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By Robert Steinitz

Soft iron parts for magnetic applications, particularly pole shoes, constitute a major portion of the ferrous products of powder metallurgy. The residual pores in pressed and sintered parts reduce values such as the magnetic permeability but service experience extended over a number of years has proven beyond doubt that in many instances the lower density of powder parts is not prohibitive to their use as replacement of machined magnetic parts. The magnetic requirements for pole shoes, particularly the permeability, vary within wide limits, especially with the relative size of the air gap in the finished assembly. The overill permeability of an assembly, is given by the formula where is the permeability of the core material, I the total length of the magnetic path, and a the length of the air gap. Fig I shows the variation of the overall permeability with the permeability of the core material, calculated according to Eq I for an air gap of I pct of the total length of the magnetic circuit. It is readily recognized that to use core materials hav- A

Jan 1, 1949

By Chase Palmer

INTRODUCTION. WHILE the reducing action of organic matter, of ferrous sulphate, and of hydrogen sulphide has frequently been invoked to account for the deposition of native gold and silver from ore-forming solutions, the high efficiency in this respect of certain of the metallic minerals which form the ore itself has not been sufficiently recognized. If a little finely powdered chalcocite is placed. in a test-tube and 2 or 3 cc. of a dilute solution of gold chloride are poured over it, two or three shakes of the tube suffice to remove all the gold from the solution. The color of the solution changes from yellow to pale green, showing that copper is dissolved simultaneously with the precipitation of metallic gold. If a piece of chalcocite is hung in a dilute aqueous solution of silver sulphate (1 normal), a coating of silver begins immediately to form on the mineral, and within a few moments a beautiful silver tree has developed, similar to that formed when metallic zinc is immersed in a similar solution.

Jan 5, 1913

By Sylvia Whitehead, G. M. Schwartz, J. N. Gundersen

Sylvia Whitehead (Petrologist, The Broken Hill Propriety Co. Ltd., Melbourne, Australia) — Examination of thin sections of jaspilites from numerous banded iron formations in Australia has revealed no evidence to suggest that silicate minerals have formed by reaction between magnetite and silica. Textural relations indicate that part of the magnetite crystallized very early in the history of the rocks, probably during diagenesis, and remained stable under conditions of metamorphism altering only to hematite or limonite under conditions of oxidation and weathering. Many jaspilites also contain later magnetite which is almost certainly of metamorphic origin. Wherever magnetite is present in quartz rich bands containing little or no silicate or carbonate, it is very fine grained and occurs generally as isolated, well formed octahedral crystals or as small crystalline aggregates. These show no evidence of corrosion or reaction with the quartz even in rocks where adjacent bands contain silicate minerals of moderate to high metamorphic grade. Concerning the silicate minerals, it is reasonably certain that bands of very fine grained stilpnomelane

Jan 1, 1963

By Robert E. Ennis

This somewhat misnomered "continuous" face section is, in most mines today, still far from perfect continuity. Achieving uninterrupted flow of coal from the mining machine to the outside has been a long sought for goal. Clearly, the largest problem to be solved in continuous mining today is one of increasing the cutting time of the miner. Full machine utilization can never be achieved with the new high capacity miners as long as their performance is tied to that of the shuttle car. A recent development has proven, however, that truly continuous mining and haulage is possible. The Bell & Zoller Coal Co. working with the Research and Development Department of Hewitt-Robins Inc. developed and perfected a new mining system which offers advantages in terms of increased productivity at reduced mining costs and enhances the safety of personnel at the face. This new system involves the use of two pieces of equipment that form an unbroken link between the mining machine and the mine belt haulage system. These pieces are a Mobile Bridge Conveyor and an Extensible Panel Conveyor.

Jan 4, 1965

By B. L. Sackett

In a general way, the situation in copper smelting is quite similar to that of lead smelting. In other words, the introduction and successful flotation of copper ores has tended to decrease greatly the tonnage to be handled by the smelter and therefore has resulted in curtailed smelter operation. However, copper production has increased rather than decreased. The general effect of flotation has been to decrease the number of furnaces operating, but it has also increased to a considerable extent the difficulties in handling the material, just as was outlined in the case of lead smelting. In copper smelting, the flotation concentrates must be roasted and prepared for the reverberatory furnace. Handling Flotation Concentrates The handling of copper flotation concentrate, which is more or less wet and mucky, is more difficult than was the handling of the old gravity concentrate. Also, the roasting of the concentrate and the handling of the calcine produced is more difficult. That is mainly because the material is extremely fine and the tendency to higher dust losses is greatly increased. The draft in the roasting furnaces must be kept as low as possible, and the feeding of the calcine into the reverberatory furnace must be done carefully, so that dust losses may be kept at a minimum. Transition Stages oF Concentration and Smelting The general process through which the copper smelter has gone as a result of flotation has been somewhat as follows: In the relatively old days, when copper ores of low grade were first treated, a large number of furnaces were required, and naturally comparatively poor recoveries were made. Also, the profits on low-grade ores were small and the handling of those ores was possible only because of the large tonnages. Then came gravity concentration, which was a great improvement but which only incompletely removed the gangue material, the insoluble and the iron, from the copper ore, and made comparatively poor copper recoveries. This still left a considerable amount of insoluble and iron, as well as the copper itself, to be treated at the smelter.

Jan 1, 1928

During the year this Committee has had the benefit of the services of 75 Committee members, resident in the various States of the Union and in foreign countries, 10 of them representing us abroad. A number of plans for awakening the interest of possible new members have been carried out and the results have been very gratifying. The comparative results for 1913 and 1914 are as shown in the following table: 1913 1914 Applied for membership 630 946 Elected 450 1,006 Accepted election 433 921 When it is remembered that the depression following the outbreak of war in Europe has had more serious effect on the mining industry than almost any other, these results cannot be regarded as anything other than very encouraging. Because of the unsatisfactory conditions still prevailing it will doubtless be difficult to make even as good a showing next year. It is considered, however, that the function of this Committee is not merely to secure new members, having no regard for other than numbers; its true function is to exercise a proper supervision over the growth of the Institute, building it up in those fields in which it is weak, and directing its growth in such a way as to make it most effective in fulfilling its proper function as the national organization representative of the mining profession. The plan of inviting the alumni of the leading mining schools to apply for membership, which was initiated last year, was completed this year, with the exception of one or two schools, notably the University of California, from which we have not been able to obtain a list of alumni. With these exceptions we have now extended to the graduates of all the important mining schools of this country, and several of those abroad, an invitation to apply for membership in the Institute. It. is not thought desirable to repeat this invitation too frequently, and it is therefore suggested that this field be left alone for a year or two, when, if the mining industry experiences a marked revival of interest, it will be well to send out a second letter to the same men.

Jan 4, 1915

By R. A. Brackett

The most effective means of controlling the dust in the drilling of rock has been found after careful investigation to be collection of this dust at the source. By direct collection, all the dust is collected at the collar of the drill hole and deposited into suitable containers. Equipment for handling this work can be either portable or stationary, depending upon the particular requirements and the application. For most work the portable unit is found most advantageous, and with a capacity capable of handling two drills operating simultaneously. Such a portable unit would consist of a metal cap, or hood, placed against the face of the rock through which the drill steel would be inserted. This hood is connected by a flexible rubber hose to a primary separator, where the bulk of the dust is collected. From here a second length of hose connects to the secondary stage of separation, where the fine particles of dust are collected and which is built in as an integral part of the vacuum producer. Hoods are adapted for vertical, horizontal or stope drilling, and mounted so as to become immediately effective when collaring the hole and remain in place continuously. Such dust collectors can be used with either wet or dry drilling. However, in view of the fact that when drilling dry and using the dust collector, the dust count can be maintained within safe limits, wet drilling becomes unnecessary. Furthermore, it has been found that when using the dust collector not only has the dust hazard been eliminated, but also increased footage can be obtained. Samples taken under a wide variation of conditions indicate that where the dust count required is below five million particles per cubic foot, dust collectors will be required. Opreators, in general, accept the use of this additional equipment favorably, and it is generally felt that such means of collecting the dust will soon be universally adopted. Tests made by the Connecticut Department of Health Bureau of Occupational Diseases show dust counts reduced from 203 million particles to 6.05 million by the use of the dust collector, when drilling dry.

Jan 1, 1934

By George Stone

THE stack gases from regenerative furnaces are very seldom utilized for the production of steam. If the temperature of the gases is not higher than 300° C. (572° F.) there is no economy in their use for this purpose, as the amount of available heat is very small and the temperature is so little above that of the steam that the interchange is too slow. With higher temperatures of the waste gases, however, good results can be obtained. At the plant of the New Jersey Zinc Co. (of Pa.) at Palmerton there are a number of return tubular boilers, each 6 ft. in diameter and 20 ft. long, with 96 3.5-in. tubes, which are heated by the waste gases from the spelter furnaces. These furnaces have continuous regenerators heating the air only and the stack gases reach the boilers at a temperature of about 450°. The gas producers for one of these furnaces require 14 tons of anthracite (a mixture of Nos. 2 and 3 buckwheat), and the waste heat from the furnace gives a little more than 42 h.p. in steam. The boilers are not well adapted for the purpose, as they are much too large for the amount of heat going to them and the area of the tubes is not sufficient to take the gas from two furnaces without causing an objectionable amount of back pressure. The plant was built without any idea of using waste-heat boilers, and it was impossible to place the latter as close to the furnaces as they should be. Furnace and boiler are connected by an underground brick flue in which the temperature of the gas drops about 100°, losing 40 per cent. of its available heat. If the .boilers were close to the furnaces the horse power of each would be 70 instead of 42. Even under these unfavorable conditions the boilers have been very advantageous, as one boiler easily supplies the steam necessary for two batteries of producers. With such low gas temperatures the heating surface of the boilers is, of course, not as efficient and the flue areas need to be considerably larger than for coal firing.

Jan 10, 1913

By Walter F. Pond, Kendall E. Born

Production of crude oil in Tennessee during 1935 approximated 20,000 bbl., an increase of about 5000 bbl. over 1934. The total production for the state is an estimate, since the only definite figures available are those for Scott and Morgan counties, where 12,377 bbl. were marketed during 1935, an increase of 4305 bbl. over the preceding year. The oil fields of Scott and Morgan counties are near the eastern margin of the Cumberland Plateau where Pennsylvanian sediments rest uncon-formably upon the Mississippian. Near Glenmary, in Scott County, the production is from the middle Mississippian, probably near the top of the St. Louis limestone. Accumulation is due to a low, east-west anticline which has been cut by a fault. This field is now 20 years old and only a few wells are pumped at present. Oil was Struck along Boone Camp Creek in Morgan County in 1924 and there has been small production since that time. The oil comes from the middle of the Fort Payne formation of lower Mississippian age at a depth of 1400 ft. Geologic work in the area has shown that a terrace and porosity conditions in the Fort Payne formation account for the accumulation. The production figures on a number of small producing wells in Clay and Overton counties are not available. As pointed out by Glenn1, the installation of small local skimming or topping plants in the fields has curtailed the shipment of crude oil out of the state and as a result it has been impossible to secure accurate production figures in these counties. The operators, in most cases, are reluctant to give information, and there is no state law requiring them to do so. Based upon information available to the writers, it is believed that between 7000 and 8000 bbl. is a fair estimate of the production in Clay and Overton counties during 1935. More than 500 wells have been drilled in Clay County, the majority of which were drilled east of Cumberland River. Some eight small oil fields have been developed in the county within the past 12 years, a

Jan 1, 1936

By V. R. Garfias, R. V. Whetsel

As pointed out in previous studies, estimates of petroleum reserves if they are to be of value must not only presuppose a clear understanding of what is actually meant by reserves but must be subject to constant revision to conform with changes in their component factors. When such estimates are analyzed it must be clear that it is virtually impossible to obtain comparable figures reflecting the same degree of accuracy, to represent the reserves not only in various countries, but at times even of different fields in the same country. Estimates of reserves in the United States, subject to frequent independent checks, are obviously more reliable than those furnished, for instance, by the Soviet Government, as the latter must be accepted at their face value and are open to the suspicion of being made to conform with predetermined programs of propaganda. Any tabulation of the reserves of all producing countries, therefore, gives a total that is misleading, as the component items arc not arrived at on the same basis and therefore are not homogeneous in a true sense. Only a fraction of the petroleum stored underground, usually associated with natural gas, is or can be brought to the surface, and although practically all the natural gas underground can be rccovered, in actual practice in some fields a large part of the gas that reaches the mouth of the well is wasted. It is thus estimated that in the United States only some 25 to 35 per cent of the petroleum underground in proven fields is actually economically recovered. Estimates of reserves, therefore, should make clear the distinction between the known amount of oil underground in producing fields and the portion that actually can be brought to the surface. It cannot be overemphasized that as a result of the operation of the "Law of Capture," which controls subsoil ownership in the United States on comparatively small landholdings that seldom if ever cover the entire producing area, the oil fields are not as economically exploited as some forrign fields, and that as a result (were it not for the easy accessibility of the domestic market, the largest in the world) some American production would now be unprofitable in open competition with foreign oils.

Jan 1, 1939

By S. R. Elliott

THE principles of the caving system, as they apply to mining of soft iron-ore deposits, are well known, as this method has been in use for many years. It is, however, necessary to give a general description of it before describing the Athens method. The shaft and surface equipment should be placed at a sufficient distance from the orebody, so that the caving and pulling of the surface will not disturb the operations of the mine. Levels are started at the proper intervals, and when raises are completed, slicing commences at the top of the orebody and progresses downward. The necessary precautions are taken to avoid the occurrence of large open rooms and it is customary to break sufficient capping to form a mat to prevent heavy falls of ground from crushing through to the lower sublevels and endangering the lives of the workmen. Slicing is continued, and when sufficient width and length are undercut, the capping commences to cave, and in time a settlement occurs at the surface. As soon as this caving commences, the pressure on the timber naturally increases; after it extends to the surface, the amount of pressure has a certain relation to the depth. In other words, the pressure increases with the depth, but not in direct proportion. At great depths, such as that found at the Athens, 2500 ft. (760 m.), the pressure might be so excessive that the cost of keeping working places open would be prohibitive. The actual caving of the surface in a deep mine, with a great thickness of capping, is slow and often takes years to accomplish. After sufficient width and depth -have been undercut, the capping starts to break away, but through arching large masses of rock-.fill the opening, support the capping, and retard the continuation of caving. Caving to the surface is, therefore, retarded until either a sufficient thickness of the orebody is removed, or the width and length of the undercut part have been greatly increased. I wish to emphasize this fact of slow caving, for it is on, this principle that the success of the Athens system. largely depends.

Jan 8, 1920

By Roy T. Southin*

The finding of Wojciechowski and Chalmers that columnar crystal growth can be stopped by an already existing network of equiaxed crystals is supported by other recently reported work on both static and mechanically stirred ingots.27,28 Support for the dendrite arm fragmentation mechanism, too, can be obtained by comparing the effects of spinning on ingots cast in a material which has a dendritic solid/liquid interface during solidification with one which has a cellular interface, since no evidence of change at the interface, other than a change in growth direction, can be found in the cellular material. But there are alternative ways of producing an equiaxed zone in materials which characteristically solidify with a cellular interface. For example, interrupted spinning of a normally cast ingot can do it. In this case it has been shown28 that the equiaxed zone is caused by the showing of dendritic particles from the top surface of the ingot to nucleate a network of equiaxed crystals which forms a barrier to the continued growth of the columnar grains. This showering has also been shown to be a major effect in materials solidifying with dendritic interfaces. It has also been proposed28,29 that, for an equiaxed zone to form, not only must nuclei be present ahead of the interface but also these nuclei must grow to sufficient size to be a barrier to the further growth of the columnar grains. A further requirement is that a network of these grains continually be produced ahead of the growing interface; otherwise there is a reversion to columnar growth as found by Wojciechowski and Chalmers. In normally cast ingots it is possible for nuclei ahead of the interface to grow since during a large portion of the solidification time there is no temperature gradient ahead of the interface,30 and, in fact, the liquid may be slightly undercooled.29 This then is the major difference between the work under discussion and normal industrial solidification conditions, since Wojciechowski and Chalmers imposed a considerable temperature gradient in the liquid. The statement in the Wojcieshowski and Chalmers paper that one needs to lower the temperature gradient

Jan 1, 1969

By N. J. Grant, W. R. Opie

THE amount of hydrogen that will dissolve in lead has been considered negligible. However, a limited number of measurements made recently using apparatus built for determining hydrogen solubility in aluminum alloys' indicate that liquid lead will hold a small but appreciable amount of hydrogen in solution. The apparatus used was similar to that developed by Sieverts.' This consists of a bulb to hold the molten metal, a gas burette for introducing a measured quantity of gas into the bulb and a manometer for measuring the gas pressure in the bulb. Measurements are made by introducing enough of an insoluble gas (helium) to fill the system at a given temperature and pressure, thereby determining the hot volume of the bulb. This gas then is pumped out and hydrogen is introduced until the same pressure is reached, the metal being maintained at the same temperature while in contact with each gas. The difference between the volumes corrected for pressure is then the hydrogen solubility. A more detailed account of the procedure can be found in refs. 1 and 2. The lead was melted in an alundum crucible by induction heating to provide uniform temperature and an important stirring effect. The metal was the purest obtainable, 99.999 + , prepared especially by the research department of the American Smelting and Refining Co. Measurements were made by approaching the equilibrium value from high and low temperatures during the constant pressure runs, and from high and low pressures when the temperature was held constant. Thus a number of measurements were made on each of two large samples which weighed 336 and 398 g. The gases were purified as .described in ref. 1. The effect of temperature on the solubility was studied with the pressure held constant at 760 mm of Hg. To show the effect of pressure, solubility measurements were taken at two constant temperatures, 600" and 900°C. Results The effect of temperature on hydrogen solubility is shown in Fig. 1. The curve representing the data is parabolic, as are plots of hydrogen solubility vs. temperature for other metals and alloys (aluminum,' copper," and iron,& for example). Fig. 2 shows the relationship that exists when the solubility is

Jan 1, 1952

By R. V. Whetsel, V. R. Garfias

As pointed out in previous studies, estimates of petroleum reserves if they are to be of value must not only presuppose a clear understanding of what is actually meant by reserves but must be subject to constant revision to conform with changes in their component factors. When such estimates are analyzed it must be clear that it is virtually impossible to obtain comparable figures reflecting the same degree of accuracy, to represent the reserves not only in various countries, but at times even of different fields in the same country. Estimates of reserves in the United States, subject to frequent independent checks, are obviously more reliable than those furnished, for instance, by the Soviet Government, as the latter must be accepted at their face value and are open to the suspicion of being made to conform with predetermined programs of propaganda. Any tabulation of the reserves of all producing countries, therefore, gives a total that is misleading, as the component items arc not arrived at on the same basis and therefore are not homogeneous in a true sense. Only a fraction of the petroleum stored underground, usually associated with natural gas, is or can be brought to the surface, and although practically all the natural gas underground can be rccovered, in actual practice in some fields a large part of the gas that reaches the mouth of the well is wasted. It is thus estimated that in the United States only some 25 to 35 per cent of the petroleum underground in proven fields is actually economically recovered. Estimates of reserves, therefore, should make clear the distinction between the known amount of oil underground in producing fields and the portion that actually can be brought to the surface. It cannot be overemphasized that as a result of the operation of the "Law of Capture," which controls subsoil ownership in the United States on comparatively small landholdings that seldom if ever cover the entire producing area, the oil fields are not as economically exploited as some forrign fields, and that as a result (were it not for the easy accessibility of the domestic market, the largest in the world) some American production would now be unprofitable in open competition with foreign oils.

Jan 1, 1939

By Kendall E. Born, Walter F. Pond

Production of crude oil in Tennessee during 1935 approximated 20,000 bbl., an increase of about 5000 bbl. over 1934. The total production for the state is an estimate, since the only definite figures available are those for Scott and Morgan counties, where 12,377 bbl. were marketed during 1935, an increase of 4305 bbl. over the preceding year. The oil fields of Scott and Morgan counties are near the eastern margin of the Cumberland Plateau where Pennsylvanian sediments rest uncon-formably upon the Mississippian. Near Glenmary, in Scott County, the production is from the middle Mississippian, probably near the top of the St. Louis limestone. Accumulation is due to a low, east-west anticline which has been cut by a fault. This field is now 20 years old and only a few wells are pumped at present. Oil was Struck along Boone Camp Creek in Morgan County in 1924 and there has been small production since that time. The oil comes from the middle of the Fort Payne formation of lower Mississippian age at a depth of 1400 ft. Geologic work in the area has shown that a terrace and porosity conditions in the Fort Payne formation account for the accumulation. The production figures on a number of small producing wells in Clay and Overton counties are not available. As pointed out by Glenn1, the installation of small local skimming or topping plants in the fields has curtailed the shipment of crude oil out of the state and as a result it has been impossible to secure accurate production figures in these counties. The operators, in most cases, are reluctant to give information, and there is no state law requiring them to do so. Based upon information available to the writers, it is believed that between 7000 and 8000 bbl. is a fair estimate of the production in Clay and Overton counties during 1935. More than 500 wells have been drilled in Clay County, the majority of which were drilled east of Cumberland River. Some eight small oil fields have been developed in the county within the past 12 years, a

Jan 1, 1936

G. B. WATERHOUSE,* Buffalo, N. -Y. (written discussion?).-One of the most essential features of rail manufacture is the production of rails that will give good service and be free from failures. To this end rails are made to careful specifications and their manufacture is controlled by rigid inspection on the part of both the producing mill and the railroad or its representative, such as the Hunt special inspection referred to in the paper. Captain Hunt refers to the crescent-shape base failures and describes them as ruptures in the rail flanges extending from the outside inward toward the web. This is hardly correct and may be misleading. It has been shown, over and over again, that the base breaks originating in seams invariably start at the center of the rail base; and run longitudi-nally in varying lengths from 3 to 12 in. and sometimes longer. Most of them are from 5 to 8 in. long and then curve outward to the edge of the flange. The split at the center of the base may exist for an indefinite time and not be discovered until the break shows on top of the flange or the piece of flange breaks off. The. stresses that cause the break are explained in two ways: (1) by the eccentric bearing of the rail base, that is taking contact at one side or edge and bringing excessive strain at the center of the base which starts fracture in any seam that may he present at that point; (2) the split may be due to cross strain in the base where this member is thrown into. compression, as happens where a pair of trucks are on opposite sides of the cross tie or rail-base hearing, and the head is put in tension. A careful study of "split base breaks" shows that fully 95 per cent. occur on the tie bearing, which is further evidence that the above de-scribed causes for the initial break are probably correct. These split base breaks are almost invariably progressive, but always start at the center of the rail-base running longitudinally.

Jan 12, 1919

By Horace F. Silliman, Curtis L. Wilson, Eugene C. Little

The change in electrical resistance and Rockwell hardness (16-100-B) of copper alloys containing Ni2Si and Co2Si was determined by annealing the quenched solid solutions at various temperatures for various lengths of time. The rate of precipitation of Nisi, as measured by the rate of decrease of electrical resistance and increase of hardness, increased with annealing temperature up to a certain point, depending on the percentage of Ni2Si present. At these temperatures discontinuities in the rate: change occurred. Similar discontinuities in the Co2Si alloys were no The solubility of Co2Si in copper was found to be 5 per cent at 970" DISCUSSION (Robert F. Mehl presiding) R. I?. Mehl, Pittsburgh, Pa. (written discussion).—The electrical conductivity and hardness curves reported in this paper are interesting, particularly because many of the anomalies of the precipitation processes are evident from such curves. The title of the paper, however, is deceptive, for it implies that measurements of electrical conductivity and hardness are suitable to determine the rate of precipitation. Neither of these methods is suitable for a quantitative measurement of rates of reaction or of precipitation in the solid state. Electrical conductivity in some alloys shows an anomalous increase during the first stages of aging at low temperatures; it is notably sensitive to strain and to state of subdivision. I have plotted the conductivity curve representing the decomposition of the phase at 555" C. in the copper-aluminum system, given in the paper by Smith and Lindlief (Fig. 47, p. 93) as a rate of reaction curve, and compared it with the curve determined by area evaluation (Fig. 7); these two curves are not coincident. Hardness is likewise very uncertain, for it is so much dependent upon particle size. Of the various methods proposed for the study of rates of reaction and precipitation, the evaluation of volume of reaction product from the respective area of matrix and reaction product on the photomicrograph is the most trustworthy; suffering, perhaps, only from low sensitivity during the early stages. This method, used originally by Davenport and Bain and now by Smith and Lindlief, is suitable for

Jan 1, 1933

By Earnest R. Woakes

Those engaged in pumping from shafts, or other mining works, may be intereited in the following suggestion of what is believed to be a novel method of raising moderate quantities of water against a considerable head. It is admitted that the ordinary Cornish pump, as generally used in mines, is hard to beat, on account of both its extreme simplicity and its easy adaptation to the requirements of mining; its great drawback, however, being the enormous weight of heavy rods and successive plungers that have to be kept in motion, not to mention the necessary " balance-" and " angle-bobs," with all their accompanying friction and wear and tear. It is contended that the following method would, to a great extent, overcome these drawbacks ; though, no doubt, many old miners may say it would also introduce new ones. Possibly, this may be the case. It is only desired that this pump may be judged upon its merits. The chief novelty of the method consists in employing the almost unlimited pressure obtainable from a high column of water, augmented, if necessary, by a hydraulic ram or press at the top, to work a small-diameter piston or plunger at the bottom of a shaft or well. This high-pressure plunger, indicated at E, in Fig. 1, transmits power direct to a larger-diameter plunger, F, constituting, together with the ordinary H-piece, valves, and wind-bore, the actual pump, which raises the water, by column C, to the adit-level or other discharge, placed as far as possible below the head of the high-pressure column A and ram W. It will thus be seen, that it is only necessary to maintain a prmsnre on the small piston, E, equal to that on the larger one, F, by means of the small but high column of water, A, in order to cause F to descend, and thus force the water up through C. The up-stroke is accomplished by a small water-wheel, or other engine, connected to the light rod or wire rope B, this having only to raise the weight of the actual plungers and fill the H-piece with water from the tank or

Jan 1, 1892

By A. F. Lucas

EACH day, the fact becomes more evident that the ever-growing demand for oil is farther outstripping production, regardless of the increase in output throughout the past twenty years. The development of known oil fields and the prospecting for new ones along present lines are not resulting, in, and cannot bring forth, supplies large enough adequately to meet the oil needs of the country. The usual methods of prospecting-for new supplies are insufficient to meet the exigencies of the situation which threatens, in the not distant future, to reach a critical stage. Were it not that within the last two years new and prolific oil fields have been discovered in northern Louisiana, central Texas, and California, this crisis would undoubtedly be now at our door. Stocks are being exhausted in spite of the rapid growth of imports. The time is therefore fast approaching when some radical departures must be made in the method of prospecting and developing old and new fields in order to increase our oil supplies. Methods and chances, that have seemed unwarranted will not only be given serious consideration, but, according to the results promised, will be put to the test. Meanwhile, however, nearly all the oil fields are responding to the stimulus of higher prices, whereby enormously growing capital is attracted to this important industry, both here and abroad; the increase in our petroleum production at the present time is due to this circumstance. Yet, although a most active search is being made for possible sources of additional supply, one section of our country is not yielding the results that, in my opinion, it is capable of producing: I allude to the coastal dome belt of Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico. The United States Geological Survey has estimated that three-fourths of a billion barrels are available in the ground in the Coastal Plain of the two states just mentioned. Numerous papers have been written on the subject of the salt domes of the Coastal Plain and more or less attractive theories have been advocated by leading geologists to account for their origin and the presence of the oil, sulfur, and salt associated in them. However, owing in part to the generally monotonously level country in which the coastal

Jan 9, 1920

By Walter H. Voskuil

Illinois supplies coal to seven states in the Upper Mississippi Valley —Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and portions of the Dakotas, Nebraska and Kansas. In this same area are marketed large quantities of coal from West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere; fuel oil from the crude petroleum supplies of the Mid-Continent fields, and natural gas from Louisiana, Kansas and the Texas Panhandle. The boundaries of this "Illinois coal-market area" are determined by competition from other coal fields and from other forms of fuel. Within the area so described 90 per cent of Illinois coal is marketed. Thus in the Southwest, an abundance of fuel-oil supplies and natural gas dominates the market almost to the exclusion of coal. The westward movement of Illinois coal in Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas is met by an eastward flow of high-grade coals from Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. In the lake-shore counties of Minnesota and Wisconsin, the market is dominated by Appalachian coals, cheaply carried over the Great Lakes and reaching the ports of Lake Michigan and at the head of Lake Superior. Illinois coals find their largest market in the southern and western sections of these two lake states. Only small quantities of Illinois coals are shipped east of the state line. This market area is occupied entirely by the neighboring coal fields of Indiana and the Appalachian coal fields in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Illinois Coal-makket Area , With these factors in mind, the map of the Illinois coal-market area may be drawn. Within this boundary is the area that is logically and economically served by Illinois coal. However, this area is by no means exclusively dependent upon coal from Illinois mines. The preponderance. of Appalachian coal in Wisconsin and Minnesota has been mentioned. Appalachian coal, also, moves in large tonnages into Illinois itself, particularly the Chicago district. The Iowa and Missouri local coals share the market with imported coal from Illinois; throughout the market area, fuel oil and natural gas are important factors in the total energy supply.

Jan 1, 1936