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By David White

ATTENTION has been given to the sources and supply of the raw vegetal matter and. the conditions of its submission to the process of sedimentation. An original and most valuable review has been made of the more important or significant chemical compounds originally contained in the organic debris, and of the biochemical changes-undergone by the latter during deposition. Consideration also has been given to the factors controlling the selective biochemical decomposition, in whole or in part, of :this debris, and the deposition, as, sediments, of the undecomposed plant structures and compounds, together with more or less of the so-called "ulmic," or "humic," organic decomposition products in colloidal solution.1 BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES END IN PEAT FORMATION The biochemical process terminates in the peat stage of coal formation, and with the cessation of this process organic sedimentation is completed. All subsequent changes result from geological causes and conditions. The deposits are in the form of peats of different types, organic muds, oozes, etc. They are essentially uncompressed and are wholly unconsolidated, and their water content is great, amounting to over 85 per cent. near the surface of the deposit. Many of the chemical compounds remain as in the once living organisms; others are biochemically broken down and new ones formed.

Jan 2, 1925

By Frank Wilder

THE most important process in a gypsum mill is calcining the crude mineral. There seems, however, to be little progress or change in calcining methods. This would not be surprising if the industry was not, in other ways, developing. The demand for gypsum in its various forms, however, is growing rapidly. The output has more than doubled in six years, while the value of gypsum products, through the introduction of higher priced specialties like wall board, has nearly trebled in the same period. In other industries, under somewhat similar conditions, calcining in rotating cylinders, either by direct or indirect heat, has replaced the method that still prevails in gypsum mills. Efforts were made to use rotary calciners in manufacturing plaster of Paris in the early days of the industry in America; 25 years ago rotary calciners were in use in Germany. At that time there was great diversity of opinion in regard to their merit. In 1923, the output of calcined gypsum in the United States was 3,101,378 tons. About nine-tenths of this material was calcined in kettles, the remainder in rotary calciners. The ratio was about the same 10 years ago. During these 10 years, rotary calcining made rela-tively no gains, and there were no important changes in the construction of kettles. In their manipulation, the only change of consequence was in connection with the length of time that the gypsum is left in the kettle. For wall-plaster purposes, all producers who had not previously done so changed from second-settled to first-settled calcined gypsum, thereby reducing production costs and improving the plasticity and sand-carrying capacity of their plaster. Nevertheless, in the few mills in which they were installed, rotary calciners continue to operate, with possibly one or two exceptions, and to be highly successful. In these 10 years, the Cummer type of rotary calciner has disappeared. All rotaries now used are of the cement-mill type with a diameter of 6 or 7 ft. and length of 80 to 120 feet.

Jan 2, 1925

By Frederic Lahee

THE purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the similarity of the oil-producing structures in the Mexia1 fault zone, and to show how the apparently very irregular well logs in these fields may be used for the practical interpretation of subsurface conditions. The Mexia oil field, in Limestone County, Tex. (Fig. 1) is closely associated with a fault that trends about 30° east of north and has a displacement of between 200 and 400 ft., with downthrow on the west. Minor slips accompany this major fault, some being roughly parallel to the main break while others are transverse to it. These faults belong to the so-called Mexia fault zone, a belt of fracturing that has been traced in its characteristic features southward to near Kosse, 15 miles south of Groesbeck, in southern Limestone County, and northward at least as far as the Trinity river at the eastern border of Navarro County, and possibly as far north as Hunt and Hopkins counties.2 The Balcones fault zone, from 30 to 40 miles west of the Mexia fault zone, differs from the latter in that its principal displacement is a down-throw on the east. In this respect, it is exactly the opposite of the Mexia displacement. Between these two zones of major faulting lies a great down-dropped block, or graben, which is broken by numerous minor faults.

Jan 2, 1925

By Robert Archer

Two new alloys of the "strong alloy" class having improved fabricating qualities are described; also methods of producing alloys of the duralumin type with greater strength and hardness than previously obtained, are given. IT is about fifteen years since the development in Germany, largely by Alfred Wilm, of the aluminum alloy called duralumin. In this alloy, combining as it does the tensile strength of mild steel with the lightness and corrosion resistance of aluminum, a distinctly new material was presented to the engineering world. Despite the evident usefulness of this material, however, its commercial development has been slow, due in part to the difficulties involved in its fabrication. In view of the potentially great utility of strong aluminum alloys, it seemed desirable to find means of producing such alloys with better fabricating properties, and work was undertaken with this object in the laboratories of the Aluminum Company of America several years ago. This work has resulted in the production of two new types of aluminum alloy of the "strong alloy" class, having distinctly improved fabricating qualities. The knowledge gained has also made it possible to produce alloys of the duralumin type with greater strength and hardness than previously obtained. There have thus been made available some new engineering materials which it is the object of this paper to describe. These alloys, including duralumin, are fundamentally wrought alloys. Castings of the same compositions, heat-treated in the same manner give inferior physical properties, particularly as to ductility. The statements made subsequently concerning properties and heat treatment apply to material that has received sufficient working to thoroughly break down the cast structure. The material referred to has; in general, undergone a reduction in section of at least 80 per cent. by mechanical working. It may be mentioned in passing that other compositions have been found that are suitable for the production of the maximum physical properties in heat-treated castings.

Jan 2, 1925

By Fred Beasley

METALLURGISTS have, in the past ten years, overcome many difficulties of high zinc in lead blast-furnace slags. This problem was brought to the front at the close of the late war, by the price obtained for lead and the high cost of labor, fuel, and flux. The Port Pirie plant of the Broken Hill Associated Smelters, Australia, early in 1919 had increased the zinc oxide in its blast-furnace slags from 13.5 to 20 per cent., at the same time reducing the iron oxide in the slag from 33.5 to 25.6 per cent. These results were obtained by the following proceduret the addition of granulated slag to the roaster charge, 10 to 12 per cent., improved conditions of the crushing and mixing and roasting of the constituents of the sinter. By experiments and improve-ments the practice at this plant has developed a normal slag that carries 22 per cent. zinc oxide, and at times runs as high as 33 per cent. zinc oxide, with only slight furnace trouble. The granulated slag is used not, only as a diluent to the sulfur in the roaster charge, but also on account of its value as a slag-forming material and on account of the physical properties it imparts to the finished sinter. The ore is mixed with flux and given a double roast. All the first roasting is by sintering with the Dwight & Lloyd machines. The final roasting is performed partly by Dwight & Lloyd machines and partly by H. & H. pots. The charge to the blast furnaces consists chiefly of the final sinter, slag shells, siliceous and non-bearing sulfur, lead ores. High blast and ore columns are the practice. The greatest care is taken to obtain in the final sinter as low a sulfur content as possible.

Jan 2, 1925

By A. W. Hesse

TWELVE years ago, a meeting of coal-mine operators, mining engineers, oil and gas operators, Bureau of Mines engineers, geologists and state mine inspectors took place in Pittsburgh, Pa. for the purpose of discussing, and solving if possible, the problems in connection with the drilling of oil and gas wells through or near coal mines and through the future coal reserves. Proposed regulations were drafted and presented at that meeting by 0. P. Hood and A. G. Heggem of the Bureau of Mines.1There was considerable discussion of the various articles, practically all of which appear in Bulletin 65, but unfortunately the interest aroused at that meeting was short lived. Practically none of the important coal-, producing states gave the matter the consideration it should have received at that time. REASONS FOR AGAIN RAISING THE QUESTION Notwithstanding the marked progress in, safety work, coal mines still have an unenviable reputation for mine explosions. Our mining laws have become stricter and the enforcement, especially in Pennsylvania, more sternly carried out, but what good will come from a rigid carrying out of the mining laws if some source of danger exists all around the mines, over which the operators have no control? It is hardly necessary to recite all the cases of natural-gas explosions published in Bulletin 65, but with some of them I am especially familiar. In 1912, while making one of my usual Sunday visits to the Miners' Hospital, at Fairmont, W. Va., my attention was called to a patient in a horribly burned condition. He was swathed in bandages so that no part of his face and hands were visible. He had not then been informed that his two sons, mere boys, had died of the burns they had received in the same accident. This explosion was due to natural gas leaking into a country mine at Peora, Harrison Co., W. Va.

Jan 2, 1925

By C. H. Jr. Herty

IT Is well known that manganese will desulfurize molten iron through the formation of manganese sulfide, which, being only slightly soluble in the metal, rises to and enters the slag where it remains as such (mixer slag) or is converted partly or wholly to calcium sulfide (basic open¬hearth slag). The reaction by which manganese sulfide is formed is Mn + FeS = MnS + Fe. This reaction is generally considered to be reversible, although McCance1 states- that such is not the case. The experimental work was carried out to confirm the results of Rohl2 as to the reversibility of the reaction. Six trials are herein considered. In each 200 grams of electrolytic iron free from manganese and sulfur were melted in a pure zirconia crucible in a carbon resistance electric furnace. To the melted iron in runs 2, 3 and 4 metallic manganese and manganese sulfide were added to give 1, 2 and 4 per cent. manganese respectively, with 0.50 per cent. of sulfur in each. In runs 5, 6 and 7, metallic manganese andiron sulfide to give the same proportions of manganese and sulphur as in runs 2, 3 and 4, were added. The melts were held molten in the furnace for an hour and then cast into small ingots.

Jan 2, 1925

By John A. Allan

The subject chosen for this paper is not a new one, but the subject matter is so extensive that something new can always be said .about it. We are just beginning to realize how little is actually known about the character of Alberta coal, except for a few general facts. The object of this paper is not to explain that our previous information, in whole or in part, on the coal resources of Alberta, has been incorrect, but rather to present some new facts obtained as a result of recent study in the field and in the laboratory. As field investigation continues the problem of determining the character of a coal seam for any great distance laterally becomes more and more complex. Our present knowledge of Alberta coal deposits should not be discussed before due reference is made to those great pioneers who blazed the trails for later geologists, by recording their observations on the general geology of Alberta. Geologists, to-day, particularly those of us who are striving, year after year, to unravel the mysteries of stratigraphy, palaeontology, and structure, in so far as these are related to the coal resources of Alberta, fully realize our indebtedness to those three trail-makers, Dawson, McConnell, and Tyrrell. Had these geologists not recorded their observations correctly, nor interpreted the broad geological facts contained in Nature's book, with still uncut pages, how much slower would have been the progress of our coal knowledge in the succeeding years. It is true that many of the interpretations given to observations by these pioneers have had to be changed as a result of closer studies, but we must also expect that the geological interpretation from present day observations will be changed by future workers, as Nature's book is read and re-read.

Jan 1, 1925

MOUNT STEWART is situated half a mile south of Leadville railway station, which is distant 240 miles by rail from Sydney via Mudgee. It forms a low ridge from which rock waste and alluvium slope gradually to the black-soil flats of the Coolaburragundy River. The Mt. Stewart mine comprises:(a) The Mt. Stewart workings in M.L. 44, parish Talbragar, Co. Bligh.(b) The Grosvenor workings in M.Ls. 44 and 45, parish Talbragar, Co. Bligh.(c) The Extended workings in M.L. 44, parish Talbragar, Co. Bligh.The workings contain 1375 ft.. of vertical shafts, 1105 ft. of underlay shafts, 800 ft. of rises and winzes, 8520 ft. of drives and crosscuts, and 18,000 ft. of stapes.The mine was first opened in 1888 as a silver-lead mine, and a waterjacketed furnace was erected during 18B2. The furnace was installed with two internally-fired tubular boilers of 35 h.p. and 25 h.p. respectively, and two Baker's rotary pressure blowers. The results of the smelting campaign indicate that, during 14 months, a total of 15,000 tons of ore were treated, yielding silver and lead. In addition to this, a quantity of matte was sold containing about 8000 oz. of silver. As a result of the treatment...

Jan 1, 1925

By R. W. Prouty, R. T. Green

The object of this paper is to describe, as concisely as possible, the methods of sampling and ore estimating used at the Copper Queen Branch, Phelps Dodge Corpn., as applied to the Copper Queen mines at Bisbee, Ariz. Because of the difference in occurrence, manner of prospecting, and methods of mining, the sampling and estimating practice falls into two divisions: That for the underground operations, and that for the Sacramento Hill steam-shovel operations. The orebodies of the Warren district may be divided into three main classes: Replacements of limestone, replacements of porphyry, and replacements of contact breccia. The first class is more or less intimately related to porphyry intrusions, although in badly fractured country this relationship may not be well shown. These orebodies are mainly oxide and carbonate ore and very irregular, both in size and outline, although usually roughly lenticular and following the bedding of the limestones. There is usually quite a sharp boundary between the ore and waste in the carbonate and oxide orebodies and sampling is not necessary to determine the limits of commercial ore. In the sulfide orebodies, it is exceedingly difficult, without sampling, to determine the boundary between commercial ore and the surrounding low-grade or barren pyrite. Calculations made a few years ago showed that these orebodies had an average thickness of 35 ft, As some of the orebodies are from 100 to 300 ft. thick, it can be seen that the smaller ones form a difficult prospecting and estimating problem. In the replacements in porphyry, both underground and in Sacramento Hill, the boundary usually cannot be determined without sampling. There is a gradual decrease in value until barren material is reached; this gradation may occur within a short distance or it may extend for several yards.

Jan 1, 1925

PRESIDENT LITTLEJOHN: We have with us a gentleman from Utah, who is familiarly known -as the "Mudite King," Mr. Reid, of the Lion Coal Company. Here is a letter I would like to read, and probably Mr. Reid will give us an idea of his Mudite machine, or the results he is obtaining. This question was brought up in Rock Springs, Wyoming, but Mr. Reid was not there personally during the discussion, but Mr. Burnell, who is general superintendent of the Lion Coal Com¬pany, as much as he possibly could, described the system and its effects. I believe Mr. Reid will probably be able to give a somewhat clearer statement this afternoon. This letter is from the Coal Mining Inspector of the State of Utah, John Crawford. "February 10, 1925. "The Industrial Commission of Utah, Building. "Statement of John Crawford, Coal Mine Inspector, in regard to Muditing in Coal Mines: "That Muditing used in connection with our present sprinkling system in coal mines is the missing link to the system we have had heretofore, because the water applied by the former system began to dry out, in heavy air currents, the moment it was put on. Consequently the dust that had been humidified by sprinkling, came back to its natural condition, and if anything, the combustible parts of it, in my opinion, were more intensified than previous to being wetted down. "The advantages that Muditing has over the old system of sprinkling are: "1st. The dust that is on the roof, timbers and sides of the entry is washed completely off and rolled up in the Mudite solution which entirely destroys the wings, crudely speaking, of the fine coal dust. "2nd. Sprinkling with the Mudite system, the water and mud is of greater extent than could be applied with a hand hose by a sprinkler. This sprinkling can be done while the mine is in operation, just the same as if water alone was being used. "3rd. The Mudite solution, when dried out, leaves a coating which serves as an armour to the coal, so that in the event of a local explosion, the inflammable matter on the coal is non-combustible; whereas, if that same coal had been sprinkled with water only, and made free of dust, the heat would have the same effect on the coal as it has on a stove when coal is thrown into it-instantaneous combustion. "Therefore, it is my opinion that the Mudite system is the missing link to the perfecting of our sprinkling system here in Utah. "(Signed) JOHN CRAWFORD." Mr. Reid has with him a few sam¬ples of his Mudite, after it has become solidified, taken from the floor, as I understand it. It is interesting. We have a few minutes to spare to good advantage, were we to ask Mr. Reid to give us an idea of his machine, as briefly as he possibly can, and also what he thinks the effect of the Mudite is compared to dry rock dust. Mr. Reid. (Applause.) MR. W. J. REID (Lion Coal Company) : I came down here with no intention of making any talk on Mudite. However, there being so many people that have seen Mudite at Wattis

Jan 1, 1925

By George S. Rice

Ten years ago: October, 1914, the author had the privilege of giving an illustrated address on investigations of coal-dust explosions1 to this Institute at one session of its fall meeting in Pittsburgh, Pa,. On the following day, the members had the opportunity of seeing a large-scale explosion test at the Experimental Mine near Bruceton, in which the explosion was made to follow a predetermined path by means of rock-dust barriers of various types, which had prevented the explosive waves from reaching the outlets of the mine by the shortest paths.2 There was also shown a ((home-made" rock-dusting machine discharging the dust from a flexible nozzle, and a cement gun operated for the quick erection of a fire or ventilation stopping, such as might be put up after an explosion. Following that paper, there was presented a paper by J. Taffanel, Director of the Lìévin testing station in the Pas de Calais, which reviewed the French coal-dust investigations.3 A paper4 by Howard N. Eavenson contains lists of explosions that occurred in North America and Great Britain, from early in the 19th century to 1912; in France to 1903, and Belgium to 1909. Although explosions still occur, we are hopeful that we have entered a happier freedom from these visitations, as the result of increased knowledge of the causes and means of prevention. Looking back over coal-dust investigations, there appear to have been periods of advance and of stagnation. Coal-dust Investigations From the earliest times of coal mining, which chiefly affected Great Britain as the first nation to take up coal mining on a large scale, to the beginning of the 19th century, no one thought of coal dust as an explosive agency; firedamp was the cause dreaded. It was believed, when Sir Humphrey Davy invented his safety lamp in 1815, that a solution had been found for the prevention of mine explo-

Jan 1, 1925

By Anne Nicholson Hird, H. A. Schwartz

Of the outstanding investigators of the system iron-carbon-silicon Gontermann,1 Charpy and Cornu-Thenard,= and Honda,3 only the first touched on the chemical composition of the solid and liquid phases in equilibrium with one another. He concluded that his data did not permit a decision as to which of an indefinitely large number of pairs of compositions of liquid and solid would be found in any given case. If through the three dimensional equilibrium diagram of the iron-carbon-silicon system an isothermal plane is passed in the region of partial solidification, two lines of intersection with the liquidus and solidus, respectively, are obtained, also a point marking the alloys' composition. If, in this plane, a straight line is drawn through the point, and intersecting both the liquidus and solidus isothermals, the two intersections mark a liquid and a solid alloy that may be chemically in equilibrium at the chosen temperature. From thermal data alone, Gontermann could not assign any particular direction to the line and, hence, could not determine which pair of conjugate points to choose, A separation of the liquid and solid for analysis, obviously, presents grave experimental difficulties. During the solidification of white cast iron, austenite of progressively higher carbon will separate as the temperature falls and cementite will appear suddenly at the freezing point of the eutectic. This cementite will be accompanied by a corresponding amount of austenite which, for our purpose, will be chemically inseparable from the primary austenite. We have attempted to decide on the conditions at the end of the freezing by a chemical separation applied to the solid metal.

Jan 1, 1925

ASIDE from the John Fritz Medal, in which the Institute participates through its representation on the John Fritz Medal Board, the Institute itself has three major awards to make annually and one special prize for excellence in technical papers, as follows: The Robert W. Hunt Medal and- Prize, The J. E. Johnson, Jr., Award, the James Douglas Medal, and The Lewisohn Platinum Prize to senior members. ROBERT W. HUNT MEDAL AND PRIZE The partners of Robert. W. Hunt established a fund which was presented to the Institute at a fitting ceremony on May 27, 1920, to establish an annual medal and a sum of money to be awarded under the following rules: 1. The award shall consist of two prizes; first of a gold medal, second of a sum of money; a certificate to accompany each prize. The money prize shall not be awarded to a member over 40 years of age, but under unusual circumstances, both prizes may be allotted to one person provided that he is not over 40 years of age. In general it will be understood that the Committee shall award the money prize to the younger men, rather than the medal. 2. The awards shall be made not oftener than once a year to that person or persons contributing to the Institute the best on al paper or papers on iron and steel. The scope of the term "iron and steel" shall determined by the sub-committee considering the awards. In general, papers dealing with the practical side of the subject have preference over those dealing with the theoretical side in recognition of the fact that Captain Hunt's main contributions to the industry have been in the improvement of production and quality of material. 3. A sub-committee of three to five, including the Chairman of the Iron and Steel Committee, shall be appointed by the Iron and Steel Committee annually to adjudge the award subject to approval. 4. The awarding committee shall submit its report to the Iron and Steel Committee at its October Meeting, and the award be certified to the Secretary of the Institute in time to permit the presentation to be made at the Annual Meeting of the Institute. 5. The recipient of the award shall be designated "The Hunt Medallist." This prize is administered by the Iron and Steel Committee. J. E. JOHNSON, JR., AWARD This award is made from' the income of a. fund of $3000 donated by Mrs. Margaret Hilles Johnson in memory of her husband, J. E. Johnson, Jr., who was a prominent engineer, author of two valuable volumes on iron blast-furnace construction and practise, vice-chairman of the Institute's Iron and Steel Committee, and a frequent contributor of papers. to the Institute's Transactions. This prize is administered by the Iron and Steel Committee. The intent of the donor is to encourage young men in creative work in branches of the metallurgy or manufacture of pig iron with which the professional activities of Mr. Johnson were chiefly concerned. The control of the fund and distribution of the awards having been vested in the Board of Directors of the Institute, this Board has made the following regulations concerning it:

Jan 1, 1925

By G. St. J. Perrott

During the past year, the Bureau of Mines has carried on an investigation of liquid-oxygen explosives (L.O.X.) to supplement the work described in previous publications.' The present paper gives results of the first part of this work, which was a laboratory investigation of the properties of typical combustibles used in L.O.X., and the relation of these properties to the absorption and retention of oxygen by the explosives and their explosive characteristics. No attempt will be made to describe the development of liquid-oxygen explosives, because this phase of the subject has been well covered.2 The L.O.X. cartridge consists of a paper wrapper filled with an absorbent combustible material that is saturated with liquid oxygen by soaking it therein. After saturation, the cartridge is removed from the liquid and fired with fuse and cap, or electric detonator, in a manner similar to other explosives. Certain types of cartridge may be detonated with fuse alone, requiring no cap to initiate the detonation. ' By suitable variation of the nature and density of the combustible, cartridges having a wide variety of explosive characteristics may be made.

Jan 1, 1925

By J. Chelsey Dawson

In presenting a thesis on this subject it is advisable to explain a few of the reasons for its seeming incompleteness. World progress has brought us to a position where approximations are not only to be condoned, but regarded as absolute essentials. Production in anticipation of demand is always accompanied by mistakes on the part of the producers. Only through trial and sometimes erring hypotheses may there be evolved the true course and theory upon which the steady triumphant march of world-wide industry depends. The average person likes to have everything placed ?before him in a clear and convincing manner. It is the impossibility of doing this which, in many cases, arises to confound the writer on shales. All that one can do is to present, as lucidly as possible, the known hypotheses' and theories on the subject and leave the reader to study and work out the truth for himself. Many theories have been advanced on the origin of oil-shales ; some may be correct in certain instances and not in others; however, the writer will attempt no decision as to which are and which are not correct, but .will merely point out the relative merits of each. The figures given for reserves of oil and shale in different countries are only approximations and give but a rough idea of the true conditions.

Jan 1, 1925

In the absence of. J. B. Marks, President, the meeting was called to order by George B. Pryde, Past President. After organization, the meeting was turned over to W. J. Reid, Vice-President for Utah. A moving picture, "The Story of Dynamite," was shown by the courtesy of the E. I. DuPont de Nemours Company. This provoked a great deal of discussion and many questions were asked A. E. Anderson, who described the paper. John M. Jennings read a description of the United States Fuel Company's new Hiawatha tipple, after which the meeting adjourned to Hiawatha for lunch and a visit to the tipple and outside workings of the Hiawatha mine. Thursday, August 27, 1925 Meeting called to order at 9:30 by Vice-President W. J. Reid. Papers were read on the subject of "Mechanical Loading," by A. W. Dickinson, 0. G. Sharrer, and the paper of Glen A. Knox was read by the Secretary. General Superintendent George A. Murphy, of the Spring Canyon Coal Company, read a description of their newly completed tipple. The meeting then adjourned for Spring Canyon where lunch was served, and the afternoon spent in viewing the new. tipple. At 8:00 p. m., D. Harrington read a paper on "Rock Dusting," L. C. Clare read a paper on "Mudite's Relation to Nature," and at 11 p. m. the meeting adjourned. Friday, August 28, 1925 Meeting called to order at 9:30 a. m. by Vice-President W. J. Reid. The discussion of preceding papers continued. Paper by Joseph Harrington on "Domestic Fuel Stokers" was read by the Secretary. The expected paper by Mayne Read was not presented as Mr. Read was unable to get to Price on account of railroad conditions. The papers on the "Theory of Spontaneous Combustion," by C. P. Crawford, were also omitted through an error of the Secretary, and particular attention is called to the publication of these two articles. The new tipple of the Columbia Steel Company was described by T. C. Harvey, after which the meeting adjourned for Columbia, where luncheon was served and the nine visited. After the visit to Columbia, the delegates were taken to the Sunnyside mine of the Utah Fuel Company, where an hour was spent. Upon motion, unanimously adopted, the Secretary was instructed to express the sincere appreciation of the delegates to the Price Chamber of Commerce, the Civic Association, the Price News-Advocate, Harry Keene, Harry Duberstein, John M. Jennings, Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, and Geo. A. Murphy of the Financial Committee, for the complete success in handling the meeting of the Institute. The report of the Membership Committee on the following was accepted: R. E. Birchard, Standardville, Utah. Dave Brown, Spring Canyon, Utah. William Burt, Hiawatha, Utah. A. J. Coats, Fort Collins, Colo. R. P. Fitch, Rains, Utah.

Jan 1, 1925

By John W. Cobb

The attempts of British investigators to arrive at definite knowledge concerning the nature of the nitrogenous constituents of coal have been mainly made through studies of the behavior of coal on carbonization and gasification. There have been carried out numerous determinitions of the distribution of nitrogen in the products of carbonization under laboratory and large-scale conditions; and by a careful consideration of the extent to which nitrogen is liberated, say as ammonia,. at different temperatures and under different conditions of operation as regards atmosphere, it has been possible to form some general notions as to the nature of the nitrogenous compounds present in the coal; and at the same time to arrive at clearer ideas as to what are the important operative factors in determining the ammonia yield under working conditions. This work has been spread over many years and is summarized below. The difficulties of connecting the results in such a way as to allow of the nitrogenous constituents of the coal being described in terms of specific organic structure are great. They arise, for example, in the carbonization process, because the phenomena of decomposition observed at any one temperature can only refer to compounds decomposing at that temperature, each of them with a previous history of chemical transformations occurring at lower temperatures. To put it in &other way, the compounds occurring in the coke at any stage are not in the least likely to be those present in the original coal. The same difficulty, in a milder form, occurs when the method of differential solution is attempted. There is always the preliminary question, almost impossible to answer, as to how far the separation by the use of the solvent has involved some form of decomposition of the original compounds. In the following summary, an attempt has been made to bring together results obtained by British workers.

Jan 1, 1925

It was said that the coal operators are losing a great advantage in permitting the oil producers to take the domestic market away from them. Coal is so much less expensive and more economical than oil that even the oil producers themselves are burning coal under their stills. No longer is the housewife afraid of machinery. Not only does she operate an automobile, but in her home she is used to vacuum sweepers, washing machines, refrigerators, and multitudinous devices. She is no longer machine-shy. An electrically operated stoker, if properly introduced and guaranteed with only a fraction of the enthusiasm that the oil furnace salesman shows, would get a ready reception. Several devices now on the market are much less complicated, much less apt to get out of order, than the oil burners. In place of an increased cost for the sake of convenience, the stoker will give all this convenience at a decreased cost. So said Mr. Herres. He said, however, that it must be enclosed so that the working parts are not too much in evidence. MR. McAULIFFE: While it appears possible to adapt a continuous feed to the needs of the furnace in an apartment or a house burning thirty tons or more annually, it is not yet possible to get a furnace that would satisfy the home which burns only seven or eight tons in a season. A delegate described the Garrison stoker which is designed to care for this problem. Mr. Herres said that the Pacific Coal Company had a small stoker furnace more simple than the Harrington. Pulverized coal equipment is being adapted to use in apartment houses. The stoker designed by Lloyd Garrison, State Engineer of Utah, was described, and also one which Mr. G. W. Megeath of Omaha, Nebraska, had manufactured, which Mr. McAuliffe says, is recommended only for Rock Springs coal. It was brought out that there are over forty installations of the "Iran Fireman" in Salt Lake City. For apartment buildings, there is no question as to their satisfaction. Many of the down town office buildings are so heated.

Jan 1, 1925

By Mazany, M. S.

THE Caletones copper smelter of the Braden Copper Co. is in the " Teniente" mining district about SO km. (49.7 mi.) southeast of Santiago, Chile. From the seaports of San Antonio and Tralparaiso, the property is reached via the Chilean State Railway (66-in. gage) to Rancagua, whence the Braden railroad (30-in. gage) leads to the smelting plant at Caletones, 60 km. away at 5100 ft. elevation, and continues on to the mine and concentrator at Sewell, at 7000 ft. elevation, 12 km. farther into the Andes. The smelting plant was completed and put into commission in February, 1922. At the start, it smelted daily 750 tons of concentrates produced at Sewell from 10,000 tons of ore; later, its capacity was increased to 900 tons of concentrates from 12,000 tons of ore per day; and it is now being increased to 1100 tons of concentrates from 15,000 tons of ore per day. The smelting plant production is governed chiefly by the

Jan 1, 1925