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By Benj. Lyman

The Institute, in June, 1881, visited Low Moor in Alleghany County, Virginia, on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, seven miles easterly from Covington. Having occasion myself, a few days later, to make a very hasty geological reconnaissance of the iron-ores there, and finding them to be somewhat different in age from what was said to be the opinion of some of those who were there with the Institute, I have thought it worth while to bring the matter up again at the present meeting. According to the opinion quoted, the principal ore-banks belong to the Oriskany sandstone; and that seems to be the view entertained of the same ore in that region by Prof. Wm. B. Rogers in his reports of 1837 and 1838. it is likewise given by Prof. J. L. Campbell in a paper on the Rich-patch iron region in The Virginias for December, 1880 (vol. i., p. 189). A comparison, however, of the section at Low Moor with sections in Pennsylvania, shows clearly that the main ore-bed is the same as that of the bottom part of the Marcellus shales (part of Pa. and Va., No. VIII), a short distance above the top of the Oriskany sandstone (No. VII). The Upper Helderberg limestone is absent at Low Moor, as indeed it is at many places in Pennsylvania, and that is perhaps the reason why the ore has been thought to belong to the Oriskany sandstone. The ores and their accompanying rock-beds, are exposed in three or four folds near the Low Moor iron-mines on Fork Rim and, as described and pointed out by Mr. Geo. T. Wickes, who had in his management of several years' duration become well acquainted with them, are as follows, from above downwards:

Jan 1, 1886

Jan 1, 1886

By C. R. Boyd

The sulphuretted ores of Carroll and Grayson Counties, Va., Ore Knob, Ashe County, N. C., and Ducktown, Tenn., in their general position, are in the prolongation of the same massive deposits. The existence of the extensive ore-bodies has been well-established, not only in a practical way, but by the careful research of a number of men of science, including Dr. T. S. Hunt, Professor Kerr, Dr. Genth, Rogers, Safford, Professor Egleston, Dr. H. E. Colton, the writer, and others, and described in one or more of the volumes of our Transactions, as well as in other publications. The greater quantity of' these ores being pyrrhotite, although much of them carry nonmagnetic disulphide, their reduction on the gronnd will probably lead to better results than an attempt to mine and ship them to distant places; and their use as sulphuric acid producers, to be employed in the cheap manufacture of valuable fertilizers, will be chiefly the subject of this paper. The great deposits of Carroll County, Va., are now nearer to railway transportation than any of the others, being six to eight miles from the Cripple Creek extension of the Norfolk and Western Railway, now being constructed, the grading of which is in an advanced state of completion. I am not able to state what are the present prospects of an early completion of the contemplated line of railway to Ducktown. For a long while, during the time those deposits were mined and reduced for their copper, the works were forty miles from any railway ; and the same may be said of Ore Knob, N. C. The deposits in Carroll and Grayson Counties, Va., being now the most accessible to cheap transportation, will naturally claim the greater part of our attention ; though it may be pertinent to remark, just here, that the ores of Ducktown, like those of Carroll and Grayson, Va., exist in the undecomposed levels as iron and copper sulphurets, much of which is a non-magnetic disulphide, as stated, with occasional exhibits of sulphides, such as covellite, erubescite, etc. There are, now and then, small quantities of silver, lead, and zinc,

Jan 1, 1886

By E. Gilpin

The following notes may serve to bring before your Institute an idea of the iron-ore resources of Pictou County. Enough work has been done to permit an estimate to be formed of their quality and probable extent. As yet the systematic mining and smelting of ironore in Nora Scotia is confined to the operations of the Steel Company of Canada, in Colchester County. Although the locality I am about to describe appears, in many respects, well adapted to iron smelting, etc., no attempts have yet been made to begin work. Nora Scotian capital is more readily turned to lumbering, fishing, and shipping ventures; and such an investment appears equally foreign to the rest of the Dominion. I need not, however, go further into this part of the subject, and can only hope that my notes may prove serviceable as indicating a probable field for future development. The accompanying map shows the position of the harbor of Pictou relative to the coal and iron-ore fields, and to the railways which intersect them. The branch of the Intercolonial Railway, running from Truro to Pictou, forms the western boundary of the iron-ore district, which extends beyond the point where the New Glasgow and Cape Breton Railway crosses the French River. The iron-ore district may be roughly described as a triangle formed by the ore-outcrops and the two railways, the former making the base, and the latter the sides of the triangle, the apex resting on the coal-field at New Glasgow. The drainage of the country is toward the Gulf of St. Lawrence, through the Middle, East, Sutherland's, and French rivers; and the surface is undulatory, seldom exceeding two hundred feet above the sea-level, except in the district lying between Glengarry and the upper waters of the French and Sutherland's rivers, where a maximum height of about five hundred feet is reached at several points. Geologically speaking, the district embraces two divisions, the Carboniferous and the Silurian, the latter resting on strata provisionally considered to be of pre-Cambrian age. As no geological

Jan 1, 1886

By William Kent

A MOST startling and as yet unexplained, failure of steel boilerplates, in two different sets of boilers, is reported in a paper by Arthur J. Maginnis, published in the London Engineer, December 11th, 1885, and reprinted in the American Engineer, January 14th, 1386. The facts of the case, as condensed from Mr. Maginnis's paper and from a number of letters in the subsequent issues of the Engineer, are as follows: 1. The material used for two different sets of boilers on two different steamers, each set consisting of three circular boilers with horizontal steam-chests, passed all tests required by the Board of Trade

Jan 1, 1886

By F. N. Pease, C. B. Dudley

Those who have worked a good deal on the chemistry of pig-irons of which the physical properties were known, cannot fail to have been struck by the remarkable want of relation between the physical properties of different samples, and the ultimate chemical composition. It is very well known among foundrymen that irons which will give say 4 inch of chill, and are, therefore, approximately the same in chemical composition, are very far apart, many times, in their physical properties. The foundryman's tests for strength are, of

Jan 1, 1886

By Robert W. Hunt

Delays in the completion of the alterations to the plant at the works of Messrs. Oliver Bros. and Phillips, in Pittsburgh, coupled with the increased demand for metal made from regular Bessemer pig, placing the firm many hundreds of tons behind in their deliveries, prevented Mr. Henry W. Oliver, Jr., from redeeming his promise to place his works at my disposal for further tests of high-phosphorus irons, until May 5th. Upon that date, I assumed charge of the operations in his steel-plant. Mr. Oliver had purchased Neshannock pig as a basis for a supply of phosphorus. My information is to the effect that this iron is made from low-grade Lake Superior ores and mill-cinder, the latter "ore" being utilized to about 40 per cent. of the total mixture. At all events the pig had quite as much phosphorus, and in as varying quantities, as the most exacting could desire. My experiments of last fall had well satisfied me as to the effect of from 0.35 to 0.55 per cent. of phosphorus in the Clapp Griffiths metal. Hence at this time my first trials were directed to

Jan 1, 1886

By Secretary

The two papers by Mr. C. M. Rolker, " Notes on Certain IronOre Deposits in Colorado," and "Notes on the Leadville OreDeposits," printed at pages 266 and 273 of this volume, were put to press (owing to the author's absence from the country) without final revision by him. The following corrections are thus made necessary: On page 272, line 13 should read, "respectively 12 and 4 feet" (instead of 12 and 14). On the same page, line 6 from the bottom should read, " the remaining 360 feet" (instead of 320). On page 284, lines 23 and 21 should read, " 111 some places, the dolomite sand roof has remained thicker; and in isolated parts of the bed no replacement has occurred."

Jan 1, 1886

By B. F. Fackenthall

The Durham Iron Works of Messrs. Cooper & Hewitt, near Riegelsville, Pa., occupy a site which has been almost continuously the scene of iron-manufacturing industry since 1727. Doubtless if Anthony Morris and his thirteen associates, who in that year erected a blast-furnace on the Durham Creek, a short distance above where the Durham Iron Works now stands, could have had a vision of the improved and enlarged apparatus of their successors, they would have been not less astonished by the huge stack, the hot-blast ovens, and the blowing-engines of the modern blast-furnace, than by the railroad which now follows the bank of the river on which their clumsy " Durham boats " once floated pig-iron to Philadelphia. In one particular, posterity must confess their snperiority. We are told that in November, 1728, they shipped three tons of Durham iron to England. The proprietors of the Durham Iron Works are not now shipping iron to England. The present Durham furnace was built (in place of two smaller ones) in 1874 and 1875, and made its first blast in 1876. A description of it, with other works of the same proprietors, at Trenton, N. J., by A. L. Holley and Lenox Smith, was published in London Engineering for January 31st, and February 21st, 1879. Since that time, a number of improvements, dictated by experience, have been made in the details of the furnace and fittings; and the recent roilclusion of a long and successful blast presents a convenient opportunity for a description of the works and a statement of the results of practice. The accompanying drawings will show the general arrangement of the works. The furnace, Plate I., Figs. 1 and 2, is 75 feet high by 19 feet bosh. The hearth is 11 feet 4 inches in diameter, with seven tuyeres 5 feet 6 inches above hearth-line. The tuyeres project 9 inches into the furnace, making the interior tuyere-circle 9 feet 10 inches in diameter. The front is a modification of Luermaun's

Jan 1, 1886

Jan 1, 1886

Jan 1, 1886

By E. V. d’Invilliers

The position of these magnetic ore-mines, with reference to the county-seat, is shown in Fig. 1. They are situated on the south margin of the Great Valley, five miles south of Lebanon, and about midway between Reading on the Schuylkill River and Harrisburg on the Susquehanna River, in three prominent, contiguous hills, standing in front of the Mesozoic red shale arid sandstone hill country of northern Lancaster and southern Lebanon counties, and overlooking the great limestone plain to the north. The three hills, named respectively Big, Middle, and Grassy Hills, and separated from each other by two branches of Furnace Creek, range in a nearly east and west direction for a distance of about one mile. Their summits are respectively 870, 715, and 700 feet above tide. The railroad line opposite the base of Middle Hill is 575 feet above tide at Cornwall and 471 feet at Lebauon. These features are all distinctly illustrated in the contour-line map accompanying this paper, but are made still more clear in the relief. map, Fig. 2, comprising, as it does, about six square miles of territory contiguous to the ore-mines. This is a photographic plate of a model made by Mr. A. E. Lehman, from surveys of my own and Mr. W. F. Shunk. The model was built in layers of cardboard, each layer representing one 10-foot contour-carve line. The scale was the same as the original map, 400 feet= 1 inch, without any vertical exaggeration. The lowest contour-line is 530 feet above ocean level; the highest, 1075 feet. The center of the model was made the focusing-point of the view, which was taken—according to scale—51/2 miles north from and 24 miles above the focusing-point, looking southward. When first mined in the last century these hills exhibited smoothlyrounded surfaces, composed of soft weathered ore of great parity, beneath which lay the great mass of hard ore, constituting the whole

Jan 1, 1886

By George S. Miller

Now that low-carbon steel is manufactured successfully in large quantities by the Bessemer process, and threatens to displace wroughtiron for nearly all purposes, it becomes interesting to find how its Specific gravity compares with that of wrought-iron. The general name "steel" is retained in this paper to designate that metal made by the Bessemer process, which might be more properly called " ingot iron." But the former name seems to be quite firmly established in the iron trade. This steel offers many inducements to the manufacturer of architectural iron, by reason of its hornogencity, and the large masses in which it may be readily moulded. The steel from which these determinations have been made, was produced in four-ton heats and cast into ingots of about 3100 Ibs. weight, having an average section 14'' by 14". These ingots were rolled in a blooming-mill to a section about 24" by 14", cut into slabs and rolled in a plate-mill to a plate .065" to .165" thick, and about 1411 in width. The specific gravity was obtained from pieces of this plate. The metal showed by analysis .10 to .12 per cent. carbon,.33 to .45 manganese,.060 to .072 sulphur,.075 to .082 phosphorus, and .010 silicon. The samples were not annealed, but were brought to a bright surface with a file. All figures given are averages of not less than three determinations on separate pieces from the same plate. The variation in the figures from which the averages were made in no case exceeded .015.

Jan 1, 1886

By Henry S. Poole

This field is geologically of much interest. It is small, hut with some seams of unusual thickness, the main one being as much as thirty-eight feet thick. The quality of the seams, as also of the associated beds of shale and sandstone, in several instances changes to a remarkable degree within short, distances. The strata dip at inclinations that carry the coal to depths of 3000 feet or more; heavy faults cut up the district, and the New Glasgow conglomerate, of disputed age, separates it from the Upper Carboniferous measures, in which no seams of workable thickness are known. This coal-field offers to the geologist much ground for study and peculation. The commercial value of the field is affected by its restricted area, the varied quality of its coal, and its advantageous position in the mainland, with railway connection and home markets, offset by the physical difficulties which make the cost of production high. It has been so long a habit with us to speak of our resources of coal as boundless, that any adverse comments, or insinuations that avoidable loss in working is a national loss, hare hitherto fallen on idle ears. While it is not my purpose to underrate the riches we do possess, yet I deem that no good end is served by echoing exaggerated estimates which encourage a national indifference to wasteful

Jan 1, 1886

By Philip W. Moen

It is with sincere regret that the members of the Institute will have heard of the death, on March 17th last, at Terre Haute, Ind., of Professor Charles 0. Thompson, A.M., Ph.D., President of the Rose Polytechnic Institute of that city, and for many years pre viously the head of the Worcester County (Mass.) Free Institute of Industrial Science, and in 1881 and 1882 one of the managers of this society. To us he was chiefly known by the excellent character of the work which he had performed, as a recognized leader among the technical educators of the country. He was a constant, and interested atten dant at our meetings, seeking to acquaint himself not less with all that was noteworthy in the practical attainments and developments of the branches of industry represented by our membership, than with such such facts as would be of service to him in shaping or guiding a wise course of instruction in the institutions of which he had charge. We shall not soon forget him, or the genial courtesy of his manner, or his ready words and thoughtful comments. Charles Oliver Thompson was born September 25th, 1836, at East Windsor Hill, Conn., where his father, Rev. William Thomp son, D.D., was professor in the Connecticut Theological Seminary, since removed to Hartford. The son was fitted for college under the late Paul A. Chadbourne, and entered Dartmouth College in 1854. He was graduated in 1858 with honors. In all the studies of his course he had maintained a high rank, but showed marked proficiency in chemistry and mechanical philosophy. In 1861 he received the degree of A.M., followed by that of Ph.D. from his own college in 1879, and from Williams in 1880. In September, 1858, the year of his graduation, he became principal of the Peacham Academy, Vt., remaining in that position until November of 1864, though during that period he devoted several months to practical work as a surveyor and civil engineer. Thus his experiences were developing the qualities which, later on, fitted him to carry out so successfully the plans of the thoughtful projectors of a new system of technical education, along a path before untrodden, but which the test of time and the indisputable proof of success have shown to be both wise and fruitful.

Jan 1, 1886

By Richard P. Rothwell

The device to which I desire to call the attention of the members of the Institute consists of a water-tight caisson, which is connected By a stuffing-box with the tube to be laid, and the caisson is pushed forward with hydraulic jacks set against the end of the tube. The tube is of hard white iron, cast in chills in segments. These segments are carried from shore through the tube itself, in which a track is laid as the work progresses, and the segments are bolted together in the caisson, where there is ample room to work and proper appliances for handling heavy weights. As each segment is bolted on, the jacks are set against its forward end, and when the whole ring is complete, the caisson is pushed forward by the jacks, a trench having been dredged out in front of it, or, in very loose ground, jets of water under a heavy pressure can be thrown out to loosen the ground in front of the caisson. The direction in which the caisson is pushed is completely under control, and both the caisson and the tube are loaded to the amount necessary to overcome their buoyancy. I understand that Mr. H. H. Hall, of New York, the inventor, is negotiating for the construction of a 16-foot tunnel of this kind across the Straits of' Northumberland, between Prince Edward Island and the main-land, and for tunnels in several other places. 4 One of the most interesting uses of this system is in laying water mains out into lakes. The work can be carried on without inter-

Jan 1, 1886

By R. W. Raymond

The name of Oswald J. Heinrich first appears among the members of the Institute in the first volume of its Transactions, which records that lie was elected at the Boston meeting, in February, 1873. That name has stood ever since upon our catalogue of active members. It has appeared frequently in the reports of our debates. It has been attached to many interesting and important professional papers. Henceforward it must hold a place, silent but significant, ill the pathetic lengthening list of our departed. From a present

Jan 1, 1886

By John Birkinbine

Much has been contributed to the Transactions of the Institute concerning the construction and operation of American blast-furnares ; but the following compilation is offered as possibly furnishing additional information upon the general features, dimensions, locations, capacities, etc., of the blast-furnaces of the United States; while, incidentally, the ores upon which they rely are noted in a general way. The paper is presented chiefly as a compilation, and the figures given are selections from most reliable sources, or averages calculated from official statistics, placed for convenient reference, with a view of assisting those who consult the Transactions in determining the present relative merits and importance of various sections of the country. The scope of the paper has been restricted to as few topics as possible, and all the details of special plants, or notable outputs have been ignored. While every effort has been made to give correct figures and data, the changes which are constantly taking place in the iron-producing industry, will, undoubtedly, by the time the paper is in print, develop some errors. It is difficult to determine which of the blast-furnace plants of the country should or should not be considered as upon the active list. A number which have not been in operation for years are still reported as active, some of which will scarcely be put in blast again, and others are handicapped so that they can only operate in times of abnormal profits. It is therefore scarcely probable that there are over 600 blast-furnaces in the United States which can properly be considered as active; but so many considerations affect the various plants, that, it being impossible to determine the exact number, I have relied upon the annual reports presented to the American Iron and Steel Association. Concerning the number of plants which could be stricken from the list, the Secretary of this Association says: "In January last (1885) we enumerated 669 furnaces, which included many stacks which had not been in blast for a very long time, and others which could not be operated except during short periods of exceedingly high prices for pig iron. We have gone over this list very carefully and have eliminated 10 anthracite, 19 bituminous, vol. xiv.—36

Jan 1, 1886

By W. M. Brown

SEQUACHEE Valley includes portions of the counties of Marion, Sequachee, Bledsoe and Cumberland. It extends in a general direction parallel with the Great Valley of East Tennessee, some 75 miles northward from the Alabama state line. It is separated from the Valley of East Tennessee by a mountain arm about a dozen miles wide, known as Wallen's or Walden's Ridge. The genesis of the valley, geologically speaking, is simple. It is an erosion-valley along the axis of an anticlinal. The point of the wedge remains in a row of low "saw-tooth" hills, running up the center of the valley. These hills are of Lower Silurian age, and consist of Trenton limestone, covered and protected in some measure by chert. Walls of Carboniferous age form the inclosing mountains on either side; whilst a magnificent arch of Hudson River, Niagara, Hamilton and Subcarboniferous strata closes the valley at the

Jan 1, 1886

By Alfred F. Brainerd

A pure white sand, in a large deposit, favorably located with regard to water and railroad transportation, is very desirable for metallurgical and manufacturing purposes. Such a deposit occurs

Jan 1, 1886