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By L. H. Dushak

DURING the war period of quicksilver activity there were a number of departures from what may be termed the classical quicksilver metallurgy. Attempts were made to beneficiate low-grade ores by gravity concentration and flotation; mechanical furnaces began to replace the Scott furnace and the vertical coarse-ore furnaces, and condensers of sewer tile and redwood tanks were used in place of the older brick and stone condensing chambers. Other developments that have occurred during the current period of quicksilver, activity are mainly in the nature of improvement and further refinement of those started during the war period. Each period of quicksilver activity has been accompanied by the proposal of various new processes, including wet methods for the treatment of quicksilver ores and innovations in furnaces, retorts and condenser equipment. As far as the author knows, nothing of economic significance in the way of "new processes" has been developed. There is in fact no real need for any essentially new process for the treatment of quicksilver ores; the direct furnace treatment is simple and inexpensive. Moreover, with fare exceptions, the quicksilver industry has no complex or refractory ore problems corresponding to those which are receiving more and more attention from metallurgists in other branches of the nonferrous field. Under these conditions improvements in quicksilver metallurgy must be looked for through the adaptation of current developments in engineering and metallurgy generally to the particular needs of quicksilver practice rather than through the invention of new processes.

Jan 1, 1930

By W. B. Boggs

The Noranda smelter was built by Noranda Mines, Limited, from the designs of A. E. Wheeler, consulting metallurgist, New York, for the reduction of ores and concentrates from the Horne mine, and to treat, on a custom basis, ores and concentrates from other mines in the Rouyn district. The smelter is situated at Noranda in western Quebec, about 330 miles directly north of Toronto. Ground was first broken for construction in November, 1925, before the completion of the branch railway into the district, which was not finished until October, 1926. After many difficulties and delays due to the Jack 'of transportation and the severe weather during the winter months, the smelter was started in December, 1927, and the first blister copper was poured on December 17th. The smelter was built throughout in two duplicate units, each with a rated capacity of 500 tons of ore per day. Operations were started with only one unit, and after several months it was found that one unit alone would smelt 1,000 tons of ore per day. At this time only one shaft, No. 3, existed, and its hoisting capacity and the capacity of the original crushing plant were insufficient to supply ore for two units at the increased tonnage. Accordingly No. 4 shaft was sunk and a new crushing plant provided to handle the ore hoisted there. This work was completed in the latter part of November, 1929, and since that time both smelter units have been operating.

Jan 1, 1930

By Edward Capillon

THE problem of scrap is probably of greater importance inn the production of gold, silver and other precious metal alloys than is the case for base metals and alloys. Remelting of gold and silver scrap in the shop is always a costly process because it involves losses by oxidation of the base metals in the alloy with a consequent increase in the percentage of precious metal. This is most marked in the case of alloys containing the low-boiling and easily oxidized metals zinc and cadmium. Since it is. not generally feasible to assay every shop remelt it follows that the possibilities of lost values are large. So-called rolled gold and silver plate is made by soldering or welding the precious metal alloys onto base, metal. Such plate when defective must be sent to the refinery to recover the gold and silver values, thereby involving additional expense in the form of refining charges. It is obvious therefore that gold and silver alloy scrap is an important item in manufacturing cost and must be reduced to a minimum. The amount of scrap resulting from poor metal will depend on a number of factors in the manufacturing operations, not least among which is the melting and casting practice. The notes which follow are a summary of experiments performed at various times to determine what variables in melting and casting are influential in the production of sound alloys.

Jan 1, 1930

By L. C. Stevens

The particular purpose of this paper is to direct attention to the development of underground conveying as applied to methods of working coal in the mines of Alberta. Historical A retrospective view of coal mining discloses a continuous effort, on the part of those interested, to substitute mechanical contrivances for hand labour. A patent for a coal-cutting machine was granted to Michael Menzies in 1761, at which time much of the transportation of coal underground was accomplished by means of sledges. Early forms of cutting machines attempted to duplicate the action of a miner's pick, and one hundred years lacer than Menzies? patent we still find this class of machine, driven by water power or compressed air, in use to a limited extent. A coal-cutter using the principle of a circular saw and worked by hand was exhibited in London in 1851, and from these crude beginnings the machines of today have been evolved. Transportation of coal underground has similarly been subject to considerable improvement. The above mentioned Michael Menzies took out a patent in 1750 covering the use of a self-acting incline plane, which is probably the earliest record of any system devised to lighten the load of the crammer or car-pusher of those days. In the year 1868 the Gillot & Copley machine was patented, this being a compressed-air-driven disc coal-cutter which proved highly successful. The chain cutters were a natural development from this type, and for a number of reasons they have been even more successful in the majority of cases.

Jan 1, 1930

By G. S. Rice

This paper describes preliminary tests at the Bureau's Experimental Mine to determine, under conditions that may prevail in a bituminous coal-mine heading, how small a quantity of fire damp may bring coal-dust into suspension and ignite it. The results show that the explosion of as little as 150 cubic feet of an explosive mixture of gas and air containing 9 per cent natural gas may start a disastrous explosion of coal-dust. This is a very small volume, of gas, to cause such a result. Let us suppose that this amount of explosive mixture, as at the face of an entry which was 10 feet wide and the face was overcut to a depth of 6 feet and an upper layer of coal 2.5 feet thick had been removed, the recess so made would have a volume of 150 cubic feet. Furthermore, only 13 cubic feet of pure methane is needed in thin volume to produce this 9 per cent explosive mixture.

Jan 1, 1930

G. O. SMITH,* Washington, D. C.—This program is itself a demonstration of the widespread interest in the subject of more efficient development and operation of oil fields. The statements of fact already presented and the views expressed are sufficient evidence that the engineering and economic principles fundamental to the idea of unit operation are much more generally accepted than they were even one year ago. And real progress has been made in putting these principles to the test. No one realizes better than I that the fight against waste, whether physical or economic, must be waged in the front-line trenches: Washington at best is only an observation post. Yet viewed from this distance the advance made in the last few months has been notable and to a high degree encouraging. Five years ago the Federal Oil Conservation Board, in its first contacts with the industry, raised the question, "How can new pools be explored without exploitation until new production is warranted by the country's needs?" Three and one-half years ago the Board, in its first report to the President, paid largest attention, among what it listed as fundamental conservation measures, to "cooperative methods in sane development of new fields." A year ago, in its third report, the Board again endorsed as the essential factor in conserving the nation's reserves of oil, "full cooperation in unit control, whether by voluntary agreement or by state enforcement." The function of this federal agency has been purely fact-finding and educational. The Oil Conservation Board early declared that the major part of its task was to help the industry "formulate the broader by-laws in the sense of conservation." And now, after these five years of eventful history in the oil industry, may I size up the situation as I see it from the Washington point of view? First of all, and fundamental to a successful issue, I have observed in the industry a gradual acceptance of technical opinion as the guide to executive action; and this has at last led to some agreement as to what procedure offers most promise. Analyzed in more detail, this highly desirable progress has consisted in "self-restraint actuated by enlightened self-interest." We see emerging the general desire of oil producers for efficiency in operation, which means low costs and high recovery. As shown by facts presented at this meeting, competition in drilling is in direct opposition to efficiency in oil production, in that such competition increases costs and lowers recovery. The only route to conservation of this natural resource and also of the capital and labor involved in making it available is through unit control, which substitutes cooperative, well-planned action for competitive, unregulated activity, forced by the individualism of a small minority of landowners or perhaps by a single operator. Or, in terms of actual experience, development of an oil field and its subsequent operation under unit control means the substitution of majority rule for minority rule, yet the minority enjoys to the full the resulting economic benefits. So far as it affects the public interest, unit operation of oil properties deserves unqualified approval. It means more oil from the same area over a longer period

Jan 1, 1930

By Harold C. Price

Prior to Sept. 1, 1928, there had never been constructed what might be termed a long pipe line with electric-welded field joints. A year later more than 2500 miles of electric-welded lines had been completed which varied in diameter from 6 to 20 in., and in length from 50 to 700 miles. This paper discusses methods used on five lines with a total length of about 750 miles. The welding equipment used for the firing line or rolling welds, was 300-amp. generators driven with six-cylinder gasoline engines, and for the bell-hole or tie-in welds, 200-amp. generators driven by four-cylinder gasoline engines. A welding gang consisted of a foreman, 6 to 12 firing-line welders and 2 to 4 bell-hole welders, a mechanic and a tractor driver. Coupons about 1/4 in. thick were frequently cut from completed welds, which showed a cross-section of the weld and an indication of its size and penetration. For tests of tensile strength complete welds were cut out. The tensile strength of 52 welds cut from 420 miles of 12-in. line averaged 50,870 Ib. per square inch. The following results give a fair average of the number of welds made per man per day: on 157 miles of 8-in. line both firing-line and hell-hole welds averaged 15.3—the firing-line average was 21; on 39 miles of 10-in. line the firing-line average was 19.9; on 50 miles of 6-in. line, with unfavorable weather, the average was 17.7; on 424 miles of 12-in. line most of which was welded during the spring, 10.3, and with good weather the average rose to 13 welds per day. The average time for making a complete weld on 12-in. pipe 0.313 in. thick was found to be 30 min. for the rolling weld and 45 min. for tie-in welds. A comparison of costs between electric and gas welding shows that the cost of labor for electric welding is 25 per cent. more than gas, generating cost 61 per cent. less than gas, welding wire 40 per cent. less than gas, and supervision and overhead the same. Estimating 50 per cent, annual depreciation on electric welding equipment, and no depreciation

Jan 1, 1930

By G. S. Rice, H. P. Greenwald, H. C. Howarth

"""Rock-dust barriers""5 as they are termed in this country, are for the purpose of confining a coal-dust mine explosion to the limited area in which it originates. These barriers were first tested in 1910-1911, with favorable results under the conditions of test, at the French official gallery which was then at Lieven, Department of Pas-de-Calais. Shortly afterwards the Bureau of Mines in the course of its investigation of all practical explosion-prevention methods tried barriers in the Experimental Mine near Bruceton, using the primary form of simple fixed cross shelves 20 inches wide extending over the passageway and laden with rock-dust. The Bureau termed them “Taffanel barriers"" in honor of the director of the Lieven testing station. The trials were made in conjunction with tests of explosibility of different coal-dusts.Experience showed that although the principle of barriers had merit when they were used for secondary defence, the primary form was uncertain in effectiveness. This led the senior author to design mechanically discharging barriers to be operated by the compression air waves which precede the flame of an explosion. For the better understanding of the principal involved, it is pointed out that the advance air waves are what make a coal-dust explosion possible by stirring up the coal-dust from the walls and floor of the passageway. If a barrier can throw inert dust into the air to form a cloud as dense or denser than that formed by the coal-dust, it will neutralize the explosiveness of the coal-dust, and the flame of the explosion will be extinguished. When the flame ceases, the pressure dies away in a short distance if the 'area that had been traversed by the explosion is not large."

Jan 1, 1930

By Wilson B. Emery

The discovery well in the Rock River field, in Carbon County, Wyoming, came in May 1, 1918. The field is on a large anticline having more than 1500 ft. of closure and production is obtained from three sands of the Dakota group. At its peak, production approximated 10,000 bbl. daily and is now averaging 2200 bbl. Total production to Jan. 1, 1930, exceeded 12,500,000 barrels. So far as known to the writer, Rock River was the first light oil field in the Rocky Mountain region to be produced under what we now term unit operation. Though this type of operation was not popularly acclaimed by the oil industry, the Federal Government and the public until many years after the inception of development at Rock River, the officials of the Ohio Oil Co. when acquiring this property were fully cognizant of the economies to be effected by unit ownership and the consequent elimination of competitive drilling and producing of wells, and had this in mind at the time. Thus unit management was introduced in this field at an early date by this company. Area and Management Fig. 1 shows the location of all wells drilled on the Rock River structure and the outline of the productive area as now defined, which amounts to 1380 acres. The hachured line indicates the area now under unit ownership; originally a much larger area was so owned but leases have been canceled as progressive development indicated their lack of oil. The management and operation of the entire productive area is handled by the Ohio Oil Co., which owns the majority working interest. The Continental Oil Co. with a 20 to 35 per cent. interest in much of this acreage, and smaller interests owned by others in some of the leases, constitute the remainder of the ownership. The fee rests in the State of

Jan 1, 1930

By R. L. Marek

There were 63 fatalities in the California petroleum industry in 1929, the largest number in any year since 1923 and an increase of 34.0 per cent over 1928, when 47 men lost their lives in the drilling, producing, manufacturing, and marketing divisions of the industry. It will be observed from the accompanying chart that after following a consistent decline for 4 years, the fatality curve turned upward in 1923 and advanced sharply in 1929. Although this increase in fatalitics coincided with a period of intensive development it tends to indicate some laxness in the industry during a period of increased hazards. Intensive drilling campaigns are usually started hurriedly and conducted with a great demand for speed, and the result is that accident-prevention work is too often relegated to a position of minor importance. [ ]

Jan 1, 1930

By S. R. Zimmerley, John Gross

A survey of the status of ore dressing in 19231 placed particular stress on the need of research in the crushing and grinding of ore, especially on the need for a method of measuring the surface of the products obtained in crushing and grinding and for fundamental data on the law of crushing, in order that intelligent conclusions may be drawn from actual crushing or grinding experiments. There has been no satisfactory means of determining the surface of crushed products. The results have been judged entirely by the amount of the various sizes produced, based on sieve sizing for particles above 74 microns in size and on microscopic measurement or elutriation for particles below 74 microns, a method which could give only a general idea of what had been accomplished. The fact that the long controversy between the followers of Kick and of Rittinger has resulted in no accepted conclusion is evidence of the need for fundamental data on the crushing law. Some Methods of Measuring Surface of Particles A dissolution method was used by Wolff to measure surfaces of glass powder. A mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide was the solvent and the amount of glass dissolved in two hours from the powder was compared with that dissolved from a glass plate.2 Lately Herbert F. Kriege has used the dissolution method in determining surface of calcite and limestone.3 Dr. Geoffrey Martin and his coworkers in England have also used a dissolution method to determine surface on quartz. They compared the amount of quartz dissolved from the sample in one hour by a hydrofluoric acid solution with the amount dissolved from a measured quartz

Jan 1, 1930

By C. W. Davis

This paper is the second of a series of progress reports on a study of the hydrometallurgy of manganese which is being, conducted in an endeavor to make possible utilization-of the large deposits of low-grade domestic manganese ores that occur in several States. There are at least four processes in which a knowledge of the action of S02 gas on manganese oxides at elevated temperatures may prove of value.

Jan 1, 1930

By Charles H. Foreman

This paper describing the mining practice of the Hecla and Star mines, both located at Burke, Idaho, is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on mining practices, methods, and costs in the various mining districts of the United States. It is partly a revision of articles by the author appearing in volume 72 of the Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, published in 1925, and in the June 1928, issue of the American Mining Congress Journal. About 26,000 tons per month of lead ore is produced at the Hecla mine. Costs at the mine are given for the year 1928. Stoping operations in the Star mine have covered such a short period, during which time the abnormal expenses of starting were incurred, that they are not given in this paper.

Jan 1, 1930

By Joseph Chalmers

Stimulative methods of production, whereby the total recovery of oil from natural reservoirs is increased, have come into considerable prominence during the past 15 years. In many oil-producing areas properties considered ready for abandonment by ordinary producing methods have responded to some form of stimulation, and their economic lives have been extended. The stimulative method having widest application is the injection of air or gas into the reservoir formations through selected input wells and is commonly referred to as the "gas drive." As a result of the many successful "gas-drive" operations operators are depending more and more upon this method for increasing the ultimate recovery of oil from their properties. A number of factors influence the efficacy of different gases as propulsive agents in recovering oil from sands. Gases of high density and viscosity show a tendency toward a slightly higher efficiency than those of lower density and viscosity. The solubility of the gas in the oil also affects the efficiency of oil recovery. Not only does dissolved gas decrease the viscosity of the oil, but dissolved gas that expands from solution in the oil tends to increase the effectiveness of a "gas drive." Interfacial tension between the oil and the gas and its effect upon the recovery of oil by gas injection are factors of which little is known. Dr. A. G. Loomis expressed the opinion that interfacial tension probably plays a minor role in the recovery of oil, except under conditions that produce a gas-oil foam. In connection with the above physical properties that influence the action of a pressure medium, control of the injected volume of the pressure medium is perhaps the major factor. The rate of gas injection determines to a great extent the amount of slippage and the resulting efficiency of the operation. The importance of volume control is realized when one considers that frequently it is the only factor that is under complete control of the operator.

Jan 1, 1930

By D. A. McIsaac

In these days, when mass production seems to be the watchword of all industrial companies, nothing is left undone to attain this end. Transportation, where necessary, becomes a question of very great importance. For this reason every mechanical contrivance known to man is employed, with its resultant advantages. So successful has man's ingenuity been that, offhand, we are inclined to say that practically all transportation ?On a large scale is done mechanically, that is, where speed and economy are desiderata. Granting this, one would think that to read a paper on the horse before your honourable and highly technical Society would surely be a waste of time, and that any Company employing old-fashioned 'horse' power would certainly be very much behind the time, to say the least. However, the fact remains that the biggest industry in our country today-coal mining-must use horse power to a great extent, being compelled both by considerations of economy and by necessity. For this reason,' in the production of coal under present conditions, the pit horse is of great importance to this industry and is to be considered seriously as one of the units that help to make coal mining a success or a failure. Hence, in employing horses as a power for transportation, care must be exercised in selecting the animals, and the care of this power must be considered as seriously as any other department of such an organization. In selecting a pit horse, several things must be borne in mind, that is, one must get as much horse power as possible in as compact a form is practicable. This determines the type of horse we must use, which is of very great importance under our present conditions of coal mining. With low roof, steep grades, and forced production, a distinct type of animal must be selected.

Jan 1, 1930

By Charles W. Eichrodt

So much has already been wimitten on this vast subject of ground movement and subsidence, and so many data collected and commented upon, that in this paper the author proposes to confine himself to the submission of some plans showing what has actually occurred in the mining of several of the orebodies which have come under his direction during the last 20 years or so at Rio Tinto, Spain. Some notes are added for the purpose of describing the plans. The author does not attempt to give his opinion as to the reasons why the subsidences have occurred in the manner in which they are found, but confines himself to giving as true a picture as possible of the movements that have taken place. Effects of Excavation on Ground Movement Broadly, the effects of excavations on the overhead or adjacent ground can be classified under three headings, as follows: 1. Ground movements due to excavations made from surface only, such as those made in opencasts where no excavations underlie them. The stability and strength of the ground to resist movement must determine the slopes. 2. Ground movements due to underground excavations only; i. e., where the surface is not removed. 3. Ground movements due to a combination of both; i. e., from excavations taking place from the surface for the purpose of stripping an orebody and recovery of the ore to a certain horizon combined with excavations being carried out below, at the same time, for the winning of the ore below the horizon at which mining by stripping or opencasting under the specific conditions is no longer economical. Nos. 1 and 2 represent independent and distinct problems and No. 3 is a combination, which presents results much more difficult of explanation. The accompanying plans and sections give examples of what has occurred under the three conditions. Unfortunately, the class of ground is not exactly the same in them all, but the difference is not greater than is generally encountered over districts of equal area. Excavations from Surface To illustrate No. 1 three cross-sections are shown, of excavations made for the stripping and excavation from three different orebodies

Jan 1, 1930

By H. C. George

As the basis for a round table discussion of Petroleum Engineering Education for the February, 1930, meeting of the Petroleum Division, A. I. M. E., the following questions were sent to about 60 of the leading engineers and educators in the petroleum industry: 1. Should there be any changes in the curricula of our courses in petroleum engineering to meet the changing demands of the Industry? If so, what changes?] 2. Should courses in petroleum engineering be offered through university extension? 3. Should the universities offer correspondence courses in petroleum engineering? 4. What should be the character of the graduate work offered in petroleum production engineering? 5. Should summer work in the oil fields, on pipe lines, or in oil refineries be required of undergraduates? If so, how much and of what character? The following men replied to the questions: G. B. Corless, Humble Oil & Refining Co., Houston, Texas. J. R. McWilliams, Skelly Oil Co., Tulsa, Okla. W. W. Scott, Humble Oil & Refining Co., Houston, Texas. H. H. Power, Gypsy Oil Co., Tulsa, Okla. L. G. E. Bignell, Oil K. Gas Journal, Tulsa, Okla. E. L. Estabrook, Pan American Petroleum & Transport Co., New York, N. Y. F. P. Donohue, Pan American Petroleum & Transport Co., New York, N. Y. C. 0. Rison, lndian Territory Illuminating Oil Co., Bartlesville, Okla. L. B. Holland, Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, Okla. H. J. Kemler, Shell Petroleum Corpn., St. Louis, Mo. C. A. Bonine, Pennsylvania State College, State College, Pa. J. 0. Lewis, Dunn & Lewis, Tulsa, Okla. A. G. Heggem, Tulsa, Okla. J. M. Lovejoy, Petroleum Bond & Share Corpn., New York, N. Y. B. B. Boatright, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colo. A. C. Ruble, Union Oil Co. of California, Los Angeles, Calif. J. B. Umpleby, Goldelline Oil Corpn., Oklahoma City, Okla. R. S. Knappen, Gypsy Oil Co., Tulsa, Okla. K. C. Heald, Gulf Companies, Pittsburgh, Pa. K. C. Sclater, Exchange National Bank Bldg., Tulsa, Okla. F. G. Tickell, Stanford University, Stanford University, Calif.

Jan 1, 1930

The following discussion occurred on the afternoon of Sept,. 22, 1930, as part of the fall meeting of the Iron and Steel Division at Chicago. About seventy-five men attended this session. C. B. Murray opened the meeting, as follows: C. B. Murray, Cleveland, Ohio.—It is very encouraging to see so many here this afternoon to discuss this important matter of beneficiation. The producers of ore, I am sure, are anxious to furnish the grade of ore that the consumer wants. The consumer sometimes wants that which cannot be economically produced and often the producer cannot understand why the consumer wants certain things. It was to bring together these two interested parties that this meeting was proposed. I was appointed the chairman of the meeting, chiefly because I happened to be the chairman of the Iron Ore Committee of the Institute. I know a little about iron ore but have not perhaps kept up with the times in blast-furnace practice. I am asking Mr. Sweetser, who is well informed from both sides, to take over the meeting and carry on the discussion. R. H. Sweetser, Columbus, Ohio.—We want to have a free discussion between the iron-ore men and the blast-furnace men as to just what we are trying to reach in the beneficiation of iron ores. Many of those present have had a great deal of experience. There are men here from the ranges who have been passing through the experimental stage of beneficiation of iron ores, and there are some who have already gone on to commercial production. We have reached the point where the beneficiation of iron ore is important to the whole iron and steel industry. The connection between iron-ore beneficiation and the cleaning of coal is so close that I think we can profit by working very close to the coal people. Some Aspects of the Iron-ore Situation W. G. Swart, Babbitt, Minn.—I was very much interested in Mr. Richards'* paper on tonnages and the 20-year life. There is one interesting thing about the ore reserves; that is, the irregular distribution of that tonnage. On the Mesabi Range, for example, the United States Steel Corpn. owns between 70 and 75 per cent. of the reserve tonnage. They ship bctween 40 and 50 per cent. of the annual Lake Superior

Jan 1, 1930

By R. Duncan Gardner

This paper describing the milling practice at the concentrator of the Harmony Mines Co. is one of a series being; prepared by the Bureau of Mines on milling methods and costs in the United States. For the period February 15, 1929, to June 1, 1929, the concentrator treated 200 tons of copper ore per day containing 3.84 per cent copper and recovered 99.2 per cent of the total copper in concentrates averaging 26.61 per cent copper. Milling practice at the Harmony Mines is in most respects similar to the usual practice at the average flotation concentrator producing bulk flotation concentrates. The exceptionally high recovery is due to a number of minor conditions. These minor details will be stressed throughout this paper.

Jan 1, 1930

By L. G. E. Bignell

Surveying what was done in 1929 in meeting problems of oil-field equipment corrosion, one is struck by the fact that fewer meetings were held for discussion of these problems and fewer papers written than in any year since the subject engaged the attention of petroleum engineers. This does not mean that progress has not been made, for a great deal actually has been accomplished. Recommendations that accompanied field reports have been put into actual trial and some results obtained are gratifying. The type of papers prepared also has undergone a change, for they now deal with things accomplished rather than recite damages and suggest possible remedies. Some of the most notable work pointing the way for future solution of many pipe line problems is that done for the U. S. Bureau of Standards by Dr. K. H. Logan and Dr. Gordon N. Scott, dealing with tests of pipe coatings and reports on soil conditions. Many facts of great importance have been isolated and defined by these two men, not only indicating what may be done in some instances to retard corrosion, but showing that things formerly considered of importance have little bearing apparently upon the practical results. All-aluminum Storage Tanks In April, 1928, an all-aluminum 500-bbl. field storage tank was put into actual field use in Crane County, Texas, together with another tank of the same capacity but made with steel bottom and lower section of side sheets and aluminum upper ring of side sheets and deck. In April, 1929, after a little over one year's use these tanks were opened and examined by a group of engineers and chemists. The results of the test were enlightening. Other tanks made entirely of steel and used in the same battery with the two test tanks had some of their side and bottom sheets destroyed by corrosion in six to nine months, but the all-aluminum tank was in actual use for 18 months before holes were found corroded through the bottom, when the tank was examined for a second time in September, 1929. This field test of the aluminum tank confirmed the already known

Jan 1, 1930