The Iron Age 1903-04-16: Vol 71 Iss 16

THE [ROW A Review of the Hardware, Iron, Machinery and Metal Trades. Published every Thursday Morning by David Williams Co., 232-238 William St.. New York. Vol. 71: No. 16. New York, T, aa April 16, 190}. Single Copies. Ton Conia Reading Matter Contents.........page 65 Alphabetical index te Advertisers “* 18! Classified List of Advertisers... .. ss Advertising and Subscription Rates “ Smokeless Powder Shot Shells are being continually improved to meet changing conditions. Dealers should carry a stock of the best loads of U. M. C. NITRO CLUB and ARROW shells to meet the increasing demand. U. M. C. products are half sold before they are offered by the retailer, This is due to their long standing reputation and the thorough advertising behind them, THE BRISTOL COMPANY, Waterbury, Cenn. Bristol’s Recording Instruments. ve eae Silver Medal, Paris Exposition. and Guar SAMSON SPOT CORD The Union Metallic Cartridge Co., Agency, 313 Broadway, BRIDGEPORT, New York City, N. Y. CON ateo emeechorsescta pe SAMSON CORDAGE WORKS, Boston, Mass. TURNBUCKLES. G : GAPEWELL HORSE NAILS Branch Offict, 11 Broadway, New York. Cleveland City Forge and tron iron Co., = Cleveland, O. NEW YORK, Branches: PORTLAND, ORE., ee ean PHILADELPHIA, BUFFALO, ruUnR NW BU CHIEFS. CHICAGO, DETROIT, BALTIMORE, ST. LOUIS, CINCINNATI, NEW ORLEANS, BOSTON, SAN FRANCISCO, DENVER. MERRILL BROS., iy SS 465 to 471 Kent Ave., Brooklyn, £.D., N.Y. —— THE CAPEWELL HORSE NAIL COMPANY OK PILLING & CRANE ' : eS od Oulene. Oitaberg. HARTFORD, CONN. REGULAR PATTERN. ’ PLATE PATTERN. YBLivd GBLVENUYOS “Empire Bidg.; New York. Board of Sin _ Board of Trade, Boston, Boston. CG Jenkins ’96 Packing. Makes perfect joint instantly ; does not have to be followed —— — that wiil last for years on all pressures of —— Does not rot, burn, blow or —= out. Boosts APOLLO BEST BLOOM GALVANIZED IRON The best is Apollo. Soft, uniform, workable. ~ Rolled ES bighest award—Gold Medal—at the Pan-American Expo- sition. All Genuine Stamped with Trade Mark. JENKINS BROTHERS, new York, Boston, Phitadetphia, Chicago. THE AMERICAN TUBE & STAMPING 60, HOT AND COLD ROLLED Successer to 93. STRIP STEEL. The WILMOT & HOBBS MFG. CO. rack MAGNOLIA METAL. just right: no _ buckling: perfectly flat. The worker is at his best with it. Takes less time besides. . Anti-Friction Metal for all Machinery Bearings. ees) * MAGNOLIA 0., 8 ns, Montreal, Boston 1-613 West 3th St., Pitisborg eb dateliet We menefactere al Chicago, Fisher Bidg. NEW YORK. es of Babbitt Metals at competitive prices, American Sheet Steel Company, New York ew ft ~ NRO eet : a ane SE $5 ee ex come ee wth or ativind = ao = . Se ss a eal ATT Lo vt a barons an os 2 THE IRON AGE. Ansonia Banas (WATERBURY BRAGS G0,| TH Puoe & Arwen Wr. o, MANUFACTURERS OF # COPPER C2: |. ome and ail at Vay, com SHBBT ANG ROll Brass BRASS AND COPPER Providenee Store, No. 181 Dorrance St. WAT I RR BE and No, 152 Eddy St. Seamless Tubes, Sheets, Rods and Wire. PRINTERS’ BRASS, JEWELERS’ METAL, GERMAN GERMAN SILVER ‘me 2" "rst mes —_—— GOLE MANUFACTURERS . Butt Hinges, Jack Chain, Kere- Tobi n be ronze IN SHEET, ROD AND WIRE |” sec Berucrs, Iaeme, Lanny (TRADE-MaRK REGISTERED.) for Trimmings, &c. Condenser Piates,Pump Linings, Round, a Square and Hexagon Bars, for Pump Key Stock 29 MURRAY ST., NEW YORK. Piston Rods and Bolt Forgings. Cutlery Metal 144 HIGH ST., BOSTON. ern Electrical Purposes 199 LAKE ST., CHICAGO, 99 John Street, - ~~ New York. Plated Ware THOMASTON, CONN. WATERBURY, CONN. also aaeneaestisaiimesemmmmaetaaeeeentenettemmaetten liam ‘6 9 9? : Randolph-Clowes Co., ¢|“Pope’s Island White filetal”|§ SCOVILL MFG. Co., WATERBURY, CONN. eptaming is Sequired. GERMAN SILVER MANUFACTURERS OF See ee ee ee 8 Sheets, Rolls, Wire, SHEET BRASS & COPPER. §| R-A-A-72-A RAR AAAS a i pa rass ells, Cups, nges, BRAZED BRASS & COPPER « GENUINE No. 1 BABBITT. ¥ Bene thea coe TUBES. K use, as there is practically = J | I SPECIAL BRASS GOODS TO ORDER SEAMLESS BRASS © "Sous te etary wae—viee, Factories, WATERBURY, CONN. PPER TUBES ft Money and Patience. DEPOTS: & CO € GREATEST DURABILITY. NEW YORK, CHICAGO, BOSTON. TO 36 IN. DIAM. t 3 New York Offiee, 258 Broadway, Postal @| * Bridgeport Deoxidize Deoxidized Bronze ee ee ee ““qelegraph Bldg., Boom 715. « and Metal Company, ; JOHN DAVOL & SONS. Chicago Office, 602 Fisher Bldg. € Bridgeport, Conn. AGENTS FOR wean Raa Nace Ne eee eee“ | Brooklyn Brass & Copper Co., DEALERS IN COPPER, TIN, SPELTER, LEAD, ANTIMONY, Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Co., LA SALLE, ILLINOIS. 100 John Street, - New York. SMELTERS OF SPELTER Arthur T. Rutter SHEET ZINC AND SULPHURIC ACID. ewe eee Special Sizes of Zinc cut to order. Rolled Battery Plates. WILLIAM S. FEARING Selected Plates for Etchers’ and Lithographers’ use. 256 Broadw ay, NEW YORK. Selected Sheets for Paper and Card Makers’ use. trove Und Waslienee Snake. Small tubing in Brass, Copper, ZINCS FOR LECLANCHE BATTERY. Steel, Aluminum, German Silver, &c. Sheet Brass, Copper and Ger- man Silver. Copper, Brass and AT ress UE a 88:74 west roe St., Chicago I 99 Ta OUI UO EG rane ar UT ge a “PHONO -ELECTRIC WiiRLE. “'1's Tovan.” TROLLEY, TELEPHONE - and 18 STOCK WITH CUT MoOAlaZ © SEND FOR OUR 1098 PRICK T. F. aan Gi <a saat WaT BOSTON BRASS, BRONZE and ALUMINUM CASTINGS. Founders, Finishers, W. G. ROWELL & CO., BRIDGEPORT, CONN. HENDRICKS BROTHERS TELEGRAPH Belleville Copper Rolling Mills, LINES. Brazsiers’ Boclt azn nine. Sheathing Bridgerert, BIOGEPOR BRASS } 0,, Con Murray St., No better counter ome made. 4 Wheel, $3.00 | EBx2~e : g g 5 — $3.25 Ingot Copper, Block ‘Tin, Spelter, Lead, Antimony, etc. seed. 49 CLIFF ST., NEW YORK. R.A.HART, BATTLE OREEK, MICH. ‘THE IRON AGE TuHurspDAY, Aprit 16, 1908. The Titchener Automatic Cut Tack Feeder. In the automatic cut tack feeder, here illustrated, a sleeve or outer barrel is mounted upon the forward end of the tack feeding barrel or spindle, and is adapted to have a limited reciprocating movement imparted to it to corre- spond with the required portion of the strip or blank to form the article. An outer flange or collar is pro- vided at the rear end and fastened securely to the re- ciprocating sleeve. This flange has a cam which slopes in opposite directions, and which is adapted to co-operate with a suitably disposed part so as to impart a recipro- cating movement to the sleeve as the spindle turns upon to the rear. Independent rotation of the sleeve upon the barrel is prevented by lugs co-operating in longitudinal slots cut in opposite sides of the sleeve, these lugs con- stituting stops projecting from the spindle and having tneir outer ends in slots of the sleeve. A head is fastened inside the barrel, and extending through it is a longi- tudinal passage large enough to admit the strip without binding. The inner end of the head is split and spring plates project from it upon divergent lines and form close joint with the opposite inner walls of the barrel. The rear edges of the plates are made rounding and sharpened so as to lie close against the inner walls of the barrel and prevent the formation of any pro Fecder Attached to a Kimball Tack Machine. THE TITCHENER AUTOMATIC CUT TACK FEEDER. its axis. A roller, attached by an arm to the front frame of the tack machine, is disposed in the path of the cam and the latter rides thereon and causes a rela- tive rearward movement of the sleeve against the ten- sion of a coil spring mounted upon the spindle and con- fined between the sleeve and a collar in the rear of the sleeve adjustably connected with the spindle so as to vary the tension of the spring. When the cam engages with the roller stop, the sleeve is moved rearwardly and compresses the spring, but as soon as the cam clears the stop the spring is released, moves forward the sleeve and advances the strip toward the knives a distance corre- sponding to the amount of movement of the sleeve. Pro- jecting toward the tack machine and fastened to the re- ciprocating sleeve are two arms, one with gripping mechanism or dogs and the other to guide the strip for- ward. The dogs on the shorter arm are arranged to engage with the strip and advance it during the for- ward movement of the sleeve, the gripping mechanism releasing its hold upon the strip when the sleeve moves jecting shoulder which would be liable to obstruct the entrance of the strip. These spring plates act in the capacity of guides, to give proper direction to the strip when placing it iu position. By having the spring plates of spring metal they will at all times bear against the opposite sides of the spindle and preclude the formation of any projecting parts. When the sleeve is moving rearwardly upon the spindle the gripping dogs which move the strip forward are released, and to prevent the strip from moving back- ward with the gripping mechanism a detent device is provided, which projects from the head toward the cut- ting knives. As the barrel turns upon its axis the cam of the reciprocating sleeve will be alternately brought into contact with the roller stop and the sleeve with its attendant parts will be moved rearwardly against the tension of the spring. As soon as the cam clears the stop the sleeve under the influence of the spring will move forward and advance the strip to the cutting knives, as aaa ee RS ES ne hTERT Ala AN ee te ee ee ee A Nan ATs ces Mt IE Salle Acc to 4 * poe cea tg por ete A Se ee ihe EE A A RI RRR wa en o ss Re Rte ae - ’ - LT ONE SPOT Ce I Br PT TE EA OR EE a ee, a Sees os : eee ee ee Se ee ee ee eee + ” THE IRON AGE. is readily understood. In the rearward movement of the sleeve the gripping dogs will release their hold upon the strip and the detent will engage therewith, and upon the forward movement of the sleeve the dogs will grip the strip and carry it past the detent. By adjusting the cam and stop roller the movement of the sleeve can be varied as desired, hence the tacks may be cut of different sizes. The feeder is made by E. H. Titchener & Co. of Bingham ton, N. Y. ——_—_— Should Analysis Be Included in Steel Specifi- cations ? The article on the above subject in a German maga- zine, which was summarized in The Iron Age of January &, together with some comments thereon by Professor Martens, has stirred up quite a little controversy on the other side of the Atlantic: In the last number to hand of Stahl und Risen, Herr Stoeckmann, a chemist, makes a bitter attack on Herr Knaudt and his conclusions. He maintains that Knaudt does not know how to interpret ThE Iron AGE Fig. 2.—View } THE TITCHENER AUTOMATIC his analyses, and that the plate from which the test was taken was not homogeneous, but, in fact, higher in car- bon at the front than at the rear, and the same was true of the silicon and phosphorus. The average difference in carbon between the two ends of the plates was 0.04 per cent., and the tensile tests corroborate this. The differ- ences between the various analyses look larger than they really are, owing to the fact that in the diagram pub- lished each 0.01 per cent. of carbon is represented by 3 jym., and also because some of the results are given in ‘three decimal places and others in two only. Expressing all of them in two decimal places, the results are as fol- lows: ‘. Per cent. carbon. Ee ee ee eT ee ee ee ee ee Te 0.12 SS Pee TT Lee TT ee TT aT eT Te Te eT 0.11 a, PP eee rere rey rT en TT eee Te eee eee 0.13 OE iv cick ota ks WOW CCESS $4 Ge dak CR Kate ew he ee 0.11 beh GG Biss < kinks s oe e040 Ss sew VAs eee hewats 0.14 en. CN. 3 wi vcscss tbh be oan bined 4060a 06 0 Cebbak 0.14 ee SE 4. kg k.wwiad cc.c cee ae wed 600 58552 5s ORO 0.14 It will be seen that the greatest difference between the various chemists is 0.03 per cent., while the differ- ehce between the two ends of the plate is 0.04 per cent. There is not much doubt that an equal variation exists hetween the center and the sides, and if this is the case April 16, 1903 the method of taking the test material was unreliable. The difference in the analyses is therefore very small, and at least a part of this difference is caused by the lack of homogeneity of the plate, so that the real errors of an- alysis practically amount to nothing. It should also be noted that these analyses were made in the ordinary course of work, and the results were not checked as would certainly be done if much were at stake. Herr Stoeck- mann finally insists that if analyses are barred from steel specifications, it must be because of the lack of homogene- ity in the material and not because chemists are unreli- able. To these strictures Herr Knaudt replies that the fact of his having taken tests from both ends of the plate and tound them to vary in analysis does not affect his conclu- sions any more than if he had taken two separate plates, us everybody knows that material rolled from top and bottom of the same ingot will give different results. Re- garding the distorted impression alleged to be given by his diagram, he says that it is immaterial what measure- ments are taken to represent each unit if the zero line is shown. The absolute differences should not be considered, of Feeder. CUT TACK FEEDER. but the percentage; thus in test K the lowest percentage of sulphur is 0.35, or 0.31 smaller than the highest, which was v.66, the difference therefore being 0.31: 0.35 or 90 per cent. A similar reasoning for the phosphorus in the same sample gives a difference of 0.35 per cent. He dis- putes the assertion that sufficient care was not taken in getting the test material. In a further letter Herr Stoeckmann insists that the absolute and not the percentual difference should deter- mine the degree of accuracy, and, regarding the compari- son of the sulphur results obtained in test K, he asks why Herr Knaudt takes 0.35 as the divisor and not 0.66, which would be just as reasonable and would reduce the differ- ence between the highest and the lowest amounts of sul- phur to 47 instead of 90 per cent. Tr Allegations have been made from time to time as to vibrations and swaying in high winds of the tall build- ings in this city. One of these was recently tested on the twenty-first foor during a gale, which blew at the vate of 82 miles an hour. The experiment was made with a transit and a spirit level, but not even a tremor was found, and at times several violent blasts struck the structure. Tenants of the premises said that they never had noticed the slightest vibration. April 16, 1903 THE Abnormal Types of Steam Engines. EGBERT P. WATSON. Many years ago, more than I care to recall, I was setting the huge slide valves of a marine engine. The man in charge of the job was looking on apathetically, because he didn’t know how to do it himself and didn’t want to, but observing the proprietors of the shop coming down the dock he deemed it necessary to show some in- terest in the work, so he called out when they got within earshot: “How much lead have you got now, sir?” “Quarter and a_ sixteenth,” I replied, sententiously. “ Quarter and a sixteenth,” he said, “I fear you have made a false mistake.” This caused one of the pro- prietors to guffaw loudly, and me to gaze fixedly into the gaping port lest I should follow suit. I have related this incident for the reason that it seems apposite to the labors of some who are puzzling their brains to get up an abnormal type of steam engine which has nothing to recommend it except its exhibition of a lack of engineering ability, and in most cases a total ignorance of its first principles, or, if the one includes the other, I will say that there is'a conspicuous want of knowledge of mechanical movements and their values as applied to steam engines. Applying the remark of my old-time friend I fear they are making “a false mis- take,” for, although I have seen many ambitious attempts to wipe the standard reciprocating engine from the map of mechanical engineering, I have never known one of these hermaphrodite engines to come into general use. After all the failures of their predecessors in the same line it might naturally be supposed that the projectors of such schemes would be doubtful, to say the least, of the practicability of them, but the last thing that enters their heads is the possibility of failure to land anywhere. The other fellow’s engine was certainly impossible, but their own never is, because the latest excursionist into this impassable engineering morass has a mechanical motion which is going to set up an economy hitherto unheard of. This is just where devisers fail, for mechanical move- ments of whatever nature have nothing to do with economy, but are simply means to an end, and some- times serious obstacles to success. The first thing to consider in proposing to introduce a new steam engine is whether it will take less fuel to run it than existing engines, and why, how it is possible. A man who wishes to save time and his own or other peo ple’s money will institute a careful search and consult with persons of long experience before embarking upon such an undertaking, for the very good reason that in 99 cases out of 100 he is mistaken in all his surmises, every one of them, because he is assuming that things which are unknown to him are unknown to every one else. He does not comprehend the very great improb- ability of discovering any new principle in the use of the working fluid which has not been experimented with and found impracticable long before he was born. Con- ‘sulting with others, however, is a very risky proceeding, it is thought, for it is possible, even probable, that the person consulted with will fly headlong to a patent lawyer and secure the prize for himself. I have seen so many instances of the kind alluded to that I can predict the finish of all such schemes witi: certainty so far as investments are concerned, but many who have approached me upon such topics have only been dissuaded with much difficulty from pouring their money into mechanical rat holes, fearing that they were losing the chance of making vast sums in a very short time. It is surprising indeed how credulous people are in this direction; they are as sheep before the shearer, and no assertion is too gross for them to absorb; a plausi- ble promoter with his impossible statements boldly ut tered can get more money in a short time for a machine to extract sunbeams from cucumbers than a legitimate proposition can obtain in a long time, and the most fas- cinating subject in this line is a new steam engine. The smaller and crookeder it is, and the more “ ingenious” motions the details have the better. Another curions feature of these “new” steam engines is that in a ma- jority of cases they are mere repetitions of previous devices whose claims to novelty are based upon very IRON AGE. 3 Slender supports. VDatents are so easily obtained nowa- days that a clever attorney can cover an invention by slight changes in the mechanism which are of no par- ticular value practically, such as a different way of packing a joint, or omitting a joint wholly. If it were proper to do so I could name certain steam engines which are so nearly fac similes of each other that it is hard for an expert to tell the difference between them. Just why any one should devise a steam engine to induce what he supposes is a new mechanical motion is difficult to dis- cover, unless it is the fascination which certain com- binations of cams, eccentrics, levers and gears exercise upon some minds. They slip, slide, wabble, dodge around each with rhythmical sequences, and the discoverer of tnem fancies that they would cut a fine figure as a valve gear, about the last place for venture of the sort. Com- bined with cylinders and connecting rods of a standard type they are supposed to comprise a new steam engine, and “syndicates” are formed to exploit them. The capitalization is always for millions, lesser sums being supposed to decrease the dignity of the undertaking and afford a greater probability of dividends, upon the prin- ciple, perhaps, that the more stockholders there are the larger the sales will be. It is not difficult to foresee the end of all such ventures; there is but one, and that is failure sure and certain, there being no basis for any other result. If these disasters were borne only by those directly responsible for them it would be bad enough, but in a majority of cases they are saddled upon persons who have been deluded into parting with their small savings or incomes in the hope of doubling them in a few weeks or months, the vendors of the shares get- ting out from under those they have subscribed for first, in many cases without having paid a penny for them. They have carefully avoided legal responsibility by so wording their statements as to future business that they cannot be held and the unfortunate investor has no re- course whatever. There is still another formidable <} stacle in the way of realizing returns from schemes like those commented upon, in any reasonable period. This is the time it wil!! take to establish a demand for the engine, or whatever it may be, and build up a trade that will be profitab!’ Persons of long experience in such matters understa this aspect of the subject thoroughly, but the average man or woman investor has an idea that it is only neces- sary to advertise the thing for a few weeks in order to put it on a commercial footing, and if a dividend is not declared in the first year (six months is about the average time they wait) they make trouble. Even if the inven- tion or device, of whatever nature it may be, has decided value it will have to go through the same routine before it can be established in public favor. The steam turbine as now been in use for many years, and its practicability and economy is no longer a question, but it was so great an innovation that it is only quite recently that it can be said to have a future, and there are plenty of persons still who have no faith in it. Many will dissent from the views expressed in the foregoing lines, asserting that if every invention is to be turned down because it is untried there will be an end to all progress, and they will cite cases without number where failure was predicted for machines which after- ward proved of great benefit to mankind. ‘This is true and a point in favor of trying everything and anything that is brought forward if the evperimenters have faith and money enough to exploit it, but it does not follow that previous experience in the same field of investiga- tion should be thrown away as of no value. “ Experience teaches,” and if the type is at fault or has a hereditary taint of impracticability attached to it, ordinary prudence suggests that it be left severely alone. The world is wiser than it was a half century ago, when prejudice or vested interests combined to keep valuable machines out of use. In these days everything is measured by the dollar rule. Those who have the dollars know pretty well whether the schemes offered to them have any market value. Ey The New England section of the National Metal Trades Association have organized with the selection of the following district committee: Chairman, Charles E. tn lied ae eaeemeeeeemeel AP bw 27a EERE my “s i 4 : ; ; fe pa LTA A CM Bina man Apa - Aa one pilnlastienathli o. ant Seem lilies: shee vig hen : Pate Com og ete rrato ee teen ee ee er nercmere 4 THE IRON AGE. Hildreth of P. Blaisdell & Co., Worcester, Mass.; vice- chairman, F. D. Wanning of the Birmingham Iron Foun- dry, Derby, Conn.; E. P. Robinson of the Atlantic Iron Company. Boston; Alonzo W. Whitcomb of the Whit- comb Mfg. Company, Worcester, and D. D. Russell of the James Russell Boiler Works, Boston. The commit- tee is at work on plans following out various actions taken by the National Association at the annual meeting at Buffalo. es Activity in Soft Coal Mining. BY F. E. SAWARD, NEW YORK. There seenis to be no cessation to the development of the mineral resources of this country, and almost every day in the week one may hear of transactions involving a considerable amount of money, such as that of a few days ago, when 150,000 acres of coal and timber land ip Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties, W. Va., were dis- posed of. Then there is the suggestion of the purchase of a 40,000-acre tract by the State of Tennessee, for its system of using the convicts in coal mines owned by the State. Land of this character lying either in the vicinity of the present State coal fields, or on the Baxter road, or, probably, best of all, lying near the Chattanooga road, can be bought for from $5 to $9 per acre. Getting back to older coal mining districts, like those in Ohio, one finds that there are still untouched areas to be developed, for a Pittsburgh concern have just closed negotiations for the purchase of 4000 acres of the Pittsburgh seam of coal in Belmont County, Ohio. The coal lies along the main line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and extends back to Captina Creek, where it is reported another railroad line is to be built. The activity of Belmont County coal lands has been notable for the past two years. Vast tracts of excellent coal have been allowed to remain undeveloped there, but the present activity in purchase indicates extensive development in the near fu- ture. An enterprise which has attracted only little attention up to the present, but which may be significant because of the people interested therein, is the recently incor- porated Empire Coke Company, which will have their headquarters at Geneva, N. Y. The Board of Directors is an imposing one, as these names show: C. J. Langdon, Elmira; Austin ‘Lathrop, Corning; William D. Kelly, president of the Clearfield Coal Company; Theodore Voorhees, vice-president and general manager of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway; Irving Rouse of Roch- ester; Frank Taylor, president of the Union Trust Com- pany, Rochester; S. S. Gould, president of the Gould Mfg. Company, Seneca Falls; Charles I. Avery of Au- burn; Walter A. Clark, president of the Phillips & Clark Stove Company; William L. Herenden, president of the Herenden Mfg. Company, and Edward H. Palmer. The plant will be in operation by December 1. It will man- ufacture 150 tons of coke per day and 250,000,000 cubic feet of gas per year, besides coal tar and ammonia, and supply it to Geneva, Waterloo, Seneca Falls and Aurora, Pe. os The Louisville & Nashville is building two extensions into the coal and iron region of northern Alabama, the Brunswick & Birmingham Railroad is pushing west- ward through Georgia, and the Atlantic & Birmingham is constructing a new line for the purpose of improv- ing its facilities in the Birmingham region. One of the most important extensions into the Birmingham dis- trict is that of the Union Springs & Northern Railroad, which is to build from Fort Davis, on the Seaboard Air Line’s Montgomery division, northwest 60 miles to Rock- ford, in the direction of Birmingham. In this connection it is reported that after the Seaboard establishes its ter- minals in Birmingham it will build further extensions in the direction of New Orleans. J. C. Maben, president of the Sloss-Sheffield Steel & Iron Company, has been elected to a similar position in the Davis Creek Coal & Coke Company to succeed W. E. Leake. The election took place at a meeting of the Board of Directors, held in New York. The former president, Mr. Leake, remains as a prominent member of the Board of Directors, the personnel of which is as follows: J. C. April 16, 1903 Maben, W. E. Leake, A. H. Larkin, H. O. Seixas, C. A. Lowe, George Parsons and Henry Parsons. The property of the company will be greatly developed in the near future, it having a capacity of 1000 tons per day, al- though at present the output is half that amount. In ad- dition to the increased output batteries of coke ovens will be built on the property and the manufacture of coke begun. J. F. Anderson, a prominent mine operator of Butler, Pa., has been in Tennessee for the purpose of investigat- ing the coal mining situation in the Chattanooga dis- trict, and expressed himself pleased as well as surprised at the mineral resources of East Tennessee. He says that Northern and Eastern capital is hunting for investment, and the fame of the undeveloped riches in the South has reached that country and is turning the stream of capital from the West to the South. He bought several hundred acres of coal land on Walden’s Ridge, adjoining the prop- erty of the Rock Creek Lumber & Mining Company. Mr. Anderson also investigated the field with reference to other forms of industry, including some silica sand land. Gen. J. T. Wilder says that the coal fields of the Cumberland Mountain section, along the line of Ten- nessee and Kentucky, are the finest in the world, and are just being opened. A big company, headed by Governor Stearns of Michigan, are beginning work on one of the largest plants in the country. This company have 65,000 acres of land, mostly in Fentress County, Tenn., which contains some of the best coal in the world. The com- pany are now building a branch road from the Q. & C, near Pine Knot, Ky., to their land, and will in a short while be mining coal. The Tennessee Coal & Lumber Corporation, incorpo- rated under the laws of South Dakota, have as incor- porators: Charles Bary, Edmund P. Schmidt and Ivan W. Goodner. The directors are: Peter J. Somers, New York; Charles Bary, New York; William H. Dyrenforth, Chicago; R. P. Porter. New York; Ivan W. Goodner; M. A. Goodner, and G. W. Sanders, Pierre, 8S. D. The Ten- uessee Coal & Lumber Corporation will operate in Cum- berland County, where they own large tracts of land. A short line that will do much good in relieving freight congestion in coal and coke in Illinois is the Coal Belt Railway. The proposed road is a steam railway connecting with the Coal Belt Electric Railway, which starts at Marion and traverses 30 miles of the most valu- able and productive coal fields of Illinois—those of Wil- liamson County. The line will connect with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad somewhere on the main line in Williamson County, and has for its principal object the carrying of coal to the Chicago market. Francis 8. Peabody, president of the Peabody Coal Company, who is at the head of this enterprise, recently said: ‘“ This new road, the details of which I am not prepared to di- vulge, will have a great effect on the solving of the coal question in Chicago. We have already a good carrying capacity, and with a direct connection between the coal fields and the roads leading to Chicago direct, we feet that the situation which has so frequently confronted us will be overcome.” An enterprise which is of considerable value to the smelters of the far north is the deal in coal lands made by L. Ernst, president of the Northwest Coal & Coke Company, owning 34,000 acres of coal land near the Crow’s Nest Pass, British Columbia. It is announced that the treasury stock of the company, consisting of 10,000 shares, has been sold in London, England, for $1,000,000.¢ The Northwest Coal & Coke Company own 34,000 acres of coal land 16 miles from the Crow’s Nest Railroad, and located on the north fork of Old Man’s Creek. The company will put in a road 16 miles long, running from the Crow’s Nest Pass road, where the middle fork of Old Man’s Creek empties into the north fork, a distance of 16 miles to the coal lands, giving an outlet for all coal to be mined by the company. The grade will be an easy one, and all the money needed for the road and for the future development of the coal mines is now on hand. The company, it is stated, have a splendid property, with some of the widest coal seams known on any part of this continent; they are sufficient to show 64 feet of workable coal. There is quite a tinge of romance connected with land April 16, 1903 at times; the moonshiners of West Virginia and Ken- tucky have been driven off land that is now being worked for coal mining and coke making; a recent instance where 45 squatters’ rights are being fought by one B. F. Butler is in Buchanan County, Va., on the headwaters of the Sandy River. The land in controversy was orig- inally patented by Smith & Banks, and was sold to help pay the expenses of the war of 1812 and 1814; the land was purchased by William Lamb of Richmond. Lamb’s executor sold it to Joseph Hagan and Sarah Par- cell. Sarah Parcell sold to Joseph Culbertson, who sold the same to Joseph Hagan. Then Joseph Hagan con- veyed the right to Patrick Hagan, now living in Scott County, Va. In May, 1874, Patrick Hagan deeded this land, the entire Smith and Banks patent being over 200- 000 acres. The deed never went to record, the purchaser preferring one of different character, and about 1883 Hagan made a new and more satisfactory one, with spe- cial warrant to all his right, title and interest in the Smith and Banks patent. It was at this time that B. F. Butler had an interest in the land so purchased, who, on March 20, 1878, filed in the United States Circuit Court at Abingdon, Va., declarations in ejectment against 47 of the adverse occupants of the land. Forty-five of these actions are still pending. These are the lands that are alleged to have inspired the bill to have all suits under the “land grabbers’” acts, to more than 50,000 acres, tried in the Circuit Court at Richmond, and nowhere else. Land at one time not worth 10 cents an acre in that part of the country is now worth up to $30 an acre. oO :Ct~C—~—O—S—~—O The Production of a Black Color on Brass.* BY ERWIN 8S. SPERRY. Much difficulty is often experienced by platers and other brass workers in the production of a satisfactory black color on brass. This would, perhaps, appear somewhat ridiculous inasmuch as brass will of its own accord oxidize to a black color if left for any length of time. Oxidized silver, which was much in vogue at one time, greatly stimulated the production of a similar fin- ish on brass, aud the same method was employed, but usually with unsatisfactory results. In the oxidation of silver the property of tarnishing by sulphur compounds is made use of, as the ready susceptibility of this metal to such influences is sufficient to render the process quite satisfactory. Silver is very easily blackened by sulphnr and its compounds, and all that is necessary to do is to bring it in contract with a solution of potassium or sodium sulphide (iver of sulphur), when an imme- diate blackening takes place. The same method used on brass produces a black color, but not entirely satis- factory, as it is wanting both in color and in depth. If allowed to remain for a long time, in order to obtain a deep black, the coating does not appear to adhere, but scales off. These difficulties render the employment of sulphur compounds in blackenlIng brass more or unsatisfactory, and much trouble is found in their use. Those who have attempted their use have usually aban- doned the method in favor of others. The solution now generally employed for the pro- duction of a black or oxidized surface on brass is a solu- tion of carbonate of copper in ammonia. The work is immersed in it and allowed to remain until the required tint is produced. The carbonate of copper is best used in the so-called plastic condition, as it is then much more easily dissolved. Plastic carbonate of copper may be purchased, but if one wishes to make it the fol- lowing method answers well: Make a solution of blue vitriol (sulphate of copper) in hot water, and add a strong solution of common washing soda to it as long as any precipitate forms. The precipitate is allowed to settle and the clear liquid poured off. Hot water is now added, and the mass stirred and again allowed to settle. Again the clear liquid is poured off, and the operation of adding water, settling and pouring off repeated. This is continued until everything has been washed out of the green carbonate of copper, which remains in the bottom less *From the Metal Industry. THE IRON AGE. 5 of the vessel. Six or eight times is usually sufficient to remove the impurities. After the water has been re- moved during the last pouring and nothing is left but an emulsion of the thick plastic carbonate in a small quantity of water, liquid ammonia is added until every- thing is dissolved and a clear, deep blue liquid is pro- duced. If too strong, water may be added, but I have found that a strong solution works better than a weak one. If it is desired to make the solution from. com- mercial plastic carbonate of copper, the following direc- tions may be followed : Dissolve one pound of the plas- tic carbonate of copper in two gallons of strong ammonia. This gives the required strength of solution. The brass which it is desired to blacken is first boiled in a strong potash solution to remove grease and oil, then well rinsed and dipped in the copper solution, which has previously been heated to from 150 to 175 degrees F. This solution work well cold, and if heated too hot gives off all the ammonia. The brass is left in the solution until the required tint is produced. The color produced is very uniform and black. It also holds tenaciously and does not readily peel off. After the desired color is produced the brass is rinsed and dried in sawdust. A great variety of effects may be produced by first finishing the brass before blackening, as the oxidizing process does not injure the texture of the metal at all. A very satisfactory finish is produced by firs. rendering the surface of the brass matt, either by scratch brush or similar methods, as the black finish thus produced by the copper solution is then dead—one of the most pleasing effects of an oxidized surface. Various effects may also be produced by coloring the entire article and then buffing off the exposed portions. The best results in the use of this solution are ob- tained by the use of the so-called red metals—i. e., those in which the copper predominates. The reason for this is quite obvious. Ordinary sheet brass consists of about two parts of copper and one part of zinc, so that the large quantity of the latter somewhat hinders the production of a deep black surface. Yellow brass is colored black by means of the solution, but if the very best results are desired it is well to use some metal having a reddish tint, indicating the presence of a large amount of copper. The varieties of sheet brass known as gilding or bronze work well. Copper also gives excellent results. Where the best resui.s are desired on yellow brass a very light elec- tro-plate of copper before the oxidizing works well and gives an excellent black. With the usual articles made of yellow brass, however, this is rarely done, but the oxi- dization carried out directly. does not ————$—$ ae The Passaic Steel Company.—The Passaic Steel Company, successors to the Passaic Rolling Mill Company, and who acquired the plant of the latter company at Paterson, N. J., in February of this year, have had plans prepared for a new steel plant at that place in connection with the existing plant. The plans call for 12 50-ton open hearth furnaces, a blooming mill, a finishing structural mill with the necessary gas producers, coal storage plant, boiler house and power plant, with a total capacity of 300,000 tons per annum of finished structural steel shapes. At present the company are building two of these furnaces to be ready for operation July 1 of this year, with such plant in connection therewith as is necessary, for all of which the contracts have been let and the work is now under way. The contract for the excavation, clearing of land, removing old buildings and putting in foundations has been placed with J. W. Ferguson of Paterson, N. J. The contract for the brick work on the furnaces has been given to the Forter-Miller Engineering Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., that for the electrical cranes, &c., to the Morgan Engineering Company of Alliance, Ohio while the steel work for the buildings will be made in the company’s own shop at Paterson. The contract for the electrical work has been placed with the Westing- house Company of Pittsburgh, while the engines will be built by the Buckeye Engine Company of Salem, Ohio. 'The company have in contemplation the removal of their present bridge shops to a new location and the construc tion of a modern bridge shop plant with a capacity of 3000 to 4000 tons per month. tet en tw ae vo Sy A aa seiner coreg 3 f eet canes nde Wienges Semle Soyo ee te ee re at ae om OH, an A le a EO nce . ) \ = ; s i o ae oe wean Ss ed mo 6 THE IRON AGE. The New Draper Taper Turning Lathe. The Draper Machine Tool Company of Worcester, Mass., recently designed and are now building a 16-inch special taper turning lathe for such work as turning twist drilis, studs, &c., in which a perfect taper is re- quired. As will be seen from the engraving, the tool is especially strong and heavy, being intended to withstand the strains due to the use of the new tool steels. The head and tail stock are fitted to a swivel plate, which permits of turning tapers 15¢ inches to the foot, the head and tail stock centers always remaining in line. There is no wear or back lash, as the swivel plate is pivoted at the center of the bed and is securely fastened at both ends after the lathe has been set for either straight or taper work. The back end of the plate is flush with the end of the bed and both plate and bed are milled on the same circle. By this means the plate can be easily set for either straight or taper work. The lathe swings 16 inches over the bed,8'% inches over THe /pon ACE April 16, 1908 only the averages of the entire system have actually immensely greater trainloads than such average. Yet the Bessemer & Lake Erie trainload was larger in 1901 than last year owing to the fact that coal shipments to Lake Erie did not keep pace with ore shipments from the lake. With an average rate of 0.419 cent per ton per mile, the gross earnings per freight train mile were no less than $3.82, at a cost of $2.08 which may be con- trasted with the 66.6 cents gross earned per passenger train mile. An Unprecedented Wheat Yield Indicated. It seems probable that the greatest winter wheat crop ever raised in the United States will be harvested next summer. The condition of winter wheat on April 1, ae- cording to the Government report issued last Saturday, fully verifies commercial estimates. In fact, it indicates even a greater yield than the trade have anticipated, plac- ing the condition of the crop at 97.3. Should this con THE NEW DRAPER TAPER TURNING LATHE. the carriage, and is 2 feet 1 inch between centers. The spindle is of hammered crucible steel, running in bronze bearings, and is formed with a 144-inch hole. The front bearing is 2°4 inches in diameter and 5 inches long. The largest step of the cone is 11% inches in diameter with 83-inch face. The ratio of back gearing is 11.23 to 1, and the feeds are 78, 49 and 34 to the inch. The Bessemer & Lake Erie Railrod report (for 1902) again shows the extraordinary capacity of a railroad whose traffic is nearly all of a simple nature and chiefly through coal and coke in one direction and ore in the other. The company have 203 miles of railroad and the average freight haul last year was 127 miles ; and for every passenger mile there were 70 ton miles. The heavy freight traftic of the road, equivalent to 5,754 tons each way daily over the whole mileage, was carried by an average of only 6.3 freight trains each way daily, so that we may assume the road to be capable of carrying very much more traffic if it can be handled at the termini. The average trainload of 918 tons is not equaled or approached on any other railroad, so far as reports show; but doubtless sections of great systems which report dition be continued until harvest, a yield of 579,000,000 is indicated, based on the area planted last fall of 34,- 000,000 acres, 17.5 bushels being taken as the average yield on a condition of 100. The 1902 crop yielded 412,- 000,000 bushels upon an area of 28,581,000 acres. As com- pared with the returns on December 1 there has been a decline of 2.4 points only, verifying the statement that the plant went through the winter with relatively no injury of importance. The acreage planted is the largest ever recorded, and no reports of abandonment of any part of it have been received. The largest crop of winter wheat ever harvested thus far was in 1901, when the yield was 431,000,000 bushels. The prospect for 1908 at present is for a yield 32 per cent. greater than the heaviest crop. The condition of the most important win- ter wheat States ranges from 95 to 98; the lowest in Texas, where the condition is 94. On April 1 last year the condition for the entire country was 78.8, at the corre- sponding date in 1901 91.7, and the average on April 1 for the last 10 years 82.1. The average condition of winter rye on April 1 was placed at 97.9, against 85.4 in 1902, 93.1 at the corre- sponding date in 1901 and 87.9 the mean of the April averages for the last 10 years. April 16, 1908 Lake Iron Ore Matters. DututH, MINN., April 10, 1903.—The lakes are finally open, after a week’s delay from strikes, and the accu- mulation of ships at either end has been broken, ore is pouring out of docks, and the congestion that was feared has ceased. All ore roads are now moving their tonnage along rapidly, but summer schedules have not been put on. Of the great fleet of United States Steel ships in win- ter quarters at Duluth only a very few now remain, and these will be out in a day or two. There is no ore rate yet, the Steel Corporation refusing to bid for tonnage. It is understood that outside shippers would be willing to pay 85 cents a ton, but dare not till the big company .evinces their intentions. This they may not do for some time. They are evidently to pursue a policy quite dif- terent from past years, and are not yet ready to have out- side ships handling their ore. If rates were fixed to- day they would be low, less than last year when the ad- ditional cost of operation is concerned. This is an item of from 7 to 8 cents a ton of cargo, making a rate for this year of 82 to 83 cents, not more than equivalent to that of 1902. Grain is being chartered at the equivalent of about 85 cents for ore. The Snyder Ore Interests. Ore belonging to W. P. Suyder and associates will not be coming from the Mesaba range in quantity before an- other year. Their St. Clair mine in 22-58-20 is operat- ing, and will ship 100,000 tons this year. The Minnesota Iron Company are operating this mine under contract. The Shenango will not be shipping until August, and its tonnage for the year cannot be large. This mine has been in progress of development for 18 months, but owing to unforeseen circumstances has been delayed time and again. It is a standing proof that sufficient exploration is as necessary on the Mesaba as anywhere else. Their Webb mine will be opened this year, but can scarcely be a shipper until 1904. The ore body is deep and heavily covered by rock. Nothing has been determined definitely as to their ore bodies on the west end of the range. The Standard Mining Company, a subsidiary concern,. have been exploring the old Arcturus property, and it is un- derstood that the lease provided for will be taken and the mine operated. There is already shown up an enor- mous tonnage of ore that when washed will be a very fine trade. This ore will probably lose about 25 per cent. of its bulk in washing. An experimental plant for its treat- ment will be constructed this year. The Arcturus has been explored time and again, and has been persistently turned down. Now thorough and well considered experi- ments in washing, conducted with a view to the disposal of this property, accurate explorations and the change in market conditions will doubtless bring it into the lists as a desirable proposition. Much of the Arcturus ore is excellent physically, and will be when washed a fine grade of Bessemer hematite. W. P. Snyder & Co. have just closed the purchase of a lease on the southwest one- quarter of the northwest one-quarter of section 15-58-19, where nearly 6,000,000 tons of 56 per cent. non-Bessemer ore have been shown at $110,000. This property will not be opened at once. Walter Fitch, formerly manager of the Champion mine, at Beacon, Mich., who is to manage the Snyder mines, has moved to Duluth, and will make his headquarters there. On the Menominee range the old Hope mine, which has been under exploration by the Oliver Company for some time, is to be abandoned ; the machinery is now com- ing out. Pickands, Hather & Co. have been at work two years in the old Caspian mine, near the Oliver Company’s Dober. Now they have struck ore. A shaft was sunk 300 feet, and in a drift 60 feet long ore was found. The property was explored several years ago, and a drill then located the ore body. The mine makes a great deal of water, but a large pumping capacity has been installed re- cently. It is now in the hands of the Buffalo Steel Com- pany. Shipments from Bristol of Oglebay, Norton & Co. are very brisk, and the mine will make a far bigger rec- ord than last year. Recent Purchases of Ore Lands. Several sales of Mesaba range ore properties have taken place the past few days. There have been enough THE IRON AGE, of them, and they have been under such varying condi- tions and to so diverse purchasing interests as to estab- lish a sort of basis for comparison of values of ore in the ground. The facts as to these sales are well worth study on the part of any interested in the business. A leading ore firm of Cleveland have just bought an 80-acre tract near Hibbing, in which there have been found a trifle less than 2,000,000 tons of ore, averaging under 54 per cent. iron, and non-Bessemer. The tract is a State lease, and as such carries a royalty of 25 cents a ton, but with the very small minimum of 5000 tons an- nually. The buyers pay a cash bonus of $40,00