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By F. W. Newhall

DURING the latter part of the year 1931, the Republic mine of the Republic Steel Corporation, at Republic, about 4 miles south of Browns-ville, Pa., was mining coal along four rib or fracture lines. One of these lines, the west butt rib line, was retreating towards a concrete-lined air shaft, 320 ft. deep, which had been sunk in 1911 for ventilation purposes. With the normal rate of mining at that time, it was expected that this rib line would pass the shaft in three or four months and the shaft would then be abandoned and allowed to cave. Realizing the opportunity presented for the study of an unusual case of ground movement, the question of conducting the study was presented by the junior author to the chairman of the Institute's committee on Ground Movement and Subsidence, Mr. George S. Rice, who presented the matter to Mr. G. H. Morse, General Manager of the Northern Mines, Republic Steel Corpora-tion, and he agreed to cooperate with the Bureau of Mines in making the study, the results of which are presented in this paper. Acknowledg-ments are due to Mr. Morse for his full cooperation in this work and to Mr. G. S. Rice and Mr. J. W. Paul, both of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, for their advice and guidance during the course of the work. The authors are indebted to Mr. B. F. Herbert, mining engineer, Northern Coal Mines, Republic Steel Corporation, who assisted in all the surveys, and Mr. W. H. Smith, draftsman, U. S. Bureau of Mines, who prepared all illustrations for publication.

Jan 1, 1934

By J. D. Hanawalt

Significant strides were made in the year 1948 leading to further recognition of the place of magnesium as a common commercial metal, rather than as just a premium aircraft material. One of the factors contributing to this recognition was the price stability and, in many cases, price reduction of magnesium products in 1948. In contrast to most other metals, manufacturing advances in magnesium outweighed the effects of increased labor and other costs. At the present time, many magnesium extrusions, die castings, and permanent mold castings can be purchased as cheaply as their aluminum counterparts in these forums, though competitive prices for sheet still await the inauguration of a modern tandem rolling mill for magnesium, such as has already been demonstrated.

Jan 1, 1949

By P. D. Wilson

The genesis of some orebodies has been explained by the mingling and chemical interaction of water solutions of different compositions and the consequent precipitation of the mineral load of one or both solutions at their confluence. While this process can be proved in the laboratory, rarely can a positive demonstration be found in nature, for the conditions at the time an ore deposit is being worked are usually entircly differcnt from those that existed when the orebody was formed. For this reason, the present deposition of copper carbonate in the southern end of the Briggs mine of the Calumet and Arizona Mining Co. near Bisbce, Ariz., is of great interest. The developed orebodies in the Calumet and Arizona mines are roughly confined to two broad parallel zones separated at the north by a wedge of Copper Queen ground and at the south by an undeveloped block of Calumet and Arizona ground about 2000 ft. (610 m.) wide. The more westerly zone includes the Irish Mag, Oliver, P. and D., and Cole mines, none of which has been operated since 1919. Much of the water from this division is carried from the 1400-ft., or bottom, level at the southern end of the Cole mine in a long water drift through the undeveloped block to the 1300-ft. level of the Briggs mine at the southern end of the more easterly zone. Most of this water comes originally from outlying areas in the P. and D. mine, passing through parts of the lower. levels of the Cole mine, which are heavily mineralized with iron and copper sulfides. This sulfide zone has been opened up and slowly oxidizing for years. Originally a pure, potable water, the analyses of which are shown under A- in Tables 1 and 2, on its way through the mineralized area in the Cole mine it gathers copper, calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminum sulfates, a load of dissolved mineral salts almost four times as great as that which it formerly carried; analyses B

Jan 1, 1923

By P. D. Wilson

The genesis of some orebodies has been explained by the mingling and chemical interaction of water solutions of different compositions and the consequent precipitation of the mineral load of one or both solutions at their confluence. While this process can be proved in the laboratory, rarely can a positive demonstration be found in nature, for the conditions at the time an ore deposit is being worked are usually entircly differcnt from those that existed when the orebody was formed. For this reason, the present deposition of copper carbonate in the southern end of the Briggs mine of the Calumet and Arizona Mining Co. near Bisbce, Ariz., is of great interest. The developed orebodies in the Calumet and Arizona mines are roughly confined to two broad parallel zones separated at the north by a wedge of Copper Queen ground and at the south by an undeveloped block of Calumet and Arizona ground about 2000 ft. (610 m.) wide. The more westerly zone includes the Irish Mag, Oliver, P. and D., and Cole mines, none of which has been operated since 1919. Much of the water from this division is carried from the 1400-ft., or bottom, level at the southern end of the Cole mine in a long water drift through the undeveloped block to the 1300-ft. level of the Briggs mine at the southern end of the more easterly zone. Most of this water comes originally from outlying areas in the P. and D. mine, passing through parts of the lower. levels of the Cole mine, which are heavily mineralized with iron and copper sulfides. This sulfide zone has been opened up and slowly oxidizing for years. Originally a pure, potable water, the analyses of which are shown under A- in Tables 1 and 2, on its way through the mineralized area in the Cole mine it gathers copper, calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminum sulfates, a load of dissolved mineral salts almost four times as great as that which it formerly carried; analyses B

Jan 1, 1923

By Oliver C. Ralston

This paper reports the results of the use of salt in some research work carried on during the past 3 years at the Salt Lake City Station of the Bureau of Mines, which is quartered in the University of Utah, whose Metallurgical Research Department cooperates with the Bureau. Only the work involving the use of salt is described. The authors wish equal credit given to J. F. Cullen, C. L. Larson, C. Y. Pfoutz, C. E. Sims, H. C. Neeld, R. W. Johnson, F. G. Moses, N. C. Christensen, and G. H. Wigton, who have all in some way contributed toward the success of this work, while connected with the station in one way or another. Lead Metallurgy Popularly Supposed to be Without Problems In lead metallurgy it is difficult at first to find metallurgical problems, as the prevailing conception has been that lead is so easily concentrated in its various ores and so easily reduced to its metallic form that the only progress possible is that involved in cheapening methods of mining and of reduction. Most of the problems usually considered are of minor nature and do not involve radical metallurgical changes. During the three years of work of the Salt Lake Station, the following classification of problems in the metallurgy of lead has been made: Oxidized Ores. 1. Ores containing only lead. 2. Ores containing lead and silver or gold. 3. Ores containing lead and zinc, with or without silver. Sulphide Ores. 1. Ores of pyrite carrying some lead. 2. Ores of complex zinc-lead-iron sulphides. 3. Complex sulphides containing precious metals.

Jan 1, 1918

By Dwight Farnham

Description of Quarry THE shale used at the Renton plant of the Denny-Renton Clay Coal Co., for the manufacture of vitrified paving brick occurs in a hill rising from 200 to 300 ft. above the level of the valley in which the plant is situated. The shale deposit, which is of unknown thickness pitches about 10° to the southeast. The 150-ft. face worked extends approximately east and west, so that the clip, as shown by the photograph, is to the left and into the hill. The shale is overlain with about 50 ft. of gravel, 70 ft. of clay, and 30 ft. of mixed loam and gravel, making altogether from 125 to 150 ft. of overburden. Disposal of Overburden The overburden is removed by sluicing. For this purpose a No. 2 Joshua Hendy giant is used, throwing a 12-in. stream', and having 60 lb. pressure at the nozzle. The water is drawn through an 8-in. pipe from Cedar river, about 1,000 ft. distant, by means of a Worthington four-stage centrifugal pump, direct connected with a 100-h.p. motor placed just south of the factory, and 1,500 ft. from the nozzle This plant handles the material satisfactorily to a height of about 75 ft. above the level of the top of the shale. When the higher levels are worked, an auxiliary plant consisting of a four-stage Byron Jackson centrifugal pump with a 100-h.p., belt-connected motor, is thrown into the system. This plant is situated on top of the shale and can be discerned at the extreme right of the trestle work in Fig. 1.

Jan 9, 1914

By Sheldon P. Wimpfen

EVER since the Phoenicians roamed the known world in quest of metals to harden their helmets and precious metals and gems to adorn their ladies, many other nations have sought metals in the far corners of the earth. During the past 75 years American engineers have been among the foremost in seeking for and developing ore deposits. They have been responsible for many of the principal discoveries and for the application of modern methods to mines in the far comers of the earth. American mining engineers with a zest for travel and an insatiable appetite for metals have also introduced throughout the world many articles made of metal which we consider essential to everyday life. Production and consumption of these metals in many foreign countries has brought to these countries an increased standard of living and added tax revenue to their governments. But unfortunately engineers from this country are no longer given ready access to all the countries of the world. This is not only unfortunate for American engineers but also for the countries that have adopted the exclusion policies and especially so since time has proved that in countries where the American engineers have gradually been excluded there has been a significant decline in the progress of the mining industry. Removal of these barriers to professional men would aid immensely in the world-wide development of the mineral industries. New areas brought into production under the guidance of American engineers with their exceptional know-how would provide more jobs for nationals of the countries involved and a better standard of living for the nations as a whole.

Jan 1, 1946

By W. J. Feuerstein

STRUCTURAL imperfections in crystals, in recent years, have received the attention of metallurgists concerned with single-crystal properties. Certain etching solutions cause local variations in the rate of etching at dislocations.' Dislocations are expected to be preferred segregation sites for impurities' and Dash" has shown that precipitation of copper occurs preferentially at edge-type dislocations in silicon. Diffusion rates along dislocations are probably higher than rates through more perfect crystalline regions.' These and other phenomena which may be influenced by dislocations may be studied by revealing dislocations as etch pits. This study was undertaken to develop an etch solution for silicon crystals to reveal low-angle grain boundaries associated with dislocation arrays and also etch pits with good contour definition. Additional etches have been reported by Dash," Vogel and Lovell.T rystals were sectioned on crystal lographic planes at various angles from the growth direction for microscopic examination of the etch pits. Experimental Crystals of 75-100 g mass and 3 cm diam were oriented and cut on crystallographic planes. Crystals were grown by Czochralski technique from a quartz crucible. Lapped wafers were chemically polished in a modified CP-4 etch for 1 min (bromine was deleted from the etch solution). The polished wafer was then etched* at room temperature for 5 min. The use of larger amounts of H2O and/or CH2COOH slows the reaction. The Cu(NO3),.3H2O was added to increase the reaction rate and give more definition to the etch pits developed. Some pertinent features concerning the attack of this etch on silicon can be summarized as follows:

Jan 1, 1959

By Paul H. Price

The history of the salt industry in West Virginia dates back nearly two hundred years; however, the history of salt as an important raw material for the chemical industry is much more recent. The earliest record of West Virginia salt was in 1753, when a raiding party of Shawnee Indians attacked frontier settlements in Virginia taking captive a number of the pioneers. One of these, who later escaped and returned to her friends, described how the Indians camped at a salt spring on the banks of the Kanawha River and evaporated the water to obtain a supply of salt to take back to Ohio with them. Settlement of the Kanawha Valley began in 1774, that same year the Battle of Point Pleasant ended the Indian's power in the Ohio Valley; and settlement of the Kanawha Valley progressed rapidly with a consequent increase in the importance of the Kanawha Licks as a source of salt. In those days the evaporation of the brine was a family matter for which the family wash-kettle was commandeered.

Jan 1, 1949

By C. R. Kuzell

GEOGRAPHICAILY the industry of reducing and refining of copper continued to migrate from the .United States during 1931. While this country is losing the predominant position of its copper industry, our engineers still enjoy their pre-eminent position as leaders in the design and operation of the new plants being brought into production in the four quarters of the globe. Progress in the art, as indicated by the construction of the recently completed works, has not been revolutionary. Standard methods have been followed, augmented by novel features in flow-sheets demanded by the results of progress in the art of ore-dressing, and by reason of problems incidental to the peculiarities of the new ores being treated. Design and construction progress has likewise been orderly and without radical departure from less recent practice; new features in primary and secondary equipment being logical developments to provide for special conditions to keep abreast of improve¬ments in accessory apparatus. The new plants are being rapidly brought in without hazardous novelties and for the purpose of yielding the principal ingredient, copper, in as large a volume as it will he possible to market; the old United States procedure. In the meantime the domestic plants are shut down or operating at a very low capacity, threatened with untimely demise unless the metallurgist can extract and develop other valuable products from the ores. International agreements .and tariff protection may be a temporary reviving stimulant, but for many mines the days of profit will be numbered unless the ores can be made to yield as values the ingredients now being discarded. Invisible progress in this direction has been made during the past year, and it is to he hoped that time will prove that the outstanding progress of 1931 was in the development of processes for the ultimate recovery of by-products from copper ores, perhaps even relegating the value of the copper yield to secondary importance.

Jan 1, 1932

By Carle Hayward

THIS work was first undertaken in the metallurgical laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1907 by L. A. Dickinson, E. Phelps, and V. S. Rood, under the author's direction. They attempted to determine the diagram for the system Cu2S-NiS, but several inexplicable results were obtained. The following year, P. H. Mayer with Mr. Dickinson carried, on some experiments with nickel sulphide and found that the molten material slowly lost sulphur until it reached a composition corresponding to the compound Ni3S2, established by Bornemann.1 At this point the composition remained stable. The freezing points of the mixtures gradually fell off with the loss of sulphur. Since the above facts seemed to explain the erratic results obtained in the first experiments, Mr. Mayer with F. Jaeger attempted in 1910 to establish a correct equilibrium diagram for the Cu2S-Ni3S2 series. They prepared pure Cu2S and Ni3S2 and determined the cooling curves for various mixtures. The fusions were made in a platinum resistance furnace and the temperatures were measured with a platinum-iridium thermocouple connected with a Sullivan galvanometer. The curve was established for mixtures containing more than 40 per cent. Cu2S, but they were unable to determine certainly the direction of the curve beyond that point. Nothing further was attempted with this series until the present year, when the work was carried to a successful conclusion with the assistance of A. Butts, Jr., and E. H. Weil. The results of this work are given in the following pages.

Jan 1, 1914

By R. D. Parker

LARGEST of any hoist installation ever manufactured in Canada is that being erected at No. 5 shaft, Creighton mine, of the Inter- national Nickel Company of Canada, Limited. It is a bicylindrical conical- drum hoist with the drums arranged in tandem, and driven by two direct- current motors through single reduction gearing. This hoist was designed by the Canadian Allis-Chalmers, Limited and manufactured at their works in Lachine, Quebec.

Jan 1, 1936

By W. E. Bergman, P. G. Carpenter, H. B. Fisher

The conditions under which barium carbonate can be used to remove sulfates from drilling muds are limited The amount of sulfate remaining in solution in the system after treatment with barium carbonate is shown to be a function of the concentration of the carbonate and barium ions and the concentration of other electrolytes. Barium hydroxide may advantageously replace barium carbonate when the contamination is not entirely due to anhydrite (calcium in the system is then stoichiometrically less than sulfate) or when the carbonate concentration is high. The effect of substances such as quebracho, phosphates, and chromates, which form complexes or precipitates with barium, is discussed. INTRODUCTION As the complexity of the operations in drilling for oil has increased, more attention has of necessity been directed to the problems pertaining to the maintenance of good drilling mud properties. As a result, chemical treatment of muds has become an important factor in recent years. Some of these treatments have been designed to eliminate the deleterious effects of contaminants in aqueous mud systems by precipitation or other means. The most common of substances encountered during drilling include sodium chloride, cement, and calcium sulfate while various other contaminants: usually in small amounts, may be introduced from the water, clays, and other materials used in preparation of the mud. In certain cases, for example where continued salt-water flow is encountered or massive anhydrite is drilled, special muds may be used so that the physical properties of the mud will remain satisfactory for drilling. In other cases, it is desirable to remove the contaminants so that soluble electrolytes in the system are maintained at low values. For sulfate contamination, the conlmon practice in the field is to add barium carbonate to precipitate the sulfate as barium sulfate Ordinarily such a procedure gives satisfactory results. There have been important instances, however, where addition of barium carbonate was not effective in removal of soluble sulfates from drilling muds. and it is to these cases that the present paper is directed. While it is generally known that barium carbonate is not always effective in removing soluble sulfates from drilling muds, certain inconsistencies appear in the literature as to the limitations of its use, and little explanation for the limitations are given. Varnell and Kimbrel state that "the treatment (with barium carbonate for removal of sulfate) is simple and consists in maintaining a pH of 9 with caustic soda and quebracho." They caution that concentrations of quebracho greater than 1 lb./bbl. may inhibit the reaction. In another publication', a pH of 10.5 is considered "the maximum desirable," and the indication is that as much as 2.5 lb. quebracho per barrel may be present in the particular mud under discussion. Lancaster and Mitchell5 state that appreciable amounts of phosphates in the mud will inhibit the reaction with barium carbonate and that the phosphate treatment should be discontinued at least 24 hours before addition of the carbonate. Experimental work was initiated to ascertain the factors involved in using barium carbonate for the removal of sulfate contamination in drilling muds. While the experimental data herein reported are limited, they focus attention on the pertinent factors which must be considered for successful treatment. These factors are discussed from a practical and a theoretical view, the latter being supported by equilibrium data found in the literature. Further, it will be appreciated that the factors involved in this specific study will be closely analogous to those in certain of the other chemical treatments which involve a precipitation of the soluble contaminant. A thorough comprehension of these factors should result in a more fruitful application of this type of chemical reaction to the treatment of drilling muds. EXPERIMENTAL A. Reagents Two muds were used during this investigation. For one series of tests, bentonite suspensions were prepared by dilution of a stock suspension containing 8 per cent by weight of bentonite (Aquagel). For another series, a 6.4 per cent ben-tonitic mud weighted to 9.7 lb./gal. with barium sulfate (Mag-cobar) was used. Distilled water was used in all preparations. The quebracho (72% tannin extract) was obtained from the Thompson-Hayward Co. of Tulsa and contained 11.4 per cent moisture (105 C.). All other materials were reagent grade, and concentrations were corrected for water of crystallization, if any. All concentrations are expressed in pounds per barrel (42 gallons). B. Technique The systems — either mud or water — were contaminated with either sodium or calcium sulfate after treatment with the desired amounts of sodium hydroxide and quebracbo. For treatments with barium carbonate an approximately 3-fold excess (5 lb./bbl.) was used over that computed to be required to precipitate all the sulfate as barium sulfate. Barium hydroxide was used in concentrations of 2 lb./bbl. — about

Jan 1, 1949

By P. G. Carpenter, H. B. Fisher, W. E. Bergman

The conditions under which barium carbonate can be used to remove sulfates from drilling muds are limited The amount of sulfate remaining in solution in the system after treatment with barium carbonate is shown to be a function of the concentration of the carbonate and barium ions and the concentration of other electrolytes. Barium hydroxide may advantageously replace barium carbonate when the contamination is not entirely due to anhydrite (calcium in the system is then stoichiometrically less than sulfate) or when the carbonate concentration is high. The effect of substances such as quebracho, phosphates, and chromates, which form complexes or precipitates with barium, is discussed. INTRODUCTION As the complexity of the operations in drilling for oil has increased, more attention has of necessity been directed to the problems pertaining to the maintenance of good drilling mud properties. As a result, chemical treatment of muds has become an important factor in recent years. Some of these treatments have been designed to eliminate the deleterious effects of contaminants in aqueous mud systems by precipitation or other means. The most common of substances encountered during drilling include sodium chloride, cement, and calcium sulfate while various other contaminants: usually in small amounts, may be introduced from the water, clays, and other materials used in preparation of the mud. In certain cases, for example where continued salt-water flow is encountered or massive anhydrite is drilled, special muds may be used so that the physical properties of the mud will remain satisfactory for drilling. In other cases, it is desirable to remove the contaminants so that soluble electrolytes in the system are maintained at low values. For sulfate contamination, the conlmon practice in the field is to add barium carbonate to precipitate the sulfate as barium sulfate Ordinarily such a procedure gives satisfactory results. There have been important instances, however, where addition of barium carbonate was not effective in removal of soluble sulfates from drilling muds. and it is to these cases that the present paper is directed. While it is generally known that barium carbonate is not always effective in removing soluble sulfates from drilling muds, certain inconsistencies appear in the literature as to the limitations of its use, and little explanation for the limitations are given. Varnell and Kimbrel state that "the treatment (with barium carbonate for removal of sulfate) is simple and consists in maintaining a pH of 9 with caustic soda and quebracho." They caution that concentrations of quebracho greater than 1 lb./bbl. may inhibit the reaction. In another publication', a pH of 10.5 is considered "the maximum desirable," and the indication is that as much as 2.5 lb. quebracho per barrel may be present in the particular mud under discussion. Lancaster and Mitchell5 state that appreciable amounts of phosphates in the mud will inhibit the reaction with barium carbonate and that the phosphate treatment should be discontinued at least 24 hours before addition of the carbonate. Experimental work was initiated to ascertain the factors involved in using barium carbonate for the removal of sulfate contamination in drilling muds. While the experimental data herein reported are limited, they focus attention on the pertinent factors which must be considered for successful treatment. These factors are discussed from a practical and a theoretical view, the latter being supported by equilibrium data found in the literature. Further, it will be appreciated that the factors involved in this specific study will be closely analogous to those in certain of the other chemical treatments which involve a precipitation of the soluble contaminant. A thorough comprehension of these factors should result in a more fruitful application of this type of chemical reaction to the treatment of drilling muds. EXPERIMENTAL A. Reagents Two muds were used during this investigation. For one series of tests, bentonite suspensions were prepared by dilution of a stock suspension containing 8 per cent by weight of bentonite (Aquagel). For another series, a 6.4 per cent ben-tonitic mud weighted to 9.7 lb./gal. with barium sulfate (Mag-cobar) was used. Distilled water was used in all preparations. The quebracho (72% tannin extract) was obtained from the Thompson-Hayward Co. of Tulsa and contained 11.4 per cent moisture (105 C.). All other materials were reagent grade, and concentrations were corrected for water of crystallization, if any. All concentrations are expressed in pounds per barrel (42 gallons). B. Technique The systems — either mud or water — were contaminated with either sodium or calcium sulfate after treatment with the desired amounts of sodium hydroxide and quebracbo. For treatments with barium carbonate an approximately 3-fold excess (5 lb./bbl.) was used over that computed to be required to precipitate all the sulfate as barium sulfate. Barium hydroxide was used in concentrations of 2 lb./bbl. — about

Jan 1, 1949

By AIME AIME

T HE appointment of Herbert Hoover to the portfolio of Commerce in the President's Cabinet is to engineers the fulfillment of a long deferred hope to have an engineer in high political office and is a matter of congratulation to us for three reasons; because he is a mining engineer who represents the highest type of idealistic engineering effort; because he is a past president of the Institute; and because he has probably a broader grasp of world problems than any other living engineer. Frank A. Vanderlip in the preface to his book "What Happened to Europe" tells of the many interviews he had with the most prominent men in Europe which were made possible for him by his eminence as a banker and by the courtesy of the American ambassadors. He cites by name such well known figures as Austin Chamberlain, Sir Auckland Geddes, Monsieur Delacroix, Monsieur Briand, Mr. Padkrewski, Mr. Venizelos, Colonel House, General Pershing, Mr. Baruch, and many others and says :

Jan 1, 1921

By CARLE R. HAYWARDC

BEFORE discussing this subject it is necessary to define somewhat the meaning of the tern metallurgical.. When I was a student at M. I. T. ore-dressing was not thought of as metallurgy in any sense of the word, but it was considered as more closely allied to mining, enabling the miner to market an otherwise unmarketable product, or at least to market it to better advantage. Progress in ore-dressing has gradually allied it more closely with smelting, for at present the raw material received by the smelter is predominantly concentrates and smelting practice has been profoundly affected by the products of the concentrating mill. It is not surprising therefore that in many schools ore-dressing is frankly considered as metallurgy and although there may be some dissenting opinions it will be considered as such in this discussion. Twenty-five years ago at M. I. T. metallography was taught in a few optional lectures. This subject has developed rapidly and been expanded into the new and increasingly important field of physical metallurgy. To many metallurgists the -term metallurgy means only physical metallurgy. They know little or nothing about smelting and leaching and even less about ore-dressing. Having then broadened the scope of the term metal¬lurgy to cover ore-dressing, smelting, leaching and phys-

Jan 1, 1930

By W. S. Ayres

By J. B. Caine

This year we are extending our educational experiment of last year to new fields. The subject to be discussed at the educa¬tional meeting Saturday morning has nothing to do with melting or metallurgy, but is electricity and how we should use it in the operation of our furnaces. Your Committee feels that all of us could know more about the fuel we use to make our steel. May I emphasize that this session is separate from the rest of the program; there is no registration fee; and I want to urge all of you, especially those in this vicinity, to bring your assistants to this meeting. It will be well worth your while.

Jan 1, 1947

By David White

THE submission of carefully prepared estimates of the oil reserves of the United States calls for no apology or explanation. In this country, petroleum is a rapidly wasting asset and an occasional appraisal of the amount remaining in the ground is a simple business procedure to safe-guard the general welfare and the prosperity of the republic. The rumored danger of failure, in the near future, of the foreign supply on which we depend in constantly increasing amounts makes the immediate review of our available reserves the more imperative. The Director of the U. S. Geological Survey, in March, 1921, requested the American Association of Petroleum Geologists to cooperate in the preparation of new estimates of the oil remaining in the ground. With the members of this cooperative committee, state geologists, regional geologists, consulting specialists, and geologists and engineers attached to many companies worked both independently and through sub-committees. The reports for districts, counties, fields, etc., after review by local or state committees, were discussed by the joint cooperative committee in conferences that, in some instances, were attended by the original compilers of estimates for the states or smaller areas. Finally the data were reviewed and the figures revised by the joint cooperative committee, so that the totals given in Table 1 represent the opinion of the committee, which was composed of F. W. DeWolf, W. E. Wrather, Roswell H. Johnson, Wallace A. Pratt, Alexander W. McCoy, Carl H. Beal, C. T. Lupton, G. C. Matson, K. C. Heald, W. T. Thom, Jr., A. E. Fath, Kirtley F. Mather, R. C. Moore, and David White, chairman.

Jan 6, 1922

By Henry G. Morris

The use of compressed air for the transmission of power has reached so great a development that we find numerous large establishments devoted to the manufacture of machinery for its production and application, and special periodicals published for the dissemination of information on the subject. Moreover, its employment is so general in mining operations that no apology is needed for the presentation to the Institute of such a paper as the present. The admirable articles of Mr. E. A. Rix, published in Conzpressed Air, show a wide range in the mechanical efficiency of air-compressors, varying, under different conditions, from 15 to 60 per cent.; and it is evident that any

Jan 1, 1902