vale Steel, Iron & Coal Co., Ltd., Ebbw Vale ; Engineer, The, The Proprietors. of, Lon¬don ; Engineering, The Proprietors of, London ; Etna Iron & Steel Co., Mother¬well ; Farnley Iron Co., Ltd., Leeds ; Firth, Thomas, & Sons, Ltd., Sheffield ; Rather, W. T., Ltd., Sheffield ; Fraser & Chalmers, Ltd., Erith ; Frodingham Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Doncaster; Gjers, Mills & Co., Ltd., Middlesbrough ; Glenboig Union Fire-Clay Co., Ltd., Glasgow ; Glengarnock Iron & Steel Co.; Ltd., Glengarnock ; Guest, Keen & Nettlefolds, Ltd., Birmingham ; Hadfield's Steel Foundry Co., Ltd., Sheffield ; Hall, J. & E., Ltd., Dartford ; Harkness, W.; & Sons; Ltd., Middlesbrough ; Harrison & Co., Ltd., Lincoln ; Head, Wrightson & Co., Ltd., Stockton-on-Tees ; Hill, John, & Co., Middlesbrough ; Hingley, N., & Sons, Ltd., Dudley ; Hopper, John I., Ltd., Thornaby-on-Tees; Hull Forge Iron &-Steel Co., Ltd., Hull; Iron and Coal Trades Review, The Proprietors of, London ; Ironmonger, The, The Proprietors of, London ; Jackman, Joseph, & Co., Ltd., Sheffield ; Jessop & Appleby Bros., Ltd., Leicester and London ; Jes-

Nov 1, 1906

By Howard H. Fields

Any mining engineer with a desire to operate independently, with some financial backing, and with no fear of heavy responsibility and long hours, should be able to make a comfortable living in Mexico. Barring a few inconveniences such as a lack of satisfactory liability or accident insurance, the difficulty of obtaining repair parts or vehicles, and the length of time required to receive returns from shipments, the operation of small mine is not at all difficult. It is, in fact, a little easier to find a good prospect in Mexico than in the U.S.

Jan 1, 1950

By R. C. Canby

JUDGE GRANT, in a delightful satire of his, says: "Boston is a state of mind." I think that this same statement might well be made of the metallurgy of lead. I was particularly impressed with this when about thirteen or fourteen years ago I prepared a paper on "Development of the American Water- jacket Lead Blast Furnace." Dividing the time, as I did into ten-year periods, from the commencement of lead smelting at Eureka, Nev. (1870), and showing the tendency for each of the five decades it was evident that the progress had been through a succession of states of mind from the rule of thumb through the ultra scientific, or from what I might call the slag type period up to the present highly developed art. Conservatism has been characteristic of the metallurgist. This may have been most natural, especially with the lead metallurgist, the development of whose art was so entirely in the custom smelting plant, where the metal contents of his ores were paid for in cash and therefore excessive metallurgical losses could mean nothing short of financial bankruptcy. The metallurgist himself was held to a personal account, in these smelting plants. It was the metallurgist who was accountable. In the concentrating plants, if undue losses occurred remodelling of the plant was discussed, but if there were excessive metallurgical losses in the custom smelting plant, a new metallurgist was considered as the remedy. For this reason the tendency was to adhere to recognized practice and to be wary of unusual methods, using the word unusual in the sense in which it is used in Article VIII of the Constitution of the United States, as to punishments and modes of death. This conservatism of the metallurgist was reflected as other branches of metallurgy were developed. We have heard of the wonderful development of flotation, but it had to be introduced over the dead metallurgical bodies of its opponents.

Jan 1, 1926

By John W. Buch

IN my review a year ago I pointed out that a small coal-mining companies as well as large had decided that the so called ?central shop? was a benefit. These central shops replaced in a large measure the commercial shops operated by those who have no direct connection with production of cod. Central shops in this time of salvage and major repairs have proved their worth. In addition, many of the larger companies had in their central shops equipment available for the production of many thousands of parts for our vast war machine and, as subcontractors, are doing this type of work. This is a real contribution to the war endeavor. Lack of new supplies has resulted in exhaustion of those stocks formerly stored or hidden in underground shanties. This means that the small stock of repair parts likely LO be available to any mine

Jan 1, 1943

By O. W. Shimer, D. C. Helms, C. E. Brown

The early history and progress of anthracite stripping, from the first known operation at Summit Hill in 1821 through 1917, was covered in 1917 in a paper by J. B. Warriner,1 then chief engineer, now president of the Lehigh Navigation Coal Co., and stripping methods between 1917 and 1931 were the subject of a paper in 1931 by H. H. Otto,2 of the Hudson Coal Company. . The present paper is confined to methods used today on pitching beds in the western middle and southern anthracite fields. The anthracite industry, not unlike other large industries, had been affected for more than a decade by the adverse economic conditions of the country. High development and operating costs and the competition of other fuels caused some collieries to be closed temporarily, while others were permanently abandoned. In order to obtain a larger tonnage at a lower development cost, a larger stripping program was put into effect by many companies. In 1932, stripping operations accounted for 3½ million tons, or 7 per cent of the total anthracite production of the year, and in the next 10 years this increased until more than double that amount, or over 14 per cent of the total production, was from stripping operations. These figures represent the total production of the entire anthracite region; unfortunately, the figures have not been separated from the different fields. There are some operations in the southern and middle western fields where the tonnage obtained from stripping amounts to more than 30 per cent of the total colliery production. Stripping operations on pitching beds present difficult problems. Owing to the various geological formations, a different situation is encountered in nearly every stripping pit; and because of the proximity of an overlying bed, it is very often necessary to load the entire overburden into trucks and haul it out of the pit to the dump area, although back filling and casting is done whenever possible. Beds in the areas described in this paper pitch from 20" to 90 and some are on the invert in many sharp folds and faults. Planning The more successful strippings have had adequate engineering analysis. Some work is being done without much preliminary planning, but many strippings would have failed completely if close supervision by the engineering department had not been . maintained. Locations of stripping areas are determined as follows: I. By constructing cross sections over the areas and drilling sufficient diamond-drill or well drill holes to study the strata and to determine the location, thickness

Jan 1, 1944

By P. V. Brough, K. B. Gillaspie

DECISION to build a mill at the Bayard property was made in May 1942. Western-Knapp Engineering Co., of San Francisco, assisted by engineers of U. S. Smelting, handled the design and construction. Much of the milling equipment was moved from the Company's mill at Goldroad, Ariz. Wartime restrictions necessitated wood construction and paper sheathing except for structures adjacent to the Bullfrog shaft. Construction started in September 1942 and milling in March 1943. Bayard ores are processed in a single-ection mill. About half of the ore treated during the past year was hoisted through the Bullfrog shaft and the rest was trucked from other shafts. Coarse storage includes four bins, two of 120 tons each for Bullfrog ores and two of 85 to 120 tons each, served by a truck ramp. The low capacity figure refers to

Jan 1, 1948

By L. F. Pett

ALTHOUGH Kennecott's orebody has long been outlined, it is still necessary to define further its limits. This mine, long an advocate of churn drill methods, recently supplemented its practice by using a diamond drill. So far, the diamond drill holes have been along the main canyon floor which traverses the mine area. This zone, highly fractured, is cut by numerous friable quartz veinlets encountered within the porphyry. These veinlets, formed by filling contracted porphyry fractures with hot, siliceous, mineral-bearing solutions, are often more highly mineralized than adjacent porphyry. They pulverize on contact, yielding only slight amounts of core. For this reason neither analysis of core recovered (amounting to 37.5 pct of approximately 10,000 ft of hole drilled) nor sludge analysis considered separately would give correct assays. The following equation has been adopted: actual weight theoretical actual weight core — theoretical weight sludge Drilling is done un.der contract. Collection of core and sludge samples together with double-checked assaying is done by the company. Microscopic, specto-graphic, and X-ray examination of rock specimen saved is carried on at the University of Utah. A fund, set up by Kennecott Copper Corp. at the University, has encouraged cooperation in solution of mining research problems. The drill used is a Longyear hydraulic powered by a Waukesha 26-hp gasoline motor. A pump, Bean Royal type, is powered by a 7-hp Briggs-Stratton gasoline motor. Weight of unit is 4000 lb and is placed under tripod of 35-ft wood poles within a 25-ft sq area. The following results have been attained: Avg depth of hole drilled, ft 1215 Avg drilling depth per 8-hr shift, ft 10.11 Core Size, In. Avg depth of NC casing, ft 21 2 11/16 Avg depth of NX casing and size core, ft 178 2Ye Avg depth of BX casing and size core. ft 427 1% Avg depth of AX casing and size core, ft 585 1 5/32 Through the use of metal sludge collection boxes, 12 ft long, 18 in. wide, and varying from 12 to 24 in. in depth, sludge recovery has been maintained above 95 pct. Samples, both core and sludge, are assembled for each sample interval and averaged in 50-ft bench increments. Determinations for mineral values are made at both the mine and mill. Assay results varying in excess of 0.05 of copper assay values are rerun to determine correct assay. The organization chart for the Kennecott Utah copper mine is shown in Fig. 1. The Utah mine requires approximately four men per shovel shift to drill solid rock, properly slope banks, and trim loose material from the top of bench sections in making them safe for men and equipment working below. During recent years, while the mine has been worked day and night, powder crews have worked day shift only. Series of toe holes drilled back of advancing electric shovels comprise approximately 70 pct of all mine drilling. These holes, spaced about 21 ft apart, have a depth of 24 ft. Of the footage drilled, 25 pct is for vertical holes either 24 or 28 ft deep, spaced about 28 ft centers along the top rim of banks. This combination of toe holes, using an Ingersol-Rand DA 35 drifter mounted on a tripod and the vertical holes using an Ingersol-Rand Type X71 wagon drill is standard practice above the pit elevation. These benches are 68 ft high, with a few exceptions, while benches below the pit elevation are 50 ft high and require very little drilling other than toe holes. Five benches, varying in height from 80 to 100 ft, require a combination of toe holes plus vertical holes and bank holes or electric churn drill holes. Bank holes using the DA 35 drifter and electric churn drill using Bucyrus-Erie Model 29T, account for 5 pct of feet drilled. Until the past year, drilling of fill material on upper levels was accomplished by churn drill method. Wagon drills are now used for fills because they can be set up and drill a hole an hour. It is necessary to run an air drill 7 hr for each 8-hr shovel shift. Average drilling rates during the past year were as follows: DA 35 drifter using 2 and 3-man crews — 4.36 ft per man hr X 71 wagon drill using 2-man crews — 6.45 ft per man hr DA 35 drifter bank holes, 3-man crews — 2.53 ft per man hr Bucyrus-Erie churn drill, 2-man crews —1.9 ft per man hr Total mine avg — 4.57 ft per man hr Mine practice assigns powdermen to job locations where they perform all drilling and blasting work within the area. Almost as much labor is consumed in springing and loading holes as in drilling them. Average powder consumption is approximately as follows: Per Electric Shovel Shift, Lb To spring and chamber holes — 50 Blasting — 500 Trim banks — 50 One fifth of all powder used is Hercules hercomite bag powder while four fifths is Hercules gelamite 65 pct strength in 1 Vi in. x 8 in. sticks. Frozen material, overhanging from top banks, creates a winter hazard to shovel operators and equipment. Experiments are being conducted with a high-speed Hercules powder in an effort to eliminate this condition. Banks are trimmed by powdermen who lodge 8 or 10 bundles of powder, containing 15 or 20 sticks each, across the upper surfaces of each working face. To each bundle of powder is attached a primer with 6-ft fuse which is lighted as the powdermen, who have lowered themselves down the bank on ropes, ascend to safety. Three angle dozers, D8 caterpillars, make grades and move supplies for the average 31 drilling machines working daily. Compressed air is furnished by three Ingersol-Rand compressors, each with rated capacity of 3750 cu ft of air per min at 100 lb reservoir pressure.

Jan 1, 1952

By T. Lane Carter

(Canal Zone Meeting , October , 1910.) INTRODUCTION. IT is a curious fact that while in our Transactions there are papers dealing with mining-districts in all parts of the world, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, there is not one which describes the mining possibilities of Nicaragua; our near neighbor. To be most interested in distant objects, like the moon, .and to neglect what lies at our feet, appears to be a trait of human nature. The neglect of Nicaragua is not confined to the American Institute of Mining Engineers. In no other transactions am I :able to find papers dealing with mining in Nicaragua, some parts of which are as much in need of discovery and research as the North Pole.. I hope this paper will be the precursor of many others to be printed in our Transactions, dealing not only with the mining possibilities of Nicaragua, but with the whole of Central America, where there are vast areas awaiting skill and capital for their development. Much of this capital and skill should come from the United States in the future, although it is probable that European capitalists, when they appreciate fully the possibilities, will investigate more and more the mining-resources of Nicaragua and other Central American republics. Fig. 1 is a sketch-map of Nicaragua showing the principal mining-districts. II. HISTORY. Mining in Nicaragua did not begin yesterday. It was commenced by civilized man when the Spanish conquerors penetrated into the interior and forced the natives to procure the precious metal for them. It is strange that the Spaniards did not find more gold, and work on a scale as extensive as in Colombia and other parts of South America. Probably in Nicaragua the Indians covered up most of the rich prospects

Dec 1, 1910

By Leo Ranney

ANY years ago a prospector came to a Nevada town and built himself a shack. Day after day he searched the hills for gold -but he found none. He closed his shack and hurried north, where a strike had been made. Next he tried to trap the flour gold that floats down the Snake River. He panned the black sands along the Oregon coast. He ranged over the mountains and up the gulches of far-off Alaska. At last, broken in health, six years ago he came back to his old home in Nevada. There his shack still stood-nobody wanted it. One day he started a garden in the rocky soil that he owned. His spade turned up a chunk of quartz, and in that quartz were stringers of gold. He had found a rich gold vein, running right under his own house. You gas producers who have hurried to Oklahoma, Louisiana, East Texas, South Texas, West Texas, even to California to drill wildcat holes a mile or two miles deep-why not, like the old gold prospector, have a look in your own back yard? Some of your coal seams contain 20,000,000 cu. ft. of natural gas per acre.

Jan 1, 1943

By E. M. Wise

WHEN man became dissatisfied with the mere utilization of physical force and began to use weapons, he made a definite stride forward. At first he used sticks, animal bones and stones, often rudely shaped to some particularly lethal form. These devices, while crude, were moderately effective. How- ever, some of the brighter men of the tribe found that certain particularly heavy "stones" were somewhat ductile and could be hammered into more effective weapons than those previously known. Later, probably through the misuse of one of these weapons to stir the campfire, it was found that heating softened and perhaps actually melted the material. The process of annealing had been discovered! Smelting the more easily reducible metals was in all probability one of those fortuitous accidents which was followed up by thoughtful researchers who ultimately developed the technique of mixing various ores to produce bronze and even some of the nickel content alloys. The resulting products were at first lumps of more or less ductile material which could be hammered to shape, and were thus incidentally hardened by this process. The hardening of metals by alloying and cold working remained for many centuries the only known methods for improving their properties.

Jan 1, 1931