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By R. R. Sayers

THE South African Mining and Engineering Journal recently pointed out that no satisfactory solution of the question of compensation for silicosis can be arrived at by placing further liability of an inequitable nature upon the mines. There are at present 35 scheduled mines liable to contribute to the annual levy of $800,000 and provide for the net outstanding liability of $6,400,000. Several of these mines have, as yet, not been able to set aside sufficient funds against their out- standing liability to the Compensation Fund. The gold producers declare that the gold mining industry today is passing its zenith, and that the production of gold will decline, with a consequent lessening of the spending power of the mines, which in about ten years will be reduced to a great extent unless encouragement is given for the opening of new mines. It is during this period of decline that the mines will be required to meet the large burden already created by miners' phthisis. In England the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1925, was extended to industries involving exposure to asbestos dust.

Jan 1, 1931

By Charles W. Frey

COMPRESSED air is one of the most useful tools that the mine operator has at his disposal. It is clean, nontoxic, easily handled, and can be distributed anywhere that a man can drag a length of rubber hose. Without it a great deal of drilling would still be a laborious hand process, and although the John Henry of legendary fame could beat a mechanical drill, John Henrys are few and far between, and in the long run the air drill is the victor. As a general rule, horizontal compressors are lubricated by mechanical lubricators, which furnish oil to the cylinder walls, whereas vertical units are splash lubricated. In most horizontal machines oil is introduced at the top center of the piston, from which point it can run down and lubricate the rest of the piston. Some large units introduce oil at more than one point on the cylinder wall, the necessity for this and the number of points of introduction depending upon the size of the cylinder.

Jan 1, 1938

"The Garfield plant of the American Smelting & Refining Company is situated about seventeen miles west of Salt Lake City, on the Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad, and has freight service by the Denver & Rio Grande Western, Western Pacific and Bingham & Garfield Railways.The site lies between the picturesque Great Salt Lake, with its mountain islands, and the northern point of the Oquirrh Range, which forms the western boundary of the Salt Lake Valley.The location includes several hundred acres of land rising from the southern shore of the lake, selected on account of its adaptability to the economical handling of materials by gravity methods.The smelter is a custom smelter, treating copper ores and concentrates produced in Utah and adjoining states.The ores treated consist mainly of oxides from the Tintic and Park City Districts, sulphides from Bingham District, and concentrates from the mills of the Utah Copper Company, from mills in California, and copper precipitates from the Ohio Copper Company. The last product comes from low grade ores of Bingham Canyon.The following figures represent approximately the daily consumption of materials:Ores and Concentrates…2,700 tonsLime sand…100 ""Coal…350 ""Oil for Roasters…240 Bbls."

Jan 1, 1925

By Donald B. Gillies

TO me a graduating class of engineers constitutes one ' of the finest inspirations I can imagine. You have finished your four- year scholastic career and are starting out in competition with thou- sands of other young men from other universities to make your mark. Be- cause of your training you men are such an essential part of our present- day civilization that a great weight of responsibility rests on your shoulders, especially at this time, for this is an engineering era. Today, it is the engineer who dreams the dreams and makes our civilization better. It's the engineer who carries those dreams into realization and fulfillment. No matter where we go in business and industry, we find- engineers in key positions, charged with great responsibilities.

Jan 1, 1939

William R. Walker, assistant to the president of the U. S. Steel Corpn., died at St. Luke's Hospital, New York, on Dec. 20, 1922. He was born at LaPort, Ind., Nov. 26, 1857, and his whole career has been closely identified with the iron and steel industry. His first employment was with the North Chicago Rolling Mill Co., Chicago; then he was appointed chemist for the Crown Point Iron Co., at Crown Point, N. Y.; and later he was works superintendent for Spang, Chalfant & Co., of Pittsburgh. He was early associated with Robert Forsyth, the well-known engineer who constructed the South Chicago works of the North Chicago Rolling Mill Company. Prior to 1890, Mr. Walker was works manager for the Union Steel Co., and upon organization of the Illinois Steel Co. he became general manager of its South Chicago works. At the time of the formation of the U. S. Steel Corpn., in 1901, he was appointed assistant to the president, which position he held until the time of his death. Through the technical staffs and committees of the Steel Corpora tion, Mr. Walker had an excellent opportunity to study and direct the development of mechanical methods for coal mining, coal washing, beehive coking, including the collection and recovery of its byproducts, and to interest himself in byproduct coke ovens, and the design and operation of processes for the coking of special coal mixtures. He also brought his experience to bear on the design, construction and operation of the blast furnace and its appurtenances, as well as the bessemer, open-hearth and electric steel processes. Incidentally, he was interested in microscopy and metallography, and was familiar with the manufacture of products related to the iron and steel industry, such as tin, zinc, sulfuric acid and many other substances. Mr. Walker had the remarkable faculty of being able to discuss and conduct investigations in practically any technical branch of the ferrous industry. In the words of President James A. Farrell, "Mr. Wdker was a man of keen mental attainments and possessed an exceptional knowledge of the iron and steel industry, from both the scientific and the practical

Jan 1, 1923

Levi Holbrook was born in Westboro, Mass., March 7, 1836. He was a descendant of John Holbrook, who came from England in 1660 and settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Mr. Holbrook was prepared for college at Williston Seminary, East-hampton, Mass., and after one year spent in the West, he entered Yale. He was a, member of Phi Beta Kappa and of Linonia. During the six months following his graduation he was in Boston, under medical treatment for his cyes; then he took a horseback trip across the Rocky Mountains to the Columbia River and back, and resided in Danville, Va., for a time. From 1860 to 1863, as his eyes permitted, he was a student of modern languages and literature in Cambridge, Mass., part of the time being a resident graduate at Harvard University. Finally, however, he was obliged to abandon the idea of a literary life and from 1864 to 1867 he was engaged in financial business in Boston. The following year, he spent in New York, and then traveled for a year in Europe, Egypt and Asia Minor. In 1871, he returned to New York City. Mr. Holbrook was a member of the New England Historic Gcncalogical Society, the Society of Colonial Wars, and the Sons of the Revolution, was registrar general of the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America from 1915 to 1920, and had been governor of the New York society of that order. He was also a member of the American Fine Arts Society, the Order of the Cincinnati, the American Geographical Society (of which he was a councillor and secretary). and the Geographical Society of America. He joined the American Institute of Mining Engineers in 1878, and served as manager from 1895 to 1897. Mr. Holbrook died on July 26, 1922, from organic heart trouble, at his residence in Center Harbor, N. H. He was married Dec. 27, 1871, in Newark, N. Y., to Viola, daughter of John A, and Elizabeth (Failing)Vowers, who died on Sept. 10, less than six weeks after her husband. His two children, Clark Holbrook of Red Bank, N. J., and Mrs. Julian P. Smith, survive him

Jan 1, 1923

Levi Holbrook was born in Westboro, Mass., March 7, 1836. He was a descendant of John Holbrook, who came from England in 1660 and settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Mr. Holbrook was prepared for college at Williston Seminary, East-hampton, Mass., and after one year spent in the West, he entered Yale. He was a, member of Phi Beta Kappa and of Linonia. During the six months following his graduation he was in Boston, under medical treatment for his cyes; then he took a horseback trip across the Rocky Mountains to the Columbia River and back, and resided in Danville, Va., for a time. From 1860 to 1863, as his eyes permitted, he was a student of modern languages and literature in Cambridge, Mass., part of the time being a resident graduate at Harvard University. Finally, however, he was obliged to abandon the idea of a literary life and from 1864 to 1867 he was engaged in financial business in Boston. The following year, he spent in New York, and then traveled for a year in Europe, Egypt and Asia Minor. In 1871, he returned to New York City. Mr. Holbrook was a member of the New England Historic Gcncalogical Society, the Society of Colonial Wars, and the Sons of the Revolution, was registrar general of the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America from 1915 to 1920, and had been governor of the New York society of that order. He was also a member of the American Fine Arts Society, the Order of the Cincinnati, the American Geographical Society (of which he was a councillor and secretary). and the Geographical Society of America. He joined the American Institute of Mining Engineers in 1878, and served as manager from 1895 to 1897. Mr. Holbrook died on July 26, 1922, from organic heart trouble, at his residence in Center Harbor, N. H. He was married Dec. 27, 1871, in Newark, N. Y., to Viola, daughter of John A, and Elizabeth (Failing)Vowers, who died on Sept. 10, less than six weeks after her husband. His two children, Clark Holbrook of Red Bank, N. J., and Mrs. Julian P. Smith, survive him

Jan 1, 1923

The Secretary : The work of Mr. A. E. Outerbridge, Jr., of Philadelphia, first made known in his paper on " The Mobility of Molecules of Cast-Iron," read at the Pittsburgh Meeting of the Institute, in February, 1896, has been reviewed by the Committee on Science and the Arts of the Franklin Institute, whose report, dated May 5, 1897, is accompanied with a table of tests made by the Committee, and amply confirming the statements of Mr. Outerbridge. Concerning the originality and novelty of his investigation, the Committee says: " The fact that a certain molecular change takes place in cast-iron in the course of time has been known and recognized by many persons for a long time, and that this change tends to relieve the internal strains and render the casting tougher has often been noticed and acted on, although in a very crude way; but, so far as the sub-committee has been able to learn, Mr. Outerbridge has been the first to make a careful study of this, and to note that the change may be hastened by impact, and the whole effect produced in a short time, and also to make a scientific study of the phenomenon. We believe great credit is due him for the initial observation and the careful work dependent thereon. The results were first given to the public in a paper read before the American Institute of Mining Engineers, on February 20, 1896. This aroused a wide-spread interest and discussion among users of cast-iron, and so far as the sub-committee has been able to determine, it has not been shown that anyone, either in this country or abroad, has antedated Mr. Outerbridge in his work in this line. The Franklin Institute therefore recommends the award to him of the John Scott Legacy Premium and Medal." This report has not been published, hut I have had the opportunity to read it in manuscript. The table of testa accompanying it comprises 91 tests of " rumbled" and an equal number of " not rumbled" companion-bars of cast-iron, 26 by 2 by

Jan 1, 1898

William R. Walker, assistant to the president of the U. S. Steel Corpn., died at St. Luke's Hospital, New York, on Dec. 20, 1922. He was born at LaPort, Ind., Nov. 26, 1857, and his whole career has been closely identified with the iron and steel industry. His first employment was with the North Chicago Rolling Mill Co., Chicago; then he was appointed chemist for the Crown Point Iron Co., at Crown Point, N. Y.; and later he was works superintendent for Spang, Chalfant & Co., of Pittsburgh. He was early associated with Robert Forsyth, the well-known engineer who constructed the South Chicago works of the North Chicago Rolling Mill Company. Prior to 1890, Mr. Walker was works manager for the Union Steel Co., and upon organization of the Illinois Steel Co. he became general manager of its South Chicago works. At the time of the formation of the U. S. Steel Corpn., in 1901, he was appointed assistant to the president, which position he held until the time of his death. Through the technical staffs and committees of the Steel Corpora tion, Mr. Walker had an excellent opportunity to study and direct the development of mechanical methods for coal mining, coal washing, beehive coking, including the collection and recovery of its byproducts, and to interest himself in byproduct coke ovens, and the design and operation of processes for the coking of special coal mixtures. He also brought his experience to bear on the design, construction and operation of the blast furnace and its appurtenances, as well as the bessemer, open-hearth and electric steel processes. Incidentally, he was interested in microscopy and metallography, and was familiar with the manufacture of products related to the iron and steel industry, such as tin, zinc, sulfuric acid and many other substances. Mr. Walker had the remarkable faculty of being able to discuss and conduct investigations in practically any technical branch of the ferrous industry. In the words of President James A. Farrell, "Mr. Wdker was a man of keen mental attainments and possessed an exceptional knowledge of the iron and steel industry, from both the scientific and the practical

Jan 1, 1923

By H. J. Struth

The benefits of proration of oil production were perhaps more concretely realized in 1932 than at any time since the oil industry adopted nation-wide production control. Reduced output of crude petroleum, which brought the daily average of the United States down to approximately 2,000,000 bbl. from a peak in 1931 of more than 2,600,000, had a telling effect on the trend of oil prices. Mid-Continent crude was advanced in price from 776, for 36-gravity oil, to $1.04 a barrel. California crude, of 26-gravity at Signal Hill, moved forward from 736 to 976 a barrel. Pennsylvania crude, the only exception to the upward trend, rose in price from $1.82 per barrel to $2.02, only to react to $1.72. This was due to local conditions which necessitated an adjustment to overcome competition from other areas of the United States. East Texas continued to exert a far-reaching influence on the crude and gasoline market during 1932. Despite the fact that oil prices were advanced in most fields, large quantities of oil were produced in East Texas in violation of state proration orders, and sold in the market at prices considerably below official postings. This created competitive conditions in the gasoline market that were felt by all refining centers of the United States. The quantity of gasoline produced from cheap East Texas crude was not large, but the volume was sufficient to influence prices in practically all sections of the country. Thus, while the industry's' economic situation showed visible improvement statistically, the unreported and unseen statistics originating in East Texas proved to be an insurmountable obstacle to the economic betterment that was otherwise apparently justified. Somewhat surprising to many was the fact that gasoline consumption was maintained within 10 per cent of the preceding year. Domestic consumption showed only a net decline under 1931 of about 8.5 per cent; exports dropped in volume to the extent of about 23 per cent. As a matter of fact, domestic gasoline consumption was only about 1.4 per cent less than it was in the predepression year of 1929. Exports, however,

Jan 1, 1933

By Theodore Swann

DURING recent years, there has been a material increase in the use of ferrophosphorus in the steel industry. It has been observed, when rolling sheets, that those made of Southern iron did not have to be rolled at as high a temperature as the others and, consequently, did not stick together. The reason was found to be the phosphorus content of Southern iron. It was therefore thought that an addition of phosphorus to sheet steel of other than Southern origin would give the same result as the use of Southern iron. At first, this addition was made by intro¬ducing phosphate rock in the blast furnace and reducing it together with the iron ore; but, because of the necessity for only small quantities of this grade of iron, the process was not satisfactory. The manufacture of ferrophosphorus was then introduced, so that additions might be made to the open-hearth furnace or ladle. Ferrophosphorus was first manufactured in the blast furnace. This method, however, can only economically produce a grade of product up to about 20 per cent. To produce a higher grade, it would be necessary to charge a larger proportion of phosphate-bearing material; and as the rate of absorption by the iron is low, there would be an increased loss of phosphorus oxides. This feature makes the production of a higher grade ferrophosphorus in the blast furnace uneconomical. The use of high-grade ferrophosphorus in the steel requires a smaller addition and involves, besides the economies in handling, an additional economy in transportation. The alloy with a higher percentage than 20 per cent. can be made only in the electric furnace. In the ordinary operation of the electric furnace in the production of ferrophosphorus, an alloy may be produced containing 26 per cent. phosphorus; this is the limit, for it does not seem possible to produce a higher phosphorus alloy even if large excesses of phosphatic materials are used. The reasons for the difficulty in raising this percentage of phosphorus are not known. The compounds Fe3P, containing 15.6 per cent., and Fe2P, containing 21.7 per cent. phosphorus, have been studied and it appears as if the alloy produced, containing percentages of

Jan 10, 1924

By Victor L. Stevens

The Oso tunnel is one of three tunnels located on the San Juan-Chama Project in south-central Colorado. The purpose of the tunnel is to carry water from the upper San Juan watershed through the Continental Divide into the Rio Grande watershed. The Oso tunnel contract was awarded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to a joint venture of Boyles Brothers Drilling Co., Gibbons & Reed Co., and Cimco in February 1966. The Oso tunnel is 26,660 ft long and has a rock section of 10 ft, 2 in. with a lined diameter of 8 ft circular. The main portion of the rock formation was in the Lewis shale. This formation is quite consistent in hardness and texture with exception of localized limestone concretions and sandy siltstone inclusions. The job was bid on the basis of using a James S. Robbins mole of the P221 series. The decision for using a mole was predicated on the geology and the experience of the same joint venture on the adjoining Azotea tunnel where a mole was successfully used. The Robbins P221 series mole is capable of cutting from 9 ft, 11 in. to a 10 ft, 7 in. diam without any major change. It is 40 ft long and weighs 60 tons. The cutting head has 22 disk-type cutters and one center pilot (standard 9 7/8 -in.) tricone bit. The head is powered by four 75 hp electric motors. Gripper pads at about the midway point on each side of the machine are pushed into the tunnel ribs and thrust-cylinders in front of each gripper apply pressure to the face as the head rotates. The regripping cycle is 3 ft and then the grippers are retracted and advanced. Each cutter on the perimeter of the head is followed by a bucket which scoops up the cut material, almost in the same manner as a water wheel, and dumps it into a conveyor situated along the top of the mole. The muck from the mole conveyor is dumped into a gantry-type conveyor. The gantry conveyor is 350 ft long and is pulled

Jan 1, 1970

but, returning to South Africa, for the next two years he was assistant general manager of the Simmer Deep Gold Mining Co., at Johannesburg. In June, 1911, he returned to New Zealand as general manager and consulting engineer for the Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand, at Reefton, which position he held at the time of his admission to the 1nstitute in 1914. Early in September, 1915, he left New Zealand for active service in France. Corporal Sheppard B. Gordy Sheppard B. Gordy, born in Ansonia, Conn., in 1889, graduated from the Sheffield Scientific School in 1910 and with the degree of E. M. in 1912. He entered the employ of the Braden Copper Co. immediately on his graduation and remained with this company four years, working up through the various grades to assistant foreman and foreman to one of the individual mines. The last year he was in its employ, he acted as general mine foreman. He was for a short time with the Chile Exploration Co. and then went with the Andes Exploration Co. (Anaconda) and remained with the latter, doing mine exploration and development work, until he sailed for home in June, 1918, to give a more personal and active service to his country in her need. He declined a tender of induction into an officers' training camp, at the urgent request of Professor McClelland supplemented by Mr. Potter, because they demonstrated to his satisfaction that he could give more valuable service to his country in helping out with the aircraft production. Being within the draft age, in order to carry out this plan, it was necessary for him to be called by his Local Board and sent to camp. This call came Aug. 26. Two weeks before that time he had gone to Dayton, Ohio, to begin the study of aircraft production, and was sent by the Dayton Board to Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio, where he died of pneumonia on Oct. 9. Lieutenant Thomas Clarence Gorman Thomas C. Gorman, a lieutenant in the Second Tunnelling Company of the Canadian Engineers, was killed in France on Mar. 18, 1918. He was resting in his sleeping hut and was in the act of writing a letter when a bursting shell killed him.

Jan 1, 1920

but, returning to South Africa, for the next two years he was assistant general manager of the Simmer Deep Gold Mining Co., at Johannesburg. In June, 1911, he returned to New Zealand as general manager and consulting engineer for the Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand, at Reefton, which position he held at the time of his admission to the Institute in 1914. Early in September, 1915, he left New Zealand for active service in France. Corporal Sheppard B. Gordy Sheppard B. Gordy, born in Ansonia, Conn., in 1889, graduated from the Sheffield Scientific School in 1910 and with the degree of E. M. in 1912. He entered the employ of the Braden Copper Co. immediately on his graduation and remained with this company four years, working up through the various grades to assistant foreman and foreman to one of the individual mines. The last year he was in its employ, he acted as general mine foreman. He was for a short time with the Chile Exploration Co. and then went with the Andes Exploration Co. (Anaconda) and remained with the latter, doing mine exploration and development work, until he sailed for home in June, 1918, to give a more personal and active service to his country in her need. He declined a tender of induction into an officers' training camp, at the urgent request of Professor McClelland supplemented by Mr. Potter, because they demonstrated to his satisfaction that he could give more valuable service to his country in helping out with the aircraft production. Being within the draft age, in order to carry out this plan, it was necessary for him to be called by his Local Board and sent to camp. This call came Aug. 26. Two weeks before that time he had gone to Dayton, Ohio, to begin the study of aircraft production, and was sent by the Dayton Board to Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio, where he died of pneumonia on Oct. 9. Lieutenant Thomas Clarence Gorman Thomas C. Gorman, a lieutenant in the Second Tunnelling Company of the Canadian Engineers, was killed in France on Mar. 18, 1918. He was resting in his sleeping hut and was in the act of writing a letter when a bursting shell killed him.

Jan 1, 1920

THE first session was held in the rooms of the American Philosophical Society, on Tuesday evening, February 26th. The President, Dr. T. Sterry Hunt, called the meeting to order, and after a few introductory remarks concerning the importance of theoretical and speculative science, which often involves principles of the highest economic value, and, more than all that, serves to enlarge our conceptions of the universe, and ennoble us, by the cultivation which it affords to our most exalted faculties, proceeded to discuss some points in the chemistry of the atmosphere. It is known that there is in the crust of the earth a great amount of oxidized carbon, not only in the shape of coal, but also in the graphite or plumbago of the crystalline rocks, in the various bituminous shales or pyroschists, which are found in all succeeding rock-formations, and also in the forms of bitumen and petroleum. All the analogies of nature lead us to conclude that these various carbonaceous substances have had an organic origin, and have been generated by the deoxidation of carbonic acid, a process effected by the growing plant, and attended with the liberation of oxygen. He showed that the carbon of a layer of coal covering the whole earth's surface to the thickness of one meter, would, in its production from carbonic dioxide, liberate an amount of oxygen equal to that now present in our atmosphere. But bituminous coal contains also a large amount of hydrogen, derived from the deoxidation of water, which implies the liberation of a farther portion of oxygen. The amount from this latter source would equal, for the various coals and asphalts, from one-eighth to one-fourth, and, for the petroleums, one-half of that set free in the deoxidation of the carbon which these hydrocarbonaceous bodies contain. From what we know of the composition of the stratified rocks, it is probable that they include an amount of deoxidized carbon and hydrogen many times greater than that contained in a layer of coal one meter in thickness, and, consequently, that the disengaged oxygen in past ages must have far exceeded that now present in our atmosphere. To this must be added

Jan 1, 1878

By E. H. Wells, A. Andreas

New Mexico retained its position as the sixth largest oil-producing state for the year 1937 with a total production of 38,484,630 bbl. This was an increase of 11,680,184 bbl. over the 1936 production of 26,804,446 bbl., or a gain of 43 per cent. The production for Lea County during 1937 was 35,961,056 bbl.; for Eddy County, 2,136,251 bbl.; and for northwestern New Mexico (San Juan and McKinley Counties), 387,323 bbl. The average daily non-marginal well allowable for Lea County on Jan. 1, 1937, was 92 bbl.; at the close of the year it was 67 bbl. The average daily pipe-line runs were less than the allocations of the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission, but slightly in excess of the state allowables recommended by the United States Bureau of Mines. The average daily production for the year was 105,437 barrels. The total number of completions in the state was 742, of which 638 were oil wells; 19 hydrocarbon gas wells; 5 carbon dioxide gas wells and 80 dry holes. Of the dry holes, 46 were in proven fields. Of these 46 dry holes, 13 were in the Artesia-Grayburg-Jackson-Maljamar area, Eddy County, two in the Getty Extension field, Eddy County, 11 in the Red Mountain field, McKinley County, three in the Rattlesnake field, San Juan County, and nine in the Aztec-Bloomfield area, San Juan County. There were only eight dry holes in the proven fields in Lea County. Southeastern New Mexico Lea County.—The Monument field was the largest producing field in Lea County, with 10,945,788 bbl., closely followed by the Eunice field with 10,927,929 bbl. The Hobbs field, formerly the largest producing field in Lea County, was relegated to third .place, with 7,292,522 barrels. Drjlling during the year closed the gap between the northern part of the Eunice field and the southern part of the Monument field. The wells in this area were relatively small, because of decreased porosity in the lime. The greatest activity in Lea County was in the Monument pool, with 199 completions, 197 being oil wells, one a gas well and one a dry hole.

Jan 1, 1938

By G. Bhat, J. F. Libsch

A STUDY of the kinetics of embrittlement in engineering alloy steels during tempering has indicated that the presence of alloying elements may define two distinct regions of embrittlement: 1) at 800° to 1000 °F, termed low temperature embrittle-ment, and 2) in the temperature range 1150 ° to 1250°F, termed high temperature embrittlement.13 It has been suggested that embrittlement in each region may be due to a different mechanism. At intermediate temperatures and extended times the course of embrittlement may be influenced by the superposition of the embrittlement occurring in the two regions. Furthermore, low temperature embrittlement has been known to decrease as the temperature is raised slightly above the maximum embrittlement range.' Jaffe and BuffumV ave presented data for a Ni-Cr steel illustrating the removal of the em-brittlement occurring at 932°F by reheating to 1250°F for an hour. Their data further shows that embrittlement proceeds continuously with increased time at 1250°F, becoming pronounced at long times. They interpreted this behavior as a retrogression phenomenon involving the solution of the small nuclei of precipitate formed at 932°F as the temperature was increased, and reprecipitation of larger nuclei stable at 1250°F, with the reoccurrence of embrittlement. It appears desirable to reconsider this explanation in the light of the two regions of embrittlement proposed by the authors1 for some alloy steels. In addition, it appears desirable to determine any influence of a preconditioning treatment in each temperature range upon subsequent development of low and high temperature embrittlement. It is thus the object of this investigation to study the characteristics of the two modes of embrittlement proposed in a commercial Ni-Cr alloy steel (AISI 3140). Experimental Details Material—The material used in this investigation was commercial AISI 3140 steel bar stock, received as % in. hot-rolled rounds. The steel analysis was as follows (in percentages): C, 0.39; Mn, 0.79; Si, 0.30; S, 0.028; P, 0.015; Ni, 1.26; and Cr, 0.77. Material Processing and Heat Treatment—The bar stock was first ground to 0.430 in. squares and cut into specimens 23/4 in. long. These specimens were austenitized at 1650°F for 1 hr and oil

Jan 1, 1958

The first session was held in the rooms of the American Philosophical Society, on Tuesday evening, February 26th. The President, Dr. T. Sterry Hunt, called the meeting to order, and after a few introductory remarks concerning the importance of theoretical and speculative science, which often involves principles of the highest economic value, and, more than all that, serves to enlarge our conceptions of the universe, and ennoble us, by the cultivation which it affords to our most exalted faculties, proceeded to discuss some points in the chemistry of the atmosphere. It is known that there is in the crust of the earth a great amount of oxidized carbon, not only in the shape of coal, but also in the graphite or plunlbago of the crystalline rocks, in the various bituminous shales or pyroschists, which are found in all succeeding rock-formations, and also in the forms of bitumen and petroleum. All the analogies of nature lead us to conclude that these various carbonaceous substances have had an organic origin, and have been generated by the deoxidation of carbonic acid, a process effected by the growing plant, and attended with the liberation of oxygen. He showed that the carbon of a layer of coal covering the whole earth's surface to the thickness of one meter, would, in its production from carbonic dioxide, liberate an amount of oxygen equal to that now present in our atmosphere. But bituminous coal contains also a large amount of hydrogen, derived from the deoxidation of water, which implies the liberation of a farther portion of oxygen. The amount from this latter source would equal, for the various coals and asphalts, from one-eighth to one-fourth, and, for the petroleums, onehalf of that set free in the deoxidation of the carbon which these hydrocarbonaceous bodies contain. From what we know of the composition of the stratified rocks, it is probable that they include an amount of deoxidized carbon and hydrogen many times greater than that contained in a layer of coal one meter in thickness, and, consequently, that the disengaged oxygen in past ages must have far exceeded that now present in our atmosphere. To this must be added

Jan 1, 1879

By C. F. Willis

The problem of the curtailment of forces in large numbers does not often come to employment departments and is, therefore, a problem that many departments are not prepared to handle intelligently. Those companies that are able to measure the individual efficiency of each man would probably lay off men according to their individual ability, irrespective of dependents, citizenship, or other considerations. During the war when labor was scarce, the business of the employment manager in industry was hiring men and carefully placing them where they were best fitted to work. The careful selection of employees had developed to a considerable extent before the war, and was becoming a recognized science. In the last few months, however, the cancelation of copper contracts, the accumulation of large stocks, the necessary curtailment of production because the copper could not be sold, and the lack of any immediate prospects of' the copper market opening, have led to a universal reduction of forces, and the problem that industry now confronts is that of discharging rather than employing. The problem has been aggravated by the cancellation of contracts in many war industries with the consequent turning loose of hundreds of thousands of men, a great amount of unemployment, and the return of the soldiers and sailors. The problem has now become one of reduction of working force with the least hardship and the least injustice, and yet caring for the soldiers, sailors, and marines who have been in the service of the government for nearly 2 years, and are now returning to their pre-war positions. The Copper Queen Branch of the Phelps Dodge Corpn., operating at Bisbee, Arb., found it necessary, like all of the other copper companies of the country, to reduce its force materially. In making this reduction it was, after due consideration, decided to classify employees with respect to dependents, length of service, and citizenship. The question of individual efficiency or workmanship was not considered. Copper produced to sell at 26 c. a lb. has been selling at under 15 c., and very little copper is being sold at all. Practically every copper producer in the country has enormous stocks on hand, and it would be profitable,

Jan 1, 1920

THE Executive Board of The American Engineering Council met in Pittsburgh, May 26 and 27. Its actions on the licensing of engineers and on the Employment Bureau are printed at length elsewhere in this issue. The board announced plans purposing the solution of the national problems of water power and forestry, upon which "the industrial development of the nation and the standard of living of future generations largely depends. The whole Federal water-power situation is in so critical a condition that immediate constructive action by the Government to conserve the public interests, involving vast consequences of economic and Federal policy, is necessary. After a long discussion during which the water-power problem as it affects Government reorganization was reviewed and Henry Ford's Muscle Shoal's plan was discussed, the board decided to lay the entire question before President Harding. A national movement to conserve the nation's forests, in which engineers, the U. S. Forestry Service, the forestry services of the states, universities and technical schools, and other groups such as the farmers, the railroads, and lumbermen, shall pool their efforts, was set in motion by the engineers. The work will be in charge of a Reforestation Committee of the Council, headed by Charles H. MacDowell of Chicago. Mov-ing picture interests will be asked to aid. The board pledged its support to President Harding in his plan for Government reorganization. In adopting the report of its Committee on Public Affairs, headed by J. Parke Channing of New York, the Executive Board of the council determined, in the event of the failure of the President's efforts to bring about greater economy and ffieciency in national affairs by regrouping of Federal functions, to press independ-ently a nation-wide movement for the establishment of a Department of Public Works. Progress in a national survey of the two-shift day in American industries was reported by the Council's Committee on Work Periods in Continuous Industries. This survey, called the most extensive of its kind ever made, has been in progress for more than a year; and purposes an exposition of industrial conditions which shall form a basis for establishing the relative merits of three shifts of eight hours each and two shifts of twelve hours each.

Jan 7, 1922