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By E. R. Kaiser

COAL research during 1941 had a marked increase in activity on problems bearing directly on furthering the increased and improved use of coal in homes and industry. Coal producers and fuel engineers expressed a greater interest in its practical possibilities and the coal laboratories have shown an increased interest in applied research, of value at once or in the near future to industry and the public. A large volume of accomplishment in mining, coal analysis, and the fundamentals of coal constitution and coal chemistry also continued to fill the storehouse from which applied research and fuel engineering of the future can draw valuable data.

Jan 1, 1942

By AIME AIME

FEW indeed are the sections of the country where trained or partly trained workers have not already been hired by a war industry plant or will be within the near future. Yet right in the midst of the heavily industrialized East lies the anthracite area, home of a million people, whose productive power has persistently been by-passed either by private industry or by the Government Plant Site Board. The chief reason given for not locating war plants in the area is that it is not within the strategic zone, but in numerous instances elsewhere this rule has been waived. Furthermore, the anthracite region is well protected on all sides by mountains and is at all points more than 100 miles inland. Continued depression in the anthracite industry and a crippling blow dealt by the war emergency to the production of silk and rayon goods, the chief manufacturing activity of the area, have resulted in a heavy migration, particularly of trained young workers, into near-by industrial areas. At least 50,000 people are currently unemployed, with the likelihood of an increase in coming months, and as many families are on relief.

Jan 1, 1942

By A. Patton, F. N. Speller

The use of roll scale in the Bessemer process dates back, to the best of our knowledge, at least 20 years. It was first used by the Ohio Steel Go., Youngstown, Ohio (now the Ohio Works of the Carnegie Steel Co.) under the direction of Sam McDonald, Superintendent of the Bessemer Department at these works. Two 10-ton vessels and one blowing engine capable of blowing one heat at a time were employed. The object of using the scale was to shorten the length of the blow, or in other words, to increase the production with the same equipment. Various means were tried out for introducing the roll scale into the bath of molten iron: It was shoveled into the vessel before the heat was charged, so that the metal would flow over the scale; it was shoveled into the bath after the vessel was turned up; it was dumped into the empty iron ladle by the wheelbarrow-load, and at times was dumped on top of the molten metal in the iron ladle. But the practice of introducing the scale into the iron ladle had to be abandoned on account of danger from explosions and of skulling the ladles. It was soon learned that the proper place to charge the scale was in the empty vessel, so that when the molten iron was poured into the vessel it flowed over the scale, causing a considerabIe reaction to take place before the heat was turned up. Eventually, cylindrical chutes similar to those now in use were installed. Into these chutes the scale is dumped and carried into the empty vessel. Before this convenient means of introducing the scale was adopted, the Ohio Works had satisfactorily demonstrated that roll scale would increase production, by blowing 107 heats in one 12-hr. turn (1,087 tons) with one blowing engine, blowing one heat at a time; whereas, prior to the use of scale, the best practice at these works was about 80 heats under the same conditions. In using roll scale and other oxides of iron to facilitate and control the refining of pig iron in the converter, the Bessemer plant has borrowed one of the most active agencies used in the open-hearth process with, as would be expected, much the same results. The effect of such additions to the Bessemer charge may be discussed as to the influence of this practice on quality, production and cost.

Jan 1, 1917

By AIME AIME

NOTWITHSTANDING the metropolitan appearance of M. L. Haider, the present Chairman of the Petroleum Division, he is not a native New Yorker, but was born at Mandan, N. Dak., Oct. 1, 1904. He began his travels at an early stage in life and after attending the University of Southern California for two years he spent two additional years at Stanford University and was graduated in 1927. After a few months as an analytical chemist for the Portland Cement Co. he became research engineer in the natural gasoline department of the Richfield Oil Co. where he remained for approximately two years before taking a position with the Carter Oil Co. in Oklahoma. He was chief engineer for this company for three years before being trans-

Jan 1, 1945

By C. R. Breck

THERE has been a running discussion over the past several years with respect to the life and adequacy of our natural gas reserves. Some of the experts agree on one phase of the subject at least-that eventually it will be necessary to augment deliveries of natural gas in the northern markets by the development of a more or less comparable synthetic gas made from coal. The purpose of this paper is to point out: 1. It may be later than a good many people think-the demand for addi¬tional domestic and commercial pipeline gas in at least one section of the North will probably be felt rather keenly before an adequate synthetic pipe¬line-gas project, developed on economic lines, could be completed, even if initiated in the near future. 2. The evidence is considerable that such a project would be technically sound and economically self-supporting, although the margin of profit at first might be so small and the magnitude of an economic enterprise so great -that financing would be impossible without Government aid in some form or other. The part of the country referred to is the heavily populated section in the northeast of the United States. To simplify an examination of the situa¬tion, let us take the potential marketing areas within range to the north and east of the three pipelines: 1. Tennessee Gas Transmission Co. as it enters Erie County, New York state. 2. Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation just before the tap that sup¬plies the general Philadelphia area. 3. Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation as it enters the state of New Jersey. The sources of gas for these three pipelines are in Texas and Louisiana. The ultimate maximum combined capacity of the three lines at the points stated is approximately 1,200,000,000 cu ft per 24 hr at the maximum load factor probable of attainment in normal operation. The areas supplied by the three lines north and east of the points stated, or assumed as eventual markets, are: 1. Central New York state, from Buffalo to Albany (both inclusive).

Jan 1, 1953

By Nathaniel Hen

IN the United States, in the 2 1/2 years since the rescinding of the wartime order closing gold mines, conditions have not yet returned to normal. Shortages of man power have prevented some mines from operating at all, and most of those in operation are still at reduced capacity. This fact, combined with shortages of materials, the high cost of supplies and labor, high tax rates, and a fixed price for the product have made the past years rather rough ones for gold producers. In foreign countries conditions are rather similar. In Canada several new mines are coming into production and some others are enlarging. Costs have not increased as much as in the United States and gold production is being encouraged. Recently a bonus of 20 per cent on increased production has been proposed. In South Africa, where gold mining is of major importance in the national economy the industry is also in a favored position with government; new discoveries of major importance there will markedly increase the gold output. Demand for labor is rap-

Jan 1, 1948

By C. R. King

Most of the acid volcanic glasses such as obsidian, perlite, pitchstone, pumice, and pumicite (volcanic ash) are susceptible to some expansion if suddenly subjected to a suitably high temperature in a properly designed furnace, and subsequently suddenly cooled. Expansion results from the action of chemically combined or dissolved water expanding as a vapor within the softened heated rock particles. This expansion forms countless minute bubbles within the pasty mass of the natural glass particles. If the particles are cooled before these bubbles can escape, the resulting products are cellular, more or less spherulitized glass froths or hollow glass spheres of many types. Chemically, they are essentially aluminum silicates containing about 70 to 75 pct silica, 10 to 16 pct alumina, and 2 to 7 pct sodium plus potassium oxides. They are relatively resistant to attack by acids or alkalies, are resistant to heat up to over 1000°F, and are completely inert to insect or fungus attack.

Jan 1, 1949

By Robert Laurich

Chuquicamata pit was opened in 1915 with steam shovels and steam locomotives brought down from the Panama Canal excavation project. With expansions in the early years, more steam locomo¬tives were brought into the mine. IMPROVED LOCOMOTIVES During the period 1927 to 1937, electric locomo¬tives were purchased and main line and bench tracks were electrified. Third rail was installed up to the working areas. At first, the locomotives were equipped with batteries for service at the shovels, but charge life was too short and they were con¬verted to use the third rail and a reel with 3000 ft of trailing cable for service in the loading area.

Jan 11, 1959

By Blandford C. Burgess

Mica is an orchid among minerals. It is formed in pegmatites, one of the most bizarre of igneous formations, and is exceeded by few other minerals in the perfection it may attain as to size, color, and cleavage. First used for window glazing, as an ornament and article of trade, it has become one of the most essential insulators of electricity, heat, and shock. Most internal combustion engines use mica condensers or capacitors and such machines of war as planes, tanks, and submarines are immobile without it. The original manuscript of this guide was written in April 1943 at the peak of war emergency. It was not used be- cause shortly thereafter a decision was made to buy on a one price basis eliminating differentials for both quality and size. This is now presented with the thought that from the standpoint of preparedness we can only consider an- other war imminent and every effort should he made to set up in usable form the experience gained during the Second World War. Colonial Mica Corp. was set up by Metals Reserve Co. as a wholly owned government agency to encourage production of domestic mica and to purchase it. It soon became the exclusive buying agency for such mica. The writer as Southern Manager called on all the private agencies buying mica to assist in formulating buying policies, methods, and prices.

Jan 1, 1949

By Lennart Bergstedt, Olov Fägremo

Boliden Metall Aktiebolag, the prime base metal mining company of Sweden, treats some 10-10.9 t/y (11-12 stpy) of sulphide ore in nine concentrators. During the years considerable effort has been devoted to the development of all phases of the technology of ore prospecting, mining, milling, smelting and refining. This has been necessary due to the complex and low grade ores. The autogenous grinding technique was first studied within the company as early as 1945. Basic test work commenced during the early fifties, whereby the merits of pebble grinding could be evaluated.

Jan 2, 1978

By W. C. Elli, M. E. Fine

YOUNG'S modulus of elasticity in metals ordinarily decreases with rising temperature. The range of the thermoelastic coefficient at room tem- 1/E dE/dT perature (temperature coefficient of modulus, is illustrated1 by the values for tungsten and hard-drawn aluminum, —95 and —1220x10-6 eg C-1. However, a nearly zero thermoelastic coefficient is observed in some ferromagnetic alloys over a limited temperature range. In these alloys, as the temperature is raised, an increase in modulus arising from loss of ferromagnetism compensates the normal decrease. Iron-nickel alloys containing 36 to 52 pct Ni behave in this manner. In the present investiga- tion, the dependence of the modulus and thermo-elastic coefficient on cold working and annealing were studied in iron-nickel alloys in this range of nickel. Although these alloys, when fully annealed, have a coefficient near zero over a very small temperature interval, the temperature range of low coefficient can be extended greatly by straining and then stress-relief annealing. The modulus of face-centered cubic iron-nickel alloys annealed at 1000°C does not vary linearly with composition at room temperature but, as shown by the solid line of fig. 1, from Koster,' is minimum at 40 pct Ni and maximum at 87 pct Ni. The modulus increases with applied magnetic field but retains the minimum near 40 pct Ni. Schematic change of modulus with temperature for three compositions is shown in fig. 2.'. ' With increasing temperature, the slope becomes less negative, goes through zero (temperature of minimum modulus for the alloy), becomes positive, and resumes its normal negative value above the Curie

Jan 1, 1951

By William Kent

I DESIRE to place on record in our Transactions a recent innovation in blast-furnace practice, namely, the introduction at the Lucy Furnaces, in Pittsburgh, of four water-tube steam-boilers, of the Babcock and Wilcox pattern, aggregating 832 horse-power, builder's rating, or 9,568 square feet of heating-surface, utilizing the waste gases of the furnaces as fuel. The boilers are set in two batteries, each of 416 horse-power, and each battery occupying a ground-space of 22 feet 7 inches by 20 feet 4 inches. The accompanying dram-

Jan 1, 1885

By Roger B. Alke

INTRODUCTION Request to Mine Beneath Bridge The Jakes Run Bridge is a reinforced Portland concrete arch filled bridge located on WV Route 7 near Pentress, WV. The bridge has a span of 22.9 m (meters) and a height of 4 m above normal pool elevation to the underside of the center of the arch (See Fig 1). The bridge is a two lane structure with a width of 6.86 m. The structure is over 50 years old having been built in 1929 and is owned by the Department (WV Department of Highways). [ ]

Jan 1, 1984

By J. P. Witherow

The blast-filmace plant of the Crozer Steel and Iron Company was built under contract by Witherow & Gordon, of Pittsburgh, Pa. The furnace is 70 feet high by 16 feet bosh, tunnel-head 12 feet 8 inches, and hearth 9 feet in diameter. The columns are 20 feet high above furnace level, below which they extend 2 feet. The shell is 23 feet diameter at bottom and 19 feet at top. The plate iron is 3/8 inch at bottom, and tapers to 1/4 inch, the top ring being 5/16 inch.

Jan 1, 1884

By R. C. Hall

We are pleased to confirm some of the mechanical data presented by Dr. Detert on the 18 pct Ni marag-ing steel.15 Bar 3 in. in diam and containing 0.02 wt pct C, 18.5 Ni, 8.9 Co, 5.1 MO, 0.55 Ti, 0.05 Al, and balance iron has been examined in our laboratory. Cylinders 0.5 in. high and 0.4 to 0.5 in. in diam were cold-compressed from 3 to 40 pct reduction in height. Table VI shows some typical data; deformation in-

Jan 1, 1968

By S. J. Matas, R. F. Hehemann, R. H. Goodenow

The hot-stage metallographic method has been employed to determine radial growth rates of upper and lower bainite. Lower bainite appears to grow as individual plates that increase in both length and thickness while upper bainite grows as sheaves of closely spaced plates or needles. A discontinuity in the temperature dependence of the growth rate appears to be associated with the transition from upper to lower bainite and stepped quenching experiments suggest that lower bainite will not continue to grow when the temperature is raised to the upper range. Thus, a single process does not appear to control the growth of both upper and lower bainite. A tentative model based on the forces acting on a dislocation interface is proposed to account for the slow growth of bainite. It has been recognized since the early studies of Davenport and Bain that a close relationship exists between the martensite and bainite transformations in steels. However, diffusion of carbon during the transformation has lead to considerable controversy concerning the reaction mechanism.1-7 Many studies4,5,7-9 have emphasized the structura and kinetic aspects of the bainite reaction and, in particular, the difference observed between the two forms of bainite—frequently termed upper and lower bainite. A kinetic difference between the two types of bainite has been revealed in the activation energy determined from the overall reaction;4,5 however, many difficulties arise in an interpretation of these activation energies since a number of temperature dependent factors contribute to the kinetics of the overall reaction. The displacive surface relief10 accompanying the bainite reaction permits a separation of the nuclea-tion and growth contributions to the reaction and allows the kinetics of the growth process to be examined. Several investigations of this type have been conducted; however, they have been restricted to the low temperature range.3'6'11 Here, bainite plates are observed to grow slowly in both length and width. The present investigation extends such studies to include the upper bainite range. MATERIALS AND PROCEDURE Materials. The composition of the steels studied in this investigation are presented in Table I. The range of composition permitted a study of the effect of carbon content on the growth rate of upper bainite in the 9 pct Ni steels and consideration of both upper and lower bainite in the higher carbon steels. These steels were received as hot-rolled rounds and were forged to approximately 1/2 in. thick plates for preparation of metallographic specimens. In order to produce an essentially zero carbon steel, Steel A was decarburized in wet hydrogen at 1550°F for 15 days with the result tabulated as Steel AD. Experimental Procedure. In order to study the slow growth of the displacive transformation product, a commercially available Leitz hot stage was modified to permit heating of the specimen by its own resistance in a manner similar to that employed by other investigators.6 The furnace chamber was maintained at a pressure of 2 to 3 X 10-5 mm Hg prior to austenitizing at 2000° ± 12° F for 5 min. Samples could be cooled from the austenitizing to the transformation temperature in approximately 15 sec and the progress of transformation was recorded with a 9 cm by 12 cm single frame camera or a 16 mm movie camera. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Growth Characteristics. The general growth characteristics observed in this investigation were analogous to those reported previously.3,6,11 Typical growth sequences for the high temperature and low temperature forms are illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5. In both temperature ranges, bainite plates increase in length at slow, temperature dependent rates until interrupted by a grain boundary, another plate, or

Jan 1, 1963

By G. S. Coe, G. F. Bolling

The columnar-to-equiaxed transition (CET) has often been studied as a function of concentration, C, temperature gradient in the melt, G, and rate of solidification, R. Although it may not be immediately obvious it is sure that the CET, expressed as some ratio G/R necessary to suppress equiaxed nucleation for a given C,' cannot be a single-valued function of C. This restriction which is ignored in theoretical presentations is most trivially illustrated by the following simple reasoning. An ordinary casting is an unconstrained system where the thermal conditions change continuously with progressive solidification, and thus where the ratio G/R decreases from the outset. A CET occurring early in a casting (much equiaxed material) must then mean a higher value of G/R at transition, in comparison with the late CET which implies a more columnar ingot. Therefore, when we choose to experiment under constant superheat for all alloys across the simplest binary, and we find an inversion in the amount of equiaxed material, we shall find two values of C satisfying the G/R condition. However, in addition to this simple instance, the early experiments of ~orthcott' seem to show that the amount of equiaxed material in cast ingots may be a multivalued function of composition in a given binary system. In the present investigation, the CET has been examined in Pb-Sb, Pb-Ag, Pb-Sn, and Sn-Pb under several types of casting conditions. First, we have used the "bidirectional" ingot section Simulation;~ and we have used .'i~z situ" ingot solidification where a hot mold already filled with liquid is chilled so that there is no disturbance provoked by pouring. Differences in method are trivial to our purpose except for the fact that certain variations are more simply observed by one technique than by the other. Second, we have varied the mode of superheating from the simple extreme of casting all alloys from the same temperature regardless of composition to the careful casting at a standard superheat, calculated with respect to the alloy liquidus. Third, we have made provisions for decanting and interface observation, so that some "castings" were not completed. The results obtained with Pb-Sb are exemplary; some of these are shown in Fig. 1 along with explanatory captions. At 9 to 10 at. pct Sb, and thus above the solid-solubility limit Cs = 5.8 at. pct Sb and yet below the eutectic concentration Ceu = 17.5 at. pct Sb, there is a persistent anomaly in all the variations. Measurement was easy enough and standard enough so that we may forgo discussion of either method or possible error, in view of the forceful self-consistency shown by experiment. Solute distributions were measured along the bidirectional ingots in order to determine if a solute buildup had occurred at the CET. No anomalous changes in concentration were observed along the bars at either side of the solute anomaly of 10 at. pct Sb. The microstructures of the ingots were also examined across the range of composition investigated. At concentrations less than 9 at. pct Sb the micro- and macrostructures were typical of the cellular-dendritic growth usually reported for the columnar zone. Above the anomaly, both the columnar grain size and the amount of primary phase decreased. This microstruc-tural observation can be correlated with observations made of decanted interfaces. Below 9 at. pct Sb, the interface reveals the "normal" columnar dendritic structure; however above the anomalous concentration range, preferential growth of certain dendrites appears to form a "super dendrite" pattern. In Fig. 2 a microstructural view of the etched '(super dendrites'' shows their constitution both in terms of relative phase proportion and in terms of the ordinary smaller dendrites.

Jan 1, 1969

By George H. Gilman

THE campaign now being waged to improve the quality of the rock-drill bit is the natural outcome f the scientific development of the drilling machine during the past twenty years. In this development there has been a great increase of power output per unit of weight of machine. But the development of the rock drilling engine has been seriously hampered by the need of a drill bit that would withstand, without undue wear or breakage, the heavy rapid blows of the improved pneumatic hammer. This problem was difficult to solve because an increase in the weight or section of the drill-steel bar resulted in decreased cutting speed and higher operating costs of both the bit and its actuating engine. The solution, therefore, is to make the bit of steel that, for a given weight or section, will be more shock and wear resisting. In the attempt to meet these requirements, many of the drill-steel manufacturers alloyed the steel with vanadium, chromium, nickel, etc., on the assumption that such elements would improve the rock-drill bit but due to the sensitiveness of such steel to forging and heat treatment, higher cost, and lack f continuity of effort on the part of the steel manufacturer to perfect this product, but little progress has been made in the adoption of these steels and the so-called straight carbon steel is today recognized as the standard material for all rock-drill bits. The first step in improving drill-bit efficiency is the determination f the cause of breakage and wear. For this reason, in 1917, certain rock-drill manufacturers, in conjunction with some of the larger mining interests, conducted exhaustive tests in both the field and laboratory. It was then found that, in the main, the cause of drill-steel troubles is not attributable to the duty imposed upon it by the normal operation of the drilling engine, but to improper forging and heat treating of the bit and to the subjecting of the bit to improper use. The fact that it is possible to minimize the troubles attributable to improper heat treatment of the drill steel has been demonstrated and it is recommended that such knowledge be made available by teaching those interested in the production, use, and up-keep of drill bits the principles on which success in this direction may be achieved.

Jan 6, 1921

By Donald L. Everhart

SOONER or later intelligent exploration for uranium leads to these questions: Where did the metallic ions that formed the orebodies come from? What processes and geologic factors were involved in ore replacement? These matters, of course, make a big difference in how best to look for orebodies. Before these questions are discussed it might be well to point out other factors bearing on the subject. The whole business of uranium exploration is only a little over ten years old, participation by the public is only about six years old, and real interest and activity by more than a few large mining companies has arisen only in the past two or three years. Throughout this short period, uranium exploration has been affected by the unique influences of necessary security measures and by division of the over- all job into individual projects by a large number of specialists in diverse fields. This has meant that a normal interchange of information on the nature of uranium deposits has really only just begun. Com- pared to the vast amount of published studies on iron, copper, lead, zinc, and gold deposits over the past 50 to 75 years, current knowledge of uranium deposits is in its infancy and much of the pertinent information is still scattered about in a number of unpublished sources. The volume of reports on all phases of uranium exploration is now beginning to mount at a remarkable rate, and geologists with widely varying specialized backgrounds in uranium geology are engaging in spirited debates over the origin of uranium and the relative importance of geologic controls of various deposits.

Jan 9, 1954

By Claude P. Heiner

mountain region to M tht Coast points for domestic consumption and for export are shown in Table 11. There is considerable disparity in rates from both Rock Springs, Wyo., and Castle Gate, Utah, to the four coast cities where the slack coal is to be used for purposes other than export. The rate on coal to be exported is the same from either starting point to any of the four coast cities even though there is a difference of as much as 341 miles in the shipping distance. It is interesting to note that the freight rate between Sunnyside, Utah, and Fontana, Calif., on coking coal is $5.05 per ton and that coal up to 8 in. can be moved on this rate if it is suitable for coking. This rate was published late in 1942 on a contemplated annual movement of more than 500,000 tons. There have been decreases in freight rates since 1923 on movements of slack coal from Utah into Seattle and Portland due to pressure on the railroads and to greater. quantity of coal shipped. It is the author,', opinion that a movement of slack coal in excess of 3 million tons of coal per year from Utah to any point in central California would justify a freight rate equal to that puhlished for Fontana, Calif.. or $5.05 per ton. The movement of 3 1/2 million tons of coal per year on the basis of 240 mine working days per year would require that 14,600 tons be handled each mine working day. If it is assumed that shipments could be arranged for a 6-day week, the average railway movement would he 11,200 tons, or approximately 3 trains containing fifty-five 70-ton coal cars per day. Such movements of coal would require railroad equipment represented by the investment amounts stated in Table 12 and entail the services of 250 men. Table 12 ... Railroad Equipment and Investment Required To Move 11,200 Tons of Coal a Day from Utah to California Railroad Equipment Cost 2800. 70-ton coal cara at $6.000 each $16,800.000 32 locomotives at $310.000 each. 9.920.000 Miscellaneous eauiument:.......... .5;000:000 Total........................ $31,720,000 It therefore appears that, under presently known mining methods, the lowest price at which coal could be sold f.0.b. the mine in amounts of 3 1/2 million tons per year for generation of power in central California would be $4.60. It also appears that the lowest freight rate that could be expecled between intermountain points and the central California area would be $5.05 per ton, making a total cost of coal delivered at a plant site of $9.65 per ton. Conelusions The following are the author's conclusions: 1. Coal mines in Utah and in the Kemmerer and Rock Springs districts of Wyoming could increase annual production by 6 1/2 million tons per year. 2. Under present conditions coal could probably be delivered to any steam electric plant in central California at a price not to exceed $9.65 per ton. 3. The use of coal at such a price, while higher than the equivalent present price of fuel oil, is entirely feasible. 4. There are adequate railroad facilities for movements of large quantities of coal from the intermountain region to the Rest Coast. 5. In a national emergency it probably would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to obtain sufficient oil to meet requirements of the greatly expanded West Coast steam electric generatsing capacity. 6. The intermountain region contains ample coal reserves to supply all conceivable demands for West Coast power generation for a number of generations. 7. Increasing demands of labor threaten to lessen, if not eliminate, savings in cost of coal production through the use of new mining machinery. 8. Continuation of experiments in socialism by the Federal Government through construction of hydroelectric generating plants, particularly those unrelated to land-use reclamation, defies justification. Rates under this concept of a governmental function are subsidized through greater taxation of its people. Private capital is available to construct steam plants, or hydro plants where feasible, and should be permitted to continue in order to preserve the principles of our free enterprise system. DISCUSSION (L. C. McCabe and Robert P. Koenig, presiding) C. C;. BALl*—I was asked to lead off the discussion, but it is not with the thought that I might be able to add anything to the paper. The thoroughness with which it was prepared rather forestalls the asking of many questions. Your treatment, Mr. Heiner, is a very valuable contribution. I do want to suggest—that although you have limited your study to this specific question, with certain geographic limitations, many of the things in your paper apply just as well to the eastern coals. I want to agree 100 pct with your final conclusion concerning government-subsidized construction. Id. C. McCabe*—It is certainly worthwhile to take stock occasionally to see where we are going in problems of this nature. I agree with Mr. Heiner that ultimately the only reliable source of fuel that the West Coast has is coal hut the time factor is the difficult element to evaluate. Just before I came here I discussed this subject with N. B. Hinson, Vice President and Executixe Engineer of the Southern California Edison Company, and Chairman of the West Coast Inter-Power Exchange Committee. He has given much thought to utilities' fuel supply and it was very helpful to me in preparing a discussion of the paper to talk with him beforehand. Stock taking and forecasting of future development are essential to the continuing success of any enterprise. Mr. Heiner has called attention to the unprecedented growth of central and southern California and to the increased demands for fuel and power which have accompanied it. He discusses the increased fuel oil and natural gas requirements and the probable limits on the future use of these fuels and of hydroelectric power. In contrast to the calculable limits of these sources of electric energy, the author points to the availability of enormous reserves of coal in the Rocky Mountain States adjacent to the Pacific Coast which can be utilized for power generation. That there will be increased use of coal for power generation in the area under discussion is generally accepted hut it is in the timetable of such development that there is not complete agreement. In a recent report, Mr. Hinson reviewed the future power outlook for the Pacific southwest area. He pointed out that the use of steam plants in connection with water power plants in this region has made the maximum use of hydroelectric energy possible, and that the correct balance between hydro and steam generating plants produces the most economical overall system. Steam plants in the area which had been installed to protect against deficiency in hydro energy in dry years were used to carry war loads. Fortunately, no dry

Jan 1, 1950