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The annual meeting of the Woman's Auxiliary was held on February 19, at 10 a. m. The president, Mrs. Sidney Jennings, said in her greeting "it is a matter of congratulation that during the past year when the demands upon women for work of all kinds has been so large our membership has grown from the 50 enrolled at the first meeting a year ago to over 300 today. Some women, when. asked to join the organization, say that they are doing so much work in other ways that they have no time for work in a new organization, but the director for Canada struck the right note in her report when she told us of the splendid work the wives of mining engineers are doing in Canada, as individuals and as leaders and members of various organizations doing patriotic work. We do not want to divert such women from the work they are now doing, but we do want them to enroll as members of the Woman's Auxiliary and let us know what they are doing, that they play give inspiration to others." Reports were made by the directors of the following sections: Canada, Chicago, Colorado, Columbia, New York, Puget Sound and St. Louis, in some of which sections excellent progress has been made in food conservation, foreign war relief, including the adoption of fatherless French children, and in work for our own engineering regiments. These reports were read, accepted, and placed on file. The reports of the corresponding secretary, of the recording secretary, and of the treasurer, were read, accepted, and placed on file. Various amendments to the Constitution were proposed and accepted, and copies of the Constitution, as amended, will be mailed to all the members of the Woman's Auxiliary.

Jan 4, 1918

The Library of the above-named Societies is open from 9 A.M. to 10 P.M., except on holidays. It contains about 70,000 volumes and 90,000 pamphlets, including sets of technical periodicals and publications of scientific and technical societies. Members of the Institute, with few exceptions, are forced to spend a portion of their time in localities isolated from sources of information. To these the Library, through its Library Service Bureau, can render valuable service through correspondence; letters requesting information will receive especial attention. The Library is prepared to furnish references and photographic copies of articles on mining and metallurgical subjects; to determine the existence of mining maps, and to furnish general information on the geology and mineral resources of all countries. All communications should be made as definite as possible so that the information received may be what is desired and not include collateral matter which may not be of interest. The time spent in searching for such collateral matter will be saved, and the information will be sent more promptly and in more usable shape.

Jan 3, 1918

The 27th Regiment of Engineers was organized in the Army not long ago for special mining service at the front (or, we might even say, in advance of the front). In military engineering in warfare, the "sappers and miners" are one of the ancient branches of the corps of engineers; but in modern warfare the importance of this service has been greatly magnified. The 27th Engineers is a. special mining regiment, which is being recruited from mining engineers and miners from all districts of the country, already containing representatives from all the mining states between Arizona and Montana and from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast. Those of us who cannot go to the front should not-be content to tell the young fellows to go, and then forget them. We want the men of the 27th Engineers to know that they represent our industry and their industry; and that the industry is going to think about them and back them up. Expressing the above views, the Engineering and. Mining Journal instituted a fund for the aid of the 27th Engineers. It has already raised a considerable sum of money, and contributions are coming in fast; but there is no limit to what is wanted. This money is being spent in providing the regiment with athletic equipment, both outdoor and indoor; with games for the barracks; with cigarettes and smoking tobacco; with contributions to the funds of the several companies that the men raise among themselves. It is contemplated, moreover, that there will be need to extend aid and comfort to some of the families whom the men have left behind. Contributions of books, sweaters and other knitted articles are also being received.

Jan 3, 1918

In a letter to the Secretary, Sir Robert A. Hadfield encloses a statement of the terms and conditions under which his prize is to be awarded by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and also a table comparing the hardness of a large variety of steels, examined both by Brinell and by scleroscope methods, together with the tensile and compressive strength of the same specimens. The conditions for the award of the prize are as follows: SIR ROBERT HADFIELD PRIZE For a new Method of Determining the Hardness of Metals 1. Sir Robert A. Hadfield, D. Sc., D. Met., F. R. S., Vice-President, has placed in the hands of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers the suns of £200, which, with any income therefrom, may he awarded at the discretion of the Council of the Institution as a prize or as prizes, for the description of a new and accurate method of determining the hardness of metals, especially of metals of a high degree of hardness. 2. The ordinary tests of hardness, such as are described in the report of the Hard-ness Tests Research Committee (Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engi=neers, 1916, pages 677 to 778), which should he consulted by competitors, fail to some extent when the hardness of the material exceeds about 600 to 800 Brinell. What is

Jan 3, 1918

By Thomas Read

SUMMARY THE cost of labor turnover in industry is so large as to justify the adoption of almost any means to bring about its reduction. Intensive study has shown that faulty methods of hiring and discharging men is the most important factor in labor turnover. Complete control over hiring and discharging by the foreman is a relic of outgrown industrial conditions; centralized hiring permits this work to be put on a scientific basis and also does away with many serious evils that cannot otherwise be reached. Centralized hiring does not impair the authority of the foreman; he hires his men from the employment office and discharges them back to it, instead of from and to the street. The employment manager, being a direct representative of the employer, tends to restore the former relation of direct intercourse between employee and employer that was helpful in avoiding friction between them. Being a specialist, he is able to bring special knowledge and skill to bear upon the task of selling employment in his concern to desirable workmen; lie is also able to give the foreign workman the special attention he requires. Employment managers have been used for the past few years by a number of large organizations, a few of which are engaged in the mining and metallurgical industries. They have invariably reduced labor turnover, in some cases to as little as one-tenth of what it had been. So great a reduction is due in part to other changes made in the light of the data made available by scientific study of the labor problem. In my former paper on personnel work1 I advocated the more general use of the employment manager in mining and metallurgical enterprises as a means of reducing labor turnover. The form of organization recommended seems not be to understood by all, and I have requested the privilege of explaining it at greater length, since it is perhaps the most important factor of all in personnel work, and has a vital influence on the cost sheet of every industrial enterprise.

Jan 2, 1918

THE relation of labor to the accident rate in mines is admirably epitomized by Thomas T. Read in his paper presented at the St. Louis meeting, in the sentence "Reliance for accident prevention must be upon the individual worker himself." In connection with the inspection of mines for the fixing of merit premium rates for insurance under workmen's compensation, it has been the practice of The Associated Companies to allow 60 per cent.of the credits for safeguarding of the physical hazards of the mine and 40 per cent. for the human element. By "human element" is meant. that inherent tendency of the industrial worker to be careless, negligent or disobedient, in respect to his own safety, and after that also f his fellow workman. This is a tendency not only of the laborer or of the skilled miner, but of all human beings, working or traveling, anywhere. This element of mine safety, sometimes called the moral hazard, has been admirably shown by statistics compiled from the records of the Department of Mines of the Union of South Africa to be clue in about equal measure to the carelessness of the miner and to that of the operator. These statistics show that about one-half the fatalities in mines are clue to the so-called hazard of the industry, or what is sometimes called the dangers inherent to work or misadventure. Of 2497 fatalities investigated, including over 200,000 employees, for a period of over 2 ½ years, it was found that 17.5 per cent. were due to faulty plant or material, fault of the foreman, or of the management-in short were-clue to the operator; 17.1 per cent. to disobedience of orders, carelessness or ignorance of injured persons; and 5.9 per cent. through fault of others, including fellow workmen. The fault of the operator is evidenced by failure to give proper warning, failure to inspect, failure to furnish proper equipment, and neglecting to comply with the recommendations of the inspector. That education and training of the mine operator as well as of the mine worker

Jan 2, 1918

The Library of the above-named Societies is open from 9 A.M. to 10 P.M., except on holidays. It contains about 70,000 volumes and 90,000 pamphlets, including sets of technical periodicals and publications of scientific and technical societies. Members of the Institute, with few exceptions, are forced to spend a portion of their time in localities isolated from sources of information. To these the Library, through its Library Service Bureau, can render valuable service through correspondence; letters requesting information' will receive especial attention. The Library is prepared to furnish references and photographic copies of articles on mining and metallurgical subjects; to determine the existence of mining maps, and to furnish general information on the geology and mineral resources of all countries. All communications should be made as definite as possible so that the information received may be what is desired and not include collateral matter which may not be of interest. The time spent in searching for such collateral matter will be saved, and the information will be sent more promptly and in more usable shape.

Jan 2, 1918

IT will be noticed, from the following contributed papers on the various plant, what an infinite number of parts are required to be kept in active operation in order to derive a resultant product of commercial value from the ores and materials received at the works. Crude ores and concentrates, in every degree of complex structure and resistance to treatment, are arriving daily from near and distant places, moreover their metallic contents are so varied that an outsider, unacquainted with the operations, would naturally wonder how it is possible that the rare elements are to be sorted out and classified into their true order, to meet industrial requirements.The proposition is necessarily not a simple one and owners of mining properties have naturally refrained from smelting their complex ores on account of the technical difficulties of attaining high efficiency and recovery of the metals, where limitations are imposed in procuring a variation of ores that lead to the best smelting and refinmg result. This difficulty obviously imposes many disabilities on the smelter, who is prepared to accept all such complex ores, and it may be said that were therenot available a large weekly supply of lead concentrates from the company's own mine at Broken Hill, of standard quality, much of the material being treated in the world today would certainly not be marketable.In order to sustain full efficiency, each section of the works must maintain its.true balance and synchronize with the requirements of such other departments as are dependent on its partially treated materials. This harmony of operations is not only imperative as regards tonnage output, but also relies on the condition of the resultant treatment by each plant, no large variations being permissible.The various officers are, therefore, dependent on one another to keep the order of the operations flowing regularly. This is accomplished by constant intercommunication and observation, as...

Jan 1, 1918

By Thomas T. Read

The cost of labor turnover in industry is so large as to justify the adoption of almost any means to bring about its reduction. Intensive study has shown that faulty methods of hiring and discharging men is the most important factor in labor turnover. Complete control over hiring and discharging by the foreman is a relic of outgrown industrial conditions; centralized hiring permits this work to be put on a scientific basis and also does away with many serious evils that cannot, otherwise be reached. Centralized hiring does not impair the authority of the foreman; he hires his men from the employment office and discharges them back to it, instead of from and to the street. The employment manager, being a direct representative of the employer, tends to restore the former relation of direct intercourse between employee and employer that was helpful in avoiding friction between them. Being a specialist,, he is able to bring special knowledge and skill to bear upon the task of selling employment in his concern to desirable workmen; he is also able to give the foreign workman the special attention he requires. Employment managers have been used for the past few years by a number of large organizations, a few of which are engaged in the mining and rnetallurgical industries. They have invariably reduced labor turnover, in some cases to as little as one-tenth of what it had been. So great a reduction is due in part to other changes made in the light of the data made available by scientific study of the labor problem. In my former paper on personnel work' I advocated the more general use of the employment manager in mining and metallurgical enterprises as a means of reducing labor turnover. The form of organization recommended seems not be to understood by all, and I have requested the privilege of explaining it at greater length, since it is perhaps the most important factor of all in personnel work, and has a vital influence on the cost sheet of every industrial enterprise.

Jan 1, 1918

Discussion of the paper of L. A. DELANO, presented at the St. Louis meeting, October, 1917, and printed in Bulletin No. 129, September, 1917, pp. 1267 to 1286. L. A. DELANO.-Since this paper was written, our daily mill tonnage has increased, from 2100 tons to 2700 tons a clay. We now use 11,000 lb. of chrome-steel balls of 2 ½ -in. maximum diameter, for an average crushing capacity of 275 tons per 24 hr., this giving a much higher crushing efficiency. I wish to call attention to two typographical errors in my paper as published. On page 1271, Table 1, the screen analysis of ore at the Bonne Terre mill should be stated in inches instead of mesh. - On page 1272, "the rolls average 185 tons per 24 hr., and have shown by test that 250 tons per hour can be maintained" should, of course, read "250 tons per 24 hours." THE CHAIRMAN (0. M. BILHARZ, Miami, Okla.).-Is the increased mill capacity due to improvement in the re-crushing of middlings or to keeping middlings out of circulation and treating them separately? L. A. DELANO.-AS was shown in Mr. Rabling's paper (Bulletin No. 128, p. 1161) the tonnage was raised by about 400 tons by simply changing the arrangement of screen openings in the jig bed and using punched plate instead of woven-wire screen. Then, by adding a ball-mill, we are taking from the jigs a much larger tonnage of middlings than before or as much as the ball-mill will crush. By sending the ball-mill product to tables and flotation, the jig capacity for original ore is increased. CHAIRMAN BILHARZ.-In your opinion, the satisfactory operation of a Hancock jig on a given ore requires adjustment of the length of the different screens and careful selection of screen openings? L. A. DELANO.-I think it does. In order to decide what screen openings to use on the jigs, we did a great deal of experimental work, making screen analyses of the various hutch products, and then hand-sorting the galena, middlings and chat from each size screen to determine the percentage of galena in each. Then adjusting our jig screens, we gradually worked the process up to a very efficient basis. ERNEST GAYFORD, Salt Lake City, Utah.-I would like too ask Mr. Delano whether the work of the Allen cone has been quite as satisfactory as the manufacturers claim for it.

Jan 1, 1918

L. E. WEMPLE, St. Louis, Mo. (written discussion *).-Mr. Stone refers to cadmium as one of the worst impurities in ores used for the production of zinc oxide for pigment purposes, because it is very volatile and its dark brown oxide and bright yellow sulphide both have strong coloring powers so that small fractions of 1 percent. injure the whiteness of the oxide. Numerous tests have recently been made by the American Zinc, Lead and Smelting Co. to determine what effect the percentage of cadmium, as ordinarily present in zinc ores, has upon the color of oxide made from such ores by the usual grate-furnace process. It has been found that while the cadmium is readily volatile and may be detected in the oxide product by chemical analysis, the oxide product is not discolored, but is of a clear white color. Analysis of the 12 leading brands of zinc oxide, French process, lead-free, and leaded grades now on the market for pigment purposes, show them to contain from 0.02 to 0.35 per cent. cadmium, figured as metal. If these proportions of cadmium were present as oxide or sulphide, the percentages would run from approximately 0.022 to 0.40 per cent. in the first case and 0.025 to 0.45 per cent in the latter case. All these grades of oxide are widely used for pigment purposes and are of a clear white color, except the leaded grades, the whiteness of which may be diminished by the lead sulphate. Tests made with admixtures of as low as 0.02 per cent. of cadmium oxide or sulphide to zinc oxide of the greatest hiding power (lead-free

Jan 1, 1918

By H. M. Wilson

The relation of labor to the accident rate in mines is admirably epitomized by Thomas T. Read in his paper presented at the St. Louis meeting, in the sentence "Reliance for accident prevention must be upon the individual worker himself." In connection with the inspection of mines for the fixing of merit premium rates for insurance under workmen's compensation, it has been the practice of The Associated Companies to allow 60 per cent, of the credits for safeguarding of the physical hazards of the mine and 40 per cent. for the human element. By "human element" is meant that inherent tendency of the industrial worker to be careless, negligent, or disobedient, in respect to his own safety, and after that also of his fellow workman. This is a tendency not only of the laborer or of the skilled miner, but of all human beings, working or traveling anywhere. This element of mine safety, sometimes called the moral hazard, has been admirably shown by statistics, compiled from the records of the Department of Mines of the Union of South Africa, to be due in about equal measure to the carelessness of the miner and to that of the operator. These statistics show that about one-half the fatalities in mines are due to the so-called hazard of the industry, or what is sometimes called the dangers inherent to work or misadventure. Of 2497 fatalities investigated, including over 200,000 employees, for a period of over 21/2 years, it was found that 17.5 per cent. were due to faulty plant or material, fault of the foreman, or of the management—in short were due to the operator; 17.1 per cent. to disobedience of orders, carelessness or ignorance of injured persons; and 5.9 per cent. through fault of others, including fellow workmen. The fault of the operator is evidenced by failure to give proper warning, failure to inspect, failure to furnish proper equipment, and neglecting to comply with the recommendations of the inspector. That education and training of the mine operator, as well as of the mine worker,

Jan 1, 1918

By Robert W. Pack

Sooner or later in the development of any natural resource it becomes highly desirable to know the quantity of this resource in the country as a whole, as well as of the part that is being developed, for the general course and conduct of the development work must be governed, to some extent, by the total supply available. An accurate estimate of the quantity of any natural resource is difficult to make; yet if one is diligent enough one can obtain a pretty accurate idea of the quantity of marketable timber, the acreage of tillable land, or the horsepower that may be developed from the streams, for these are things that may be measured. But any attempt to estimate the quantity of some mineral in the ground appears to enter the realm of imagination and it seems that the estimate can be nothing more than a blind guess. It may appear to be especially futile to attempt to determine the quantity of oil and gas that is available in the ground, for these minerals are so vagrant that even if the quantity now available should be known quite exactly, the quantity that will eventually be obtained may be much less, for certain losses in the extraction of both oil and gas are unavoidable, and just what these losses will be cannot be predicted. Though necessarily inaccurate, estimates of such mineral reserves are, however, of distinct value, for they summarize the existing knowledge of the deposits of the mineral and thus enable those who are interested in some industry that depends in one way or another on this mineral to formulate a rational commercial policy. Some time ago, when the price of gasoline suddenly rose in a rather spectacular manner, the writer was one of the U. S. Geological Survey geologists called upon to help to estimate the quantity of oil that could be obtained in the United States, for the fear had become widespread that perhaps the rate of increase in the price of gasoline was a measure of the rate of depletion of the supply of petroleum. It thus became his

Jan 1, 1918

By F. E. Marcy

It is not my purpose to write a lengthy article or to attempt the solution of the problem I am presenting, but to call attention to what I believe an important issue, hoping that it may arouse in some one, or in some company, a sense of responsibility. I am referring particularly to modern up-to-date milling plants discharging tailings which under existing conditions cannot be further treated or from which a recovery cannot be made at a profit, but where a quantitative and qualitative analysis shows that a portion of these tailings might profitably be treated at some future time when our metallurgical knowledge has advanced, when we have cheaper power, chemicals, labor or other advantageous conditions. Early Methods In our early milling methods very little attention was given to the care of tailings. It was thought that if the mill could be located by a stream or a river where the final disposal of the tailings could be forever lost sight of, it was highly desirable. We can now see and estimate what was lost in these rich tailings, not recoverable from the streams and the great rivers. Fortunately for many, the depositing of tailings in these streams and rivers was objected to by the farmers and finally prohibited by the State Legislatures. In looking back over our past milling methods, it seems that the first endeavor was to make the maximum amount of money for a particular period, or year, regardless of the future, the depletion of the mine, or the conservation of the total mineral content. The dumping and sluicing of 3000 tons per day, for a period of many years, of a copper tailing carrying 12 lb. of recoverable copper together with its portion of precious metals, the thousands of tons of valuable metal contained in the tailings that have been carried away by Silver Bow Creek, the streams of the Coeur d'Alene, the Flat River and Colorado districts, the enormous quantities

Jan 1, 1918

By W. B. Phillips

The earliest mention of the sulphur deposits in what is now Culberson County, Texas, seems to be contained in " Explorations and Surveys for a Railroad Route from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, United States War Department, 1853-54." Captain John Pope (he was not commissioned Captain until 1856) had charge of one of the divisions of the Survey. In his report on the geology of the route, William P. Blake noted the analysis of a greenish earthy powder from the bed of Delaware Creek, at the springs, which contained 18.28 per cent. of free sulphur. The report states: "From the chemical examination of the waters of the spring, by Dr. Booth, it appears that chloride of sodium is the principal solid ingredient, but considerable quantities of sulphide of sodium are present. ***** The waters from the springs examined by Dr. Booth were alkaline, but it is possible that some of the springs are acid; and in this case the precipitation of sulphur would ensue on the mixture of the acid waters with those charged with alkaline sulphurets and the origin of the deposits of sulphur would be thus explained." This is the first reference to the existence of sulphur in that region, the first mention of the character of the water found there and the first suggestion as to the origin of the deposits. The possibility of the existence of acid waters was confirmed by E. M. Skeats, nearly 50 years later.' In this publication, Skeats says that the water from the sulphur deposits in Section 11, Block 114, Township 6, contains 79.08 grains of free sillphuric acid per gallon. This locality is about 13 miles (21 km.) south . of Delaware Creek and about 35 miles (56 km.) east of the Delaware Springs. The next published reference to the existence of sulphur in Trans-Pecos. Texas is in the Pirst Annual Report of the Geological Survey of Texas, 1889, page 226, where W. H. von Streeruwitz mentions that sulphur is found in that region, but gives no further information. In the

Jan 1, 1918

By L. D. Frink

THOSE actively interested in mining are fully aware of the ever-increasing difficulty of making conditions such that efficient work can be clone in underground openings, especially as higher rock temperatures are encountered in depth. This is also true where an effort is being made to cut down the burden of overhead expense by working headings 24 hr. in a day if blasting is done as often as is possible in that time. That the conditions resulting from both these causes have driven the native-born Americans from the mines and that their places have been taken by less efficient foreigners is a fact that we must all admit. The great war now being fought in Europe and the educational qualification clause written into our immigration law by the last Congress will probably limit very materially the supply of labor, such as we are now using in our mines, and will force upon mine operators the necessity of making this work appeal again to Americans. Metal tubing, with blower or exhaust fans, has long been used in supplying air to dead ends where natural ventilation is impossible, or in driving the smoke from such places, or in doing both, as the need might be. Here in Butte we have now come to use canvas tubing very extensively and find that it has many advantages not possessed by the metal. The use of flexible tubing is not new, but it has not been generally used in mining operations. Recent improvements, however, in the canvas itself and in the jointing of sections and manner of suspension have so increased its usefulness that it promises to add much to the efficiency of mining. There is now on the market a product that is impervious to air, is fireproof, and has a system of jointing which, permits it to be put up or taken clown in a few seconds. In this article an effort will be made to explain the manner in which canvas tubing is being used in the North Butte company's operations at Butte, Mont. The accompanying photographs will, I hope, help make clear what may be done with this material.

Jan 1, 1918

By Prince Lazarovich Hrebilianovich

I was asked by the chairman of one of the Sessions on Employment Problems to talk about the viewpoint of the foreign workingman. I am not a workingman. I have never done what a work-hand might call an honest day's labor; that is, I have never been in a factory or manufacturing plant or in a mine, though in truth, hard work and I are well acquainted. I was a soldier, am an engineer, have long been actively interested in the most important waterway construction in the near East, have served politics and diplomacy, written books and lectured at universities. My knowledge of the foreign workingman in this country comes from the fact that my own compatriots here at various times came to me and appealed for advice and help, and last year I was asked by the employment manager of a corporation to undertake a welfare job at one of their plants. I went out, saw the plant, talked with the superintendent and outlined certain of my ideas which he personally heartily approved, but which did not find favor with those higher up. I approach the subject of the foreign workman's point of view with the understanding that the industrial employer's effort is for the maximum of efficiency. I am conversant with labor conditions abroad both in industry and agriculture. What I have learned of industrial conditions in America as they affect the foreign immigrant has been chiefly gathered from the cases referred to of foreign workmen who from time to time have come to me with their troubles. In the course of those investigations, in order to give whatever help or advice was possible, I have been impressed with the fact that the great United States industries evidently had not yet sufficiently recognized the value of studying the conditions of the workingman in the lands of his origin across the seas. A careful study of that which could be called the moral element in connection with its foreign labor would give industry a knowledge of the man's reason for coming, what grievances he brings with him, his hopes for a future, and the peculiar character of his capacities. The employer would thereby be enabled to meet the man, to be helpful to him, to aid him and at the same time promote industrial efficiency, inasmuch as a workman who believes that he is being dealt with humanly and squarely is contented and satisfied and will give willingly, and even with pride, the best that is in him; justice and a 'air deal is all the man wants.

Jan 1, 1918

[IRVING, JOHN D. :-(Continued.) Some Features of Replacement Ore-Bodies, and the Criteria by Means of Which They May be Discovered, XLII, [xlvii]. Discussions: on A Concise Method of Showing Ore-Reserves, XLIII, 714; on The Iron Deposits of Daiquiri, Cuba, LIII, 65; I on Recrystallization of Limestone at Igneous Contacts, XLVIII, 214; I on To What Extent is Chalcocite a Primary, and to what Extent a Secondary, Mineral in Ore Deposits, XLVIII, 194. minerals of gold deposits, Homestake belt, Black Hills, S. D., XLII, 54.]

Jan 1, 1918

Discussion of the paper of A. P. WATT, presented at the St. Louis meeting, October, 1917, and printed in Bulletin No. 130, October, 1917, pp. 1476 to 1563. THE CHAIRMAN (0. M. _BILHARZ, Miami, Okla.).-Mr. Watt's reference to sorting or hand-picking of the ore in the lead district, which is being introduced at Mine La Motte, is especially interesting. I believe, from my former experience in the district, that hand-picking should be practised to some extent by all the companies in the Lead Belt. I know that a great many thousand tons containing only very small amounts of lead are passed through the mills, which, of course, is not to the advantage of milling machinery. That procedure may be Warranted at times of high prices, but I think that hand-picking should ordinarily be adopted to some extent: ERNEST GAYFORD, Salt Lake City, Utah.-On page 1525, speaking of the settling of slime previous to treatment either on slime tables or by flotation, Mr. Watt states: "The settling area allowed per ton of dry slime varies from 11 to 16 sq. ft.-an average for the district would be about 13 sq. ft. of settling area per ton of dry slime. This figure applies when the, discharge contains 20 per cent. solids." Mr. Ramsey, of the Dorr company, is here and I would like to ask him whether a settling area of 13 sq. ft. per ton of dry slime per 24 hr. is not considerably above the average area of Dorr settling tanks, and whether 20 per cent. solids is not above the general dilution for that' capacity? I should also like to know what is the general average on slimes of that character. E. R. RAMSEY, Denver, Colo.-An allowance of 13 sq. ft. per ton does seem rather large. I am not familiar with the settling characteristics of the dolomitic gangue, but as an average over the country, I should say that 6 or 7 sq. ft. would be nearer correct for discharge at that consistency. L. A. DELANO, Bowie Terre, Mo.-We have had an opportunity to try our tanks at the highest capacity, and-find that by thickening the slime to 30 per cent. solids we average 12 sq. ft. per ton of dry slime. ERNEST GAYFORD.-DO you find any definite ratio between the thickness of the discharge and the settling capacity of the tank? Do you consider that the tank has a larger capacity if the discharge is 3 to 1 than if it is 50 per cent. solids? L. A. DELANO.-I think it has greater capacity with the thinner discharge. It depends a good deal on the density of feed to the tanks; in our case the feed contains 2.5 per cent. solids.

Jan 1, 1918

Discussion of the paper of C. M. YOUNG, presented at the St. Louis meeting, October, 1917, and printed in Bulletin No. 129, September, 1917, pp. 1369 to 1384. CARL SCHOLZ, Chicago, Ill.-Mr. Young was kind enough to' allude to the development of a mine in which I am now engaged. Several months ago the Burlington Railroad decided to open a mine in the field Which they own in Franklin County containing some 15,000 acres .(6070 ha.) of coal, ranging in thickness from 8 to 12 ft. (2 to 3.6 m.). This proposition in itself is attractive to any mining engineer, but with the backing of a large company I saw an opportunity to do some novel work in the construction line, and for several months I have been investigating and working on the problem of developing what I hope will be the largest and best equipped mine in the State of Illinois. The shaft will be sunk at a place where the coal lies at a depth of 600 ft. (182 m.) and conditions both of the surface and of the coal are ideal in every way; the seam is almost level, and we had only 7 ft. (2 m.) of surface clay to go through. We are going to hoist by skips in order to reduce the rope speed. I believe that is a long step in the direction of economy, because we not only double the output of the mine by hoisting the contents of two cars atone time, but we reduce the proportion of dead weight. In our case there will be 20 tons of coal and 18,000 lb. of skip, or 55 per cent. net and 45 per cent. tare. That, of course, necessitates less than half the rope speed for the same tonnage, and we all know that speed means power and power means cost. Skip hoisting permits the use of solid-end gate cars, which is an advantage. The cost of these cars will be in the neighborhood of $250 apiece; They are well built, with roller-bearing wheels of the most up-to-date type, spring draw-bars, and refinements of-that character which are necessary to move the loads most advantageously.

Jan 1, 1918