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By Henry M. Howe

The present paper aims to present in brief the results of Tetskichi Mukai's* studies of the remarkable changes in the properties of manganese-steel caused by changes in the rate of cooling, together with some inferences of my own. Manganese-steel may vary greatly in composition ; that containing from 10 to 13 per cent. of manganese has hitherto reached the widest use. In this paper I consider manganese-steel of about this composition only. To distinguish common steel from manganese-steel, I speak of the

Jan 1, 1893

By James Hall

A geological map of a State involves very much, and its pre sentation to the public incurs grave responsibilities. It has been for a long time my earnest desire to bring out and place before the pub lic a geological map of New York which might be creditable to the State and worthy of a place among her scientific publications. We have done much for the advancement of geological science in this State—very much, and in many directions—but unfortunately, this feature, which should have been made the basis of all our work, has been too long neglected and delayed. For twenty-five years I have been laboring and looking forward to this consummation. I have recorded the field-work, systematic and desultory, upon such maps as were available for this use; and notwithstanding their imperfec tion, I have been able to transfer this recorded information to a more perfect base, which it is hoped will be completed during the early months of the next year. In 1883 I had combined, upon a small map of the State, the in formation which we possessed at that time, and communicated the same with my annual report to the Legislature. The report mas published in the regular course, but the special appropriation made for the map was vetoed by the Governor. Not discouraged by this untoward and unexpected circumstance, I continued my work, and made every effort to render the map more complete, preparatory to its communication with the next annual report. I brought together all the information within my reach, whether published or unpublished, reviewing and revising, as far as practicable, the work done by myself and assistants in southern and southeastern New York.

Jan 1, 1893

By J. W. Powell

A Federal statute, enacted several years since, provides for the preparation of a geologic map of the United States. There are three requisites for a geologic map. The first is a suitable base- or surface-map upon which the rock-formations may be platted by means of conventions ; the second is a classification of the rocks and formations, and the third is a system of conventions by which the rocks and formations may be represented on the map. When the work of the Federal bureau created to prepare the geologic map was commenced, a topographic survey of the country was undertaken for the purpose of making maps suitable for the use of geologists in the field and for the representation of the geology; and this work has ever since been continued. The surveys have now extended over about one-fifth of the national domain, and are mapped on a series of atlas-sheets, each constituting a section of the great map of the United States. About 700 of these atlas-sheets are completed. They are in extended use among engineers, miners, prospectors, map-publishers and educators, and are thus widely known; moreover, these base-maps have been exhibited, described and discussed at meetings of the Institute, and thus do not require detailed consideration. Classification of Bocks and Formations. Modern classification is designed to express natural relation. In the beginning of observational science, or natural science, objects were discriminated and grouped by differences and resemblances; but at first the differences and resemblances recognized in the classification were external, even superficia1,'and often confined to single features. Later, groups of features and characteristics, both external and internal, were recognized as the basis of classification ; and of recent years, throughout the entire domain of biology, and to a considerable extent in the kindred sciences, classification is based not

Jan 1, 1893

By Alphonse Hennin

It is well known that under certain conditions ammonia is found in the gas produced by the distillation of coal. Until recently it was held, and many still believe, that this ammonia exists in the coal, and is a natural product of the destructive distillation, varying in percentage, like the other products, according to the nature of the coal, but not formed synthetically beyond that limit. This opinion is in contradiction with well-established facts concerning the formation of ammonia from the elements of the coal. If any ammonia exists as such in the coal, the quantity is insignificant. The purpose of this paper is to explain the theory of the formation of ammonia during distillation, and call the attention of the members of the Institute to its application in connection with the production of heating-gas for metallurgical purposes, etc. For many years little or no importance was attached to the presence of ammonia in coal-gas. It was deemed by the gas-manufacturers an undesirable product of the process, as one of the impurities to be removed; and no attempt was made for its recovery. Not until its practical extraction and utilization was found possible, did scientists commence to investigate the question. Little was known about the nitrogen of the coal, and still less about the reactions leading to its transformation into ammonia. A. W. Hofmann, I believe, was the first to establish a relation between the percentage of nitrogen in the coal and the proportion of ammonia in the coal-gas. As early as 1863 he pointed out that, in dry distillation, such as is practiced in the manufacture of illuminating-gas, only one-third of the total nitrogen in the coal is liberated, two-thirds remaining in the coke. It is no longer possible to doubt that the ammonia is a synthetical product, resulting, under certain conditions, from the combination of the,elements of the coal. Chemistry teaches that ammonia is formed in many cases when

Jan 1, 1893

By N. B. Wittman

Among the objects of interest which the members of the Institute are invited to examine in connection with this meeting is the Brown segmental wire-gun, which will be seen in process of construction at the works of the Pennsylvania Diamond Drill and Manufacturing Company, at Birdsboro. This is a 5-inch breech-loading (highpower) rifle, 19 feet long, constructed upon the system of Mr. J. H. Brown, an inventor of recognized genius in many branches of mechanical industry, and under the engineering direction of Lieutenant G. N. Whistler, Fifth U. S. Artillery. The system consists essentially of the subdivision of the inner core or tube of the gun, which takes up the initial compression, into longitudinal segments of such size that a higher physical condition and degree of special elasticity may be set up therein than it is possible to produce in the larger masses of metal heretofore used for the tube of the modern high-power cannon. The process consists in winding layers of square steel wire, subjected to a constant tension of 130,000 pounds per square inch, around these segments, which, when so held together, form the tube of the gun. A lining-tube may or may not be used. The steel segments used in the gun now under construction are 18 feet 4 inches long, and 3 inches thick at the breech, from which they taper to 0.8 inches at the muzzle. The physical condition of the segments has been determined by test-pieces, cut from each end of each segment, which show the following characteristics: Tensile strength, 165,000 pounds per square inch. Elastic limit, 105,000 pounds per square inch. Elongation at rupture, 14 per cent. in 2 inches. They are of crucible chrome steel, made by the Carpenter Steel Works, at Reading, Pa. The wire which holds them together has 0.005 square inches sectional area and is wound under a constant tension of 650 pounds on each strand, equivalent to 130,000 pounds per square inch. The winding has been done by a machine designed

Jan 1, 1893

By John Birkinbine

The press, trade publications, and special circulars, some elaborately illustrated, have been liberally employed within recent years in this country, to set forth the advantages of various locations as industrial centers, having as a basis the possibility of profitably producing pig-iron at these proposed centers: and special stress has been placed upon opportunities believed to exist at certain points for making iron of a quality suitable for the manufacture of Bessemer steel. The remarkable statements and prophecies made in some of these publications, have suggested the present paper, treating of the influence which location exerts upon the special industries named.

Jan 1, 1893

By W. H. Hoffman

During the autumn of 1891, several heavy blasts (each throwing down some 3000 tons of ore) were made on what is known as the Theall side of these mines. Immediately after one of these blasts, the writer found that at least one-third of the ore was largely impregnated with pyrites, and besides this, fully 15 per cent. of the entire blast was composed of irregular lumps of magnetic pyrites. This was a revelation wholly unexpected, as previous examinations by many experts had failed to disclose any such quantity of sulphury ore. Over the center of the Theall tunnel there suddenly appeared a perfect keystone, as it were, of pyrites, 3 feet wide at the arch of the tunnel, 13 feet ride at the top, and 20 feet high. This keystone pinched out in February, 1892; but in that month large blocks of pyrites were more plentiful on or near the western wall, and these deposits extended the entire height of the workings, some 43 feet. The second blast in November, in the face and over, and on each side of the tunnel, was far more surprising. The whole cross-section it exposed was thickly interspersed with layers of magnetic pyrites, ranging in thickness from 10 to 24 inches, and quite irregular in form, while all of the ore carried much more than the usual amount of sulphur in the non-magnetic pyrite. One hundred and fifty-five tons from a portion of this breast (western side), showed the following composition upon sampling and analysis: Per cent. Metallic iron,...45.080 Phosphorus,..........304 Sulphur,...........23.510 And the balance of the blast showed: Per cent. Metallic iron,.....• 33.210 Phosphorus,...........349 Sulphur,.......... 6.680 vol. xxI.-33

Jan 1, 1893

By Fred W. Gordon

Apart from the character of pig-iron to be manufactured, other than that it shall be well reduced and open-grained, the selection of the materials should be such as to produce it at the lowest cost. As a rule, the sources of fuels and limestones are not so extensively varied as those of the ores. Many Eastern furnaces are now using Lake Superior ores, and but recently a part of the supply came from foreign ports. It is, however, of the highest importance that the character of fuels and limestones, as well as ores, should be carefully considered in determining their value and making judicious selection among those available. The formulas here offered are based upon the assumption that the heat-requirements for a given mixture are measured by a constant required by the oxide of iron, added to that required for a unit of slag, multiplied by the weight of that slag per unit of iron. The heat-requirements for oxide of iron per unit of pig-iron made are assumed to be 2854 centigrade units. This is taken from the careful analysis of Sir Lowthian Bell, and, so far as the writer is able to determine, is very nearly correct. Dividing this by the quantity of heat that may be evolved and utilized within the furnace per unit of carbon, determines the quantity of carbon required per unit of pigiron ; and if to this be added the quantity of carbon absorbed by the pig-iron, the total requirements in carbon are determined, on the assumption that pure oxide of iron is reduced with pure carbon by the ordinary process of the blast-furnace. Calculating the quantity of slag that would be made from a given mixture of ores, smelted with a given impure fuel and fluxed with a given impure limestone, multiplying this weight of slag by the heat-requirements of its unit (taken at 1050 C. H. U.), and dividing the product by the heat-units evolved and utilized within the furnace per unit of carbon, will determine the quantity of carbon required per unit of pig-iron for the slag.

Jan 1, 1893

By Carl Henrich

Jan 1, 1893

By Davis Baker

The direct-metal cars or ladles of the Maryland Steel Company have a capacity of 18 tons when filled within 12 inches of the top. On account of this large capacity, the formation of skulls in these ladles is by no means as rapid as in smaller ladles; but a skull once formed is a very unwieldy piece of metal to handle, and especially to remove from the ladle. We have found it cheaper to clean ladles often rather than make very heavy skulls. We aim to keep the ring of chilled metal that forms on the surface of the iron chipped off, so that the skull shall form principally at the bottom until it becomes so thick as to render the ladle unfit for service. Sometimes it happens that a ladle may be held for several hours filled with molten metal. This invariably leaves a large amount of chilled metal in the ladle. Frequently the skull will weigh several tons, and will be of the full size of the ladle inside, with a top crust, having perhaps a hole 12 inches square, through which the molten metal was poured. In order to remove skulls that cannot be easily chipped out with a bar, we use what may be called a skull-extractor, consisting of a hydraulic cylinder mounted in the center of a heavy cast-iron plate, standing vertically on a suitable foundation. Figs. 1 and 2 show the construction and operation of this apparatus, Fig. 1 being a view of the extractor with pistons extended to full stroke, and Fig. 2 a view with ladle in position and pistons about to commence the stroke. in both figures, A is the hydraulic cylinder, B the vertical cast-iron plate, and C the foundation. The water-pressure, admitted through the pipe, P, is 750 pounds per square inch, and the inside diameter of A is 14 inches. There are two pistons: D, fitting the bore of the cylinder, and E, 84 inches in diameter, moving inside of D. Both pistons move together when

Jan 1, 1893

Henry D. Hibbard, High Bridge, N. J. (Communication to the Secretary): There is one chemical factor which has not been considered in the author's tabulation of tests, but which is none the . less important because it cannot be practically estimated, and that is the element oxygen. This element has been, and probably will continue for some time to be, one of the great causes of the continual discrepancies between the chemical and physical properties of steel. Probably oxygen occurs, in important proportions, only in soft steel, such as that which we are now considering. In this steel its physical effect is to diminish tensile strength and elongation. The percentage of oxygen in the steel, under working-conditions that are as uniform as possible, is likely to vary inversely as that of the manganese, or perhaps, and more probably, it may bear even an inverse geometrical ratio to the manganese-content. At all events, to follow the author's plan, the line representing the loss of strength due to oxygen is probably a curve. Plotted by itself, the line would probably be straight; that is, the decrease in strength would be proportional to the increase in oxygen, but if the results were superposed on the percentages of manganese, they would give a curve, because the percentages of oxygen increase faster than those of manganese decrease. Were the oxygen-line to be developed and added to the diagram, it would seem that the manganese-line should then be straight. Due allowance for the effect of oxygen, therefore, would modify two features of the paper. It would increase the figure for the strength of pure iron from 38,000 to about 45;000 pounds per square inch, and it would straighten out the manganese-curve. The manganese-line in the paper is curved between 0.50 and 0.20 per cent. Above 0.50 per cent. it is straight, which may be ascribed

Jan 1, 1893

Marius R. Campbell, Washington, D. C. (Communication to the Secretary): Having spent considerable time in a systematic study of this field,'both as regards the details of its structure and stratigraphy and the broader question of its relation to the Appalachian basin, I wish to add a word concerning the correlations made by Mr. Hodge in his paper. From A commercial standpoint, the question of correlation, even along the strike, is of little or no importance, for the variability is such that each opening should be tested individually, regardless of the horizon at which it appears; but these correlations assume an entirely different aspect when their scientific bearing is considered; they then become of vital importance, and, before being accepted, should be subjected to the most rigid scrutiny and severe tests. Mr. Hedge states positively that the Imboden seam of coal is equivalent to the Elkhorn coal of Pike and Letcher counties, Kentucky. In the writer's opinion, such equivalency is, at the utmost, only a possibility. This correlation has been generally adopted by the geologists of the Kentucky Geological Survey, but the writer has been unable to find on what grounds they base the statement. The evidence of identity seems to be in the character of the coal, as both seams furnish fine coking coal; also, in the similarity of the interval between them aid the " Bee Rock," or top of the great conglomerate. It is probably an easy matter to determine the thickness of this interval on Elkhorn creek, and we will assume that the measure of 300 to 350 feet is correct. In the Big Stone Gap field, the question of measuring the interval between the Imboden and the " Bee Rock " is exceedingly difficult. The line of outcrop of this mass of strata is along the northern base of Stone mountain, and, in the uprising of the great arch, the strata on its flanks have been thrown into many minor folds, and, in places, have been broken by local faults. This complicated structure, together with the absence of ally well-marked stratum, renders it exceedingly difficult to obtain a correct measure of the intervening sandstones and shales. The interval of 300 to 350 feet, assigned by Mr. Hodge, is mani-

Jan 1, 1893

J. Lainson Wills, Ottawa, Can. (Communication to the Secretary) : The localities of the Quebec and Ontario apatite deposits, and the nature of their occurrence haye been often described in the Transactions and in other publications that are readily available, and I do not, therefore, intend to discuss the many details advanced in Mr. Small's paper beyond the following two points:

Jan 1, 1893

By H. C. Babbitt

The Effect of Arsenic.—A question involving the temperature of precipitation of ammonium phospho-molybdate, which was brought to my attention some time ago, led to the following experiment :*

Jan 1, 1893

By F. H. Newell

Measurements of the amount of water flowing in many of the larger rivers of the west have been made by the United States Geological Survey, and by this means the daily discharges of these rivers have been computed for a period of over two years. These measurements have been confined mainly to that part of the country commonly known as the arid region, where the rainfall is insufficient for the needs of plants most useful to man, and the supply of water, not only for agriculture, but also for mining and all other purposes, falls below the demands made upon it. In such localities flowing water has a great value, for without it many industries are impossible. Experience has shown that in the western part of the United States, over an area a little less than two-fifths of the whole extent of the country, there are great bodies of fertile land enjoying a genial climate, and in every way adapted to the support of a large population, except in the one particular of water-supply. By utilizing the water available, portions of this rich land can be rendered valnable. In other words, the laud-values rest directly upon the prospects of a continuous artificial water-supply. The same is true of many mineral lands, which require for hydraulic mining, or for the supply of concentrating-works, stanip-mills, etc., a certain water-supply, and are impaired in value if this supply is inadequate or irregular. The pressure of this need upon the mining industry is not so widespread, or in the first instance so severe as upon agriculture; but as different regions become more thickly settled, and the two industries compete for a water-supply not sufficient for both, it, is probable that the miner will suffer. But he can snspend operations with less inconvenience than the farmer. Agricuitural land, if the watersupply is not continuous, becomes a desert; on the other hand, the profit of mining is greatly enhanced by the presence of agricultural

Jan 1, 1892

By Robert H. Richards

If one holds up a prism, or wedge of glass, with narrow angle, say l° to 2O, and compares the transmitted image with the image seen above or below the prism, the former will be found to be thrown to one side by an amount varying with the angle of the wedge. Speaking of the two rays as the direct ray and the bent ray, we may say, that when the bisecting plane of the prism is at right angles to the line of sight, the angle between the direct ray and the bent ray will be constant for any given prism. If now we place a prism or wedge of glass in such a position that it half-covers the objective of a telescope, we shall obtain on looking through it two images of every object seen—one image by the direct ray, which comes through the unaovered half of the objective, the other which comes through the prism, and is the image by the bent ray. The angle of divergence of these two raps will be constant and unalterable, whether the telescope is directed to a near object, with its eye-piece at increased distance from its objective, or upon a ' distant object, with eye-piece nearer to the objective. That is to say, if the " throw " or apparent dislocation of the image is one foot in one hundred feet it will be two feet in two hundred, ten feet in a thousand, and so on. The usual form of stadia-telescope has at the focal point of the objective two spider-lines, placed at a definite distance apart and intended, let us say, to represent a throw of one foot in one hundred feet. But as the distance between lines remains the same, while the distance from the objective to the webs diflers with every variation in the distance of observed objects, it follows that the angle between the lines of sight which these two spider-lines define cannot be con stant, but must vary with every increase or decrease of distance be tween the instrument and the object viewed. If in Fig. 1 we represent three positions of the spider-lines by W1, W2, W3, and three objects corresponding to those positions by 01, O2, 0, at near, medium and distant positions, we see at

Jan 1, 1892

Jan 1, 1892

By C. A. Stetefeldt

Jan 1, 1892

By Henry D. Hibbard

Henry D. HibbaRd, Pittsburgh, Pa,: This is a most interesting and instructive paper, some of whose lessons should find immediate application. It points out how fuel-consumption is to be decreased in open-hearth practice, by changes in the plan of the furnace. To look first at the greatest item of loss, radiation, it is seen that thicker brick-work is advisable to lessen this. Especially is this true of the roof, made at present, almost universally, only 9 inches thick to prevent cutting. Now that high roofs, well above the course of the flame, are becoming general, and the average melter is better able to judge the temperature of his furnace, that reason has less force; and we may build roofs 18 inches thick, or perhaps better cover the usual 9 inches with an equivalent layer of sand, which has the advantage of following the arch as it rises and falls with the different degrees of heat. The side-walls of the hearth, usually 131/2 inches thick, may also he thickened up to 18 inches, and the door-linings to 7 inches; and the heat thereby saved will be valuable, while its absence from the working-platform will be much appreciated by the workmen.

Jan 1, 1892

By Jasper Whiting

It is well known that there is no better indication of the working of a blast-furnace than is ,given by analyses of its gases; yet although many indiviclual analyses have been made, there is, I think, no

Jan 1, 1892