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By J. Spotts McDowell

J. W. RICHARDS, So. Bethlehem, Pa.-The paper is certainly an exceedingly, valuable one and it gives detailed information which should be utilized in the following way. There are probably twenty different circumstances or conditions under which silica bricks are used. Sometimes they are used under high pressure, at others under low pressure, at times for low temperatures and others for very high temperatures. If the methods of this paper are followed out, and if the precise mechanical and thermal properties are determined and can be reproduced, the industry can furnish the proper brick for any particular purpose. There is at present only an imperfect classification made as to properties and uses, but we need a "much more scientific classification of the uses to which the bricks are to be put and then should manufacture the bricks suited particularly for each of those purposes. There is one property which is not mentioned in the paper and which is of considerable importance, that is, the 'electrical conductivity. There may be other properties besides, which a good research laboratory can determine, and when we have listed all the various properties and noted the way in which they can be reproduced, the maker can then specify his exact requirements and the corresponding quality of brick can he selected or made to meet them. H. D. HIBBARD, Plainfield, N. J.-About a year ago I had some experience in another country, in melting steel, where silica bricks made in that country failed, but in a different way from those in America. Here, when the bricks get too hot, they are partly melted and string down

Jan 4, 1917

By Henry Fay

THE CHAIRMAN (ALBERT SAUVEUR, Cambridge, Mass.).-In forcing us to face and to discuss the important question of erosion of steel guns, Prof. Fay is performing a public service. His investigation has been fruitful and his results illuminating and suggestive. It is not in a spirit of adverse criticism, therefore, that I venture a few remarks suggested by his paper, but rather to add my mite to the discussion in the hope that it may not be entirely without value. Prof. Fay considers it conclusively demonstrated that the hard layers forming in the inside of guns of large calibers after they have been fired a number of times consist of martensite. Still, he admits that he never was able to detect in the hard layers the structural characteristics of martensite. This leads him to conceive the existence of amorphous martensite. We may well hesitate before accepting this theory on the strength of the evidence offered. Martensite, as we know it, is essentially a crystalline condition assumed by a close association of iron and carbon, possibly if not probably of the nature of a solid solution. Lacking this crystalline character we are hardly justified in calling it martensite on the ground, merely, of its being very hard.

Jan 4, 1917

By E. M. Chance

HERBERT M. WILSON, Pittsburgh, Pa. (written discussion).-Permit me to endorse the author's conclusions and their form of presentation as ,being, in my judgment, the last word 'on the subject of lights for the illumination of coal mines. I also feel that the open-flame oil lamp has outlived its usefulness, and that it should go, in the interests not only of safety but of efficiency. Where an open-flame lamp can be used with safety in non-gaseous mines, the acetylene light adds materially to efficiency by its better illumination, and to safety for the numerous reasons given by Mr. Chance. The latter, however, lays chief stress on the value of the acetylene because of its non-fouling and non-obscuring effect on the atmosphere. Another important advantage over any other form of illumination is the clear, bright light projected at the point where the workman may look for danger. The better illumination materially safeguards the worker against obstacles over which he may stumble when traveling, and against dangers from falls of roof or of coal, weakness in timbering, and similar conditions. The acetylene lamp, where it may be used with safety, has advantages even over the present electric cap lamp, in that it gives a higher luminosity; and when the miner comes to learn its signals, as he will in time, just as he learns those given by the open-flame or the safety lamp, he will find that the acetylene lamp is a fair detector not only of methane but of carbon dioxide, as clearly shown by Mr. Chance. The only, serious objection, raised against the use of carbide lamps. has been recently in Pennsylvania, due to the belief of the State Mine Inspection Department that it endangered miners working on pillar work, or other places where carbon dioxide might accumulate, or where there is lack of sufficient ventilation, and because it was believed that the indications of the carbide lamp would not give the miner sufficient warning. On this point Mr. Chance has clearly shown the fallacies of the objections. I may add that for those unable to detect carbon dioxide with the acetylene lamp, the maximum of protection would be afforded by using an open oil lamp or a flame safety lamp in such places; or, because the miner might not watch his oil light, a better, protection still would be offered by a sufficient number of daily inspections of such working places by a fire boss or other official, with flame safety lamp.

Jan 4, 1917

New York Meets first Wednesday after first Tuesday of each month. DAVID H. BROWNE, Chairman. PERCY E. BARBOUR, Vice-Chairman A. D. BEERS, Secretary, 55 Wall St., New York, N. Y. C. A. BOHN, Treasurer. JOHN V. N. DORR, LEWIS W. FRANCIS. Boston Meets first Monday of each winter month. W. E. C. EUSTIS, Chairman. R. L. AGASSIZ, Vice-Chairman. E. E. BUGBEE, Secretary-Treasurer, Mass. Inst. of Technology, Boston, Mass. ALBERT SAUVEUR, H. L. SMYTH. Columbia Holds four sessions during year. Annual meeting in September or October. W. H. LINNEY, Chairman. OSCAR LACHMUND, Vice-Chairman. LYNDON K. ARMSTRONG, Secretary-Treasurer, P. O. Drawer 2154, Spokane, Wash. STANLY A. EASTON, S. SHEDD.

Jan 3, 1917

(Members are urged to send in for this column any notes of interest concerning themselves or their fellow-members) Members and guests who called at Institute headquarters during the period Jan. 10, 1917 to Feb. 10, 1917: Victor C. Alderson, Denver, Colo. G. Komar, New York, N. Y. Arthur W. Allen, New York, N. Y . H. H. Lauer, Allentown, Pa. George S. Blair, Pittsburgh, Pa. Frederick MacCoy, Antofagasta, Chile. F. J. Brulé, Toronto, Canada. E. P. Mathewson, Toronto, Canada. W. M. Corse, Buffalo, N. Y. Douglas Muir, San Antonio, Tex. John J Croston, Cullasaja, N.' C. F. W. Osborn, Ajo, Ariz. W. A. Deane, Waxhaw, N. C. Mortimer A. Sears, Washington, D. C. P. H. Dudley, New York N. Y. W. H. Selden, Jr., Iron River, Mich. J. D. Gilchrist, Denver, Colo. W. H. Staver, Yonkers, N. Y. L. Hoffman, Pottersville, N. J. Ralph H. Sweetser, Easton, Pa. Guy R. Johnson, Florence, Wis. Benjamin F. Tibby, Salt Lake City, Utah. W. McA. Johnson, Hartford, Conn. Carl J. Trauerman, Butte, Mont. John S. Kennedy, Philadelphia, Pa. H. C. Wilmot, Arequipa, Peru. D. C. Bard has become a member of the geological department of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul R. R., with headquarters at Seattle. Jay A. Carpenter has resigned his position as metallurgist for the West End Consolidated at Tonopah and has been appointed superintendent of flip. Nevada. Packard mines it Rochester.

Jan 3, 1917

By Chung Yu Wang

DURING the time I was in charge, of this mine, from 1914 to 1915, I had occasion to read the interesting papers by T. T. Read and C. M. Weld about these deposits, to find how far their observations corroborated mine. To quote from the paper on "The Mineral Production and Resources of China" by T. T. Read:' "The iron ores at Tayeh lie along the contact between a marble and an intrusive body of a dark gray syenitic rock. * * * * At one place it is slightly magnetic, apparently having been partly reduced to the magnetic oxide by the action of reducing solutions, which have deposited small amounts of copper and iron sulphides along the foot wall." To quote from the paper on "The Tayeh Iron Ore Deposits"2 by C. M. Weld: "I find the orebodies described as occurring along an approximately E-W contact between horn-blende-granite and limestone. * * * * The granite is a granitoid rock consisting essentially of quartz, potash-feldspar and hornblende." These quotations show the differences of opinion entertained by two observers. My own study of these interesting deposits has been intermittent amid the manifold duties devolving upon a superintendent. General Description of the Deposits The deposits are situated to the west of the Yangtse River, being con¬nected with the river by a standard-gage railroad of 56 li (16.16 miles, 26 km.) in length, as shown in Fig. 1. The general topography of the region is of mature age, showing broad valleys with sluggishly meandering streams. These deposits are worked as two mines, named the Tieh Shan Mining Department and the Teh Tao Wan Mining Department; the former consisting of three orebodies more or less connected, named Tieh Man Kan, Sha Mau Tze and Lung Tung, and the latter consisting of Chang Pei Shan, Sze Tze Shan, Ta Shih Men, Yeh Chih Ping and Tsin Shan, also more or less connected, as shown in Fig. 2.

Jan 3, 1917

By A. E. Bellis

ROBERT J. ANDERSON, Cleveland, Ohio (communication to the Secretary *).-The paper by Messrs. Bellis and Hardy was interesting to me and has led me to make a few remarks concerning some of the points brought out. The question of employing correct hardening temperatures is one that is sadly neglected, particularly in many large plants that forge and treat their machine tools for private use. As is most aptly remarked in this paper, "The custom of using one, high-speed temperature for all tools is very poor practice;" still, such practice is more common than otherwise. An instance came to my attention some time ago, in connection with some work with the standardization of high-speed steels for machine tools, where there were no less than six different brands of alloy steels being used for machine tools such as lathe, shaper, planer, boring mill and cutters of like nature. All of these different steels received identical heat and forging treatment-or at least that was the aim of the tool hardener. That the results were highly unsatisfactory goes without saying. That the hardening department of many plants is conducted on a rule-of-thumb fashion is the reason for a great deal of the trouble and disappointment which seems to be the lot of many tool-steel users. Exceedingly crude execution is the rule rather than the exception, and it is no small wonder that the results are as good as they sometimes happen to be. It would seem that at the present price of alloy steels the subject should receive a closer scrutiny by purchasers than it does. One not familiar with the workings of souse plants that disdain to lend an ear to scientific heat treatment would scarcely give credence to some of the methods employed, not only in the treatment of the steel but also in its selection and purchase. Heating for hardening should be conducted under close pyrometric control only after the correct hardening temperature has been determined.

Jan 3, 1917

By Frank Schrader

J. DANA SPERR, Jerome, Ariz. (communication to the Secretary*).¬Very little accurate information has been published about this district. Most of the geological data appearing in the technical press are based on "careful observations" made from an auto stage and a casual glance through the U. S. Geological Survey Bulletins, No. 340 of 1908 or No. 397 of 1909, both by F. C. Schrader. Mr. Schrader's report is still the best publication on the district. A really careful study of this report will uncover only a very few statements which have since proven questionable. This is a remarkable record when it is considered that only a short time was spent by Mr. Schrader in the field and that there was very little development work done at that time. The mining world and especially Mohave County, Ariz., will feel a sense of gratitude to Mr. Schrader for revising his early report. on this

Jan 3, 1917

For the year ending February, 1918 PRESIDENT PHILIP N. MOORE ST. Louis, Mo. PAST PRESIDENTS WILLIAM L. SAUNDERS NEW YORK, N. Y. L. D. RICKETTS, NEW YORK, N. Y. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT SIDNEY J. JENNINGS, NEW YORK, N. Y. TREASURER GEORGE C. STONE, NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY EMERITUS ROSSITER W. RAYMOND,.. NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY BRADLEY STOUGHTON NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 3, 1917

Herbert C. Hoover, who became a member of this Institute in 1896 and who is now one of its Vice-Presidents, is the man who in 1914 extended a helping hand to Americans stranded in Europe at the outbreak of the war, and who made it possible for many such travelers to return safely to their homes. When his countrymen no longer needed his services, he turned to the Belgians, whose need of food had been presented to him. Engineers have been among his assistants from the first, and it is because we believe that members of his own profession will still be particularly interested in his work that we thus mention it in the Bulletin. A Minute adopted by the Board of Directors of the Institute, in which the Belgian Kiddies, Ltd., is recommended to the consideration of the members, immediately follows the Proceedings of the Meeting of the Board of Directors. With the thought that members of the Institute may be glad to read Mr. Hoover's own words in regard to his work, we print in full the speech

Jan 3, 1917

By Linn Bradley

R. J. WYSOR, So. Bethlehem, Pa. (communication to the Secretary*). At our plant (Bethlehem Steel Co.), we have had several Bradshaw burners under course of construction and erection for some time, but up to the present we have not had opportunity to put them in service. I regret that I can not take part in the discussion with some actual results from these, burners. Mr. Huessener properly emphasizes the importance of obtaining the highest combustion temperature practicable in boiler practice, which demands a near approach to perfect combustion conditions. The ideal burner is the one which, while meeting the various mechanical, requirements, fulfills the above condition under a wide range of gas pressure. The question as to the relative value of hot raw gas and cold washed gas for boiler use is a very interesting one. I think that in the past the importance of low temperature of washed gas sometimes has been over-emphasized. Mr. Huessener has pointed out that so far as temperature is concerned, no advantage accrues in washing gas below 100° F. In

Jan 3, 1917

At the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Institute on Jan. 26, 1917, the following actions were taken: Messrs. A. C. Clark, Lawrence Addicks and G. D. Van Arsdale were appointed Tellers to count ballots for Officers and Directors. Messrs. T. T. Read, V. S. Harper, and. E. J. Hall were appointed Tellers to count ballots on revised spelling. The Finance Committee's audit for the year 1916 was approved and ordered filed. The Report of the Finance Committee upon the method of raising this Institute's share of the deficit on the additions to the building was approved and accepted. Upon the recommendation of the Secretary, increases in the salaries of some of the employees were approved. The St. Louis Section received an appropriation of $200 for the year 1917. The Columbia Section received an appropriation of $150 for the year 1917. The Montana Section received an appropriation of $100 for the year 1917. The Colorado Section received an appropriation of $175 for the year 1917. The Utah Section received an appropriation of $125 for the year 1917. The Puget Sound Section received a set of Transactions in standard binding. The International Engineering Congress received a loan of $300 until the Congress can realize upon some of its assets.

Jan 3, 1917

PUGET SOUND SECTION SIMON H. ASH, Chairman, I. F. LAUCKS, Vice-Chairman, CHARLES SIMENSTAD, Sec.-Treas., 425 Lyon Building, Seattle, Wash. GLENVILLE A. COLLINS, JOHN N. POTT. The Puget Sound Section met at the Arctic Club, Oct. 28, 1916, for the annual meeting. Those present were: Chairman Glenville A. Collins, Vice-Chairman H. L. Manley, Sec.-Treas. Amos Slater, Chester F. Lee, R. P. Tarr, G. E. Rockefeller, Simon Ash, Geo. W. Evans, Joseph Daniels, I. F. Laucks, F. C. Greene, Darsie C. Bard, Marcel Daly, Milnor Roberts, F. A. Hill, Percy E. Wright, and as guest, Mr. Coates of British Columbia. After dinner had been served, Chairman Collins called the meeting to order. The reading of the minutes of the last meeting were suspended upon request of the Secretary. The Secretary read the report from the Committee on the Associated Engineering Societies of Seattle. Upon motion, duly seconded, the report was adopted and placed on file. Mr. Lee, Chairman of the Committee. on the Mining Men's Convention to be held this coming winter, gave his report orally, and upon motion the committee was continued. The report of the Secretary-Treasurer was read, received, and placed on file.

Jan 3, 1917

By J. F. Wolff

CARL ZAPFFE, Brainerd, Minn. (communication to the Secretary*).¬Unless one has actually directed explorations for iron ore, it is doubtful whether the importance of Mr. Wolff's paper, the value of the information contained, and the large amount of detail work involved in what is set forth can be fully appreciated. It is indeed rare to get such a com-

Jan 3, 1917

Report of President The important fact of the year 1916 is that on July 25 contracts were executed by which the American Society of Civil Engineers because an additional Founder Society and arranged to make its permanent home in our building. The contracts provide for the construction of three additional stories to the building, the American Society to pay the cost tip to $250,000, this being considered equivalent to what each other Founder Society had contributed, the American Society to participate in the original Carnegie gift and have an equal share in the property with each other Founder society. The construction of the addition to the building is under way, $62,525.04 having been expended thereon in 1916. It has been found that, clue to war conditions and the advanced price of materials, the cost of the addition will be $300,000. The founder societies have been requested to assume the extra $50,000, one quarter each. This work is in charge of a Building Committee consisting of H. H. Barnes, Jr., Chairman, E. G. Spilsbury, Charles Warren Hunt and Charles F. Rand. At the request of the Founder Societies, important alterations were made in the lecture halls on the fifth floor of the building to make the same suitable for social functions of the societies. The cost, $6,642.08, was advanced by the United Engineering Society but is to be paid eventually by the Founders. The Library of the civil Engineers is being merged with the Library of the United Engineering. Society and the other founder societies. At the present time the membership of the four founder societies is 29,000 and of associate societies 23,000, so that a total of 52,000 engineers now have their headquarters in our building. The value of the real estate now owned by this Society is $1,647,171.16. This sum will be increased at the end of 1917 by the amount of the cost of the addition to the building.

Jan 3, 1917

Minute of the Board of Directors, Jan. 26, 1917 In the name of all the members of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, this Board extends to. Mr. Herbert C. Hoover, an honored Vice-President of the Institute, on the occasion of his present temporary return to his native land, the cordial welcome of his colleagues, and their congratulations upon the noble work splendidly done by the Commission for Relief in Belgium of which he is the head. It is understood that a leading purpose of Mr. Hoover's visit to America at this time is the collection of additional funds, to be administered by his Commission in the care of the destitute children of Belgium. To this enterprise endorsed by both the belligerent parties, as well as inspired by the purest and tenderest sentiments of humanity, contributions are solicited from engineers, especially through an organization known as the "Belgian Kiddies Limited," which this Board, heartily approving its object and method, recommends to the consideration of the members of the Institute. On motion duly seconded it was unanimously VOTED.-That this minute be spread upon the record of the Board, and published in the Bulletin, and that a copy thereof be transmitted to Mr. Hoover, and to the San Francisco Section of the Institute.

Jan 3, 1917

By E. Maltby Shipp

WALLACE MCKEEHAN, Douglas, Ariz. (communication to the Secretary*).-In going over this report, which I have done very carefully, I find that the summary as composed deals with the various problems almost entirely from the employer's standpoint and that practically no consideration is given to the employee's point of view. An experience of 3 ½ years as safety inspector, and almost 30 years as workman-and official, has convinced me that any plan for the betterment of working conditions which will achieve any degree of success must give the workmen their share of responsibility and allow them full participation. The company may finance and direct the movement, but its ultimate success depends upon the support given by the workmen. The cooperation of the men doing the actual work is so essential that all writers insist that this must he secured, but they do not agree as to how this can best be done.

Jan 3, 1917

By A. L. Field

A. W. FAHRENWALD, Socorro, 'N. M. (communication to the Secretary*).-When asked to discuss Mr. Feild's paper, I felt most highly complimented to have the privilege of commenting on such a worthy and needed piece of apparatus. In consideration of the importance of the viscosity of blast-furnace slags and the relation existing between the' melting point of a slag and its viscosity, the introduction of this apparatus should be a welcome means or assistant in the study of the physical properties of a slag. Up to the present time, it is A fact that this side of the practical working of the blast furnace has been sadly neglected by those investigating slags. It is easily seen that the fluidity of a slag is of as great importance as its melting point. It is not necessarily true that a slag having a low melting point will have a correspondingly low viscosity or be highly fluid. For example, a slag having a melting point of 1,100° C. may have to be superheated to, say,1,300° C., in order to have as high a fluidity as another slag whose melting point is, say, 1,250° C. The latter in this case would be the more economical. This point has been brought out very nicely by Mr. Feild. Before discussing this paper further, I think it will be well to outline some of the points, a discussion of which may be in order:

Jan 3, 1917

NEW MEMBERS The following list comprises the names of those persons who became members during the period Jan. 1, 1917 to Feb. 10, 1917. ALLEN, ROBERT SEXTON, Chief Chemist at Concentrator, Inspiration Cons. Copper Co. Globe, Ariz. ALTIO, KARL FREDRIK, Min. Engr., The Sissert Mining District Co., Ltd., Polefskoy Zavod, Perm Government, Russia. ARGALL, PHILIP HENRY, Mgr., Ozark Smelt. & Min. Co., Magdalena, New Mexico. BAILEY, MARC Supt., Wolverine & Arizona Min. Co., Bisbee, Ariz. BAKER, DAVID FRANKLIN, Asst. Supt. of Blast Furnaces, Alan Wood, Iron and Steel Co., Swedeland, Pa. BATES, BENNETT R, Min. Engr 1025 Peoples Gas Bldg., Chicago, Ill. BECK, HOWARD A Shift Foreman, Aurora Cons. Mines Co. Aurora, Nev. BELL, LEO RICHARD Casilla 270, La Paz, Bolivia, South America. BENJAMIN, FLOYD SHAW, District Mgr., Aetna Explosives Co., Inc., 800 Torrey Bldg., Duluth, Minn.

Jan 3, 1917

By H. Kobbè William

ARTHUR KNAPP, Ardmore, Pa. (communication to the Secretary*).¬On p. 2275 I find a quotation from Mr. Thompson regarding the fountains of the Baku field. I have seen a large number of these gushers or fountains. In every case where unusual amounts of sand were produced the wells caved in and shut off in a few clays and were an absolute loss Very often the formation had caved so far up as to allow the water to enter the oil strata, and not only was the well lost but the ground for many acres around the well was useless for drilling purposes because the disturbed ground had allowed the gas and oil to dissipate and the water to enter. On p. 2268, Mr. Thompson is again quoted regarding the Balakhany field. If the text is consulted further, it will be found that the oil at Balakhany is heavy only in contradistinction to the Bibi Eibat, field. The gravity of the oil at Balakhany is from 28 to 32. Also, it must be noted that the illustration is taken from the conditions in the older part of the field. This field was first chilled 40 years ago, and was a worn-out field 15 years ago. The wells which produce sand are wells in which the casings are practically gone and the formations are full of water. The sand must be bailed from these wells because the clays from the upper stratum have caved into the wells and are obstructing the passage of oil. On p. 2262 is the statement that the Russian wells cannot be pumped on account of the large amounts of free sand produced. They have never tried pumping in the Baku field to any extent. Wherever tried, it has proven a great success. If we take the author's theories as correct and wish to put them into practice, it would first be necessary to consider a few figures. Let us assume that we produce oil and sand together in the proportion in which they exist in the productive strata. It is not uncommon to have wells in the California field which are not gushers, but which, by pumping, produce 1,000 bbl. per clay the first 100 clays.

Jan 3, 1917