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By Ralph H. Sweetser

N Greenup and Carter counties, in the northeastern part of Kentucky, are the remains of many old charcoal furnaces built and operated during the period from 1818 to 1892. They were all included in what was called the Hanging Rock district. In the summer of 1930 I visited ten of these old blast furnaces, as follows:

Jan 1, 1931

By J. M. Clark

(Wilkes-Barre Meeting, June, 1911.) For some years past, those interested in the development of the increasingly important mining industry of Canada, have urged the adoption by the Dominion Parliament of a federal mining-law, which would have the force and stability of statutory enactment. At present, placer-mining in the Yukon Territory, is governed by the Yukon Placer Mining Act. All other mining under federal jurisdiction is governed by 'Orders in Council and Ministerial Regulations. In the earlier stages of development, it is perhaps a matter of necessity that these important matters should be so dealt with; but it is now felt that the time has come when mining-rights in the extensive regions under federal control should be put on a permanent basis, -and that any changes required from time to time should be made only after full and open discussion in Parliament. A short sketch will suffice to indicate how vast and varied the interests affected really are. When the Dominion of Canada was constituted by the Imperial Statute known as the British North America Act of 1867 (which came into force by proclamation on July 1 of that year), it comprised only the present Provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick; but provision was made for the inclusion of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, Rupert's Land, and the North West Territories. Subsequently Rupert's Land and the North West Territories were acquired, the 'Crown Colonies of British Columbia and * SECRETARY'S NOTE.-Mr. Clark, an eminent Canadian lawyer, and joint author of the treatise on "The Law of Mines in Canada," has been requested by the Do¬minion Government to prepare a Federal mining-law, and presents this paper, by invitation of the Council, in order to obtain, if possible, useful suggestions from members of the Institute.-R. W. R.

Apr 1, 1911

By Francis A. Thomson

T HE engineer of today is by his training, by his traditions, and by the service which he must render, irrevocably committed to taking his part in public life along with the members of the older professions of ministry, medicine and law. Nevertheless, in comparison with these: three, so long recognized as the "learned professions-all three of which grew out of the functions of the priesthood-engineering in any modern sense of the word is a youthful profession indeed. So youthful is engineering in its present significance, that it may be said to date from the labors of John Smeaton, the lighthouse builder; of Simon Newcomen and James Watt, the inventors of the steam engine; and of George Stephenson, the inventor of the locomotive; at the dawn of the 19th century. Great works of an engineering character had, it is true, been executed long before this, but practically all of them had been rule-of-thumb enterprises, dependent upon a plethora of slave labor for their accomplishment. For illustration it is said that at Rio Tinto in the days of Hiram, king of Tyre, 40,000 men worked for a year to produce three tons of silver from the rich outcrop ore. Such an operation can scarcely be called an engineering enterprise, however, when we remember that a fourth of this number of men in these same mines, from which the richest ore was long ago extracted, produce at present over 100 tons of copper per day.

Jan 1, 1925

By JOHN R. SUMAN

OVERWHELMING proof of the importance of oil in a modern national economy is afforded by the present European War. Treat¬ies and national boundaries have been cynically violated to secure greater supplies of the precious fuel. Petroleum substitutes have been desperately, and far from successfully, sought. The whole German military theory of the drang nach Osten, the drive to the East, is directed at cutting the British supply of oil and securing a supply for Germany. This is a war of machines, and the machines of war feed hungrily on oil. In view of this fact, it is surely comforting to know that we are living today in a nation which has surpassed all the rest of the world not merely in unearthing the raw supplies of petroleum which lie beneath its surface but also in every phase of the industry in mining, refining, processing, production, and distribution.

Jan 1, 1941

By Daniel C. Jackling

WHAT is written here features some of the things that I would say if I were to de- liver a Presidential address during the Annual Meeting to be held this month in New York. I am aware that custom favors written rather than vocal delivery of such a discourse; and, as this accords exactly with my own preference, I assure readers that they will never be called upon to hear these remarks spoken- anyhow, not by me. My year as President is drawing to a close. As I look back I like to classify and analyze the impressions that have been left with me. It has been a delightful and fascinating experience to me personally; I have appreciated the courtesies and aids, and have been deeply gratified at the honors accorded me. Perhaps the source of greatest satisfaction is the opportunity I have had to sense more about the provinces of this Institute and about the useful functions of the profession that it represents. For 38 years I have been a member. I served two terms as Director-one in 1914-'16 and again in 1927-'29. I have been honored by selection as a Saunders Medalist. I thought I was reasonably familiar with the functions, the ideals, and the activities of the Institute. But the things that I have discerned during the past year have dispelled that conceit. I still think that, a year ago, I was as well informed as most members; but since then I have had the rare privilege of executive service and insight. That has given me a perspective that I feel can be obtained in no other way-as I think the illustrious engineers who have preceded me in office will agree. I wish that I had the power to translate to every member somewhat of the feelings of pride in our organization that a year as President cannot help but instill.

Jan 1, 1939

By CARL B. SNYDER

PERHAPS the most extraordinary thing about business, the trade and production of the country as a whole, is its amazing continuity and growth, its momentum and energy. It goes on year after year, growing steadily, almost without breaks, in spite of every kind of disturbance. We have been grossly deceived into the idea that business is highly variable. We have taken a few things like pig iron, and the like, constructional activity broadly, and imagined that these are a trustworthy measure of trade. Actually they are the worst that we could find. They do not apply to more than 10 per cent or, at the most, possibly 15 per cent of the total of the country's industrial activity. The other 85 or 90 per cent, or even more, goes on growing surely and steadily just like the growth of population and the steady advance in technique, invention, discovery, and improved methods of production Let me give you what seems to me one of the most remarkable examples of this amazing momentum and regularity. You know that 90 per cent or more of the business of the country is done 'by means of checks. About seven-eighths of the total of all checks drawn are reported regularly every week in the newspapers. Let us follow these reports from week to week, just as they come, and plot them up against the correspond- ing weeks of last year, and the year before, and the gear before that, as far back as you would like to go. Take especially the figures for 140 selected cities out- side of New York.

Jan 1, 1929

By JOHN JANNEY

STABILIZATION of the adjustment of normal consumption to normal production of world commodities is quite different from reducing production until visible surpluses are consumed. The first means restoration and maintenance of prosperity, the second means merely a temporary alleviation of a condition with the prime cause remaining uncorrected. Overproduction of foodstuffs in some sections of the world while millions starve in other sections represents not so much overproduction of foodstuffs as mal-distribution of foodstuffs. The flour mills of Washington and Oregon normally ship quantities of flour to China. Now, the wheat that would make this flour goes East instead of West. Is this overproduction, or is there something wrong that calls for study, analysis and correction? Can the plan used by the ostrich of hiding its head in. the sand get us by this present world tragedy, or must the challenge to solve this problem be met, constructively? Can we not make out of this breakdown in the world's economic system an opportunity? And use it as the stimulus for remedying the basic cause of the trouble and not content ourselves with devising temporary expedients that aim at remedying this or that of the obvious conditions, in themselves not causes at all but rather the evidence of causes, or that are the symptoms of the real trouble.

Jan 1, 1931

By JOHN R. SUMAN

COMMENCEMENT exercises this year have a peculiar significance because the graduating students are entering upon their life's work at the most critical time in the history of the United States. We are engaged in a great struggle the outcome of which is none too clear even to the best informed students of international affairs. We are starting late in a vicious world conflict where it is generally recognized that our adversaries have distinct superiority over us in armament on the land, on the sea, and in the air. We have the gigantic task of building up our armed forces and armament and at the same time supplying our allies with equipment which they must have. We can do this job if we are given sufficient time, but there is a possibility that the war will be over before we are ready. Few realize the seriousness of this situation. If this fight is to be won-and we dare not try to visualize the future of this country if it is lost-all dissension and bickering between Congress, capital, labor, and agriculture must cease. When and where voluntary co-operation proves inadequate for the successful conduct of the war effort, laws must be enacted or strengthened to achieve our purpose.

Jan 1, 1942

By Edgar C. Bain

A NUMBER probably a sizable group of person with a dominant interest in metals maintain contact with the developments in ferrous metallurgy by reading week by week, as time permits, some four or five periodical devoted in considerable part to this field. It seems possible that some of these, like ourself, find it difficult to see the net results of the development day by day in clear perspective, The impression sometimes seems blurred by the uninterrupted succession of so many accounts, or out of focus from the very impact of so many reports of new things enthusiastic, well written, and understandable though they usually are. It is at times almost as though one were trying to observe, from a fastmoving vehicle, objects all too near at hand. Or perhaps this impression is merely a manifestation of our individual hyperopia ; in which case we should content ourself with an observation that it would be more satisfactory on the whole to discuss in 1941 the metallurgical advances of 1930-35 than those of

Jan 1, 1941

By Sherwin F. Kelly

THE geophysical scene shifts and alters, the emphasis changes, and new possibilities loom, but the tendency is always towards widening the field and deepening the analytical penetration. Seismic methods have had their heyday, the torsion balance is being displaced by the gravimeter, electrical methods are showing deeper penetration, soil analysis is the newest tool, and gamma-ray logging appears on the horizon. One of the striking features of re- cent geophysical work in the oil fields has been the marked decrease in the number of seismic crews employed. Although the percentage of company crews is believed to have increased appreciably. the sum total has fallen sharply, as shown by the figures for the Gulf Coast area. About two years ago probably over 100 seismic parties were operating there, whereas now there are only about 35. This decrease may be partly due to the low prices of petroleum with a consequent reluctance to spend money to increase crude-oil re- serves but more probably to the fact that reflection and refraction shooting have been carried on so extensively that they have been applied to a large pro- portion of the areas in which they may reasonably be expected to succeed. Some of the earlier enthusiasm, particularly over reflection prospecting, may have erred on the side of over- optimism; some of the present curtailment may be due to over pessimism; but in the opinion of various observers seismic work at the present rate seems to be at it- optimum. It nevertheless remains pre-eminent as a technique for detailing structures in areas where good reflections can be obtained and is the only method that will give accurate depth to definite beds. Results may be poor in certain areas but many regions still remain wherein it can be applied, so that plenty of structural mapping remains to be done by the reflection seismic method.

Jan 1, 1940

By George A. Miller

ALTHOUGH the Andean mountain belt, which contains almost all the metal deposits of the other South American nations, does not enter Brazil, this country is rich in mineral resources, for in area it accounts for half the continent and geologically it contains almost all of the Brazilian Shield. This great mass of ancient rocks has been relatively stable for a long time and forms a great area of plateaus and highlands interrupted only by the syncline which carries the Amazon River across it to the sea. Lowland Brazil - the great flood plains of the Amazon. Tocantins, Paraguay, and Parana Rivers-is of no interest to the miner, and in fact supports but a small proportion of the country's population. The highland area is divided into unequal parts by the Amazon River; the north half is underlain by the north lobe of the Brazilian Shield which extends into Venezuela as far as the Orinoco, and into the Guianas, and is known as the Guiana Highlands. Mineralization appears to have been weak in the Brazilian portion of these hills. In fact most of the ore deposits are to be found in the States of Minas Gerais and Bahia, although the neighboring states of Sao Paulo, Pernambuco, and Piauhy can also boast of some deposits. Goias and Matto Grosso are as yet incompletely prospected but are considered to contain reserves for the future.

Jan 1, 1945

By George A. Miller

AMERICANS like engines, but more than anything they like powerful engines, and next to that they want them quiet, silent, smooth; perhaps a slight purr might be permitted, but they must not knock. To provide a gasoline to fit all these requirements, American petroleum technologists have experimented for years, and mounting octane numbers of the gasolines the refiners have produced both before and during the war bear witness to their success. The question on everyone's mind now is what may we expect in the way of engine fuel in the postwar period? The gasoline drouth during the war rationing, the inconvenience of doing without a car were major annoyances to all motorists, but they put up with them pretty cheerfully for the most part. However, now that the war is over, and the jalopies are all out and the better cars have been taken off the jacks and brought out on the road, the call is for "Some of that good gas-fill her up, if you please."

Jan 1, 1945

By John Mills

THREE case histories from professions other than engineering will serve to introduce ideas basic to this discussion. Case (1) Date, about 1900. A young man, B. D. from a three-year graduate course in a prominent divinity school, was for two years a successful pastor of a small church; then friction over theological matters arose with a fundamentalist deacon of the "Bible belt" type. He resigned, returned to his university for a four-year medical course, interned for two more, and thereafter was successful and apparently happy as a physician. We may assume that he was converted in early adolescence and vowed himself to service as a minister. Acceptance of his announced career by parents, friends, and teachers plus his own determination confirmed his choice until illiberal criticism threatened his usefulness and he awoke to the fact that his inner needs were not along the direction in which inertia and his conscience had constrained him.

Jan 1, 1947

By Leon W. Dupuy

Many articles have been written describing peculiar and particular types of drilling. Little correlation has been made between the character of ground to be drilled and sampled and the type of drilling most desirable for procuring satisfactory samples. In development work, the engineer and metallurgist often desire the recovery of a sample in as physically natural a condition as possible, particularly when the sample must provide material for process tests as well as chemical and physical analyses. This paper describes the results of experimentation in drilling unconsolidated materials carrying titanium minerals in the Magnet Cove area, Ark. The drilling was most difficult in that the ground varied much in consistency, and it was vitally necessary to recover a physically natural sample. Ordinary churn drilling recovered a sample that could be analyzed chemically, but the sample was not in its natural state. The problem was successfully solved by utilizing and further developing methods used in the oil and clay industries.

Jan 1, 1949

By Herbert W. Graham

IRON ORE is widely distributed throughout the world. Ores sufficiently high in iron content to be practical for the operations of iron and steel making occur in so many places that it is only by the accident of political subdivisions that any given nation does not have adequate and suitable iron ore. Data prepared by various authorities show that in the Lake Superior region alone there are reserves of 1,200,000,000 tons of iron ore of an iron content and at the level of production cost to which the industry has been accus tomed. At an annual consumption of 80,000,000 tons these reserves will last fifteen years. Taken alone these figures would be alarming, but over a considerable period of years the total reserve tonnage has been more or less steadily increased by improvement and extension of mining and beneficiation methods. The rate of depletion of reserves has been only about one third of the rate of consumption. On this basis the cheap high-grade ores of Lake Superior would last 45 years.

Jan 1, 1947

By John B. Hastings

THE reconnaissance of the Goldfield mining-district, described in this paper, was made in May and June, 1905, and, though this time was too short for a complete report, the work accomplished may serve as a basis for more thorough future research. Dr. Berkey has examined the rocks collected by myself, and I am using his classifications. As a result of further field-work, and Dr. Berkey's examination of the rocks, this paper is an elaboration and correction of my views expressed in the Gold-field Sun, May 12, 1905. The sketch-map, Fig. 1, illustrates the geology of the Goldfield mining-district. Goldfield is an eruptive complex, consisting of alaskite (binary granite), hornblende-andesite, hornblende-dacite, rhyolite, pyroxene-andesite, pyroxene-dacite (sometimes containing, a small quantity of olivine), quartz-felsite, olivine-pyroxene-ande¬site, and basalt. Considering this list to be arranged in the order of eruption, the age-sequence of the rocks conforms to Richthofen's law, formulated in 1868. From his observations in Europe and America, propylite, andesite, trachyte, rhyolite and basalt, occurring together, succeed one another. In a general way, the medium and more acidic rocks precede the most asic-a result supposed by some to have arisen from their relative position beneath the surface, and due to a rude stratification by gravity in the original cooling magma during the older history of the earth, or to the same differentiation occurring during a quiescent (molten ?) period preceding eruption, being aided by the ease with which acidic rocks, mixed with water vapors, become fusible. In effect, the more basic and less re-

Mar 1, 1906

By J. D. Price, W. M. Bertholf

One of the chief difficulties with which the operator of a coal washing plant has been forced to contend is the handling of the very fine coal. First he has the problem of separating the fine coal from washery water. This is usually accomplished by the use of settling cones or Dorr thickeners: in either event the separated fine coal contains a high amount (40 to 80 pct) of water and, somewhat loosely, dependent upon the size of the coal particles present, may be known as sludge or slurry. His second problem is the satisfactory further dewatering of such separated sludge and/or slurry.

Jan 1, 1949

By George C. Bateman

I HAVE been introduced in the dual capacity of president of the Canadian Institute and Metals Controller for Canada. There are three particular points of similarity between these two positions. They are both temporary ; they both have to do with the mining industry ; and by a peculiar coincidence they both pay me exactly the same salary. It is difficult to appreciate the background of our present situation without knowing the really tremendous changes that have taken place since the last war. I sometimes think that even among ourselves we are likely to forget the extent to which our great mining industry has been expanded. In 1914 Canada's gold production amounted to only $16,000,000 and the suggestion was seriously ad¬vanced in Ottawa that the gold mines should be allowed to close down so that their men might be used in more important work. Today with a production at the rate of over $200,000,000 a year no one in Canada would venture such a suggestion because the output of our gold mines is the greatest single factor in producing dollar exchange, badly needed for the purchase of munitions and to maintain Canada's unbroken record of always meeting its obligations. Even with the severe restrictions now in effect against the importation of nonessentials, our imports for war purposes from the United States are resulting in the biggest adverse trade balance in our history. With us, gold mining ranks as an essential industry.

Jan 1, 1941

By L. C. WYMAN

THIS paper discusses what mining reports should contain when presented to the California State Corporation Department, to accompany applications for the sale of stock to the general public, but the principles involved apply to mine financing everywhere. Such reports should 'be as clear and concise as possible, endeavoring to tell the truth in as few words as necessary. Should the engineer be aware that his report is to be used in connection with the sale of stock to the general public, he should consider the public as his client as well as the person who actually employs him. It is always required that the engineer be favorably known and of recognized standing. The following points should be given careful attention : 1. A legal description and location of the property. 2. Transportation conditions, and how they may be expected to affect the operating costs. 3. A brief history of the property, its production record as to tonnage, grade, and character of the ore should be given. Should the property have suspended operations for any reason, this should be given. Any details of former operating costs should be given, especially as to how any improvement could be made, due to better methods which might be employed.' 4. The main geological features and whether they are such as to lead the engineer to believe that the mine may possibly 'be exhausted or the ore of such grade as to be no longer profitable. If he considers them favorable, he should give his reasons for the belief that further development work may produce profitable results. A map showing these features should be submitted, and it is not necessary that such map be highly colored or contain any more than the essential matters. 5. Other mines in the district, or those with similar

Jan 1, 1929

By J. F. Myers, F. M. Lewis

The paper reports the development of a large, slow speed ball mill closed circuited with a hydroscillator. This increased grinding efficiency 28 pct over conventional units.

Jan 1, 1950