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By AIME

THE history of the Mine La Motte area covers a greater period of time than any other mining operation west of the Mississippi, for it was almost exactly four centuries ago that the white man first visited the region. In May 1541 a few men from the party of Fernando de Soto traversed the place looking for silver which they understood the Indians had found in the vicinity. Some historians say that De Soto himself visited the place sometime later. No other white man came through again until the early 1700's. In 1712 King Louis XIV of France granted to Antoine Crozat a charter for transacting all business and government in the vast domain of the New Continent stretching from the Gulf of Mexico northward indefinitely. This

Jan 1, 1947

By J. Burns Read

IT IS the purpose of this paper to summarize, as far as possible, the metallurgical information and experience gained by the Ordnance Department, during the War, in the manufacture of artillery cartridge cases, to describe the tests to which artillery cartridge cases were put, and to summarize the knowledge and experience gained in this testing. The authors wish to acknowledge the aid given by manufacturers, army officers, and civilian employees of the Ordnance Department in obtaining these data. Artillery cartridge cases are cold drawn from circular disks punched from strips of rolled brass. The manufacture involves from 25 to 30 main operations, which are done almost entirely on a punch press. Descriptions of the operations have appeared in various periodicals and, therefore, will not be given here. After each cupping, or drawing, operation, except the last, the cases are annealed at from 540° to 650° C. (1000° to 1200°F.), to remove all the hardening stresses set up in the metal and to allow complete recrystallization. After each annealing, the cases are pickled in niter cake or sulfuric-acid solution and then washed in water to remove all traces of acid. In some instances, the cases are then immersed in a cyanide-salt solution, and afterwards rinsed in water, to remove the thin layer of copper that forms on the surface of the cases during the acid pickle. The last cold-drawing operation is followed, by the heading operation which, by flattening the head of the case on the outside, causes the metal to flow on the inside to approximately the proper finished dimensions. The mouth, or open end, is then annealed at 430° to 480° C. (800° to 900° F.) by immersion in a salt bath or by gas flames. After being washed, the cases are tapered, when they are ready for machining, inspection, and testing.

Jan 4, 1922

By Gill Montgomery

At this moment in the history of the world, the all- pervading and universally most important fact is that the world population is beginning to outgrow its food supply, and the United States has suddenly lost its ability to give away huge food surplus to any nation in the world with a food shortage problem. This, of course, means that, all of a sudden, our government must completely reverse its former bureaucratic stance regarding crop controls and agricultural price supports, to out-right incentives to increase farm production and bring more idle land into food-growing use.

Jan 2, 1967

By Leo J. Miller

It is both an honor and a pleasure for me to be the keynote speaker for the Paul F. Kerr's Symposium on Applied Mineralogy. Professor Kerr was a man for all seasons to his students, and he treated all students as distinct individuals. Philip Bethke in his memorial to Dr. Kerr summed up our remembrance best by stating that "We have lost our most successful educator-administrator-scholar, who was our steadfast teacher-counselor-mentor-friend." His unique trait was the ability to bring out the best in a variety of individuals In order that their performance was at the peak of quality.

Jan 1, 1985

Jan 1, 1884

||Abad, Leopoldo F, Min Engr, Div of Mines, Bureau of Science Manila, P I '23 Abadilla, Quirico A, Geol , Logo Pet Corp Box 172, Maracaibo, Venezuela '20 ||Abarquez, Ramon F, Met, Bureau of Science Manila, P I '24 ||Abbey, Robert Graham, Student, Case School of Applied Science Cleveland, Ohio '21 Abbott, A N , Mines Supt, Mazapil Copper Co, Ltd Concepcion del Oro, Zac , Mexico '23 Abbott, Clarence E , Mgr, Mines & Quarries, Tenn Coal, Iron & R R Co. 1242 Brown Marx Bldg, Birmingham, Ala '04 Abbott, Louis Benjamin, Chief Engr, Consolidation Coal Co, Elkhorn Div Jenkins, Ky '15 Abbott, Robert R , Met Engr, Peerless Motor Car Co Cleveland, Ohio '12 ||Abbott, Wells Osborn, Ray Consolidated Copper Co Hayden, Ariz '23 Abeel, George H., Jr, Cons Min Engr 4612 W 17th St, Los Angeles, Cal '18 Abel, Albert E , Asst to Pres , Valley Mould & Iron Corp Sharpsville, Pa '19 Abernathy, George Elmer, Prof of Geol & Min , Kansas State Teachers College, Pittsburg, Kan '20 Abey, Hiroshi, Min & Met Engr, Chief Engr, Takata Min Co, 2 Yeirakucho, Nichome, Kojlmachiku, Tokyo, Japan '17 ||d'Ablamg, Philip R , Millman, Old Dominion Silver-Lead Co Ellensburg, Wash '25 Aborn, R H, X-Ray Metallographic Research, Mass Inst of Tech Cambridge, Mass '19 Abouchar, Sylvain Sley, Min Engr & Geol, care of S H Sekaly, 13 Rue El Nimr.

Jan 1, 1923

By Percival Roberts

I DESIRE to present this evening a few notes from the standpoint of a manufacturer upon the subject of tests of iron for structural purposes; not that I have any new facts to which to call your attention, but rather a statement of a few of the objectionable features of the present modes of operation, showing the absolute necessity of important and very radical changes. At the present time, as most of you are well aware, proposals for materials are accompanied by certain specifications as to quality and tests to which the manufactured article must conform. Evolved in many cases from the inner consciousness of some one more expert in theory than in practice, we find a few of the specifications to be good, many bad, and some indifferent. Appended are specimens of specifications of the most prominent engineers and railroad companies, which may be taken as representing the best and most intelligently framed specifications which we now have, arid yet in some pints scarcely satisfactory, owing to misunderstanding of tests as now made. To show the very varied opinions held as to proper quality of iron for bridge-work, I give the tests of two lots of fron made by inspectors with the results, which were referred to the maker with the following commensts : Lot No. 1. Teat of Iron for Eyebars. Reduced area. Elongation. Size. Per cent. Per cent. Breaking load. 4" x 1 3/8 26 25 68,500 Bent 120° around 1 1/2" bar with fracture. Reduced area. Elongation. Size. Percent. Percent. Breaking load. 6" x 1 7/15 24 24 48,820 Bent 110° around 2" bar. This iron should bend 180° without fracture, and is therefore rejected. Lot No. 2. Test of Iron for Brirlye. All measurements taken upon a parallel section of 10". Iron for tension members. Breaking load Elongation. size. per aquare inch. Percent. 1 5/8 49,600 20 14 61,600 27

Jan 1, 1882

By P. E. Fitzgerald, J. C. Gindlesperger

1. The Acidizer (Trade Publication of Dowell Inc.): No. 1. Aspects of Acidizing. No. 2. Inhibited Acid. No. 3. The Value of Acidizing. No. 4. The Chemistry of Acidizing. No. 5. Jelly Seal in Acidizing. No. 6. Loosening Stuck Drill Pipe. No. 7. The Geology of Acidizing. 2. J. C. Albright: Acid Is Being Used for Cleaning Intake Wells in Water-flooded Areas. Oil Weekly (Sept. 23, 1935) 24. 3. D. H. Bancroft: Acid Tests Increase Production of Zwolle Wells, Miller County, Arkansas. Oil and Gas Jnl. (Dec. 22, 1932) 42. 4. A. H. Bell: Possible Areas for Acid Treatment in Illinois. Pub. of Illinois- Indiana Petr. Assn. and lllinois Geol. Survey (1934) 49. 5. N. A. Best: Treating Limestone Formations Consists of More than Pouring Hydrochloric Acid in the Well. Oil and Gas Jnl. (April 5, 1934) 54. 6. L. G. E. Bignell: Sealing Off Salt Water from Oil-bearing Formations. Oil and Gas Jnl. (Jan. 30, 1936) 59. 7. L. G. E, Bignell: Acidizing Upper Limestone Formation Facilitated by the Use of Jelly Seal. Oil and Gas Jnl. (March 5, 1936) 30. 8. L. G. E. Bignell: Bailing, Shooting, Tubing and Acidizing Have All Been Tried in Deep Test at Binger, Oklahoma. Oil and Gas Jnl. (May 10, 1934) 38. 9. L. G. E. Bignell: Dowel1 Incorporated Increasing Its Field Service for Acid Treatment of Wells. Oil and Gas Jnl. (June 7, 1934) 62. 10. L. C. Chamberlain, Jr. and P. E. Fitzgerald: Oil Well Acidizing in Michigan. Mich. Acad. Sci. Papers (March 1937). 11. M. E. Chapman: Some of the Theoretical and Practical Aspects of the Acid Treatment of Limestone Wells. Oil and Gas Jnl. (Oct. 12, 1933) 10. 12. C. E. Clason and J. G. Staudt: Limestone Reservoir Rocks of Kansas React Favorably to Acid Treatment. Oil and Gas Jnl. (April 25, 1935) 53. 13. W. F. Cloud: Cleaning and Reconditioning Oil Wells—Reconditioning by Use of Acid (Petroleum Production 1937), 389. University of Oklahoma Press, 1937,' 14. K. A. Covell: Developments in Eastern Production Practice. Acid Treatment of Michigan Wells. Amer. Petr. Inst. Prod. Bull. 213 (1934) 77; Oil and Gas Jnl. (May 31, 1934) 89; Oil Weekly (May 28, 1934) 17. 15. B. A. Cunningham: Acid Treatment of Lime Formations. Amer. Petr. Inst. Paper 901 (1933) 9D, 1-7. 16. 0. I. DeSchon: Pondera Production up 22,000 Barrels. Montana Oil & Min. Jnl. (Jan. 26, 1935) 1.

Jan 1, 1937

By Truman Aldrich

THE Clinton group of the Silurian holds the red or fossiliferous ore; its outcrops have been mapped by the State or U. S. Geological Survey. This group is from 100 to 500 ft. thick in Alabama. There are places where it is entirely missing (doubtless islands in the Silurian Sea). In Etowah County, in part of Greasy Cove and vicinity, the upper seam is a coral reef impregnated with the red ore; in this same county, step, faults bring up the ore in three or four separate ridges practically parallel. In Blount County and on Raccoon Mountain, the ore runs under the carboniferous rocks and outcrops in the valleys. In examining some bore holes made in drilling for oil, the writer found the Clinton group continuing under the Warrior coal field wherever the drill has gone deep enough. It demonstrates the possibility of a source for red ore not seriously thought of until lately. The following bore holes made principally for oil, given in Bulletin No. 22, Geological Survey of Alabama, show the presence of either ore or red rock, and suggest vast resources yet to be outlined and developed for ore in the future. The locations are given by number on the map. Hole No. 1 was drilled 6 miles southeast of Russellville, Franklin County, by the Woodward Oil & Gas Co. It passed through 160 ft. of Clinton, but only a small show of red ore was found at 1280-1400 feet. A test well, No. 2, drilled near Atwood, Franklin County, in section 26, township 8, range 14, penetrated the Clinton at 1608 ft. and found 38 ft. of limy red rock, also 8 ft. of some blood red ending at 1820 ft., making 46 ft. of red rock in all. It is reported that some good ore was cut through but this work was done by a churn drill. The hole was continued by diamond drill from here. At least 400 ft. of the formation was classified as Clinton.

Jan 10, 1924

By Howard Martens, Pol Duwez

XPERIMENTS were performed on a Cr-Fc alloy Econtaining 44.7 pet Cr in order to determine the heat evolved during the transformation of the a solid solution into the s phase, and the change in volume accompanying the transformation. Since previous measurements on the rate of formation of a from s indicated that the reaction was quite fast as soon as the equilibrium temperature of 820°C was exceeded by some 50°, standard thermal analysis experiments were performed on heating specimens of s at the rate of approximately 40°C per sec. A definite thermal arrest was observed at 870"C, Fig. 1. This result indicates that the reverse seaction of into a is exothermic. From the heating curve of Fig. 1, taking 15°C per sec as the heating rate in the neighborhood of the transformation, 2.4 sec as the time for transformation, and assuming that the specific heat of the alloy at 850°C is an average between iron and chromium, namely 9.5 cal per mol per "C, the latent heat of transformation is approximately 342 cal per mol. The order of magnitude of this latent heat was also obtained by comparing the heating curve of Fig. 1 with a similar curve obtained with pure iron under identical experimental conditions. It was found that the length of the thermal arrest for s was about 1.8 times as long as that for iron. Since the latent heat of the a to 7 iron transformation is 203 cal per mol1, 2 the latent heat of it to a would be 365 cal per mol, which is in relatively good agreement with the value determined from the heating curve. For the determination of volume change, thermal expansion curves were recorded using a specimen containing 44.7 pet Cr and completely transformed to cr by previous treatment. The curves were recorded at a rate of heating of about 4°C per min and at approximately 840°C a sharr, increase in length of about 0.08 pet took place. Fig. 2. It is therefore established that the specific volume of a near the transformation temperature is about 0.24 pet smaller than that of a, and consequently, when the s phase forms in an a matrix, it would tend to shrink away from the matrix. Since the s phase is known to be extremely brittle, these results offer an explanation for the microscopic cracks often observed in the a phase under the microscope. The results of this study are in qualitative agreement with previously published data on stainless steel 19-9DLa and on a Cr-Fe alloy containing 45 pet Cr.' The increase in density due to the transformation from n to s given in ref. 4 is 0.90 pet. These measurements, however, were made at room temperature. whereas the presently reported 0.24 pet is the change at the temperature at which the transformation takes place during heating. In the graph of Fig. 2, the percentage change in length that would be observed at room temperature is given by the length X, which is about 0.27 pet. This would correspond to 0.81 pet in volume change. Acknowledgment This work was done at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under Contract No. DA-04-495-ORD-18 with the Army Ordnance Corps, Washington, D. C. The authors wish to thank this agency for permission to publish the results of this investigation. References I H. Klinkhardt: Measurements of True Specific Heats at High Temperatures. Annalen der Physik (1927) 84, pp. 167-200. - H. Esser and W. Runghardt: Influence of the Method, of Dctcrmination on the Measured Heat Content of Iron. Archtvo ffur Dct Eisenhiittenwesen 11934) 8, pp. 37-38. J. J. Gilman, P. K. Koh, and 0. Zmeskal. Delta Ferrite Formation and its influence on the Formation of Sigma in a Wrought Heat Resisting Steel. Trans. ASM 1 1949) 11, pp. 1371-1388. 1 J. M. Thomas: Discussion of ref. 3. Trans. ASM (1949) 41, pp. 3 390-1392.

Jan 1, 1957

By ALBERT P. J. BORDEAUX

THIS paper briefly describes the general outline of cyaniding silver-ores in Mexico, with special reference to personal experiments made in the Temascaltepec district. The most important papers on the subject deal with cyaniding gold-silver-ores, the gold predominating in value, so that the treatment is nearly the same as for gold-ores, the losses of silver being considered of little importance. I describe here the treatment of silver-gold-ores containing very little gold, which is more general in Mexico than elsewhere. The cyanide treatment, which was so successfully applied to gold-ores, did not succeed immediately with silver-ores on account of their varying composition. Gold occurs in nature usually in the native state, while silver occurs generally in combination with sulphur (argentite), and various combinations of sulphur, antimony, and arsenic. In former times there was a complete difference in the treatment of gold-ores and silver-ores. Amalgamation, which was successful with gold-ores, was generally inadequate with silver-ores. The usual treatment in Mexico for silver was the patio process, the theory of which was satisfactorily explained only quite recently by Mr. Ortega and others. GENERAL OUTLINE OP THE CYANIDE TREATMENT. The general tendency of the present practice is to slime the silver-ore as much as possible, and in order to obtain a higher efficiency, with less loss of cyanide, and greater speed, the following lines are observed 1. Crushing by stamps with 30- or 40-mesh screens, then crushing by Huntington or Chilean mills, through 60- or 80-mesh screens. 2. Concentration upon vanners.

Jan 1, 1910

By E. W. Engelmann

RAPID progress has been made during the past year in the copper mills throughout the country. Particular efforts have been made to increase the fine-grinding efficiency by the installation of larger classifying units operating in closed circuit with ball mills, such as the 78-in. high-weir Akins installation at the Phelps Dodge plant at Ajo, Ariz.; also the Type "FX" Dorr classifiers of Nevada Consolidated at McGill. Nev. and the "FX" Dorr bowl classifier of the Braden Copper Co. in Chile. Some of the copper milling plants in the Southwest, such as Chino in New Mexico and Ray Con. in Arizona, have replaced rolls operating wet in their fine-grinding circuit by rod mills. At Hollinger primary rod mills were formerly used in open circuit followed by pebble mills in closed circuit with classifiers. They now have primary ball mills in closed circuit with large extra heavy classifiers and no secondary mills. This new installation is producing the same grinding on 5000 tons per day with a reduction in cost of nearly 4c. per ton. At the Braden plant, in Chile, short-head Symons crushers have replaced 54-in. rolls, thereby in- creasing crushing capacity with some saving in maintenance cost.

Jan 1, 1939

By AIME AIME

THE climax of the various programs and entertainments in connection with the holding of the World Engineering Congress* in Tokyo in October was the complimentary dinner given by the visiting members of the Institute to our members in Japan. At the same time President Bradley conferred an honorary membership on Baron Takuma Dan, the vice-president of the World Engineering Congress.

Jan 1, 1930

By J. L. Workman

The Putnam Coal Mine, at design capacity, will be the third largest underground bituminous coal mine in the world and will feature the world's longest single flight belt conveyor. Construction is now in process; initial mining will commence in early 1969 and design capacity will be reached in 1971. The Putman Coal Mine reserves are located in south-central West Virginia and contain approximately 27,000 acres of prime Pittsburgh No. 8 coal; reserves are sufficient to support a 3.5 million tpy operation for over 30 years. The mine portal area is located some six miles inland from the Kanawha River. The river loading facility is located approximately 156 miles by way of river from the market.

Jan 1, 1969

By Joseph T. Singwald

INTRODUCTION THE purpose of this chapter is to present the diagnostic features (geologic, mineralogic, chemical, and physical) of the principal types of hypogene ore deposits recognized in current genetic classifications, and to classify the ore deposits of the western United States into those types. The genetic divisions used and the criteria determining them are essentially those followed by Lindgren in his Mineral Deposits. Deviations from Lindgren represent either changed conceptions since 1928 (the date of the third edition of Mineral Deposits) due to advance in knowledge or the inevitable differences of opinion between experts in active fields of investigation. Though nineteen economic geologists have been given free hand in presenting their particular topics, there are no fundamental departures in the chapter from the principles set forth by Lindgren. It would be entirely beyond the capacity of a single chapter to give a comprehensive geologic description of all the ore deposits of the western United States. Descriptions of individual deposits have been restricted to those features that are of most diagnostic genetic value. All of the more important deposits receive that much attention. Deposits of lesser economic importance and those inadequately known geologically are treated more briefly or merely cited under what seems to be their proper genetic assignment. The geographic limits of the descriptive matter are the Black Hills and the United States between the Rocky Mountains and the pacific Coast. Capacity of the chapter has made it necessary to impose these geographic limits.

Jan 1, 1933

By Milnor Roberts

CORNWALL, a Mecca for metal miners the world over, is easily reached from the southern coast of England. Passengers who land at Plymouth or Southampton can connect with a fast train from London called the "Riviera express," which traverses the beautiful counties bordering the English Channel. In Cornwall the traveler soon notices the pits and stock-piles of white china clay, and the metal mines, both placer and hard rock. The deposits are associated with granite batholiths, of which there are four principal ones, each a few miles in diameter. Tin mines are especially worked in the granite near its borders and also in the immediately surrounding Paleozoic slates. Copper and lead are no longer of importance here but tin is being produced steadily from several mines, with arsenic and tungsten as by-products. At the close of the war the man-power available. for these mines had been reduced to one-third of normal, and only now is it again reaching full strength. As mining in Cornwall antedates the Christian era, even a Nevada prospector would have to admit that "she's a permanent camp." SUB-TROPICAL CORNWALL Redruth and Camborne are industrial centers of the tin mining industry, but more tourist hotels are found in neighboring resorts such as St. Ives, a quaint fish-ing town on the Atlantic-side of the peninsula of Corn-wall, where the numerous cats descended from those mentioned in the ancient riddle-rhyme about St. Ives now occupy every doorstep and wall. Another charm-ing resort. Penzance on the shore of the English Channel, is known by name to the public through the opera "The Pirates of Penzance," but is of especial in-terest to students of nature for its palm trees and other subtropical plants, which thrive owing to the nearness of the gulf stream, although the latitude is that of northern Newfoundland, Winnipeg, and the northern end of Vancouver Island. Among the industrial plants at Camborne are those of Holman Brothers, Ltd., where drills and other forms of mining equipment are manufactured. At the Corn-wall School of Mines, which specializes on the district, the staff has assembled excellent collections of local ores, which repay study by a visitor.

Jan 1, 1928

By N. H. Emmons

(Canal Zone Meeting, November, 1910.) AN interesting development of copper blast-furnace construction has been brought about in adapting the blast-furnace to be a "burner" for sulphuric acid making. When the Tennessee Copper Co. first decided to construct an acid-plant, the standard type of brick-top furnace, supported by structural steel, was the only one in use at this plant. All the tests for temperature and strength of gas had been made on these furnaces, and had been satisfactory. When, however, the acid-plant was put on the flue, and the flue had to have a damper put in it to force the gas into that plant, troubles began. The furnaces were fairly tight, and for a few months the work was quite satisfactory., Fig. 1 shows the old type of furnace-top used at the start. It was soon found that this top would not stand the temperatures, particularly when dampered back, as was necessary to force the gas into the Glover towers. The structural steel, of which the furnace skeleton was constructed, warped and twisted so badly that it was not safe to use the furnaces. This effect is shown by Fig. 2, which is a photograph of old No. 4 furnace, after the brick-work had been removed. It became apparent that a new type of top was necessary and the engineering force was started oil the design of a new furnace-top, with the result that a low top, with brick-lined flues at each end below the feed-floor, leading to the main concrete dust-chamber, was constructed. This furnace, No. 7, is shown in Fig. 3. The charging-doors are made of cast-iron sections, three sections to a door, and three doors to a side. A door to the furnace was made of cast copper, but the heat was so great that the copper bent readily, due to the jarring of its * General Manager, Tennessee Copper Co.

Feb 1, 1911

W. L. SaundeRs, New York City (communication to the Secretary*):—Notwithstanding the sweeping statements made by Mr. Clarke in this paper, the friends of compressed air are not dismayed. There is no war between electricity and compressed air. Each one has its field of usefulness, and in that field each is supreme. In spite of commercial interests, in spite of prejudices and the enthusiasm of the inventor, the thing that is best will survive and flourish. At least ten years ago, our engineering papers contained large advertisements and pages of reading-matter about the application of electricity to mines, recording the introduction of numerous rock-drilling plants, and claiming that the problem had been solved, greatly to the advantage of the miner and with promise of large profits to the manufacturers of electrical apparatus. Edison and Thomson labored to apply electricity to mines, and each believed that the probabilities of success were great. This was the period of the solelloid rock-drill, which mas admirably suited, theoretically, to the percussive principle and in the development of which hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent without satisfactory result. I have searched in vain for a standard mining equipment where electric rock-drills are in constant, commercial operation. During a recent trip made from New York to California, I visited most of the important mines of the West and failed to discover a single electric equipment, so far as this class of mining-work is concerned. If any one will inform me where there exists today an electric-drilling equipment in constant service in mines in the United States, I shall be glad to receive the information. Mr. Clarke has been for some years an active and intelligent writer on the subject of electricity for mining. Whenever his

Jan 1, 1904

U.S. Signs Pact With Miami Copper Miami Copper Co., of Arizona has agreed to mine lowgrade copper ores in an extension of its Globe-Miami mining district operations at a guaranteed price of 27.35[] per lb, under a contract signed with defense Materials Procurement Agency. Terms of the contract call for delivery of 230 million lb of refined copper between 1955 and 1962. DMPA said highgrade ore in the de posit will soon be exhausted and it is considered advisable to have Miami continue the operation. The Government has an option to buy 120 million lb of refined copper from present production at market prices. Miami will develop the new ore- body at its own expense-estimated at $3 million. If losses under the new contract reach a specified point, Miami may cancel the agreement. The company plans to use the block caving method in the underground operation.

Jan 4, 1953

By R. V. Whetsel, Valentin R. Garfias

Mexican petroleum production for 1928 was approximately 50,000,-000 bbl., the lowest in 12 years, showing a decrease from 1927 of over 14,000,000 bbl. The steady downward trend for the past 7 years has allowed Russia to outrank Mexico by a wide margin for third position and if the expected decline continues during 1929 it should place Persia ahead of Mexico as fourth in rank. The year 1928 was characterized by a continuation of the reentrench-ment previously begun by the oil industry in Mexico in an attempt to adjust itself to the adverse conditions caused by the steady depletion of the fields, the rapidly increasing competition from Venezuela and the United States and the as yet unsettled petroleum legislation and taxation situation. With the exception of the Isthmus of Tehuantepee, drilling in proved fields was considerably curtailed and although the number of wildcats completed exceeded those of the previous year, no extensive drilling programs were undertaken. Practically without exception, the major companies reduced personnel and operations to a point where they could meet existing conditions and mark time while awaiting a more stable basis for the future testing of unexploited regions. Many terminal and transportation facilities were abandoned during the year. Development Only 371 wells were completed during 1928, as against 583 in the previous year and 808 during 1926, and although the percentage of producers in 1928 was 34 per cent., compared to 26 per cent. in 1927, the initial production of -wells was considerably lower than during the previous year, a great number of the wells showing salt water and becoming "strippers" from the time they started to flow. Development is summarized in Table 1. Drilling in the Northern fields did not prove any new pools of importance, the most successful wells being located in the old producing areas of Cacalilao, Panuco and Topila. (Fig. 1 Very few of the producers made more than 1000 bbl. daily, and a great many less than 300 bbl. a day.

Jan 1, 1929