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By E. G. De Coriolis

THE development of huge production facilities and of new or improved processes for manufacturing magnesium from its raw sources has been an outstanding achievement of this war. Furthermore, at least one new method has reached a stage of pilot production that offers promise. Its potentialities seem to indicate that a reduction in cost and simplification or elimination of problems incident to the use of at least one of the present processes are quite within the realm of possibility. Although magnesium of very high purity (99.9 per cent and higher) is obtained, and the rate of recovery reasonable (60 to 70 per cent), the ferrosilicon reduction process is open to a serious objection, which at the time its use was proposed was thought to be sufficient to raise some doubts as to its success, at least on a high production basis. The temperature range at which the reaction is carried out-namely, 2100° to 2150°F.-is very close to the failure temperature of the material of which the retort is made. It is so close that for a time it was assumed it might make commercial use of the process an impossibility. However, at the time under discussion, the demand for magnesium was so great that it was felt by those who had to go ahead and produce this essential metal that the emergency warranted their taking a chance on this process. Subsequent developments have fully justified the soundness of their decision. Fortunately for the war effort, when the plants were put into operation it was discovered that although the retorts did collapse in rather short periods of time, as predicted, they could be blown back into operable shape by application of high-pressure air. This practical method of operation so relieved the situation that the problem disappeared. Nevertheless, if the process had not been successful, or the production of magnesium by the electrolytic process had not been able to keep pace with demands, our war program would have been seriously impaired. "FIRELESS COOKER" PROCESS For this reason a program was set up and assigned for the development of a new method that had been suggested to the War Production Board in 1941. It is believed justifiable in terming the method "new" for several reasons: (1) while utilizing the same (ferrosilicon) process as the Pidgeon, hence involving similar reactions, the type of retort or furnace is essentially different, (2) the method of operation, reaction temperatures, etc., differ materially, and, most important of all, (3) the problems to be overcome in making the process successful were not and could not have been anticipated by anything previously known about the Pidgeon process. As will be shown later, the briquetting process, the condenser, the furnace lining

Jan 1, 1945

By E. G. De Coriolis

The development of huge production facilities and of new or improved processes for manufacturing magnesium from its raw sources has been an outstanding achievement of this war. Furthermore, at least one new method has reached a stage of pilot production that offers promise. Its potentialities seem to indicate that a reduction in cost and simplification or elimination of problems incident to the use of at least one of the present processes are quite within the realm of possibility. Although magnesium of very high purity (99.9 per cent and higher) is obtained, and the rate of recovery reasonable (60 to 70 per cent). the ferrosilicon reduction process is open to a serious objection, which at the time its use was proposed was thought to be sufficient to raise some doubts as to its success, at least on a high production basis. The temperature range at which the reaction is carried out—namely, 2100" to 2150°F.—is very close to the failure temperature of the material of which the retort is made. It is so close that for a time it was assumed it might make commercial use of the process an impossibility. However, at the time under discussion, the demand for magnesium was so great that it was felt by those who had to go ahead and produce this essential metal that the emergency warranted their taking a chance on this process. Subsequent developments have fully justified the soundness of their decision. Fortunately for the war effort, when the plants were put into operation it was discovered that although the retorts did collapse in rather short periods of time, as predicted, they could be blown back into operable shape by application of high-pressure air. This practical method of operation so relieved the situation that the problem disappeared. Nevertheless, if the process had not been successful, or the production of magnesium by the electrolytic process had not been able to keep pace with demands, our war program would have been seriously impaired. Fireless Cooker'' Process For this reason a program was set up and assigned for the development of a new method that had been suggested to the War Production Board in 1941. It is believed justifiable in terming the method "new" for several reasons: (I) while utilizing the same (ferrosilicon) process as the Pidgeon, hence involving similar reactions, the type of retort or furnace is essentially different, (2) the method of operation, reaction temperatures, etc., differ materially, and, most important of all, (3) the problems to be overcome in making the process successful were not and could not have been anticipated by anything previously known about the Pidgcon process. As will be shown later, the briquetting process, the condenser, the furnace lining

Jan 1, 1949

By Leon W. Dupuy

INTRODUCTION A BRIEF elemental discussion of the fundamental factors involved in diamond drilling often fills a need, particularly when a mine operator is contemplating for the first time an exploratory drilling campaign. Mr. James A. Barr, of the Mining Methods Committee of the Institute, has suggested that many engineers must undertake a drilling program of one kind or another and, in the case of diamond drilling, sometimes even are at a loss as to how to start correspondence. The Bureau of Mines has acquired much experience in managing exploratory diamond-drilling activities. Its activities in diamond drilling included exploring for potash in Texas, Utah and New Mexico 1-4 during the 1920's. The Strategic Minerals Exploration program was started in 1939 and was materially expanded during the war to include critical and essential minerals. At the peak of its war-time activity more than 200 engineers were employed, a majority of whom supervised diamond drilling. Many of them had little experience with such work prior to their employment with the Bureau, and it was necessary to instruct them in their duties. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to present the fundamentals of exploratory diamond drilling from the viewpoint of management in such a way that they will serve as a basis on which those beginning exploratory diamond drilling may build an experience and acquire ability to direct exploration as they gain that experience. SELECTION OF METHOD OF DRILLING Selection of the method of drilling is governed by the type of material to be penetrated and by the type of sample needed to determine the quality and importance of a deposit. Types of drills that might be used for a given job include diamond drills, churn drills, hand auger drills, power auger drills, bucket drills, and rotary drills (sometimes called "seismograph rigs"). Each type has a specific field in which it is most useful. While the Bureau of Mines utilized all the types of drilling mentioned, diamond drilling was used on a majority of its exploratory projects. FACTORS GOVERNING SELECTION OF DIAMOND DRILLING The prime consideration in selecting a method of drilling is first to determine what results are desired and then to choose a method that will furnish reliable data in the ground to be penetrated. Use of diamond drills permits recovery of a core as well as sludge at a comparatively low cost. The core provides an excellent means of studying the formation being drilled and furnishes much information that would be difficult to obtain otherwise. Diamond drills will recover a satis-

Jan 1, 1947

By Leon W. Dupuy

A brief elemental discussion of the fundamental factors involved in diamond drilling often fills a need, particularly when a mine operator is contemplating for the first time an exploratory drilling campaign. Mr. James A. Barr, of the Mining Methods Committee of the Institute, has suggested that many engineers must undertake a drilling program of one kid or another and, in the case of diamond drilling, sometimes even are at a loss as to how to start correspondence. The Bureau of Mines has acquired much experience in managing exploratory diamond-drilling activities. Its activities in diamond drilling included exploring for potash in Texas, Utah and New Mexico1-' during the 1920's. The Strategic Minerals Exploration program was started in 1939 and was materially expanded during the war to include critical and essential minerals. At the peak of its war-time activity more than 200 engineers were employed, a majority of whom supervised diamond drilling. Many of them had little experience with such work prior to their employment with the Bureau, and it was necessary to instruct them in their duties. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to present the fundamentals of exploratory diamond drilling from the viewpoint of management in such a way that they will Serve as a basis on which those beginning exploratory diamond drilling may build an experience and acquire ability to direct exploration as they gain that experience. Selection of Method of Drilling Selection of the method of drilling is governed by the type of material to be penetrated and by the type of sample needed to determine the quality and importance of a deposit. Types of drills that might be used for a given job include diamond drills, churn drills, hand auger drills, power auger drills, bucket drills, and rotary drills (sometimes called "seismograph rigs"). Each type has a specific field in which it is most useful. While the Bureau of Mines utilized all the types of drilling mentioned, diamond drilling was used on a majority of its exploratory projects. Factors Governing Selection of Diamond Drilling The prime consideration in selecting a method of drilling is first to determine what results are desired and then to choose a method that will furnish reliable data in the ground to be penetrated. Use of diamond drills permits recovery of a core as well as sludge at a comparatively low cost. The core provides an excellent means of studying the formation being drilled and furnishes much information that would be difficult to obtain otherwise. Diamond drills will recover a satis-

Jan 1, 1948

By Leon W. Dupuy

A brief elemental discussion of the fundamental factors involved in diamond drilling often fills a need, particularly when a mine operator is contemplating for the first time an exploratory drilling campaign. Mr. James A. Barr, of the Mining Methods Committee of the Institute, has suggested that many engineers must undertake a drilling program of one kid or another and, in the case of diamond drilling, sometimes even are at a loss as to how to start correspondence. The Bureau of Mines has acquired much experience in managing exploratory diamond-drilling activities. Its activities in diamond drilling included exploring for potash in Texas, Utah and New Mexico1-' during the 1920's. The Strategic Minerals Exploration program was started in 1939 and was materially expanded during the war to include critical and essential minerals. At the peak of its war-time activity more than 200 engineers were employed, a majority of whom supervised diamond drilling. Many of them had little experience with such work prior to their employment with the Bureau, and it was necessary to instruct them in their duties. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to present the fundamentals of exploratory diamond drilling from the viewpoint of management in such a way that they will Serve as a basis on which those beginning exploratory diamond drilling may build an experience and acquire ability to direct exploration as they gain that experience. Selection of Method of Drilling Selection of the method of drilling is governed by the type of material to be penetrated and by the type of sample needed to determine the quality and importance of a deposit. Types of drills that might be used for a given job include diamond drills, churn drills, hand auger drills, power auger drills, bucket drills, and rotary drills (sometimes called "seismograph rigs"). Each type has a specific field in which it is most useful. While the Bureau of Mines utilized all the types of drilling mentioned, diamond drilling was used on a majority of its exploratory projects. Factors Governing Selection of Diamond Drilling The prime consideration in selecting a method of drilling is first to determine what results are desired and then to choose a method that will furnish reliable data in the ground to be penetrated. Use of diamond drills permits recovery of a core as well as sludge at a comparatively low cost. The core provides an excellent means of studying the formation being drilled and furnishes much information that would be difficult to obtain otherwise. Diamond drills will recover a satis-

Jan 1, 1948

By Edward W. Parker, Marius R. Campbell

According to the estimates prepared by the U. S. Geological Survey, the area underlain by workable coal-beds in the United States is 496,776 sq. miles. Of this total area, 480 sq. miles contain the entire anthracite coal-fields of Pennsylvania. The bituminous coal-fields are estimated to be contained in areas, aggregating 250,051 sq. miles. The grade of coal between bituminous and lignite, and which is designated by the Geological Survey as " sub-bituminous," is estimated to be contained within areas aggregating 97,636 sq. miles, while the areas containing lignite aggregate 148,609 sq. miles. The coal-fields are divided, for the sake of convenience in classification, into six main provinces, as follows: 1. The Eastern. Province, containing the anthracite coal-fields of Pennsylvania and the bituminous coal-fields of the Appalachian region—namely, those of western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Ala bama, and small outlying areas in North Carolina. 2. The Interior Province, containing the bituminous coal-producing regions of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, western Kentucky, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. 3. The Gulf Province, containing the lignite-areas of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas. 4. The Northern or Great Plains Province, containing the lignite and sub-bituminous areas of North and South Dakota, eastern Montana, and northeastern Wyoming. 5. The Rocky Mountain Province, containing the bituminous and sub-bituminous areas of western Montana and western Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. 6. The Pacific Coast Province, containing the areas of Washington, Oregon, and California.

Jan 1, 1910

By Robert Linton

The Sierra Consolidated Mines Co., organized in 1909, owns, together with other holdings, practically all of the productive mineral area in the Ocampo district. Lying within this area are 15 mines, large and small, that hid previously been worked and appear to have yielded, since the discovery of the camp, about 100 years ago, bullion of a total value of over $50,000,000. The deepest mine, the Santa Juliana, had been worked to 1,100 ft. below the outcrop. The reopening of the mines involved, first, extensive and thorough development to open up the known ore shoots at greater depth and explore the ledges for additional shoots, and, second, a revision of existing equipment and methods, so as to increase output and reduce cost of production. This paper will give some account of the metallurgical treatment and a description of the new mill to be built at El Salto. The Ore The ore is practically all argentite, Ag2S, with some associated gold, and carried in a siliceous gangue. The typical ledge matter is an ande-sitic breccia cemented with quartz, or quartz stockwork in andesite.l The proportion by weight of silver to gold averages about 60 to 1. The silver sulphides occur ordinarily in rather fine. dissemination, sometimes not being easily discernible with the naked eye, even in ores of very good grade. The ledges also contain considerable pyrites, which as a rule is barren. "Bronce" is the local term applied to such barren pyrites, and "Pasta" to such as carries values.

Jan 1, 1915

By C. E. Shoenfelt

The deepening of the General Crude Oil Company's No. 1 Meyers, NE. NE. SE. of sec. 22, 24S., 36E., in the Cooper area of Lea County, in April, 1934, resulted in the discovery of an oil field of major importance. The discovery well is an old well drilled by Cranfill $ Reynolds and completed in July, 1929, in limestone at 3438 ft. for an initial production of 90,000,000 cu. ft. (estimated) of 'gas. Deepening operations were started early in April, 1934, and cores were taken from the old total depth of 3438 to 3508 ft. A Haliburton test taken through the drill stem at 3439 to 3460 ft. showed 50,000,000 cu. ft. of gas with an increase of 5,000,000 cu. ft. between 3461 and 3474 ft. When completed the well tested 12,000,000 cu. ft. of gas and 5000 bbl. of oil at 3474-3508 feet. The new oil field—the result of this discovery—is between the Eunice and the Jal fields, closer to the productive area of Jal than to that of Eunice but far enough away from both to be considered a separate area. Eventually, all of these pools may be joined together by productive oil wells to form a single unit of large size. They lie in a general northwest-southeast alignment and the intervening areas have not been condemned by dry holes. In the drilling campaign that followed this discovery, 24 wells were drilled, of which 23 were oil wells with combined initial productions of

Jan 1, 1935

By George Bain

SOME problems concomitant with commercial exploitation of marble are presented as examples of interesting, useful and profitable fields for application of scientific knowledge. The marble industry is only one such field and is selected because its varying new aspects are familiar to the author. However, what is true for marble is equally so in principle for many industrial minerals. The problems of any stone industry are to maintain markets, create new outlets for stone already in demand, and develop varied uses for varieties that are not so popular. Here the geologist has a different role from most of his colleagues in metal mining. The producing branch may ask about the expectable variation in thickness or size of a deposit as development proceeds. The stock department may call for the available amount of a given type of stone before accepting a large order. The sales force requires data on the use for stone from certain parts of deposits in order to divert grades to the most suitable use. The service depart-ment wants defects rectified and the cause determined to avoid recurrence. The mills want data on durability and cutting quality of abrasives. The geologist occupies no special department; he is on general call, as may be illustrated by a few types of problems that may be classified as: (1) dominantly geological in character, (2) dominantly chemical in character, (3) dominantly physical in character.

Jan 1, 1940

By G. H. Lair, B. J. Langford, S. H. Rockwood

Volumetric reservoir analysis is dependent upon a firm relationship between porosity, connate water, and net pay. Capillary presswe data on core samples interrelate these three factors. It is shown that other reservoir problems may be resolved: (I) whether water production is indigenous or extraneous to the oil producing interval, (2) an oil-water contact is being approached, and (3) whether the oil-water contact is remotely situated. INTRODUCTION Volumetric analysis of carbonate reservoirs challenges the ingenuity of the reservoir engineer due to an absence of data on the minimum oil-bearing and oil-producing pores of a given reservoir rock. Many studies with this as the ultimate objective are available on the physical characteristics and fluid-flow behaviors of the carbonate reservoir. Some of these publications are: Hassler, Brunner and Deahl's1 study of the role of capillarity in oil production; Jan Law's' and A. C. Bulnes3 statistical treatment of core analysis data; Chalkley's method4,5 or estimating specific surface areas and porosity; Walter Rose's9 report on porosity, reserves, and recovery; Archie's78 tex-tural classification of carbonate rocks; Stewart and Spurlock's9 large core analysis; Purcell'sl0 mercury injection method in studying capillary pressure phenomena; Stewart, Craig, and Morse's" model multiple-phase flow test in investigating the relative permeability effect; and Fatt's12 illumi-nating network model of porous me-dia. The present study shows that the static reservoir parameters of porosity, connate water, and net productive thickness may be interrelated by utilizing a statistical arrangement of mercury capillary pressure data in addition to routine core analysis. This report summarizes the techniques that are followed to obtain these relations which are applicable to carbonate and sandstone reservoirs that do not contain clays. Capillary pressure statistical studies may be extended to include clay-bearing rocks by utilizing water capillary pressure data. POROSITY It is necessary that the laboratory determine the porosity value that includes the pores that are filled with hydrocarbons and water in the reservoir. This is the reservoir's total porosity. When true total porosity values are not available, correlations between porosity and capillary pressure characteristics lose their significance since they cannot be related through oil-base mud core data to the porosity and connate water values found in reservoirs. Methods used to obtain reliable porosity data will not be discussed; however, care should be exercised in selecting samples for measurement. In homogeneously porous formations, small core plugs sampled frequently will furnish adequate information. Where heterogeneity, particularly vugginess, is present, large-core porosity data may be required; in such reservoirs a suite of capillary pressure samples may be selected from small plugs. CAPILLARY PRESSURE Capillary pressure data provide a method for relating two carbonate reservoir parameters, porosity and connate water saturation, which in turn permit delineation of productive rock types necessary for selecting the third parameter, productive thickness. Specific applications of capillary pressure data to petroleum reservoirs were suggested by Archie8 and Pur-cell."' Their work demonstrated that in preferentially water-wet rock, porc

Jan 1, 1958

By Ferdinand S. Ruttmann

The Tilly Foster iron-mine is situated in the southeastern part of Putnam County, New York, about fifty miles north of New York City, on the line of the New York City and Northern Railroad. There are a number of deposits of magnetite scattered throughout the county, the most important being those known as the Tilly Foster, the Mahopac, and the deposits of the Croton Magnetic Ore Company. (See the paper of Mr. Wendt, Transactions, xiii., 478.)

Jan 1, 1887

By Robert E. Ennis

This somewhat misnomered "continuous" face section is, in most mines today, still far from perfect continuity. Achieving uninterrupted flow of coal from the mining machine to the outside has been a long sought for goal. Clearly, the largest problem to be solved in continuous mining today is one of increasing the cutting time of the miner. Full machine utilization can never be achieved with the new high capacity miners as long as their performance is tied to that of the shuttle car. A recent development has proven, however, that truly continuous mining and haulage is possible. The Bell & Zoller Coal Co. working with the Research and Development Department of Hewitt-Robins Inc. developed and perfected a new mining system which offers advantages in terms of increased productivity at reduced mining costs and enhances the safety of personnel at the face. This new system involves the use of two pieces of equipment that form an unbroken link between the mining machine and the mine belt haulage system. These pieces are a Mobile Bridge Conveyor and an Extensible Panel Conveyor.

Jan 4, 1965

By James E. Adler, Timothy C. Richmond

The Stillwater District is located in south central Montana approximately 75 miles southwest of Billings, the state's largest city. It lies along the northeast front of the Beartooth Mountains and is within the boundaries of the Custer and Galatin National Forests. The first white visitors in the district were the early trappers, who were soon followed by the prospectors. These early prospectors were drawn to the area by gold and silver discoveries at Cooke City in 1870 as well as by the large gossan formation in Verdigris Creek near the west bank of the Stillwater River and by several scattered smaller gossan exposures throughout the area. The first patented mining claims were recorded in September, 1886.

Jan 3, 1974

By Edward W. Parker

At the Seventy-sixth meeting of the Institute, held in New York, N. Y., February, 1899,I presented a paper on this subject entitled, Coal-Cutting Machinery,' which has become somewhat out of date, in view of the decade's development in this feature of the coal-mining industry. It should be explained that the present paper is limited to the use of mining-machines in bituminous mines. Practically all of the anthracite mined is "shot from the solid," no undercutting being done. Anthracite-mining is therefore not considered in the statistics or other references. The statistical record as compiled by the U. S. Geological Survey shows that in 1898, the year preceding the presentation of my former paper, there were 32,413,144 short tons of coal undercut by the use of machines. In 1907 the machine-mined coal-product amounted to 138,547,823 short tons. In sympathy with the general decrease in coal-production during 1908, the output of machine-mined coal decreased to 123,183,334 short tons, but the proportion of machine-mined coal to the total output, nevertheless, showed an increase, from 35.1 per cent. in 1907 to 37 per cent. in 1908. In 1898 only 19.5 per cent. of the total product was unclercut.by the use of machines. The number of in use in the bituminous mines of the United States has increased from 2,622 in 1898 to 11,144 in 1907, and to 11,569 in 1908. The total production of bituminous coal in the United States in 1908 mas almost exactly double that of 1898, while the machine-

Jan 1, 1911

By Edward Judd

CONSTRUCTION of the long projected Moffat tunnel, on the Denver & Salt Lake R. R., between Tolland and Irving, Colorado, is now actually and actively progressing. This 6.1-mile bore through the Rocky Mountains, at an elevation of about 9200 ft., will eliminate 33 1/3 miles of probably the most tortuous standard-gage track in the world, and at the same time will avoid the necessity for crawling over the snow-bound continental divide at an elevation of 11,660 ft Completion of the tunnel within the stipu-lated four years, is expected to nave an immediate effect on the develop-ment of the known coal fields in north-western Colorado, already penetrated at Craig, the present terminus of the road, while it will also enable the railroad to carry out the original designs of its founder, David H. Moffat, for through traffic from farther west. The intention now is to accomplish the latter object by an extension from McCoy following the canon of the Grand River down to a connection with the Denver & Rio Grande at Dotsero. Legal impediments to the financ-ing of the tunnel having been removed by action of the Colorado legislature in April, 1922, the Moffat Tunnel Improvement District issued bonds to the amount of $6,720,000 which have been widely and quickly distrib-uted through a New York banking house. Responsi-bility for the execution of the project has been vested in the Moffat Tunnel Commission, to which a board of consulting engineers has been appointed for carrying out the details of administration. This board includes D. W. Brunton and L. D. Blauvelt, of Colorado, and J. Vipond Davies and J. Waldo Smith, of New York; R. H. Keays, who has managed large tunnel projects in New York, is chief engineer for the Commission.

Jan 11, 1923

By A. N. Roberts, N. W. Stump

New developments in on-stream analysis using immersed radioisotope gages including results from plant installations are described. The control of grinding and flotation using a small digital computer has been complemented by this development. A control scheme for grinding, which is based on maximum throughput at constant product size, and preliminary work in flotation control are also outlined.

Jan 1, 1975

AS provided in Article VIII, Section 4 of the By- laws, the Papers and Publications Committee has formulated the following, rules of pro-cedure and submitted them to the Board of Directors for consideration and approval. In preparing these rules the committee, and an active subcommittee con-sisting of Messrs. Norris, Sharpless; Fohs and Wither-ell, have kept in mind the desirability of codifying the practice that has grown up through the now sev-eral years of experience of the committtee, without casting them in a mold so rigid as to be hampering. The problems of the Institute change from year to year and the methods of publication must change also to meet each new situation as it arises. "The estab-lishment of divisions and special volumes devoted to the papers. read before each required certain changes from former practice. These rules have been framed with this in view. The committee suggested, however, in its letter of transmittal, that the system will be made all the more workable if the Board will, as far as practicable, in making appointments to this committee, arrange for representation from each of the professional divisions and technical committees. It is understood that the chairman of the committee will be named by the Board. The rules regarding spe-cial volumes have been framed, keeping in mind the present policy of distribution, as already approved by the Directors under which the special volumes go only to the special. groups except on request. The committee has not attempted to provide rules governing consideration of any appeal made to the Board from one of its decisions, but its services and files will necessarily be at the full service of the Board in any such event. The rules which were ap-proved by the Board at its meeting on March 30, 1928, are as follows: Signed by C. S. Witherell, Chairman. (A) The authority of. the Committee on Papers and Pub-lications, hereinafter called the Committee, is defined in Art. VIII, Sec. 4 of the By-laws of the Institute, which reads as follows: "Papers and Publications: The Committee on Papers and Publications shall consist of the Secretary of the Institute, and at least twelve members of the Institute, to assist in passing on all papers offered for publication. They shall be appointed annually by the Board of Direc-tors, on recommendation of the President, and shall have authority, subject to appeal to the Board, to accept or reject papers for publication in the Transactions and Technical Publications of the Institute. The Commit-tee shall formulate a set of rules of procedure which, when approved by the Board, shall have the force of By-laws until revoked or amended." The policy of the Committee will be to uphold the ob-jects of -the Institute as set forth in the Constitution (Arti-cle 1, Sec. 2).

Jan 5, 1928

Organization Place Date 1915 American Institute of Architects Washington, D. C. April American Iron and Steel Institute New York, N. Y. May American Society for Testing Materials Atlantic City. N. J. June 25-28 New York Electrical Society New York, N. Y. June National Association of Stationary Engineers Cincinnati, 0. Sept. 9-13 National Exposition of Chemical Industries New York, N. Y. Sept. 23-28 American Chemical Society Cleveland, 0. Sept. National Petroleum Association Atlantic City, N. J. Sept.

Jan 3, 1918

By Sidney Swensrud

ABOUT a year ago, I attempted in a general way to trace the origin and development of some of the marketing problems of the petroleum industry, and to describe certain trends which it then seemed possible to foresee. To summarize briefly, it was pointed out that the consumption of gasoline, after increasing for more than a decade at an almost unbelievable rate, was slowing down, but that the two factors which determined the supply of gasoline-namely, the production of crude oil and the percentage of gasoline derived therefrom-were tending steadily to mount. It was suggested that, while the increase in gasoline outlets began with and probably was justified at the start by the rapidly increasing demand, long after all reasonable requirements as to number of outlets had been met the number continued to increase-if anything, at a still more rapid rate-because by that time the overproduction of crude had begun to exert an impelling urge upon the owners of that crude to seek assured outlets for it in the form of gasoline. As more and more companies became integrated all the way from crude oil to marketing, there took place an ever-increasing competition among them, not only for the existing outlets but for new ones. The wide margin between wholesale cost and retail price, which is characteristic of the early stages of most new industries, persisted in the oil industry longer. than in most industries, for various reasons. The existence of that wide margin provided in large measure the means of attracting new outlets, for as the gallonage per outlet declined with the increasing number of outlets, competing companies simply offered the dealers a larger part of the total margin. The very nature of competition suggests that such a process would continue until practically all of the available margin was thus given away, and such was clearly the, tendency. It was a system that in turn produced increasing marketing expense per gallon on account of the -diluted gallonage per outlet; this increased expense might seem to have provided a justification for continuing wide margins. Economics, like its parent, nature, however, progresses by mutations and so began to throw out new types of marketers, in the form cf tank-car service stations, cut-price jobbers, and the like-heretics or

Jan 1, 1932

By Henry S. Drinker

The Musconetcong tunnel is situated in New Jersey, near the line of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, about twelve miles from Easton, on the Easton and Amboy Railroad, the latter being the extension of the Lehigh Valley Railroad to tide-water. Up to the present time, the terminus of the Lehigh Valley Railroad has been at Phillipsburg, N. J., opposite Easton, passengers connecting there with New York by the Morris and Essex (D. L. and W.) and New Jersey Central lines; freight and coal being forwarded by the Morris and Essex to tide-water at Hoboken, and by the Central Railroad to Elizabethport and Port Johnson ; also, by the Belvidere and Delaware connections through Trenton to South Amboy.