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The pattern of the coal industry west of the Mississippi River, so far as its history is concerned, is entirely different from that to the east of the "Father of Waters." When the Louisiana Purchase was consummated, one of Jefferson's first thoughts was to ascertain what sort of a country had been purchased, and to that end he sent Lewis and Clark to ascend the Missouri River and to reach the Pacific Ocean if possible, but above all to bring back a report showing the character of the country, its mineral and other resources, inhabitants, etc. This first expedition was supplemented by others to various parts of the vast domain for the same purpose; years later, when transportation routes were necessary to hold and develop the western country, a number of expeditions were sent to explore possible routes for railroads. The records of nearly all of these explorers, as will be shown later, contain references to coal in many localities, the possible value of which was realized but its potential value remained dormant for many years until increasing population and methods of transport made markets available. Missouri was the first state west of the Mississippi in which coal was produced and the names of a number of places show that the French were familiar with the coal deposits there. Lewis and Clark, soon after they left St. Louis, passed "a remarkable Coal Hill on the Larboard Side, called by the French Carbonere, this hill appeares to Contain great quantity of Coal."1 This hill was about seven miles below St. Charles. No other outcrops were seen by them until they had passed the present limits of the state. The Louisiana Gazette of April 9, 1805 contained an article on "The Missouri," author not stated, which said, "the short stay we have generally made among the savage nations has prevented us from making those researches, which would have supplied us with a more extensive information respecting the various mines found on the borders of the Missouri; we know with certainty only those of iron, lead and coal." In 1806 Pike passed through Missouri on his tour to Mexico. On August 17th, along the Osage River he remarked, "here the river-bank is

Jan 1, 1942

By R. W. Gurry

In the course of a series of measurements of the rate of diffusion of carbon in austenite at about 960°C. (1760°F.) and III0°C. (2030°F.), it became necessary to determine carbon concentration when austenite is saturated with graphite, because of indications that the hitherto accepted value of the solubility of graphite in this temperature range is too low. Specimens of carbonyl iron were saturated at temperature in a hydrogen-toluene atmosphere which was in equilibrium with graphite. The carbon conteDt of the steel was measured either by combustion or by the loss of weight after substantially complete decarburization in an atmosphere of hydrogen saturated at room temperature with water vapor. The absence of carbide or graphite as a phase at temperature was demonstrated by microscopic examination of saturated specimens that had been drastically quenched, The mean result of concordant ments-—taeats-is-^that gamma iron saturated with respect to graphite contains 1.39 per cent carbon at 957°C .(i755°F.) and 1.89 per cent at III0°C. (2030°F.). These two values, plotted along with what appears from the literature to be the best value (0.69 per cent) at the iron-graphite eutec-toid temperature (738°C. or I360°F.), yield a curve that is almost linear, and which, continued upward through a short interval, leads to a limiting solubility of 1.98 per cent at the iron-graphite eutectic temperature II35°C. (2075°F.) instead of the commonly accepted value of about 1.7 per cent. Experimental Procedure The samples of carbonyl iron, with the exception of those for microscopic examination, were cylinders 3.8 cm. long, 0.475 cm. in diameter. They were placed in a graphite holder and suspended in a vertical furnace, the temperature of which was controlled precisely by means of the resistance of the platinum winding.' In the empty furnace the range of temperature over a distance of 4 cm. at the heat center was 9°C. (I6°F.) but at a given location the temperature remained within +o.5°C. (o.9°F.); it was measured by inserting a platinum-rhodium couple calibrated at the melting point of palladium, 1555°C. Since the presence of the sample probably improved the uniformity of temperature, it was decided to consider the average temperature of the sample to be 3°C. lower than the maximum measured in the empty furnace with the same setting of the controller. Data were obtained in the vicinity of two temperatures, 960°C. (I760°F.) and III0°C. (2030°F.). The samples for microscopic examination, 2.2 cm. long, 0.475 cm. in diameter, were suspended individually on pure iron wire; for these no temperature correction was applied. The carburizing gas passed into the furnace was dry, oxygen-free hydrogen saturated at room temperature with toluene; this quickly produced on the

Jan 1, 1942

I HAVE previously shown you in the Fifth Book the process of making guns and gun carriages, together with other preparations and methods of moving them. If I now failed to show you more about them, it would be as if I had pointed out only the useless shadow of a thing, for I did not show the kinds and arrangement of their supplies or how the effects for which they are made are achieved. For these reasons I now wish to tell you, in addition to what I have already said, how saltpeter is made and the methods of refining it well; what it is and how without it guns and many effects of violent and artificial fires would have been discovered in vain. After this, I also wish to tell you the methods of compounding the powders for large and small guns, and finally how these are loaded and discharged. I also wish to tell you how mines are made, and fire tubes, [149v] fire pots, squibs, fireballs, rockets, shells, grapeshot, and other similar devices for shooting fire in order to bum ships, supplies, bridges, and ramparts, or, in offense, for firing on batteries. I also wish to teach you to make certain bronze balls for shooting, which carry fire and break in many pieces when they hit. For surely, besides being terrifying to the sight, they would be harmful to armies lined up in battle when they are fighting. Likewise, I wish, to enlighten you as to how artificial fires are made that last long and are difficult to extinguish. Since these are fine and useful things in wars, every captain and soldier should give them consideration and know how to use them when necessary. You will be pleased to have this information if for no other reason than that you can teach it to those who take delight in celebrating holidays with festivities and with fires.

Jan 1, 1942

By E. D. Gardner

Oil shale, a long-considered potential source of motor fuel in the United States, is found over an extensive area in the Green River formation in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.4/ Oil has been retorted commercially from shale in Scotland for many years,5/ and work done by the Bureau of Mines and other investigators has shown that it is technically feasible to extract oil from American shales.6/ By refining, the shale oil may be converted into marketable products similar to those manufactured from crude petroleum. The present paper, which was finished in 1936, discusses methods that would be adaptable to mining certain American shales, and the treatment applies specifically to conditions iii the Green River formation on Naval

Jan 1, 1942

I HAVE previously demonstrated to you as well as I knew how in what way ores are treated and then how the separated metals are brought to their pure and ultimate limit of perfection by means of smelting and other artificial fires; all except gold, which remained incorporated in the silver. Because the method used for the others does not serve for this, and if indeed it did serve it would be a great labor and could not be done without a great loss of the thing, it is therefore necessary to proceed with the practice of another art if you wish finally to extract gold from the bonds of the intrinsic substance of silver, for it exists bound and scattered in this like the soul in the body of living creatures. In this, unlike the other works where you make direct use of the vigor of the fire, you use a substance that is like water, drawn by the force of fire from a very powerful composition of two materials. This is a very marvelous thing to consider as a liquor because of its powerful effects. It is made by artificial distillations and it has an acid property and the power of corroding and reducing into itself silver and any other metal placed in it, with the exception of gold. Nothing is apparent in it except a pure water. It is indeed a very ingenious thing for which we must be greatly indebted to that philosopher, alchemist, or whoever else was its discoverer. The silver that contains gold is put in this water, and from its former quiet state you will see it change as if forced to combat and breathlessly devour and consume that silver in itself and change it into water. This happens in a very short time and with very little help from the heat of the fire. All the gold that was united in the silver you will see like sand at the bottom, and when the water is taken off by decantation it will freely give you all the gold without any loss. Nor is it so ill-mannered as to fail to restore the silver to its place if you wish; and though it seems to have consumed and spoiled it as it was before, it returns it to you without loss. Since the process of this art is a very useful thing for anyone who knows

Jan 1, 1942

THE second part of the mould for making guns is the core. Without this the space could not be made where the powder is to be and through which the ball, impelled by the fire, can pass and take flight. To make this it is necessary to take two things into consideration, because they are very important. One is what you are to make it on so that it may be supported and kept true. The other is what composition of clay will stand up during casting and yet not be very difficult to extract from the body of the finished gun. For the first, it is found that only an iron spindle of a suitable thickness is able to support the weight of the clay without bending under the heat of the fire or wobbling as it is turned on its journals or when handled. This should be a braccio or more longer than the mould of the gun and worked exactly round, straight, and well tapered like a spindle; above all every one of its joints should be well secured and solid. At the upper end a per-orated heel should be made, and lower down, exactly at the point corresponding to the length of the mould, are one or two other holes through which the little crossbars can be passed that fasten the core to the outer mould and also serve for constructing the disc. Now this iron is to be arranged on two trestles, pivoted so that it may turn truly when rotated. In order that it may not run up and down, make a little iron fork which engages a notch made with a file at the foot, and another at the head. After this, you must prepare clay for the core which is well made and tenacious ,enough not to crack. Fint take care that there are no pebbles in it and that it is composed of a small amount of cloth clippings and much sifted horse dung and some washed and clean wash ashes so that it may be of a tender and crumbly consistency in order that it may later be more easily extracted from the space inside the gun. In the same way, in order that you may be able to take out the iron piece at the same time, first cover it with ashes, and then wrap it all over with a rope of ordinary thickness, leaving a dito of the iron uncovered in every palmo length. [86] Alternatively, you may cover it all very tightly with hemp tow in the same way after it has been covered with ashes. Or heat your iron considerably and then cover it all to the thickness of a good cord with wash ashes or powdered charcoal that has been made into a paste with a little

Jan 1, 1942

By G. R. Hopkins

The average heat requirement per barrel of crude processed in the United states rose from 555,000 B. t. u. in 1939 to 579,000 B. t. u. in 1940, although crude runs increased from 1,237,840,000 barrels to 1,294,162,000 barrels in that period. Thus the almost invariable rule that the average amount of heat needed to refine a barrel of crude oil declines when total crude runs to stills increases was broken. (See fig. 1.) The reasons underlying the apparent loss in fuel efficiency in 1940 are quite obscure. There is little question but that the principle of heat exchange, the most important fuel saver, was used as extensively in 1940, as in 1939. A few companies replaced purchased power with electricity made at their plants, but for the country as a whole purchased electricity increased 7 percent, as compared with a 5-percent gain in crude runs to stills. Furthermore, the premise -the more complex the products the more fuel required -does not hold, as the yield of ?complex" products, including gasoline, declined in 1940.

Jan 1, 1942

By L. C. IlsLey

Permissible electric nine lamps are approved with the. understanding that if actively marketed they will be listed in Bureau of Mines publications so that state mine departments, compensation bureaus, mine operators, miners, and others interested in safety equipment for mines may know the permissible lamps available and the important safety features of each. The last list of permissible electric mine lamps was issued as Report of Investigations 33045 in June 1936, a supplement to Bulletin 332.6 All lamps described in Bulletin 332 are either obsolete or have been materially modified, as covered by extensions of the original approvals. These modified lamps and the new designs approved since 1930-totaling 12 cap lamps and 23 lamps of miscellaneous types-comprise the present list of actively marketed permissible electric mine lamps. This bulletin presents the Bureau's test requirements and procedure relative to permissible electric mine lamps and describes briefly the lamps, giving tabulated details of each.

Jan 1, 1942

By M. R. Hatfield, F. J. Vosburgh

In a recent article, it was shown that in the blast furnaces in Germany that are lined with carbon blocks no cooling plates are used, and that shower cooling is employed on the hearth and bosh sections. While one of the authors was in Germany he was told that one furnace was being operated without even the shower cooling on the bosh section, though the hearth section was shower-cooled. In discussion of this interesting situation with a number of blast-furnace operators in this country, it was made clearly and promptly evident that shower cooling was very unpopular, probably because of its messiness and its ineffectiveness. Both of the causes for the dislike of shower coolings are reasonable ones. Shower cooling can be and frequently is messy, but the present cooling of blast furnaces leaves much to be desired on that score. Shower cooling is ineffective as compared with plate cooling, so far as its usefulness in keeping the bricks cool enough not to melt or fall to pieces is concerned. However, the introduction of carbon linings changes the situation. No one is concerned with keeping a carbon lining cool, for no temperature in the blast furnace has any effect on carbon, which is just as stable at 3000°F. as it is at 70°F. The only concern is for the shell—to keep it cool enough for safety and comfort— and for that shower cooling is sufficient. Of course, with only the shell to cool, instead of the shell plus all the refractory material, much less water would be required, and the necessity for constant attention to the flow would be lessened, as the hundreds of inlets and outlets would be eliminated. Probably half of the water used in cooling a blast furnace is used for cooling the shaft and tuyeres and the remainder for the bosh and hearth sections. However, in view of the dislike of shower cooling in the United States, and particularly because at least one German blast furnace is operated with no cooling of the bosh section, thought was given to the possibility that a carbon-lined blast furnace might be operated without any cooling of the entire carbon-lined portion. For that reason a series of experiments was performed to determine what might be the temperature of the shell of a blast furnace protected by a carbon lining and operated under varying conditions up to a maximum inside temperature of 3000°F. Experimental Procedure A schematic diagram of the experimental setup is shown in Fig. I and a photograph of the entire assembly in Fig. 2. The heating element was a a tubc nominally 25/8 in. 0.d. by 2 in. i.d. by 30 in., used as a resistor. Power was furnished by a I5-kva. transformer operating

Jan 1, 1942

BECAUSE you cannot always proceed by the ordinary pathway since you sometimes find yourself in a place where you cannot have all that you might need or wish, it often happens that it is necessary to know how to recognize and understand your materials well, in addition to having them well disposed, and to know how to use your, ingenuity in arranging a mould., Furthermore, things have a great diversity among themselves, and it is not possible to give a particular rule for all. But if you have a certain broad fundamental knowledge when you have need of many things, the ingenuity awakens and supplies its needs by imitation. Now, because I have thought that you had not hitherto had the slightest shadow of knowledge of what I have described in this treatise of mine, I have expanded and narrated things in greater detail than perhaps I might have done. For this reason I have also decided that I wish to tell you of several methods that can be used if you wish to mould, especially in making an intaglio* for a relief, t or in making another intaglio in bronze from either an intaglio or a relief. And I will tell how every relief reduces, itself from convex to concave and also how the relief is made from the intaglio. These works are first made of plaster or pastes or some other liquid thing that is soft when moulded and becomes hard either by drying out with heat or by shrinking with cold, such as tragacanth, plaster of Paris, sulphur, lead, wax, or similar things. And, in conclusion, we describe the method of making an intaglio from a solid. In making an intaglio you must first consider whether it is a large or small thing, figure or foliage, whether it is in demi- or bas-relief, and whether it is a thing that projects from the mould wholly or in part.

Jan 1, 1942

By John W. Bell

In the introduction to an excellent pamphlet, John Gross' makes the following statements: Although marked progress has been made along mechanical lines, the theory and conception of underlying principles have not advanced so rapidly. This lack of advance in theory may be attributed to the unfortunate situation resulting from the controversy as to whether the Rittinger or Kick law is applicable to crushing. Many pages of the technical literature are burdened with theoretical discussions in favor of one or the other of these laws, which have tended to cloud rather than to clear the atmosphere. Realizing the situation, the Milling Committee of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, through its secretary, E. A. Hersam, studied the milling industry and, because of the apparently hopeless lack of agreement in the Kick versus Rittinger dispute (5, 13, 14, 0, i8, 19, 21, 22, 23. 24, 30. 34), concluded that a foundation for the theory of crushing was of primary importance. The numbers in the paragraph quoted refer to papers listed by Mr. Gross in his Bibliography on Crushing and Grinding.1 One is obliged to infer that these papers show "hopeless lack of agreement in the Kick versus Rittinger dispute." No. 22 is a paper by Arthur O. Gates2 and No. 23 is one by the writer.3 Employing the subject matter contained in papers Nos. 22 and 23 2,3 the writer will show that their authors formulated identical conclusions, based solely on experimental evidence. Exactly the same defect in the Stadler hypothesis was described in each of the two papers, although entirely different experimental methods were employed in uncovering it. Both of the authors, independently, formulated the conclusion that Rittinger's was a true hypothesis and Stadler's false. The evidence in a third paper4 will be employed to prove that Stadler's hypothesis, when examined experimentally, is worthless. STADLER'S HYPOTHESIS WORTHLESS It is the writer's opinion that the evidence available in 1915 and the corroborating evidence in 1916 was amply sufficient to eliminate the need for any further consideration of Stadler's hypothesis. Certainly the evidence produced in 1918 dealt this hypothesis its coup de grace. It follows, therefore, that in the year 1918 there was only one credible hypothesis left-the Rittinger hypothesis. Gates' Opinion What information is available in Mr. Gates' paper?2 His conclusions are not consecutively summarized, none the less they are perfectly clear. On page 876, Gates says, and it is a very significant utterance: But my results show, among other things, that many more of Stadler's energy units are obtained per foot-pound-applied in coarse than in fine crushing. This suggests a doubt as to the correctness of his unit, since one would expect a foot-pound-applied to produce the same number of "energy units," whether the feed and resulting product were coarse or fine. When Rittinger's theory is applied, the number of mesh-tons (my unit of surface produced) is

Jan 1, 1942

By Philip B. Bucky

CONTENTS [PACEPACE r. What Is a Rock Burst?2 4. How Can Rock Bursts Be Predicted? . 35 Jack Spalding2Jack Spalding35 A. F. Robertson 2, 5A. F. Robertson35 W. R. Crane 2A. B. Yates and P. J. Shenon. . . . 35 G. S. Rice 2W. R. Crane 35 P. J. Shenon 2G. S. Rice 35 L. C. Graton 2B. F. Tillson 36 2. What Are the Causes of Rock Bursts? 6 5. How Can Rock Bursts Be Controlled?. 36 Jack Spalding6Jack Spalding36 A. B. Yates and P. J. Shenon . 7, 12, 29A. F. Robertson 36 A. F. Robertson 12, 28W. R. Crane37 W. R. Crane 15A. B. Yates and P. J. Shenon. . . . 37 G. S. Rice 15Oscar Weiss38 Oscar Weiss15G. S. Rice37, 42 P. B. Bucky21R. D. Hoffman42, 43 P. H. Bird 21, 26, 28R. D. Hall 42 M. K. Hubbert26R. H. Cromwell42 G. Wheeler 26. J. Shenon 42 B. F. Tillson26, 28P. B. Bucky42, 44 T. T. Read 27B. F. Tillson 42, 44 A. B. Yates 43, 44 3. How Can Rock Bursts Be Prevented? . 30P. H. Bird 43 Jack Spalding. . . . • . • • • • . 306. General Discussion . A. B. Yates and P. J. Shenon. . . . 31Jack Spalding44 A. F. Robertson32R. D. Parker49 W. R. Crane 35C. Baring Horwood 51 G. S. Rice 35P. B. Bucky 52] FOREWORD THIS symposium brings together points of view, experiences and ideas on rock bursts from a goodly portion of the globe. Some conceptions, particularly those regarding the necessity of depth, have been fairly well shattered, as we find that they are present in the water tunnels of New York, on the surface at marble quarries in Vermont, and in the coal mines of the United States, as well as in the deep mines of the South African and Kolar gold fields, and in the nickel, copper and gold mines of Canada. Their occurrence under such a variety of conditions is, therefore, a challenge,

Jan 1, 1942

By Joseph A. Corgan

The river- or dredge-coal industry of Pennsylvania is conducted on many of the rivers and creeks that drain the Pennsylvania anthracite fields. Coal thus recovered found its way into the streams as coal was being prepared for market by the anthracite industry proper, in the northeastern part of the State. The Principal rivers draining; the fields, those where dredging is taking place, are the Susquehanna, Schuylkill, and Lehigh. Several creeks - the Shamokin, Mahanoy, Wiconisco, and Swatara - also are productive sources of river or creek coal. Operations along the streams cover a wide territory, and along the Susquchanna alone; dredges are recovering coal for about 160 miles. Anthracite was a significant factor in the early industrial development of the United States. Industry used it to generate steam, and railroads used it as fuel for locomotives; but it probably was most important industrially in the smelting of iron ore. For more than a hundred years homes have been heated with this fuel. From the beginning of mining in 1807, to 1940, more than 4 billion net tons of anthracite had been prepared and shipped to market. In the preparation process much of the smaller-size coal and refuse found their way into rivers and creeks which carried the material many miles. This study is concerned with the recovery of that anthracite from those rivers and creeks.

Jan 1, 1942

By William W. Adams

Not since complete records of accidents first became available has the safety record of the quarrying and related industries of the United States been as favorable as it was in 1940. The combined accident-frequency rate was lower and therefore better than in any year since 1916, the first year for which complete and comparable figures are available. Although operating companies began to furnish accident reports to the Bureau of Mines in 1911, the reports for that year and the next few years were obviously incomplete as to number of accidents reported, especially slight injuries involving only 1 or 2 days of disability of the injured employees. By 1916 the reports from operating companies appeared to be reliable as to completeness of coverage of slight injuries. Although the number of men employed in 1940 was by no means a record, it represented a gain over each of the 2 preceding years. Likewise, the number of man-hours worked during 1940 was larger than in 1938 and 1939.

Jan 1, 1942

By R. W. Gurry

IN the course of a series of measurements of the rate of diffusion of carbon in austenite at about 960°C. (1760°F.) and 1110°C. (2030°F.), it became necessary to determine carbon concentration when austenite is saturated with graphite, because of indications that the hitherto accepted value of the solubility of graphite in this temperature range is too low. Specimens of carbonyl iron were saturated at temperature in a hydrogen-toluene atmosphere which was in equilibrium with graphite. The carbon content of the steel was measured either by combustion or by the loss of weight after substantially complete decarburization in an atmosphere of hydrogen saturated at room temperature with water vapor. The absence of carbide or graphite as a phase at temperature was demonstrated by microscopic examination of saturated specimens that had been drastically quenched. The mean result of concordant measurements is that gamma iron saturated with respect to graphite contains 1.39 per cent carbon at 957°C. (1755°F.) and 1.89 per cent at 1110°C. (2030°F.). These two values, plotted along with what appears from the literature to be the best value (0.69 per cent) at the iron-graphite eutectoid temperature (738°C. or 1360°F.), yield a curve that is almost linear, and which, continued upward through a short interval, leads to a limiting solubility of 1.98 per cent at the iron-graphite eutectic temperature 1135°C. (2075°F.) instead of the commonly accepted value of about 1.7 per cent. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The samples of carbonyl iron, with the exception of those for microscopic examination, were cylinders 3.8 cm. long, 0.475 cm. in diameter. They were placed in a graphite holder and suspended in a vertical furnace, the temperature of which was controlled precisely by means of the resistance of the platinum winding.1 In the empty furnace the range of temperature over a distance of 4 cm. at the heat center was 9°C. (16°F.) but at a given location the temperature remained within ±0.5°C. (0.9°F.); it was measured by inserting a platinum-rhodium couple calibrated at the melting point of palladium, 1555°C. Since the presence of the sample probably improved the uniformity of temperature, it was decided to consider the average temperature of the sample to be 3°C. lower than the maximum measured in the empty furnace with the same setting of the controller. Data were obtained in the vicinity of two temperatures, 960°C. (1760°F.) and 1110°C. (2030°F.). The samples for microscopic examination, 2.2 cm. long, 0.475 cm. in diameter, were suspended individually on pure iron wire; for these no temperature correction was applied. The carburizing gas passed into the furnace was dry, oxygen-free hydrogen saturated at room temperature with

Jan 1, 1942

I TOLD you above that you should save the melted material that you extracted by smelting the ore. In substance this is copper, lead, silver, and perhaps gold, but all are like substances mixed in one body without any distinction. Now if you wish to separate these and to reduce them to their pure qualities, it is necessary to proceed with each one according to its own methods. Now in this method of separating lead in order to extract the silver and gold from the copper, it is necessary to return to the smelting and to follow one of two methods.* The first is to smelt it again with the addition of lead or lead ore, and to make it all run through the channel into the large forehearth that was made in front of the blast furnace, and, as it cools off, proceed to remove layer by layer with the fork, as I told you before and as you did the first time, until the work lead is reached. Then you assay what you have extracted and see whether it contains silver. If you consider that it has enough per hundred to justify the expense, return it again to the smelting. Continue to do this until you have extracted all the unctuousness and the work lead still remains. If it contains little or no silver, you must be satisfied with your work; otherwise return it again to smelt, always accompanying it with lead or galena and do as you did the other times until it

Jan 1, 1942

CALAMINE is one of the semiminerals that have great similarity to the metals. It is a very heavy mineral earth of a yellowish color. It is found in Germany near the lead mines and in Italy in a mountain between Milan and Como. It is also found, as I have heard, in other places, as at Fosini in the territory of Siena. I believe that it is almost certain that some exists there because there are many other kinds of minerals there- about, although none is mined there in these times. But this does not mean that it could not be mined or that there is not some there that is real. Someone says that he med to melt what he could find with copper [36v]

Jan 1, 1942

By Joseph D. Davis

Selection of a suitable coal or coals for the manufacture of coke of desired quality with due consideration of the purpose for which the coke is intended requires careful thought, and often it will pay to go to consider able expense in testing such coals as may be available. In general it will always be possible to obtain a satisfactory coal or blend of coals for the particular purpose in view, but in some places the cost of transportation would be prohibitive. It may then be necessary to consider a coal or coals inferior in grade, rank, or both. At times, in fact, only one inferior coal may be available, when the problem becomes mainly one of selecting equipment and operating conditions best adapted to that coal, keeping in mind that the end product of the plant must compete with the imported product in the market the plant will serve. This applies particularly to new projects for which it is necessary to build a plant and start with a clean slate, so to speak. However, it will pay every coke-plant manager to employ a force to continually test the coals used and the coke produced to make sure that the quality is not changing appreciably. Furthermore, if the supply of coals used becomes exhausted it will be necessary to use other coals. Continual testing is particularly necessary at plants using borderline coals or blends, where slight changes in the composition or in operation of the ovens may render them dangerously expanding. In this connection it should be stated that control in the newer coke plants is considerably easier than for those built a decade or so ago, consequently in the new ovens a given operating program can be maintained more precisely. This point is important, because one of the main requirements of the coke user is uniformity in both physical and chemical characteristics. For example, any appreciable changes in the quality of coke delivered to the blast?-furnace operator will involve changes in operation if the best results are to be obtained. Such changes are expensive usually they take considerable time and involve production of inferior iron.

Jan 1, 1942

By D. Harrington

The record of fatalities from mine explosions during the past 2 fiscal years has been anything but encouraging; more men were killed by explosions (379) than were killed from the ante cause during to' preceding 6 years combined (368). The reason for the large increase in the number of explosion fatalities during the past 2 years as compared with the previous 6 years is not entirely clear. In some instances, there has been laxity in the enforcement of State mining laws; in others, both workers and operating officials is have failed to observe recognized precautionary measures to prevent explosions. In many of the explosions that lave occurred within the asst few years in mechanized mines it has been evident that speed of operation and a demand for maximum tonnage at minimum cost resulted in neglect of ordinary safety measures.

Jan 1, 1942

By N. Melnyk

IN the past, the Cadomin Coal Company has opened four mines, all in the same coal seam or its folds. Three of these were opened from river level by horizontal entries or rock tunnels, and the fourth, the present working mine, by vertical shafts. This paper deals largely with some operating phases of this fourth mine, with which the writer has been associated. The seam worked here is a thick, steep, bituminous seam, and the writer feels there is a paucity of published data on the mining of such seams. Possible reasons for this are that such seams do not !end themselves to intensive development or mining, there is little chance to mechanize because of the extreme pitch, and operations are fraught with many problems. In addition, the present operations in this particular seam are being carried on at a level below the former workings, introducing new problems, not en-countered on the upper level. Coal will, without question, long continue to be an important factor in the national economy, and some of the best coal is to be found in thick, steep seams. But with the exhaustion of the easily-mined coal near the outcrops, future coal will have to come more and more from lower levels. At Cadomin there is still considerable coal on the second level, below the old river-workings, and there is a possibility that, in the future, still lower levels will be worked. It is the purpose of this paper to indicate some phases of such lower-level operations and to invite discussion.

Jan 1, 1942