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Jan 1, 1894

By A. Martens

When I was honored with an invitation from the American Institute of Mining Engineers to present a paper at the Chicago meeting on the microstructure of iron, I hesitated about accepting, as the short interval that would remain at my disposal, after other pressing matters had received attention, could not but seriously affect the work of preparing such a paper. Unfortunately my fears have been realized and my work is neither completed, nor yet as comprehensive as I should desire. Mindful of my promise, however, and recognizing that 1 have reached a point where the results of my researches may prove suggestive, I am led to present them now, trusting that this brief explanation map secure indulgence for whatever deficiencies the paper may disclose. So far as my knowledge of published memoirs and treatises extends, microscopy cannot yet be said to possess a really firm foundation. In few cases only has any systematic development of the methods of investigation been undertaken, and broad gaps remain to be filled. It is not yet possible, therefore, to give a complete survey of the field, or, indeed, to supply a text-book on microscopic metallography. As Mr. F. Osmond, of Paris, a distinguished member of our profession, has undertaken to prepare for the Chicago meeting a historic review of the work actually accomplished I need not touch on that branch of the subject; but before entering upon my special theme, it may not be out of place for me to introduce certain explanations, as furnishing reasons for the course 1 have hitherto pursued, and to offer some suggestions for the further development of the methods of microscopic investigation. In microscopic metallography, the examination has to be conducted principally with incident light. Objectives of low power, in which the distance between the front lens and the abject is considerable, are adapted for directly incident light, and in such cases the relatively great depth of the image renders it possible to examine

Jan 1, 1894

C. Le Neve FosteR, Llandudno, Wales: I regret that Prof. Clowes is not here, and also that I cannot produce one of his lamps for inspection. The lamp has but just passed the experimental stage, and is now on sale in England for the purpose of testing it in practice. The only complaint I have heard made against it is the high price. It costs six or seven guineas. Possibly that would not frighten you on this side of the water as much as it does us. R. W. RaymonD, Brooklyn, N. Y.: So far as my obsrvations and experience go, we have not yet reached a state of affairs in the coal-mines of this country which calls for the general use of safetylamps by common miners. Certainly such a practice is to be avoided if possible, on account of the recklessness of miners, which it seems almost impossible to control by warning or discipliue. It is much better, if practicable, to confine the use of safety-lamps to inspectors or " fire-bosses," and not to permit the miners to work or to go where naked lights cannot be carried. In a colliery near Pottsville, Pa., with which I was connected for five years, and which had the reputation of being highly "fiery " (jets of fire-damp bubbled continually through the puddles in the gangways, and a thin sheet of it lay along the roof), we managed to avoid all serious

Jan 1, 1894

By C. Le Neve Foster

The object of this paper is to offer a few suggestions for improving the mining and mineral statistics presented by the governments of various nations on both sides of the Atlantic. At the present time one may fairly complain of' two evils—lack of uniformity in some cases and want of completeness in others. The consequence is that the statistics are either less plain than they might be, or are useless for comparisons, or fail to present a faithful picture of the state of the mining industries of a country. The principal subjects upon which information is desirable are: the amount and value of the mineral products raised and the number of the mining population. With these data it is possible to form an estimate of the importance of the mining industries of any given

Jan 1, 1894

By H. H. Campbell

The following paper deals almost exclusively with the results of practice at the works of the Pennsylvania Steel Company at Steelton, Pa. From the records of the furnaces at this plant, both acid and basic, large and small, are drawn the data for the various demon strations, and on a long and intimate experience with their opera tions are founded many theories and generalizations. It may seem that universal laws should not be built upon a basis so restricted ; but in reality the condition is the strongest guarantee of validity. Each table investigates some- certain variable, and by virtue of the common origin of the factors, we have good ground for assuming the corresponding agents to be equal. The examples may or may not be instances of good practice, and may be open to criticism if regarded solely as exponents of • metallurgical success. But it must be remembered that the lists are not made up of selected specimens, nor are they chosen to show su perior results; they are gathered to investigate, by strict scientific methods, the formula? of the operation. In such work no untoward results should be eliminated, save those which bear upon their face the stamp of experimental error. If the worst members be omitted, then the best must also be omitted. Only by using every available case can an honest attempt be made to deduce a true average. It is recog nized, however, that with the most careful selection it is difficult, if not impossible, to collect data representing universal conditions. In each table the records tell of a special practice, and all conclusions drawn from them are true only within the limits between which the equations have been integrated. Not assuming the prerogative of speaking for American melters in all the opinions herein expressed, nor acting as a camera in por traying an ephemeral state of national metallurgical development,

Jan 1, 1894

[The following discussion, comprising both remarks made at the Chicago meeting and contributions since forwarded to the Secretary, is based upon the following papers, presented at that meeting : "Segregation and its Consequences in Ingots of Steel and Iron," by Alexandre Pourcel, Paris, France. (See p. 105, mans. xxii.) " Microscopic Metallography," by F. Osmond, Paris, France. (See p. 243, Trans. xxii.) " Microstructure of Ingot-Iron in Cast Ingots," by Prof. A. Martens, Berlin, Germany. (See p. 37.) " Microstructure of Steel," by Albert Sauveur, South Chicago, Ill. (See p. -546, Trans. xxii.) "Farther Observations on the Relations Between the Chemical Constitution and Physical Character of Steel," by William R. Webster, Philadelphia, Pa. (See p. 113.) "The Heat-treatment of Steel," by H. M. Howe, Boston. Mass. (See p. 466.) Since all these papers were considered together, no attempt has been made to separate the discussion strictly under the several heads.] William R. Webster, Philadelphia, Pa.: I desire to say that in my first paper (Trans., xxi., 766) the actual ultimates were subtracted from the estimated ultimates, whereas in the paper submitted at this meeting the estimated ultimates are subtracted from the actual, thus giving contrary signs. The latter method corresponds with the direct effect. of low and high finishing-temperatures ; that is, a plus difference indicates low, and a minus difference high, finishing-temperature. I make this explanation to prevent confusion in comparing the two papers. Mr. Sauveur has shown that there is a close relation between the size of the grain and the ultimate strength, and also that the size of the grain depends on the temperature at which the material is finished in rolling, and on the chemical composition of the steel. I have shown that there is a close relation between the chemical

Jan 1, 1894

C. Q. Payne, New York City: Prof. Blake's inference that magnetic separation may be successfully employed upon smithsonite and iron oxide, after a preliminary roasting, is confirmed by the fact that this separation has been carried on with entire success for over a year at the works of the Wythe Lead and Zinc Mine Co., Austinville, Va. The ore mined on this property is a mixture consisting chiefly of galenite, smithsonite and limonite. The crude material is crushed, screened and washed in log washers for the removal of clay, and then jigged for the separation of the galenite. The zinc-and iron-ores are then roasted in reverberatory furnaces, being turned and moved towards the bridge-end of the hearth by manual labor. The roasted material contains from 20 to 26 per cent. of metallic iron. The slight difference in the specific gravities and the friable condition of the ores after roasting prevent the separation of the oxides by means of jigging. It was therefore the practice, previous to the use of magnetic separation, to charge the roasted material directly into the retorts of the zinc-furnaces. The rapid cutting of the retorts under this practice proved a serious inconvenience and expense. In the spring of 1892, the writer built for the Wythe Lead and Zino Mine Co. a magnetic separator which embodied several novel features and which was designed to treat the roasted zinc- and ironoxides. This separator has proved entirely successful for the purpose for which it was designed. During the first nine months of its operation, 1415 tons of 2240 pounds of roasted material were passed through the separator, producing about 675 tons of heads carrying from 50 to 55 per cent, of metallic iron, which are sold to a neighboring blast-furnace. The tailings, which contain the zinc, carry from 4 to 6 per cent. of metallic iron. For magnetizing the iron-ore previous to separating it from the zinc-ore, no change whatever mas made in the form of the reverberatory furnace previously employed. It was found that, by charging near the bridge-end of the hearth, toward the end of the roast-

Jan 1, 1894

By C. A. Stetefeldt

It will be of interest to compare the statistics of the gas-producer plant at Aspen, Colorado (recorded by Mr. W. S. Morse in a paper read at the Montreal Meeting, February, 1893*), with those at the Marsac mill, Park City, Utah, where such a plant was first introduced by the writer in July, 1890. In both mills a Stetefeldt furnace is used for roasting; but the Marsac mill has the old-fidsdshioned revolving dryers, while at Aspen, shelf-dryers are at hand. At Aspen, separate Taylor-producers are provided for the Stetefeldt furnace and the shelf-dryers; at the Marsac mill one 7-foot producer supplies gas to both the furnace and the dryers. Hence, in the latter case, the quantity of coal consumed for each apparatus can only be estimated, based upon the relative consumption of wood before gas was introduced. According to Mr. Wilson's statement, the relative consumption of wood in the Stetefeldt furnace and the revolving dryers was as 3 to 2. In the year 1892 the Marsac mill put through the dryers and the Stetefeldt furnace the following quantities of ore and salt (approximate dry weights) : ore, 22,800 tons; salt, 2262 tons. There were consumed in the Taylor-producer 2,714 tons of Rock Springs coal. We may thus make the comparative estimate as follows: Table Showing the Consumption of Coal per Ton Of Ore and Salt at the Marsac and Aspen Mills. Marsac. Aspen. Difference. Pounds. Pounds. Pounds. Drying ore and salt,.... 86.63 72.22 14.41 Roasting ore,.....142.40 117.44 24.96 Total,.....229.03 189.66 39.37 In making a just comparison a number of items must be taken

Jan 1, 1894

Jan 1, 1894

By O. Bilharz

The rules laid down by Peter von Rittinger in his classic Lehrbuch der Aufbereitungskunde (Berlin, 1867, p. 513) concerning the designing of dressing-works still possess authority for such works and their operation. Nevertheless, some modifications and additions suggested by practice may be of value at the present time. Rittinger says: "I. Choose the apparatus and machines which can be, under the existing con-' ditions, easily constructed and kept in running order!' This rule contemplates the construction of apparatus (mostly of wood) on the spot, with the command of good sbops and especially of good workmen in wood. But in many cases, particularly for the sake of a prompt supply, the construction of apparatus is now left to special manufactories, which pay more attention in the choice of materials to durability and strength than to easy manipulation and erection. Nevertheless, here,as in many other instances, simplicity of construction and solidity of execution are to be recommended. Especially important is the convenient and cheap replaceability of

Jan 1, 1894

By Julian Kennedy

The different types of blowing-engines in use are so numerous that it would not he practicable to consider them all in this paper. I shall therefore only take up briefly a few well known types. The style of blowing-engine most largely used in this country is the vertical engine with air-cylinder above, cross-head between steam and air-cylinders, and two fly-wheels, each having a wrist-pin in its hub, or in one arm. This kind of engine can be built cheaply, takes up little room and is very accessible. Its disadvantages are that the cross-head is liable to break, and that putting the wrist-pins in the wheels tends to set up vibrations in them. It is likely that on the whole this type of engine will continue to be built quite ex tensively. The same general arrangement has also been used to some extent, but not widely, in horizontal engines. The Bethlehem Iron Company has some very fine blowing-engines of this type, except that they are compound, having the one steam-cylinder replaced by two, side by side. These engines are noticeable not only for the very excellent workmanship on them, but also on account of the weight of the pistons being carried by steam-pressnre applied in chambers in the lower side, the steam being supplied to these chambers through the hollow piston-rods. This arrangement, I believe, has always worked well. Another type of engine which has given good satisfaction is the vertical double-engine, having air-cylinders above, steam-cylinders below them, and cranks at bottom, the engines being coupled to cranks on the ends of the shaft, placed at right angles to each other, the shaft carrying the fly-wheel at its center. Engines of this type, except that they are arranged horizontally, are also used to a con siderable extent. These engines avoid the disadvantage of having wrist-pins in the fly-wheels, and also dispense with the long cross head with its attendant disadvantages. They give a very uniform pressure of blast, and are very convenient for starting. The vertical engines of this type, as compared with the horizontal, take up less

Jan 1, 1894

Prof. G. W. MAYNARD, New York City (communication to the Secretary): Prof. Christy, in his admirable paper on "The Growth of American Mining Schools," has overlooked the work done by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in its department of mining and metallurgy. This oversight is naturally due to the fact that the department was, for lack of money, discontinued in 1871. It was organized by the writer in 1867, starting with ten students, who had already completed the first two years of the civil engineering course in the Institute. The course covered two years, specifically devoted to mining, metallurgy and assaying, which, in connection with the two years' drill in the civil engineering department made a four years' course. During the four years of the existence of the department, thirty-five students took the course, of whom twentyfive graduated; and of this number eight have been members of the Institute of Mining Engineers, and the majority of them have occupied high positions in the profession. The equipment of the department was, at that time, second only to that of the Columbia School of Mines. As Prof. Christy has cited other institutions which are not distinctively mining schools, but in which the ruining course was subordinate to other courses, it seems to me that the work in this line carried out by the oldest engineering school in the country may very properly be referred to. In addition to the regular mining course, a special course in assaying was given; and many young men were here prepared for positions in the mines and metallurgical works of the west. PROF. George F. Swain, Boston, Mass.: I have listened with great interest to Prof. Christy's valuable paper, but there is one conclusion at which he arrives that appears to me entirely unjustifiable, and to which I desire to take exception. Prof. Christy finds that of the total wage-earners in the United States in 1880,10.41 per cent. were employed in " trade and transport;" 20.24 per cent. in " manufactures and mechanics," and 1.83

Jan 1, 1894

F. W. Gordon, Philadelphia, Pa.: There can be no objection to the use of cross-compound blowing-engines; and when they are condensing they are susceptible of great range of duty with slight loss in efficiency. By those who have use for the full heat of the waste gases, this type of engine is advantageous; but many furnaces are not so located. The pig-iron is their finished product, and the gases are to be employed only for furnace-use. In this case simple engines are preferable, being less expensive and having less parts to take care of. These reasons determined the introduction of the engines, a sketch of which is distributed at this session. There are three of these engines to furnish blast for two furnaces, for a make of abont 250 tons per day, using 75 per cent. anthracite and 85 per cent. magnetic ores; and they are expected to blow up to twenty pounds pressure per square inch. For blast-furnaces I prefer the single to the coupled engine, except

Jan 1, 1894

By H. A. Keller

(Chicago Meeting, being part of the International Engineering Congress, August, 1803.) Among the important implements of most of our Western lead and copper smelting-works is the slag-cart or buggy, commonly called slag-pot. A large number of such slag-pots being in service, durability, as well as lightness of running, is an important requisite, since repairs, though trifling in each single instance, may amount to a considerable item of cost in the course of a year. They should therefore be seldom necessary and inexpensive when necessary. Light run-

Jan 1, 1894

Jan 1, 1894

T. W. ROBINSON, Pueblo, Colo.: Mr. Potter's review is a striking testimony to the important part played by science in this branch of practice. But, the question arises, In which department has science effected most ? The available raw material, the size of furnaces, the general design and equipment of the plant, and the daily management, are particulars, each of which contributes to the general result, while the effect of each merges into that of the others. The following notes concerning the operations of the furnace-plant of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company (formerly the Colorado Coal and Iron Company), at Pueblo, may throw some light upon the question of their relative importance. This company operates three stacks, and when the plant first came under my observation, about nine months ago, the furnaces were constructed, equipped,and run as stated below: Raw Materials.—The main sources of ore-supply were, as they still are, the Orient and Calumet mines of the company. The Brecce and Morning Glory ores, mentioned below, were formerly brought from Leadville, but are practically now no longer used. The Orient ore is a porous brown hematite, easily reducible in the furnace. The Calumet is a magnetite, very refractory in character, requiring preliminary roasting. Both are fairly uniform in composition. The Breece and Morning Glory are red hematites, resembling in appearance the soft ores of the Vermilion range, Lake Superior. The coke here used is made of coal from the company's mines in southern Colorado, and is distinct from that produced by the company in the western part of the State. The structure is similar to that of Alabama coke. The limestone employed is a calcite. The analyses are given in Table I. I would note, parenthetically, that I know of no section of the country presenting harder conditions for furnace-practice than these materials impose. Results cannot be measured by the more

Jan 1, 1894

By Albert Sauveur

The following propositions and corollaries are intended to present, as concisely as possible, some of the evidences gathered while studying the microstructure of steel. Each proposition is accompanied by photo-micrographs showing the structure of illustrative samples. But it must be understood that the special instances thus chosen for illustration are by no means the only ones on the examination of which the propositions are based. On the contrary, they have been taken almost at random among a great many, in some instances more than a hundred, similar cases. Proposition I. A slow and undisturbed cooling from a temperature x or higher produces crystallization. Plate L, Plate II., Fig. 1, and Plate V., Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show the crystalline structure of several pieces of steel. Plate I. reveals this structure in the center of a slowly-cooled Bessemer ingot, 1.5 feet from the top. Plate II., Pig. 1, is from a small 2-in, square testingot of the same heat, slowly cooled. Plate V., Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show the structure of different parts of steel rails. The original photographs were all magnified 70 diameters, and have been reduced in engraving to 63, or to 55 diameters, as shown in the plates. Proposition 11. Undisturbed cooling from an initial temperature lower than x is not accompanied by crystallization. Plate III., Fig. 5, shows the structure of a piece of rail-steel forged from a white heat until it had fallen to dull-red. The structure is almost amorphous. Practically no crystallization has taken place during the subsequent cooling. Corollary.—Pieces of steel finished at a temperature lower than x do not take a crystalline structure.

Jan 1, 1894

By W. J. Keep

Almost without exception, writers on the subject say that sulphur in cast-iron will cause it to be white, and is in every way injurious. All founders believe that a small amount of sulphur in the fuel will work great damage, and that if any castings crack, or if anything out of the general run occurs, it may be charged to sulphur in the fuel. Fuel rarely contains more than 1 per cent. of sulphur, and if this can produce so marked an effect, one would suppose it an easy matter to introduce sulphur into cast-iron, so as to produce castings containing different desired percentages of sulphur. We have be-

Jan 1, 1894

Jan 1, 1894

By F. O. Blackwell

It is roughly estimated that some three hundred companies in the United States engaged in mining and the kindred arts now employ electricity in their operations. As all these plants have been installed within the last few years, it is evident that mining engineers have been quick to appreciate the great advantages of the use of electricity and adopt it for their many requirements. In

Jan 1, 1894