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By David A. Keys

Applied geophysics is the youngest child of that old branch of learning that has been known from Aristotle's time as physics—the constitution and laws of nature. The mother science, with the help of mathematics, has given birth to many children, who, on becoming of age in the scientific sense, wedded more practical applications which later became known as electrical engineering, physical chemistry and acoustical engineering. Some vigorous sons still retain the family name, among which the most recent to take its place as a division of science is geophysics, which deals with the physics of the earth. Geophysics in its broad sense has many departments—meteorology, oceanography and seismology, to mention only three. Within the past 20 years, however, a special interest has arisen in the application of physical principles to problems in geology, mining and civil engineering, with the consequent rapid growth of what has now been called "applied geophysics." Applied geophysics in this narrower sense is the application of experimental and theoretical physics to determine variations and discontinuities in underground structures that cannot be ascertained from surface inspection. It seems evident, then, that the physics department is the natural place in a university where the principles and methods involved should be taught and developed, for the physicist will also have had the requisite training in mathematics that the proper understanding of many methods now used will require. A knowledge of the procedure and principles, however, is not sufficient for the successful application of geophysical methods. One may know the dynamics of flight of golf balls and of impact and yet not play a par game of golf! The proper selection and use of the right club to suit the circumstances of the lay of the ball and an acquaintance with the possibilities and limitations of the strokes as well as the practical execution of the play is essential to a successful game. So, also, in the application of geophysical methods, it is important for the geophysicist to use the best device under the conditions presented, to know the limitations of the conclusions deduced from his physical measurements and to make the proper interpretation of the results. A knowledge of geology will be of great aid in coming to the correct con-

Jan 1, 1940

By E. H. Wells, A. Andreas

The oil and gas industry of New Mexico recorded notable progress ill 1935. More wells were brought in than in any previous year, and important new discoveries were made. The total number of completions was 340, of which 260 were oil wells, 8 were gas wells and 72 were dry holes. The total oil production was 20,228,947 bbl., an appreciable increase over the 1934 production of 16,636,804 barrels. Many of the wells completed in southeastern New Mexico were acidized. This treatment proved highly effective in increasing the capacity of the wells, the resulting potentials usually being two to ten times as large as before acid treatment. In the Lea County fields in which proration was entirely on an acreage basis, the tendency of many of the operators was to complete their wells according to best conservation practice rather than to obtain the largest possible potential. Much remedial work was done in the Hobbs, Cooper, Jal and Eunice fields, and with excellent results. At many of the wells high gas-oil ratios were greatly reduced and encroaching waters shut off by setting packers. Several companies carried on pretentious geophysical campaigns in the southeastern part of the state. The location of the Amerada discovery well in the Monument field was based on geophysical surveys. The New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission, established by the 1935 Legislature and consisting of the Governor, the Commissioner of Public Lands and the State Geologist, began to function in May. Production in the state thereafter was based on orders issued by the Commission. Proration in the Hobbs field, which had been provided for since July, 1930, by successive proration agreements signed by all operators in the field and approved by the State Geologist, was continued by the Commission by giving approval to the current proration agreement,. A plan of proration for the other Lea County fields that had been in offect since early ill 1934 was adopted. 111 September, 1935, the Commission approved a. proration agreement for the Artesia-Jackson-Maljarnar area in Eddy and Lea counties that had been agreed upon by

Jan 1, 1936

By George Wolff

To THE average person, the purport of the items and figures on the balance sheet of a mining company are hazy and the real financial condition of the company is cloaked in obscurity. It is also likely that the satisfaction of the stockholder in his investment, as well as the determination of the prospective investor, rests more on the reputation of the company, his confidence in the management, the stated earnings per share and the dividends paid, than on a comprehension of the information contained in the balance sheet. The balance sheet of any company at best can only closely approximate the true financial condition as of a given date. Any item of asset, except cash, can probably be altered if another's viewpoint is applied. It is difficult and expensive to drill and explore an orebody to determine the entire tonnage of ore therein. Those inherent difficulties render it practically impossible to prepare an absolutely correct balance sheet of a mining company. It is possible, however, to present the facts of a mining company more intelligently and comprehensively than is usually done. With this in mind, a balance sheet of an imaginary mining company is submitted, with supporting schedules. The same fundamental principles hold true whether we consider a large or a small company. Less complexity is involved in dealing with the affairs of a smaller company. Therefore, for this purpose, the assumed company operates but two mines and a smelting plant. It has been deemed advisable to introduce the features of the operation of a mine acquired prior to March 1, 1913 and one after that date. The presentation therefore is concerned in one mine with the appraisement as of March 1, 1913 and in the other with the appraisement by reason of discovery. A consequential factor pertains to dividends paid from depletion reserves and therefore free of surtax to the stockholders. While supporting schedules, when necessary, give details of certain items on the balance sheet, it seems desirable to give further explanations with respect to some of them. This seems to be important because some mining companies do not treat the items as indicated on the statements submitted.

Jan 1, 1928

By W. T. Turrall, D. Porter

The paper describes a machine developed for the purpose of concentrating clear optical grade fluorspar crystal from a feed material containing less than 1 pct impurities. The principle of concentration is based on the fact that in a liquid having an index of refraction equal to that of fluorite (n — 1.434) clear crystals are invisible, whereas crystals containing occluded impurities absorb a part of the light. As the crystals pass through a light beam, undesired crystals give themselves away by creating a shadow on a photoelectric receiver. .The shadow is converted by the photoelectric cell into an electric pulse. An electronic circuit amplifies this pulse and commands the operation of a mechanical concentrator. Hp HE crystal laboratory, Dept. of Physics, Massa--*- chusetts lnstitute of Technology, was confronted with the problem of obtaining a supply of optical grade calcium fluoride (CaF,) for use in growing synthetic CaF, crystals. A search of the known fluorspar deposits did not indicate that any quantity of optical spar could be obtained. Even the best material had to be sorted by hand to remove impurities. The process for growing CaF, crystals developed by Professor D. C. Stockbarger of the Dept. of Physics, M.I.T., necessitates very pure feed materials. Exclusion of impurities is required, even in amounts detectable only spectrographically. The impurities occurred as minute inclusions of SiO,, BaSO,, CaCO,, FeS2, water or air. Crystals up to 4 in. in diam and weighing several pounds are made by the Harshaw Chemical Co. in Cleveland. Since the time required to grow a 4-in. crystal is about one week, and since the cost of manufacture is high, removal of impurities by any concentration method appeared practical. The mineral engineering section of the Dept. of Metallurgy undertook to investigate the possibility of concentrating clear optical fluorspar, —4 mesh + 10 mesh, from a feed containing over 99 pct CaF,. Various innovations of the known methods of concentration were considered, but in each case the minute amount of impurities associated with the crystal produced such extremely small differences

Jan 1, 1953

By Joseph C. Platt

It is not the object of the present paper to give a description of the minerals found on Mine Hill, in Sussex County, N. J., nor even to touch upon all the forms of the ores named, but to place upon record and call to the attention of the Institute some interesting facts concerning them. In May, 1875, after the Dover meeting, some of the members visited this locality, and, no doubt, it is fresh in their memories, being one of the best known mineralogical points in our country. It will be only necessary to describe it very briefly. Mine Hill and Stirling Hill, in Sussex County, N. J.,—the former being at the village of Franklin Furnace, and the latter near Ogdensburg,—are the only localities in the State where zinc ores are found in workable quantities.* Mine Hill is the more northerly, and mineralogically differs from its neighbor, chiefly in having no hydrated ores to speak of, while at Stirling this deposit is considerable. At both points Franklinite, red oxide, and silicate of zinc occur in large quantities. Mine Hill lies on the east side of the Wallkill River, above which it rises to an extreme elevation of about 150 feet. On the summit the outcrop of the Franklinite vein appears, while the lowest worked points are perhaps 10 or 15 feet above the level of the stream. Cornmencing at the northern end, where the Hamburg Road crosses it, this outcrop runs along the northwestern brow of the hill a distance of about 2000 feet, in a general southwest direction, to a point where is a large, cavern-like opening, called the "Southwest Opening." " Double Rock," about the highest point on the hill, lies near the middle of this 2000 feet of outcrop, and over or near it passes a property line, to which allusion will hereafter be made. At the Southwest Opening the vein bends abruptly towards the east,—the angle between the two parts being perhaps 45°,—and this easterly branch continues some 700 feet. From the northern part of the Stirling Hill deposit to the southern part of the Mine Hill deposit is about two miles, and in this interval the vein carrying Franklinite

The Manufacturer's Viewpoint A prominent manufacturer of mining 'machinery not long ago expressed himself as being confident that he was securing the best kind of publicity for his product through the advertising pages of the monthly Bulletin of the American Institute of Mining Engineers. Such an expression coming from such a man is highly gratifying; yet it is justifiable when the high quality of reader and subscriber is taken into consideration. In fact, the majority of those using our advertising pages feel the same. It is to be regretted, of course, that others catering to our field do not realize the means at their disposal for presenting the points of interest of their product to the mining man. The question has been asked, " Do your members read their Bulletin?" They not only read the editorial pages, but they "admit being up-to-date enough to peruse the advertising section to "see what is new." The next question the prospective advertiser asks is, " Will the Bulletin bring inquiries?" The answer to this question holds good for any publication having as subscribers those who have purchasing or recommending power-yes, if the article advertised is not a stock one, that has been before the public for any length of time. To secure inquiries on, say, a standard centrifugal pump or any other standard product, the features of which are well known, is a most difficult proposition. Yet, of course, some inquiries are secured, but mostly from those having use for the catalogue or trade literature for reference purposes. It is safe to say that the traceable returns from advertising in trade publications hardly, if at all, pay for the advertising. The real returns are intangible, and result from the constant publicity, and keeping ?everlastingly at it." Who can say what subconscious effect is taking place when an advertisement is "glanced at," to say nothing of the effect produced when the copy is attractive and interests the reader. Time after time it has been proved that sales have been secured as a result of an advertisement, yet no inquiry had been made directly traceable to advertising.

Jan 8, 1915

By Carl H. Beal

The most important factors that should be given consideration in the valuation of oil lands are: (1) the amount of oil the property will produce; (2) the amount of money this oil will bring (based upon the future prices of oil); (3) development and production costs; (4) the rate of interest on the investment; (5) the retirement or amortization of invested capital; and (6) the salvage or "scrap" value of the equipment when the property is exhausted. These factors are of varying importance and some of them may not enter all valuation problems, but most of them should be given consideration in any valuation even though only a rough estimate of the value of the property is desired. The value of a property may be changed over night by the completion of important test wells, by the sudden water flooding, or by a change in the price of oil. The best a petroleum engineer can give is the value of the property under the conditions existing at the time the appraisal is made with a fair forecast of future action of the wells and of the price of oil. Our experience in the scientific valuation of oil lands is not broad and there is very little published information on the subject; it, therefore, becomes necessary in studying such problems to form comparisons with the factors involved in the valuation of mines—the closest parallel. One of the reasons for the lack of substantial progress in oil-land valuation methods has been the necessity of making an estimate of the future production of the oil property to be valued. Oil men and accountants have not generally conceded that such estimates could be made with any degree of accuracy. It has been shown, however, in several recent publications that with certain data available reasonably close estimates can be made. The accuracy of an appraisal depends chiefly on the accuracy of the estimates of future production and of the future price of oil. The accuracy of the former is sometimes necessarily based on geological inferences. Geology is not an exact science and geological data in connection with oil production cannot always be mathematically evaluated.

Jan 1, 1921

Discussion of the paper of C. M. YOUNG, presented at the St. Louis meeting, October, 1917, and printed in Bulletin No. 129, September, 1917, pp. 1369 to 1384. CARL SCHOLZ, Chicago, Ill.-Mr. Young was kind enough to' allude to the development of a mine in which I am now engaged. Several months ago the Burlington Railroad decided to open a mine in the field Which they own in Franklin County containing some 15,000 acres .(6070 ha.) of coal, ranging in thickness from 8 to 12 ft. (2 to 3.6 m.). This proposition in itself is attractive to any mining engineer, but with the backing of a large company I saw an opportunity to do some novel work in the construction line, and for several months I have been investigating and working on the problem of developing what I hope will be the largest and best equipped mine in the State of Illinois. The shaft will be sunk at a place where the coal lies at a depth of 600 ft. (182 m.) and conditions both of the surface and of the coal are ideal in every way; the seam is almost level, and we had only 7 ft. (2 m.) of surface clay to go through. We are going to hoist by skips in order to reduce the rope speed. I believe that is a long step in the direction of economy, because we not only double the output of the mine by hoisting the contents of two cars atone time, but we reduce the proportion of dead weight. In our case there will be 20 tons of coal and 18,000 lb. of skip, or 55 per cent. net and 45 per cent. tare. That, of course, necessitates less than half the rope speed for the same tonnage, and we all know that speed means power and power means cost. Skip hoisting permits the use of solid-end gate cars, which is an advantage. The cost of these cars will be in the neighborhood of $250 apiece; They are well built, with roller-bearing wheels of the most up-to-date type, spring draw-bars, and refinements of-that character which are necessary to move the loads most advantageously.

Jan 1, 1918

By Fred Wise

THE Getchell mine, a comparatively recent gold discovery, is in the old Potosi mining district, Humboldt County, Nevada. All ore is mined from open pits using Diesel shovels and gasoline trucks. Two types of ore are mined, oxide and sulphide. Oxide ores are siliceous or shaly; sulphide ores either gougy, siliceous or shaly. In mining, the sulphide ore is segregated into hard and gougy ore, because the gouge must be dried before it can be crushed, The oxide ore is not segregated. GENERAL METALLURGY The oxide ore is the leached outcrop that overlies the sulphide ore body. All of the iron and arsenic sulphides found in the sulphide ores have been thoroughly oxi-dized, The sulphur and arsenic have been leached out while the iron is present as hematite and limonite. The oxide ore is amenable to direct cyanidation, and although no visible free gold is present it is released at a comparatively coarse grind. The sulphide ore is more refractory, since the gold is all of micron size and some of it is locked in fine sulphides. It has been established microscopically that the free gold is coated with an impervious shell, which is probably some form of iron compound. The sulphide ores contain from 1.5 to 2 per cent of arsenic, which is present as orpiment and realgar with minor amounts of arsenopyrite. The orpiment and realgar are of a later mineralization than the gold and are barren. Roasting and washing of the sulphide ore prior to cyanidation is necessary to eliminate the arsenic, to alter the gold coating from an insoluble form to a soluble form, and to release the gold associated with the fine sulphides. Washing the ground calcine in weak sulphuric acid, trona, or hot water are beneficial in the order named, but to date the water is the best from an economic standpoint. Metallurgical tests as well as plant practice indicate that a certain amount of gold cannot be recovered even by going beyond economic practices, On this basis metallurgical results are viewed in the light of an optimum tailing rather than a per-centage of extraction.

Jan 1, 1940

By David Keys

THE actual procedure in estimating depth of overburden from mag-netic observations made on the surface will vary with the form of the deposit and any theoretical discussion will apply only so far as the form of the deposit conforms to the mathematical premises on which the theory is based. Since the shapes of natural deposits in the field cannot be expressed rigorously in mathematical form, the best that can be done is to assume some simple form and deduce results. Fortunately many small variations in form produce only slight changes in the estimated depth of overburden, therefore the methods have a definite practical value. For the theoretical treatment, magnetic ore deposits may be divided roughly into three classes, depending upon whether the magnetic anom-alies may be considered to arise from (1) a single magnetic pole, (2) a dike or (3) a magnetic doublet. Particular cases, falling under one or other of these classes, have been discussed by different authors.1-4 In general, it may be stated that when the magnetic effects as measured on the surface are due only to one pole of the body, the other pole being so remote that its effect may be neglected, the resultant anomaly F at any point will vary as the inverse square of the distance r of the point from the pole, which may be expressed mathematically by F = k/r2, where k is a constant. When the deposit occurs in the form of a long, thin dike, the resultant anomaly will be of the form F = k'/r and when the deposit is in the shape of a lens, so that both poles have an appreciable effect on the surface, the result will be similar to that caused by a magnetic doublet, and the form will be F = k'/r3. The particular class under which a deposit falls may be deduced from the results of the magnetic survey. The second class is readily found, but there may be difficulty in deciding between the first and third. Isody-namic contours of both the vertical and horizontal anomalies will often be a good guide in making a correct decision.

Jan 1, 1937

By T. E. Harper, Gustave Reinberg

Electrolytic refining of all lead bullion produced at the Oroya smelter of the Cerro de Pasco Copper Corporation has been adopted as standard practice. A pilot refinery with a capacity of 25 metric tons daily has been in operation since June, 1934, and a new refining unit having an initial capacity of 100 tons per day is under construction. This program has been made possible by certain modifications of the usual Betts refining process1, developed at Oroya, which have the effect of making the purity of the lead produced, and the acid loss incurred in operating the process, entirely independent of the amount of impurities in the original bullion. The modified process, as developed and at present used, treats impure bullion direct, without presoftening or other prerefining step, except that if the bullion carries tin it is desirable to detin before casting into anodes, since tin carries over to some extent to the cathodes. The refining process developed differs from usual Betts practice in two essential particulars: the anodes are cast thinner and replaced at more frequent intervals, and anode slimes are washed by a system of counter-current dipping, prior to their removal from the surface of the anode scrap. Limiting the period of anode corrosion insures a cathode of high purity, since solution of impurities at the anode can occur only if the thickness of the anode slime blanket, and hence the voltage drop across it, becomes greater than a certain critical value. The dip washing system operates to prevent acid losses, by recovering the highly concentrated, nearly neutral lead fluosilicate solution present in the pores of the slime blanket on the corroded anode, and doing this in such a way that there is no opportunity for chemical decomposition to occur. The best illustration of the efficacy of these two expedients may be secured from records of more than a year's operation of the 25-ton pilot plant, during which period the acid losses were less than 2 Ib. of 100 per cent hydrofluosilic acid (H2SiF6) per ton of lead produced, and typical assays of bullion and refined lead were as shown in Table 1.

Jan 1, 1937

By Geo. Otis Smith

Twelve years ago, the Director of the United States Geological Survey addressed to the Secretary of the Interior a letter calling attention to the government's need for liquid fuel for naval use and pointing out that the rate of increase in demand was more rapid than the increase in production.' This letter, in a way, inaugurated the policy of public oil-land withdrawals, which was well founded in its primary purpose of protecting the oil industry and highly desirable in its immediate effect of checking the over-development of that day in California. Unfortunately, however, through delays in legislation, this policy may be regarded now as having outlived both its intent and its usefulness. In 1908, the country's production of oil was 178,500,000 bbl., and there was a surplus above consumption of more than 20,000,000 bbl. available to go into storage. In 1918, 10 years later, the oil wells of the United States yielded 356,000,000 bb1.—nearly twice the yield of 1908—but to meet the demands of the increased consumption more than 24,000,000 bbl. had to be drawn from storage. Nor is this all of the brief comparison. In 1918, our excess of imports over exports of crude petroleum was nearly 33,000,000 bbl. whereas in 1908 we exported 3,500,000 bbl., which was net, as we had not begun to import Mexican oil. In this period, the annual fuel-oil consumption of the railroads alone has increased from 16,871,000 to 36,714,000 bbl.; the annual gasoline production from 540,000,000 gal. to 3,500,000,000 gal. This record may be taken not only as justifying the earlier appeal for Federal action, but as warranting deliberate attention to the oil problem of today. Need of Future Supply The position of the United States in regard to oil can best be characterized as precarious. Using more than one-third of a billion barrels a year, we are drawing not only from the underground pools but also from storage, and both of these supplies are limited. In 1918, the contribu-

Jan 1, 1921

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

By H. Evans, L. A. Hunt

The raw materials used in the blast furnaces at the Geneva Works of U.S. Steel Corp. have a high degree of variability in size-consist and chemical content. To overcome the problems caused by the use of highly variable raw materials in the blast-furnace operation, large blending piles are used. An investigation of the blending system showed that variability was significantly reduced by the use of these blending piles. This paper describes the blending system, the method used to evaluate the effect of the blending system, and the results of the investigation. The remarkable improvement in blast-furnace performance since World War II has been in large measure due to the use of beneficiated burdens to reduce the variation of both chemical analysis and size consist. This practice allows the operator better control of his blast furnace, enabling him to operate more economically and to produce chemically uniform hot metal. Planning for uniformity usually begins during mining by extracting ore from several locations within a pit to produce a final product with a specified analysis. Another approach is to stockpile ores having widely varying analyses in individual piles and then drawing the required amounts from each stockpile to provide a blend with a predetermined analysis. A further improvement in blending procedures is to take ores from several sources, bedding them horizontally in layers and reclaiming by vertical slicing from the blended pile. The last procedure, when properly executed, is one of the best methods for achieving maximum uniformity with highly variable ores. U.S. Steel Corp.'s Geneva Works initially obtained iron ore for their blast furnaces from the Cedar City area of southern Utah. These ores were formed primarily by the replacement of limestone and siltstone formations with solutions containing iron and several other elements. The original iron content of the ores in the ground varied from a high of 70% to practically zero with a minimum acceptable iron content for shipping of 37%. Substantial amounts of silica, calcium, magnesium and alumina were found in the ores along with minor amounts of copper, lead, zinc, nickel, titanium, manganese, phosphorus and sulfur which were sometimes present in detrimental amounts. Iron-to-silica ratios varied considerably throughout

Jan 1, 1968

By Robert W. Hunt

When I had the honor of presenting to the Institute at the Buffalo meeting in October, 1888 (Trans., xvii., 226), my paper on " Steel Rails and Specifications for their Manufacture," I expressed my hesitancy in submitting my ideal rail-sections. Since then, continued residence in Chicago, perhaps, or greater intercourse with railroad officials, has either given me more courage or has taught me that so little is really known on the subject that one is safe in expressing one's views, let them be ever so erroneous. As a further personal excuse, I may remind you that " fools rush in," etc. At all events, I would now call attention to certain rail-sections which I believe to be good. I do not say they are the best, but I feel sure they have more merit than the majority of the adopted heavier-sectioned rails. In determining the proper form for a rail, the subject should be considered from two points; first, and most important, the duty required ; second, and of almost equal importance, the influence of existing details of manufacture upon the character of the finished product. It is perfectly proper that all the strains to which the rail will be subjected should be considered and calculated. But its ability to resist them will depend quite as much upon the character of the metal as upon the form of its section. That which would be the realization of the ideal with good steel would be disappointment with poorer metal. Therefore, the railroad engineer should always have in mind and pay due respect to what the metal worker may give him—the may being the factór of danger to be covered by his factor of safety, and possessing greater importance than any formula laid down by never so eminent authorities. It is well-known how positive is my conviction that high heat during manufacture and good rails cannot go together; hence, if we insist upon the avoidance of this evil by rail-makers, we must give them sections which can be made at low temperatures with commercial as well as technical success. The market-price for rails controls the practice of makers, and,

Jan 1, 1889

By H. W. Camp

Research is defined, scientifically, as a "systematic investigation of some phenomenon, and also a search for hidden treasures." Chemists tell us that the hidden treasures of petroleum are far richer than the products which have been best known to us. However, these secrets will be discovered only through intensive and systematic, as well as scientific, industrial research. Indeed, the scope of the subject is so great that such an intensive research program should be assumed by a centralized organization supported by the petroleum industry as a whole. Such organization should assume the responsibilities for investigation of new products and development of markets for such products. Gasoline, the chief product of the petroleum industry has become a cheap commodity. The continual uncontrolled overproduction of crude petroleum, the intensive competitive condition in the marketing of petroleum products and the increase of refining efficiency and installing of cracking facilities, have all combined to lower the market value of gasoline. The purchaser has profited from the lower cost of gasoline by way of lower prices so that today the most important product can scarcely be manufactured at a profit. In other fields, manufacturing industries have diversified their products when faced by a similar situation. Thus, they have been able to widen their marketing outlook. Why cannot the petroleum industry employ the same tactics? Right now we are hearing much discussion concerning the development of a wider market for existing petroleum products and new products for existing or prospective markets. For instance, we can cite recent developments for use of propane, butane and ethylene. Butane has been found to be an efficient and inexpensive refrigerant, especially adapted to home refrigerating systems. Propane and butane fractions of natural gasoline may be shipped under pressure and may be used as a substitute for, acetylene in cutting torches in connection with oxygen. There is a possibility of substituting butane for gas oil in the carburation of coal gas, as we know that butane contains practically the gas enrichment as the same volume of gas oil and should prove to be a superior product for

Jan 1, 1928

By C. F. Dietz

WHEN thinking of industrial relations, we must not confine the term to what is ordinarily called "welfare work;" viz., organizing baseball teams, departmental parties, athletic contests, and such things. These are all of interest but not very helpful in solving the problems of industry. We must think of industrial relations as that understanding developed between workers and management that permits of harmonious progress because of a mutual understanding of each other's problems. Most of the industrial unrest, discontent, mistrust, or antagonism is due to misunderstanding; and that misunderstanding is the direct result of not having taken the workers into our confidence. If they are merely cogs in a machine, employed to do certain things, and have no interest in anything but the receipt of the pay envelope, we cannot expect intelligent harmonious progress. There are still some people who think that the interests of management, or capital invested in a business, and the interests of the worker are diametrically opposed. That is an unfortunate belief; the interests are identical. If the worker does not understand what his part of the work represents, what the management's part represents, and what the invested capital's part represents, he is bound to have a misconception, of the matter and will think only in terms of the pay envelope. The methods used for producing a better understanding between workers and management do not much matter so long as the end is attained. Some plants prefer shop committees; others attempt to work through the foremen in the various departments; others, by personal contact-between the management and the men, especially if a shop is small. It does not really matter how the end is attained as long as the object is accomplished. The best type of industrial relations can probably be attained when the mystery is taken out of industry-when the workers understand what they. are a part of, what their function is, what they are contributing. They should also understand something of fundamental economics-that it is not just a question of getting all they can and giving just as little as possible but that their contribution makes for expansion, progress, and permanence, and opens a field of activity for themselves that other-wise would probably be blocked.

Jan 6, 1925

By Roland D. Parks

To construct a yieldable metal prop of demonstrated practicability has been the aim of the writer of this article for a period of years. Such a prop is herewith described; it involves a yielding principle not previously utilized, to the best of the author's knowledge, in any of the numerous types of props which are in use in Europe and England or on record at the United States Patent Office.' No attempt will be made in this paper to analyze the situation in regard to the economics of timber substitutes. Suffice it to say that shortage of suitable timber combined with high freight rates has already presented a problem in some mining districts, and in the relatively near future will probably demand considerable attention from the mining industry as a whole. In order to understand the problems involved in the design of timber substitutes for underground support, it will be well to review briefly the fundamentals of ground subsidence and of the action of timber as props. The forces encountered in the support of mine openings are not computable. As a rule subsiding ground moves slowly; but it moves with an irresistible force. The only way to be certain of stopping ground movement is to completely fill up the openings below such movement. This is, obviously, an impracticability from the mining standpoint. The ordinary procedure is to put in timber to hold up the loose back and permit the natural arch above to resist its own loading. Under these conditions the timber rigidly supports the loose; but if the natural arch fails, the timber is then called upon to resist this additional pressure. Usually it cannot do this. The result is a crushing of the supports. Efficient timbering is that which will last just long enough to complete in safety the mining operations necessary to extract the ore. Wood has a cellular structure. It has great longitudinal strength for its weight. Further, it possesses the ability to maintain a high percentage of its strength while it is being crushed. In other words, it rigidly supports loads up to its capabilities and then continues to sustain

Jan 1, 1934

By George Wolff

To THE average person, the purport of the items and figures on the balance sheet of a mining company are hazy and the real financial condition of the company is cloaked in obscurity. It is also likely that the satisfaction of the stockholder in his investment, as well as the determination of the prospective investor, rests more on the reputation of the company, his confidence in the management, the stated earnings per share and the dividends paid, than on a comprehension of the information contained in the balance sheet. The balance sheet of any company at best can only closely approximate the true financial condition as of a given date. Any item of asset, except cash, can probably be altered if another's viewpoint is applied. It is difficult and expensive to drill and explore an orebody to determine the entire tonnage of ore therein. Those inherent difficulties render it practically impossible to prepare an absolutely correct balance sheet of a mining company. It is possible, however, to present the facts of a mining company more intelligently and comprehensively than is usually done. With this, in mind, a balance sheet of an imaginary mining company is submitted, with supporting schedules. The same fundamental principles hold true whether we consider a large or a small company. Less complexity is involved in dealing with the affairs of a smaller company. Therefore, for this purpose, the assumed company operates but two mines and a smelting plant. It has been deemed advisable to introduce the features of the operation of a mine acquired prior to March 1, 1913 and one after that date. The presentation therefore is concerned in one mine with the appraisement as of March 1, 1913 and in the other with the appraisement by reason of discovery. A consequential factor pertains to dividends paid from depletion reserves and therefore free of surtax to the stockholders. While supporting schedules, when necessary, give details of certain items on the balance sheet, it seems desirable to give further explanations with respect to some of them. This seems to be important because some mining companies do not treat the items as indicated on the statements submitted.

Jan 1, 1928

By E. W. Shilling Harwick Johnson

The separation of hematite by hysteretic repulsion was first brought to the attention of the public in 1922, by W. M. Mordeyl. Three years later another paper2 was published and after another four years a third paper3 appeared in the South African publications. Certain data were lacking in these papers. In order to continue the work intelligently a knowledge of the shapes of the hysteresis curves for certain minerals was very necessary. This information was not available until the present year4. It was known that reduction of certain ores rendered them amenable to this process of separation but definite data in the form of curves showing exactly the effect of such treatment were lacking. Probably our best source of information on the separation of minerals by the use of alternating-current magnetic fields today is the reports from the U. S. Bureau of Mines5"7. It is not the purpose of this paper to tell the reader in detail how to make a commercial separator. Experimental models have recently been made? and the results obtained have been so good that it is the opinion of the authors that the public will soon take an active interest in the subject and its development. The writers have constructed a separator that is considerably different in construction and operation from the two types described by Mr. Davis. This will be described, but the real purpose of this paper is to outline certain experiments and give curves showing data that have a fundamental bearing upon the practical construction of a separator of this type. Specular hematite is usually considered nonmagnetic; that is, it is very feebly magnetic as compared to some other minerals. If specular hematite is placed in a steady magnetic field there is no apparent attraction. At the moment of closing the switch, however, some particles may be seen to move. If the field is alternating, the particles are con-

Jan 1, 1936