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By R. Philip Hammond

Monazite has had a Cinderella-like history. Although nearly go per cent pure rare-earth compound (rare-earth phosphate) it was sought at first not for the rare earths but for the sake of a minor constituent—thorium. The thorium, essential for the Welsbach gaslight mantle, was present in only small quantities and the principal constituents, the rare earths, were largely discarded. Gradually, however, the rare earths have developed uses of their own and today have left the thorium far behind in value. Occurrence Monazite was first produced commercially about 1886, in North Carolina, where it was collected in small sluices by farmers who found it in stream beds on their land. The deposits were later exploited on a larger scale, but were mostly abandoned in a few years, when monazite from Brazil came upon the market in far larger quantities. Domestic production ceased entirely in 1906. The Brazilian source is still active, together with Indian, Dutch East Indies, and Australian deposits. Several other localities in the United States have yielded monazite, but none of these has produced commercially as yet. Monazite occurs originally in pegmatite~ and gneisses, through which, unfortunately, it is scattered in highly dispersed form. All commercially useful deposits consist of transported monazite sands liberated by erosion and concentrated by the action of water, which has sluiced away lighter materials and concentrated the heavy (D = 5.0 to 5.2) grains of monazite, together with ilmenite, zircon, garnet, and other dense minerals. The Carolina deposits were in stream beds; most of the other deposits mentioned are on or near the seashore, where the action of the waves has served to concentrate the monazite. In most cases today, the sands are worked to obtain the ilmenite and zircon, as well as monazite. The minerals are separated by means of sluices, dry tables, and magnetic separators, and each is finally obtained nearly pure. No crushing or grinding is necessary. The concentrates are shipped in fiber bags. Composition of Monazite As Table I illustrates, monazite is the anhydrous orthophosphate of the cerium Table i.—Typical Analysis of a Monazite Sand (India). Per Cent Thorium oxide............................. 8.1 Cerium oxide.............................. 30.6 Lanthanum oxide........................... 15. 7 Neodymium oxide.......................... 10.5 Praseodymium oxide........................ 2. 9 Samarium oxide............................ 1.0 Europium. gadolinium, and terbium oxides.... 0.7 Yttrium oxide.............................. 0.4 Dysprosium, holmium, erbium. thulium, ytterbium. and lutecium oxides................. 0. 1 Silicon oxide............t................... 2.4 Calcium, aluminum, and iron oxides.......... 1.0 Uranium oxide............................. 0.3 Phosphorus pentoxide....................... 26. 2 a The values given for the rare earths following samarium are approximate. being based upon analyses of concentrated fractions derived from monazite. The composition given represents Travancore monazite carefully freed from other minerals. goup of rare-earth elements. A small amount of yttrium and terbium group phosphate is also present.* All the rare-

Jan 1, 1948

Abbey, Robert Graham, District Mgr.. The W. W. Sly Mfg. Co., 50 Church St.. New York, N. Y. '21 Abbott, A. N., Mines Supt., Mazapil Copper Co., Ltd Concepcion del Oro, Zac., Mexico. '28 Abbott, Argyle Campbell, Dev. Dept., E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Wilmington, Del. '29 Abbott, Clarence E., V.P., Charge of Raw Materials, Tenn. Coal, Iron & R. R. Co., 1242 Brown-Marx Bldg.. Birmingham, Ala. '04 Abbott, Louis Benjamin, Chief Engr., Elkhorn Div., Consolidation Coal Co., Jenkins, Ky. '16 Abeel, George H., Jr., Cons. Min. Engr Box 427, Santa Monica, Cal. '18 Abel, Albert E., Asst. to Pres., Valley Mould & Iron Corp Hubbard, Ohio. '19 Abel, Raymond L., Asst. Prof., Dept. of Pet. Refin., Univ. of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh. Pa. '28 Abeel, Leo M., Research Engr., Sullivan Concentrator Chapman Camp, B. C., Canada. '31

Jan 1, 1932

By M. R. Geer, H. F. Yancey

Four coals were treated in the Humphreys spiral concentrator, and the products were examined by float-and-sink and screen-sizing tests to determine fundamental performance characteristics. The efficiency of the separation between coal and impurity was shown to be influenced greatly by particle size.

Jan 1, 1950

In order to assist in the building up of the industries and commerce of France, by cooperating with the Congres General du Genie Civil, the four Founder Societies have appointed the following committee: E. G. Spilsbury and Arthur S. Dwight representing the American In-stitute of Mining and. Metallurgical Engineers; George F. Swain and Nelson P. Lewis to represent the American Society of Civil Engineers; Charles T. Main and George W. Fuller to represent the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; Lewis B. Stillwell and Andrew M. Hunt to represent the American. Institute of Electrical Engineers.

Jan 12, 1919

By Wayne Loel

THE application of aerial photographs to all phases of geologic mapping is set forth, indicating the advantages to be gained in different types of country and under varying climatic conditions, Methods of field and office procedure are given from a geological point of view, as well as suggestions regarding the best methods of aerial mapping for different uses and under varying field conditions, including the study of submarine geology. Aerial photographs with accompanying geologic maps are shown to illus-trate the appearance from the air of different geologic features under varying climatic and topographic conditions.

Jan 1, 1938

By E. J. KENNEDY

THE annual dinner-dance was held in the large ball room of the Commodore hotel Wednesday evening. A total of 577 were seated at the dinner, over which President Eavenson presided as chairman and toastmaster. In introducing George C. Stone, the James Douglas Medalist, W. R. Ingalls outlined the former's association with the zinc industry. He said, in part In designing and building Palmerton, Stone erected a metallurgical monument and won the title of chief engineer of the New Jersey Zinc Co., with transferal to its New York office in 1900. There lie held forth in dignity, efficiency, and with appreciation until his retirement from active service in 1929. After a few years lie was diverted from the position of chief engineer for his company to the superior one of chief metallurgist and that gave to Stone his next big chance.... This was the conception of a research department and the ability to persuade his directors to adopt it. I shall not pretend to summarize the great things that afterward developed. I shall mention only the institution of the manufacture of lithopone in this country, the charging of the Wetherill furnace with briquets, the mechanicalization of the Wetherills, the accomplishment of continuous distilling, and most recently the introduction of reflux-refining.

Jan 1, 1935

By P. E. Fitzgerald, J. C. Gindlesperger

1. The Acidizer (Trade Publication of Dowell Inc.): No. 1. Aspects of Acidizing. No. 2. Inhibited Acid. No. 3. The Value of Acidizing. No. 4. The Chemistry of Acidizing. No. 5. Jelly Seal in Acidizing. No. 6. Loosening Stuck Drill Pipe. No. 7. The Geology of Acidizing. 2. J. C. Albright: Acid Is Being Used for Cleaning Intake Wells in Water-flooded Areas. Oil Weekly (Sept. 23, 1935) 24. 3. D. H. Bancroft: Acid Tests Increase Production of Zwolle Wells, Miller County, Arkansas. Oil and Gas Jnl. (Dec. 22, 1932) 42. 4. A. H. Bell: Possible Areas for Acid Treatment in Illinois. Pub. of Illinois- Indiana Petr. Assn. and lllinois Geol. Survey (1934) 49. 5. N. A. Best: Treating Limestone Formations Consists of More than Pouring Hydrochloric Acid in the Well. Oil and Gas Jnl. (April 5, 1934) 54. 6. L. G. E. Bignell: Sealing Off Salt Water from Oil-bearing Formations. Oil and Gas Jnl. (Jan. 30, 1936) 59. 7. L. G. E, Bignell: Acidizing Upper Limestone Formation Facilitated by the Use of Jelly Seal. Oil and Gas Jnl. (March 5, 1936) 30. 8. L. G. E. Bignell: Bailing, Shooting, Tubing and Acidizing Have All Been Tried in Deep Test at Binger, Oklahoma. Oil and Gas Jnl. (May 10, 1934) 38. 9. L. G. E. Bignell: Dowel1 Incorporated Increasing Its Field Service for Acid Treatment of Wells. Oil and Gas Jnl. (June 7, 1934) 62. 10. L. C. Chamberlain, Jr. and P. E. Fitzgerald: Oil Well Acidizing in Michigan. Mich. Acad. Sci. Papers (March 1937). 11. M. E. Chapman: Some of the Theoretical and Practical Aspects of the Acid Treatment of Limestone Wells. Oil and Gas Jnl. (Oct. 12, 1933) 10. 12. C. E. Clason and J. G. Staudt: Limestone Reservoir Rocks of Kansas React Favorably to Acid Treatment. Oil and Gas Jnl. (April 25, 1935) 53. 13. W. F. Cloud: Cleaning and Reconditioning Oil Wells—Reconditioning by Use of Acid (Petroleum Production 1937), 389. University of Oklahoma Press, 1937,' 14. K. A. Covell: Developments in Eastern Production Practice. Acid Treatment of Michigan Wells. Amer. Petr. Inst. Prod. Bull. 213 (1934) 77; Oil and Gas Jnl. (May 31, 1934) 89; Oil Weekly (May 28, 1934) 17. 15. B. A. Cunningham: Acid Treatment of Lime Formations. Amer. Petr. Inst. Paper 901 (1933) 9D, 1-7. 16. 0. I. DeSchon: Pondera Production up 22,000 Barrels. Montana Oil & Min. Jnl. (Jan. 26, 1935) 1.

Jan 1, 1937

By AIME AIME

ON Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 17, a large and interested audience gathered in the auditorium of the Engineering Societies building to take part in the gold supply symposium that had been arranged for by the Mining Geology Committee. Waldemar Lindgren presided over the gathering and after brief introductory remarks on the international situation as regards lead, silver and gold, called on John Wellington Finch to present an oral abstract of the paper, "Sources and Trends in Gold Production," by R. J. Grant, director of the Mint, and. J. B. Knaebel. This ' paper reviewed the gold production of the world, by countries, since 1845, from the statistical viewpoint, leaving to the later speakers discussion of the statistics.

Jan 1, 1931

Aase, Glenn D., (J'40) Jr. Met.. American Smelt. k Refin. Co., Selby, Calif. Abadie, Henry G., (J'43) Petr. Engr., Avenal, Calif. Abbott, Clarence E., (M'04) Civil Engr., V.P.. Tennessee Coal, Iron & R.R. Co., 1542 Brown Marx Bldg., Birmingham, Ala. Abel, Raymond L., (M'28) Chem. Engr., C.O., Pitts¬burgh Chem. Warfare Procurement Dist., American Bank Bldg., Pittsburgh. Pa. Abel, Walter D.. (M'32) Min. Engr., Supvr. Engr., R.F.C.Lee Angeles, Calif. Abele, Louis T., (M'31) Route No. 1, Adameville, Tenn. Abell, Leo M., (M'31) Mill Supt. & Met., Emperor Gold Min. Co. Ltd., Vatukoula, Fiji Is. Abernathy, G. E., (M'38) Geol., Kansas State Geol. Survey, Pittsburg, Kans. Abernathy, Jack H,, (M'40) Asst. Cenl. Supt. of Prod., Sunray Oil Co., 11th Floor, Philtower Bldg.. Tulsa 3. Okla. Abernethy, D. Carl, (M'44) Min. Engr. Rm. 3217, N. Int. Bldg., Washington, D. C.

Jan 1, 1944

By Anthony G. Reid

INTRODUCTION At the time of the death of Mao Tse-tung in 1976, China was a major oil producing country with a daily oil flow in the order of 1.735 million barrels. This position had been achieved with minimal assistance from the outside world. Further, only some fifteen years had elapsed since the country's daily oil production capacity had hovered at the barely significant level of one hundred thousand barrels. Why then did the new leaders of China, after this very creditable record of success, suddenly change the direction of the country's drive for future hydrocarbon production? First, by switching much of the emphasis of exploration from onshore to the offshore continental shelf basins, and further by apparently abandoning the philosophy of self reliance calling upon the world's oil industry to share in the task of locating and developing these potential offshore energy reserves. The answer is probably only partly understood by those of us outside China, However, a number of factors exerting an important influence on this decision can be identified. THE MOVE OFFSHORE The new leadership was anxious to rapidly move China into her rightful place amongst the powerful and technologically advanced nations of the world. Modernization became the slogan, specifically modernization on four fronts, agriculture, industry, technology and military with the goal to "catch the west by the year 2000". But how to generate the capital to finance this massive modernization program? The rapid escalation of the price of crude oil following the 1973 Oil Embargo and the continuing apparently insatiable world demand for this now extremely precious primary resource was very clear to all. China, as a major producer, could export crude to help finance the ambitious development programs of the government. To do this, however, would require a very significant in¬crease in present production capacity, as the domestic demand even for China with her relatively low per capita energy consumption, is essentially equal to the current production. Trying to rapidly move the new regime's programs into actions, one can only assume that the planners looked at the success of the petroleum industry over the preceding fifteen years and quickly concluded that this well established curve could be maintained and indeed steepened with an increase in effort. The rapid discovery of a few more Daqing's (China's premier oil field, producing one million barrels a day) would have the country's ambitious modernization goals within reach. Petroleum would At the time of the death of Mao Tse-tung in 1976, China was a major oil producing country with a daily oil flow in the order of 1.735 million barrels. This position had been achieved with minimal assistance from the outside world. Further, only some fifteen years had elapsed since the country's daily oil production capacity had hovered at the barely significant level of one hundred thousand barrels. Why then did the new leaders of China, after this very creditable record of success, suddenly change the direction of the country's drive for future hydrocarbon production? First, by switching much of the emphasis of exploration from onshore to the offshore continental shelf basins, and further by apparently abandoning the philosophy of self reliance calling upon the world's oil industry to share in the task of locating and developing these potential offshore energy reserves. The answer is probably only partly understood by those of us outside China, However, a number of factors exerting an important influence on this decision can be identified. THE MOVE OFFSHORE The new leadership was anxious to rapidly move China into her rightful place amongst the powerful and technologically advanced nations of the world. Modernization became the slogan, specifically modernization on four fronts, agriculture, industry, technology and military with the goal to "catch the west by the year 2000", But how to generate the capital to finance this massive modernization program? The rapid escalation of the price of crude oil following the 1973 Oil Embargo and the continuing apparently insatiable world demand for this now extremely precious primary resource was very clear to all. China, as a major producer, could export crude to help finance the ambitious development programs of the government. To do this, however, would require a very significant increase in present production capacity, as the domestic demand even for China with her relatively low per capita energy consumption, is essentially equal to the current production. Trying to rapidly move the new regime's programs into actions, one can only assume that the planners looked at the success of the petroleum industry over the preceding fifteen years and quickly concluded that this well established curve could be maintained and indeed steepened with an increase in effort. The rapid discovery of a few more Daqing's (China's premier oil field, producing one million barrels a day) would have the country's ambitious modernization goals within reach. Petroleum would be the principal bridge to the bright future. The next decision involved the question of where to look for these vast new reserves. Chinese exploration teams had already looked at most of the onshore sedimentary basins and, while they were the first to admit that there was much yet to do, it was fairly clear to them that the potential for large new accumulations was confined to two areas: the little explored, remote, inhospitable regions of western China, principally Xinkiang Province and the equally unexplored offshore basins of the continental shelf and slope. In both cases China faced a very serious problem. The inhospitable environments were severely straining her petroleum industry's current technological ability to cope, particularly as the government needed rapid results. Thus the pragmatic and, to the foreign oil industry, unexpected decision to invite cooperation with the outside world. The reasons for the initial emphasis on the exploration of the offshore basins with the cooperation of foreign oil companies are again supposition on my part, but probably involved considerations of technical merit, ease of development and delivery to markets together with more sensitive issues such as controling the influence of foreign philosophies and values on the Chinese population by containing most foreign activity to the offshore. So within three years of the death of the great helmsman, China had developed a plan to involve foreign oil companies, both state and private, in a grand plan to rapidly increase the nations oil production. In fact, by this time, the first round of talks had been concluded and the first phase begun, and what a beginning. Some forty eight companies from thirteen countries had signed documents to participate formally in this world scale event. It was far easier to list those companies which did not participate than to list those which did. FOREIGN COMPANY INTEREST Why the rush by the world's oil industry to be involved in China? What was China offering which made everyone so anxious to join in? Again the answer is complex in detail, but principally involved a combination of factors which together caused this virtual stampede. Timing was a major element. Oil Companies, despite an ever increasing take by governments, were beginning to benefit. from the' rapid escalation of crude prices induced by OPEC and were looking for suitable areas to reinvest these funds. Producers

Jan 1, 1982

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

REJUVENATED is an apt word to apply to Chino, Kennecott's big open-pit mine at Santa Rita, New Mexico. Back in 1923 Chino was merged with Ray by an exchange of shares, and in 1926 the Ray-Chino combination was taken over by Nevada Consolidated through an issue of bonds that were traded for the Ray and Chino assets. Subsequently, of course, the whole package was acquired by the Kennecott Copper Corporation. On the basis of the terms of the Ray-Chino-Nevada exchanges, Chino was rated third in value, something less than thirty per cent of the total. In 1955 the appraisal would doubtless be forty per cent or more. But it is not only vis-a-vis Ray and Nevada that Chino has blossomed out. At the end of 1931, Chino ranked seventh among the Porphyries in point of output; whereas by the end of 1954 it was fifth,. having passed both Inspiration and Nevada Consolidated. Sharp curtailment in production in 1932-33-34 and total suspension in the two years following (see Fig. 21) found the property in a somewhat parlous position. However, the engineers had not been idle; they had been planning for the future, and in 1937 a far-reaching program of rejuvenation was launched. During the ensuing five years, capital expenditures totaled more than $8,500,000. Among the projects undertaken were the following: (1) Mine-Purchase of larger and better equipment for drilling, loading, and transporting the ore. (2) Mine-Beginning of the first systematic project to leach and recover copper in the waste dumps at the mine.

Jan 1, 1957

By J. M. GLEDHILL

IT would doubtless have been felt by many but a few years back that there was little left to be said on the subject of crucible tool-steel, and that something akin to finality had been arrived at in its manufacture and general treatment. Probably such feeling was justifiable when it is remembered that the making of steel in crucibles is by far the oldest method known, dating back from time immemorial, it being indeed impossible to accurately trace its origin and earliest development; but it seems certain that carbon-steel was made and used thousands of years ago for cutting-tools. Proof of this may be seen by the marvelous carvings and workings on the intensely hard stone-work of the ancients, for it would be difficult to conceive by what means, other than with steel tools, such work could have been executed; and it is wonderful to contemplate that steel cutting-tools should have been used so long ago, whilst the principle of manufacturing them-that is, by fusion of iron and charcoal in crucibles-was then in a measure on the sane lines as we work on at the present day. Archaeologists have discovered that the Chinese made steel in crucibles long before the Christian era. " Wootz " steel fabricated in India centuries ago was crucible steel, as was also the celebrated Damascus steel, produced at the forges of Toledo, and, curiously, this latter steel furnishes' yet another proof that "There is nothing new under the Sun," for it is recorded that Damascus steel contained certain percentages of tungsten, nickel, manganese, etc., some of the very elements, in fact, contained in the present modern high-speed steel, so that a latent high-speed steel may be said to have existed

Mar 1, 1905

By F. M. Lewis, J. E. Goodman

A larger, slow-speed, under-loaded ball mill and hydraulic classifier have almost doubled grinding efficiency at the lsabella mill. TENNESSEE Copper Co. operates two ore con-A centrators, the London and Isabella mills near Copperhill, Tenn. In 1948 and 1949 the small ball mills and rake classifiers in the London concentrator were replaced by one large ball mill and one hydraulic classifier. This new ball mill was designed oversize so that it could be operated at slower than normal speed. The proper operating conditions were established and the results published.' Later it was found that this mill operated more efficiently with a small ball charge." While this London grinding practice was being developed, the Isabella grinding circuit was not changed in any way. It remained a conventional two-stage rod mill—ball mill combination, the rod mill in open circuit and the ball mill in closed circuit with a rake classifier. Study of the data indicated that grinding cost could be lowered by converting to the London practice, but not enough would have been saved to warrant the expense of converting. No plan for improving this grinding operation could be developed. In 1953 this study was reopened when plans were made to increase the Isabella mill output from 1150 to 1500 tpd. At this time the grinding circuit consisted of a 6x12 rod mill followed by a 6x12 ball mill in closed circuit with a 6-ft rake classifier. Another 6x12 ball mill and 6-ft rake classifier would have been sufficient equipment and would have been the simplest and cheapest installation. However, this would have offered no improvement in grinding efficiency or operating cost. If, on the other hand, the grinding operation could be converted to the London practice, by installation of one large 101/2x9x9 tricone mill and a 10-ft hydroscillator,2 lower operating costs would justify the additional investment. Economics: Table I presents estimates for the two schemes for enlarging the Isabella mill. In the first scheme, column 1, one 6x12 ball mill and one 6-ft rake classifier were to be added. In the second scheme, column 2, the existing small ball mill and rake classifier were to be retired and one large mill and hydroscillator were to be installed. Estimated savings from the difference in operating costs made an attractive return on the additional investment for the large mill and hydroscillator. Actual costs of carrying out this plan are tabulated in column 3b. It will be seen that these costs follow the estimates in column 3a very Closely. The return on the additional investment is calculated from the difference in the operating cost in column 1 and the actual operating cost in column 3b. This too come very close to the estimate. Power and Steel: Power requirements and steel consumption for the rod mills and ball mills, both actual and estimated, are presented in Table 11.

Jan 1, 1958

By R. E. Cuthbertson

AN early appreciation by the management that Climax ore presented a challenging problem of economic concentration was responsible for the establishment, in June 1926, of an ore-testing department at the experimental plant of the Colorado School of Mines at Golden, some ninety miles from Climax. An engineering office was later organized in the same community for the design of all ore-treatment units erected at Climax during the period of rapid growth. Work of the ore-testing and design staffs was effectively co-ordinated under a common head. The primary reason for having the ore-testing and plant design departments in Golden, was to place these activities under the able supervision of A. J. Weinig, consultant for the Climax Molybdenum Co., and director of the experimental plant. A secondary consideration was the availability of excellent facilities for research in ore dressing in a highly favorable environment. Concentration of molybdenite by flotation from an ore of simple mineral composition does not appear, superficially, to present a serious problem in ore dressing but experience belies this apparent simplicity. The molybdenite content of average Climax ore is low and it is finely

Jan 1, 1946

By Paul M. Tyler

MUCH has been said in print, and much more that was unprintable, about burdensome controls, taxation, and multiplying restrictive, regulatory, or taxing activities of the Federal Government, but not so much has been said about ways and means whereby the Government can and does render economic assistance. Economics has been defined as the study of men earning a living, and economic assistance to industry as well as to individuals properly should take the form of helping enterprisers to help themselves rather than charity. Proposals to have the Government play Santa Claus must be examined carefully if -only to avoid undue favoritism to politically important persons and downright venality by potentially crooked public officials. Thomas Jefferson is credited with the remark that the best government is the one which governs least. Paternalism is abhorrent to most Americans.

Jan 1, 1947

Organization Place Date 1917 American Electrochemical Society Pittsburgh, Pa. Oct. 3-6 American Institute of Mining Engineers St. Louis, MO. Oct. 8-13 American Gas Institute : Washington, D. C. Oct. 16-19 American Institute of Architects Philadelphia, Pa. _ Dec.. 26-29 American Society of Mechanical Engineers New York City. Dec. 26-29 American Mining. Congress State Chapter Phoenix, Ariz. Dec. 26-29

Jan 10, 1917

By AIME AIME

AT the end of September, ' the metal-producing industries were almost prostrate, the production of fuels was largely curtailed, there was a fair degree of activity in general manufacturing, while retail trade was moderately good. Looking at industry on the whole, there was a large percentage of unemployment, the degree of which has increased, progressively, month by month since the beginning of 1921. There is the prospect of much destitution and misery this winter; yet while' in some, quarters, idle workers are already being fed from, commissaries; in other quarters profligacy; in "spending continues, unabated. Amid this confusion in conditions there is;' much that appears paradoxical, but in fact it is not so and indeed everything is running pretty true to form: Such activity in production as there is to be seen is mainly in textiles; - leather goods, foodstuffs, etc., i.e., consumption goods for immediate use. Even in hard times 105,000,000 people must buy a good deal of clothing and food. Besides this there is indispensable repair work and- maintenances. Thus, the good business of the year in white lead for painting. The chief uses for the metals, however, are in the production of capital goods, and except for occasional and special reasons nobody in his senses is capitalizing anything at present prices for labor. Hence several millions of men are idle. The impoverishment of Europe and the exhaustion of her credits adds to this by curtailing our export trade.

Jan 1, 1921

By John M. Kelly

New Mexico produced 39,475,388 bbl. of oil in 1944, the greatest amount in one year in the oil history of the state. This production was 593,046 bbl. or 1.25 per cent more than in 1943. New Mexico retained its position as the seventh largest oil-producing state. The maximum per well allowable on Jan. I, 1944 was 48 bbl. daily and at the end of the year it was 45 bbl. daily. Allocations as set by the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission closely followed the recommendations made by the' Petroleum Administrator for War. The average daily pipe-line runs were within 4 per cent of the allocation. Production by counties was as fol1ows;Lea County, 33,509,548 bbl.; Eddy County, 5,504,498; Northwestern New Mexico 461, 342. Drilling activity for New Mexico in 1944 was well above that of 1943, with 362 completions. Of these, 283 were oil wells, 12 gas wells and 67 dry holes. The ratio of dry holes to producers, about I to 4, was an improvement over 1943. Wildcat drilling during 1944 was responsible for the discovery of six new fields and the extension of two present producing areas. Drilling records were established in New Mexico during 1944 with the deepest producer ever completed, the Humble Leonard Oil Company's No. I at 11,969 ft., in the Ellenburger section of Ordovician age near Jal, Lea County. The discoveries in Lea County during 1944 were as follows: West Lovington field, where Fred Turner, Jr. drilled his No. I State B .in C SE SW sec. 4-17-36 and completed it for 122 bbl. of oil in 8 1/2 hr., in the San Andreas section of Permian age. The Tonto field, where the T-exas Company completed its No. I Baskin at a total depth of 3586 ft. in Seven Rivers lime of Permian age, with an initial production of 254 bbl. of oil in 21 hours. The Drinkard area, where the Gulf Oil Corporation's Drinkard No. I flowed 782 bbl. of oil in 14 hr. from the Yeso section of lower Permian age, thus opening the first lower Permian production in the state. The total depth of this discovery was 6508 ft. and oil was 38.8" A.P.I. gravity. The Dublin area, where the Humble Oil and Refining Co. established a drilling depth record of 11,969 ft. drilling and completing its No. I Leonard Oil Co. well in the Ellenburger lime of Ordovician age. This well flowed 221 bbl. of oil per day, of 48.9º A.P.I. gravity oil. It is in sec. 12-26-37. The new pay horizon discovery of the Continental Oil Co. in the Skaggs area, where the company completed its Skaggs B-23 No. 2 in sec. 23-20-37 for 236 bbl. of oil in 21 hr. from the Wolfcamp section of lower Permian age, at a total depth of 7725 ft. This well was drilled to granite at 10,465 ft. and plugged back to the Wolf-camp for a new pay zone completion.

Jan 1, 1945

By Mark L. Requa

During the past two years California has developed a new and important oil-field: I refer to Midway. This field produced the famous Lake View gusher, which is credited with a total production in excess of 8,000,000 barrels. Fortunately for the oil industry of the State, this well is now a thing of the past, and nothing, save a great crater-like opening marks its location. The pipe is entirely worn away and gone; and it is a matter of serious doubt if there can be anything done that will cause the well to produce again. Fortunately, also, there have been no other wells in that field or elsewhere throughout the State that in any may compared with the Lake View. Midway is noted for large wells, of from 500 to 2,000 barrels production; but the decline is rapid, and a few months serve to bring the output down to a few hundred barrels. In the oil-territory heretofore blocked out as proved and probable, there have been, during the year, many changes. Some areas which were expected to be fairly productive have apparently failed; others, more strictly "wild-cat," have come in; while in some of the older fields there are properties which are beginning to shorn evident signs of exhaustion. The total area of proved territory will therefore probably suffer but small

Jan 1, 1912