The Iron Age 1903-08-27: Vol 72 Iss 9

| >. f aA CF 4 we. 3" LAWNS Qt df eo Ws pro 7 H E R O he renee E ‘| 2°40 ayBu sdor ( ; 99915409 Jo uBlaE eo X 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. 72: No. 9. New York, Thursday, August 27, 190}. $5 00 a Year, including Postage. Single Copies, 15 Cents. Reading Matter Contests.........page 54) ———__ a eee Pa Alphabetical Index te Advertisers ** 173) ~ = Classified List of Advertisers..... ** 165 Advertising and Subscription Rates 172] CABL EG RAM To PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, Oyster Bay. American Rifles, Ammunition and Men won victory to-day over Great Britain, Canada, France, Norway, Australia and Natal, and bring (Signed) LIEUT. ALBERT S. JONES, Secretary of the National Rifle Association of América. Copied from N. Y. HERALD. This sweeping victory for America, and the extraordinary score of 1,570 out of a possible 1,800 were made with 30-40 regular factory Cartridges , manufactured by the UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE COMPANY selected after exhaustive trials, by the entire American Team in preference to all others, for their wonderful uniformity and extreme accuracy. Scores are improved by using U. M. C. ammunition. Souvenir Cartridges (without powder) on application, Bristol’s Patent Steel Belt Lacing, THE UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO. SAVES 313 Broadway, - New York City. Time, Belts, Factory: BRIDGEPORT, CONN. Depot: 86 First St., SAN FRANCISCO, GAL. Money. Greatest: trength READY TOAPPLY §=FiMisHEDVow, =With Least Metal Send for Circulars and Free Samples. samson spot corol(AHAL| Bj|LERS sera. Also posach usetts and Phenix SAMSON CORDAGE WORKS, Boston, Mass. REGULAR PATTERM. CAPEWELL HORSE NAILS Branch Office, 11 a New York. NEW YORK, Branches : PORTLAND, ORE., eT PHILADELPHIA, BUFFALO, CHICAGO, DETROIT, BALTIMORE, ST. LOUIS, CINCINNATI, NEW ORLEANS, BOSTON, SAN FRANCISCO, DENVER. THE CAPEWELL HORSE NAIL COMPANY HARTFORD, CONN. PLATE PATTERN. NBSL11Vd OBLYVONUNOSD Qs BASIC PIG. rard Building, Phila. E moire Bide... New Sor PILLING & GRANE, fusisriussece'vse f Trade, B REGULAR PATTER®S. Jenkins Bros.’ Valves The metal and workmanship are the best. All parts are interchange- able. Need no regrinding, as they are more effectively repaired by re- newing the disc, which can be easily and quickly done without removing valve from the pipe, and costs buta trifle. Insist on having the genuine, which always bear our Trade-Mark. JENKINS BROS., New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chice go, London FINE SHEET IRON AND STEEL There are many grades of sheet ‘‘iron” between black sheet and Wood's Patent-Plan- ‘tine shed (the modern Russia). |" SWBAON” GO ROlGd SIGE! exer fr DTaWing a StaMplng , : : THE AMERICAN TUBE & STAMPING COMPANY SEE Wellsville Polished; the best of (Water and Rail Delivery) BRIDGEPORT, CONN. PAGE 21, all is Wood’s. MAGNOLIA METAL: Return a whole sheet for an inch of fault. Best Anti-Friction Metal for all net Bearings. Fac-Simile of Bar. am , 7 Quick service. American Sheet Steel Company ~ aio. Battery Park New York » 7s MAGNOLIA METAL CO., Li San Francisco, New Orleans, Montreal, Bosto: Owners and Sole Manufacturers, 611-513 West /3th St., Pittsburg and Philadelphia. We manufacture ~~ Chicago, Fisher Bidg. NEW YORK, grades of Babbitt Metals at competitive prices back Palma trophy. ‘ity re cee ie ana AA i ES NE, NEE NET TT A TTT nine nl PS ~ fineness capo tc — — aniline epee Rage Lm Mw ge | me i et were ax i SER YL THE IRON AGE. — THE PLUME & Atwood Mré. Co., MANUFACTURERS JF ausous Bess (BRASS ® Corre Co. pi, Sheet and Roll Brass \ brass nO covren|COPPER |", Winx PRINTERS’ BRASS, JEWELERS’ METAL, GERMAN beens GERM AN ( SHEET ne GILDING METAL, COPPER RIVETS . ROD Pins, Brass Butt Hinges, Jack Chain, Kere Tobin Bronze) SILVER | “war aaa Condenser Piates,Pump Linings, Round, Square and Hexagon Bars, for Pump |LOW BRASS. SHEET BRONZE. | 29 MURRAY ST., NEW YORK. Piston Rods and Bolt Forgings. 144 HIGH ST., BOSTON. aaa atasins aes eine SEAMLESS BRASS AND COPPER : es oat mst llers 199 LAKE ST., CHICAGO, TUBING. BRAZED BRASS AND aati. pacvewsns.: 99 John Street, - - New York. BRONZE TUBING _| THOMASTON, CONN. _ | WATERBURY, CONN. Randolph-Clowcs Co.. $watERBURY BRASS C0.,| oo eter CO Main Office and Mill, 7 , BRASS WATERBURY, CONN. WATERBURY, CONN. CERMAN SILVER MANUFACTURERS OF 130 Centre St., New York. Providence, R. I. Sheets, Rolls, Wire SHEET BRASS & COPPER. Rods, Bolts and Tubes, arzen anass a copper $|| reson coupta amour | fram ana, cur, Mine TUBES. nan ca, SPECIAL BRASS GOODS TO ORDER SEAMLESS BRASS Factories, WATERBURY, CONN. Largest Jobbing eas weaeny in New England LARGE CASTINGS A SPECIALTY. Bronze, Brass, Alaminuum and Babbitt ae No order too large for us to han None too small to receive our aathe attention. & COPPER TUBES TO 36 IN. DIAM. New Yerk Office, 28 Broadway, Postal Telegraph Bldg., Room 718. Ghicago Office, 602 Fisher Bidg. 4 BOOUUN NEW YORK, CHICAGO, BOSTON. JOHN DAVOL & SONS, AGENTS FOR Brooklyn Brass & Copper Co., DEALERS IN COPPER, TIN, SPELTER, LEAD, ANTIMONY, 100 John Street, - New York. Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Co., LA SALLE, ILLINOIS. SMELTERS OF SPELTER Arthur T. Rutter AND MANUFACTURERS OF SHEET ZINC AND SULPHURIC ACID. SUCCESSOR TO Special Sizes of Zinc cut to order. Rolled Battery Plates. WILLIAM S. FEARING Selected Plates for Etchers’ and Lithographers’ use. Selected Sheets for Paper and Card Makers’ use. 256 Broadway, NEW YORK. Stove and Washboard Blanks. Small tubing in Brass, Copper ZINCS FOR LECLANCHE BATTERY. Steel, Aluminum, German Silver &c. Sheet Brass, Copper and Ger- man Silver. Copper, Brass ané CS ea 88:74 West Monroe St. Chicago. ANA LICCTDIC? ASG CULD TS EIN esc CMV teh A tat a “PHONO -ELECTRIC =e emeroee==]\ | BRASS, BRONZE and ALUMINUM GASTINGS,| VV LEC-EL. cee ——St- Founders, Finishers, : EF oniet one an ie GE a W. G. ROWELL & CO., BRIDGEPORT, CONN TELEPHONE and HENDRICKS BROTHERS sian PROPRIETORS OF THE Belleville Copper Rolling Mills, 7 _ LINES. Braziers’ Bolt ana Sheathing Bridgerort BRIDGEPORT BRASS Co COPPER, met tn een ee COPPER WIRE AND RIVETS. so. TS... Importers and Dealers in ingot Copper, Block Tin, Spelter, Lead, Antimony, etc. Po @nanemteet. 49 CLIFF ST., NEW YORK. R.A. HARG BATTLE CREEK, MIC! THE IRON AGE Tuurspay, AuGcust 27, 1903. Universal Horizontal Boring, Drilling and Mill- ing Machine. The Niles-Bement-Pond Company of New York have built fer the Carnegie Steel Company a universal hori- zontal boring, drilling and milling machine intended for UNIVERSAL HORIZONTAL BORING, the heaviest class of work, such as armor plate. The column is supported on a massive bed, on which it has a traverse of 10 feet by power. It supports a counter- weighted saddle with 10 feet vertical traverse by power. The column rotates on its axis through an are of 90 de grees on its base, which also serves as a platform for the operator, and from which position all movements of the machine are controlled through convenient levers and hand wheels. The spindle is of steel, 8 inches in diam- eter, and has 4 feet traverse, and six changes of power feed, suitable to requirements of boring and drilling; it also has rapid hand adjustment. It swivels on the sad dle to an angle of 45 degrees above or below the hori zontal position through worm, worm wheel and circular steel rack. Besides the boring and drilling feeds, there are eight independent automatic milling feeds vertically DRILLING AND MILLING MACHINE and horizontally in either direction. The column and saddle traverse may be altered to suit requirements, and a work table of any desired size furnished, also outboard post with bearing for outer end of boring bar. The ma- chine is driven by two Westinghouse motors. A 20 horse power, making from 570 to 850 revolutions per minute, drives the spindle, and a 10-horse-power, making 1250 rev olutions per minute, controls the milling feeds and the rapid traverses of the column and saddle EES OO | a rn tg te ee ae ate AONE eee arene ot ee a 4 PA yer ie oe a he nan A Pee wee 2 THE IRON AGE. Production of Chromic Iron Ore in 1902. WASHINGTON, D. C., August 25, 1903.—The annual re- port of the United States Geological Survey on the pro- duction of chromic iron ore in 1902, which has been prepared by J. H. Pratt, shows an output of 315 short tons, valued ut $4567, which is a decrease of 538 tons in quantity and $1223 in value as compared with the pro- ductiou in i901, which was 368 short tons, valued at $5790. California was the only State to produce any chromic ore in 1902. The domestic output has shown very remarkable fluctuations during the past ten years. In 1893 the product was 450 long tons and in 1894 it rose to 3680 tons, the high water mark of.the industry. In 1895 the output was reduced to 1740 tons and in 1896 to 786 tons. No production was reported thereafter until 1900, when the recorded output was 140 tons. There has been no increased activity in the develop- ment of chromite deposits in the United States during the past year, owing to their distance from the point of consumption. This obstacle is being overcome by bet- ter railroad transportation. With the completion of the railroad from Erwin, Tenn., to Marion, N. C., the chromite deposits of Yancey County, N. C., will undoubt- edly be thoroughly exploited, and if the present indica- tions are fulfilled they will become producers of this mineral. There has been some change recently in the manufacture or treatment of chromite ores that are not of sufficient purity to be shipped as mined or that cannot by hand cobbing be brought to contain a sufficiently high percentage of chromic acid. Ores of this type are crushed, stamped or rolled, and then passed over some form of concentrators. Stamp mills are being used for this purpose, especially in Canada. There is a large amount of chromite ore imported each year into the United States, most of which is from Tur- key, with small amounts from New Caledonia and Can- ada. Up to 1884 little or no chromite ore was imported and there was a large production from Maryland, but since then the importation of this ore has been cori- stantly increasing. In 1890 the imports amounted to 4353 long tons; in 1895 they were 5230 tons; in 1900 they rose to 17,542 tons; in 1902 the imports more than doubled, aggregating 39,570 tons, valued at $582,597. Canadian Deposits. The principal deposits of Canada are in the vicinity of Black Lake and Colraine, Province of Quebec, where the mineral occurs in the peridotite rocks or serpentine. In this district these rocks form a series of approxi- mately parallel belts of varying width, which can be traced in a general northeast-southwest direction for a distance of over 20 miles. Where the ore occurs in masses it is usually of sufficient purity to ship directly, as mined, without further treatment. Where it is an in- timate inixture of the serpentine and chromite the ore has to be crushed, rolled or stamped, and then passed over Whifley tables or other concentrators. The method now being used at a number of mines is first to crush the ore, then to pass it through a stamp mill and over Whifley concentrating tables. The concentrates are then dried and bagged, and are ready for shipment. During 1902 mining was carried on at the Whitney and Colraine mines and at the mine of the Montreal Chrome Company. The production amounted to 900 long tons, valued at $13,000. This will undoubtedly be increased in 1903, as the Colraine mines are being extensively and _ sys- tematically worked. Industrial Utilization. The principal use of chromium as an alloy is iu the manufacture of ferro alloy, and this has become a very im- portant industry. The ferrochromium is used in the manu- facture of chrome steel, which finds its greatest use in armor plate and armor plate piercing projectiles. The ar- mor plates are usually made by the addition of the alloys ferrochromium and ferronickel to the molten steel before it is cast into the ingot, 1nd they produce a more or less homogeneous triple alloy. Chromium in the presence of carbon makes steel intensely hard. At the same time it gives steel a high power of resistance to shock, which adapts it especially to use for armor plate, and also to any severe service, and to resistance to abrasion, as in August 27, 1903 trolley car wheels, crusher jaws, stamp mill shoes, &e. A chrome steel has long been made for use in the manu- facture of safes. In the manufacture of a ferrochromium alloy it is necessary to use a high grade chromium ore low in silica, which, on account of its refractory char- acter, can be reduced only by the employment of electric heat. Chromite as a mineral is largely used in the manu- facture of bricks for basic open hearth furnaces. These bricks have been used as linings for a number of fur- naces, and at one furnace over 400 heats were turned out before the lining had to be replaced. Although the price of these chrome bricks is considerably higher than that of silica bricks, yet on account of their lasting so much longer they are much more desirable. Their use in the back walls of gas ports has decreased and a mag nesia brick has, as a rule, been substituted for them. An- other use that is being advocated for the mineral chromite is as a hearth lining for water jacket furnaces in copper smelting. and this use has already begun to a limited extent. We Ee ©. enictsssaiigagiutililitaaininsiemamaaiies The Colorado Fuel & Iron Company. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Col- orado Fuel & Iron Company was held in Denver on Au- gust 19. They elected the following Board of Directors: John C. Osgood, J. A. Kebler, George J. Gould, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., F. J. Hearne, Fred. T. Gates, E. H. Har- riman, Edwin Hawley, Ben Nicoll, J. H. McClemont, J. H. Hyde, E. W. Oglebay and E. P. Prentice. It is con- ceded that the re-election of John C. Osgood and J. A. Kebler to the board. does not presage any immediate rad- ical changes in the management of the company, while the fact that E. H. Harriman and Edwin Hawley con- tinue to be identified with the company indicates that the new controlling interests have probably reached a clear understanding with the railroad men who hold stock as to the future of the company. According to an official statement made by him, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., is to devote himself particularly to the development of this property. He refused to say any- thing about the reported intention of the new managers to sell the company to the United States Steel Corpora- tion, but made every promise that his management of the property would increase their importance to the State and the country at large. John C. Osgood also issued a statement, in which he took occasion to correct the impression that he was an- tagonistic to the Rockefeller-Gould party, which, he said, had treated him with the utmost consideration. He added that there was no intention of making wholesale changes among the officers and employees, and that all who were competent would be retained. Mr. Osgood’s hold upon the situation is explained by his large inter- est in subsidiary and associated companies, in some of which he holds a controlling proportion of the stock. When the organization of the Board of Directors is completed, which will be in a week or two, the subject of a financial plan to carry out the improvements will be taken up. It is thought that F. J. Hearne, formerly president of the National Tube Company, may be elected both president and chairman of the Board of Directors, with John C. Osgood, George J. Gould, F. J. Hearne, J. D. Rockefeller, Jr., and Fred. T. Gates as the Executive Committee. * sieiteiatnncliadiidadic tacts. The labor .unrest in France continues in some dis- tricts. The tendency throughout France is toward a higher rate of pay generally, for some statistics recently issued show that wages have doubled within the last 5O years. The workers also live on a higher scale, the food being better than formerly. The conflicts in Spain are partially industrial and partly political, but much of the incitement to disorder comes from the opposing sections in political life. In Russia the strike move- ment is said to be extending. In Odessa alone it is said that 25,000 workers are on strike. The complaints are as to long hours, low wages and impossible conditions of employment. The men are also liable to be discharged on the slightest pretense, and the fines imposed are said to be intolerable. Axigust 27, 1903 THE he Niagara Automatic Elbow Curve Shears. [he Niagara Machine & Tool Works of Buffalo, N have designed an automatic machine tor cutting the ved sections for round elbows without using any tem ‘ts. It is suitable for elbows of any diameter, and ustable for elbows of any angle, and composed of desired number of pieces, not less than four, pro ied the rise of the curve does not exceed 10 inches, as ited by the depth of the throat in the cutting head, and nrovided the original width of the sheet is 36 inches o1 ss. It is immaterial whether the seam of the elbow n the throat or on the side. The machine consists of a set of four feed rolls and movable head with rotary cutters. The sheet is put in position by-the oparator on one side of the feed roll between suitable gauges, and when the feed rolls take hold of it they carry it through the machine on a straight line. ‘The gauges are made in two sections, with parallel adjustment to the proper position from the cutters by means of hand wheel and sprocket chains. The head which carries the rotary cutters has two distinct move IRON AGE. ineht was made in stock of the purchasing company namely, $150,00) in preferred and $150,000 in common stock. rr The «*One-Break’’ Working Day. In an article under the caption of “ Americanizing dinburgh’s Industries,” the Edinburgh Dispatch of July IS says that in many British engineering shops and other establishments American systems and methods of employment and pay have been adopted during the past two or three years: <A description is given of the pre- mium or bonus system, but most space is devoted to what is called the “ one-break " day. This means stopping for the noonday meal only It has long been the custom for British workmen to start work at 6 o'clock in the morn- ing and stop for an hour at 8 o'clock to take breakfast. Following is a portion of the remarks by the Dispatch on this subject: The “one-break"’ system is another American idea which has gained a footing in this country and is rapid- iy growing in favor. By this arrangement the breakfast hour is done away with, and the men start work at 7 or THE NIAGARA AUTOMATIC ELBOW CURVE SHEARS. neuts. It moves forward and back as required by the rise of the curve of an elbow section, and at the same time its rear part swings in such manner that the cutters will always be in tangential position to the curved line, which is necessary for smooth and accurate cutting. These movements are carried out theoretically correct, and a cycle of them is timed according to the length of the elbow section which is being cut by connecting the feed rolls with the mechanism of the cutting head. Ad justment for the curves of various elbow sections is made on the cutting head by means of crank movements, regu- lating the in and outward and swinging motion. and by means of change gears giving the length of an elbow sec- tion. The cutters are so arranged that they will cut the convex as well as the concave part of the curves freely. Means are provided for gauging the sheets for the successiye cuts. Eighteen change gears are provided, which take care of elbows from 8 to 80 diameter, varying by 2inches. Four-piece elbows can be cut up to 38 inches, six-piece up to 62 inches and eight-piece up to 80 inches diameter. On still larger elbows the number of pieces must be increased to limit the hight of the curve to 10 inches. ——— i The National Enameling & Stamping Company have purchased the entire capital stock issued of the Whit- tiker & Weber Mfg. Company of St. Louis, Mo., and tie control and ownership of the plant heretofore oper- ated by them, consisting of realty. machinery, tools, dies, | itterns, patent rights, trade-marks and good will. Pay- 8 o'clock in the morning, having had a good meal; there being only one break during the rest of the day for din- ner. It is contended that this is a much better method, both for men and masters. The men do not start hun- gry, and being therefore fresher and better rested they are able to pay more attention, and consequently turn out more and better work. Then, again, the waste, incon- venience and delay caused by stopping and restarting at breakfast time, the annoyance of men coming in late and the other evils of the two-break system are done away with; the output is increased and the men are healthier and more physically fit to undertake the duties of the day. The one-break system was first introduced into Great Britain by a Leeds firm in April, 1901, and was quickly imitated by another firm in the same town. The workmen at first raised an objection, on the ground that the day was too long to work with only one break, and asked either for a reduction of hours or a withdrawal of the system. The matter was subsequently discussed at a central conference of the Engineering Employers’ Fed- eration, where it was stated that 83 firms throughout the country, of which 26 were federated firms, had adopted the system, and were on an average working a 51-hour week. The experience of these firms, it was stated, was that the workmen, after they became accustomed to them, preferred the altered hours. In 13 firms the hours were divided as follows: Monday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the dinner hour from 12 to 1 o’clock; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the dinner hour at the same time; Saturday, 7 a.m. till noon—a total of 54 hours. A EOE EE TT LE EEE i ESE el NR TET ST RT A j K —— Sa 4 THE IRON AGE. Laboratory Notes. BY ERIC JOHN ERICSON, CHICAGO, ILL. A New Sulphur Method for Iron and Steel. The suggested method is an application and modifi- cation of Carius’ method for sulphur in organic com- pounds to the gravimetric determination of sulphur in pig iron and steel. Perhaps no other element has given the iron and steel chemist so much trouble as sulphur, particularly in pig iron. It is well known that the evo- lution method does not always yield all the sulphur, and even the usual gravimetric methods leave much to be de- sired with regard to concordant results and are at the best somewhat low, owing to incomplete oxidation. This method insures perfect oxidation, requires less attention while dissolving and gives uniform results. A number of standards from different firms were tried and all gave slightly higher results. The method is as follows: Introduce 3 grams of bor- ings or drillings into a glass tube of hard Bohemian glass, 3 feet long, with % inch inside diameter and a thickness of glass of 3-32 inch. Add 25 to 30 c. em. strong nitric acid, 1.42 specific gravity, and 5 c. em. strong hydro- chloric acid, 1.20, heat and draw the open end out to a capillary and seal. Cool and put into a water bath, heat to boiling for one and a half to two hours; cool the bath, preferably over night, break the capillary, add 5 to 10 ce. em. of dilute hydrochloric acid and boil for five minutes. Transfer to a porcelain casserole, add 0.2 gram sodium carbonate, evaporate nearly to dryness, then add 20 ¢. cm. strong hydrochloric acid and evaporate to dryness two to three times. Redissolve in strong hydrochloric acid, di- lute with an equal volume of water, filter and wash with lukewarm water. The filtrate, in a No. 3 Griffin beaker or 16-ounce conica! flask, is made slightly ammoniacal, 10 ec. cm. barium chloride is added and then slightly acidi- fied with hydrochloric acid and diluted with water to about 300 c. cin. volume. Boil down to about 100 c. cm., allow to stand over night, filter, and wash the resulting barium sulphate with lukewarm water. Run a blank on chemicals and subtract from the obtained barium sul- phate. This modus operandi will in most cases give a precipitate free from iron. Precipitating in an alkaline solution as recommended by Dr. Hillebrand* is better by far than the old way. Particular care should be taken to avoid explosions. It is best to have the capillary end of the tube (top) facing the wall and in front of the bath an asbestos sheet. Choose a suitable corner for the bath away from the gen- eral working table. Wear glasses or goggles while seal- ing and breaking thecapillary. Whenthetube hasbeen used for a number of determinations and shortened to about 20 inches it can be used for smaller samples, say 2 grams. - This method is especially recommended for making sulphur standards and check work in general. Method of Analysis for Fluor Spar. Those who have had occasion to analyze Muor spar and endeavored to look up particulars must have been astonished at the almost total lack of any. Decomposi- tion by means of fusion with sodium carbonate is not always complete and gives too low calcium, partly be- cause the carbonate of calcium is not completely in- soluble in water, if a separation from sodium fiuoride and alumina be attempted by this means. Furthermore, some calcium is coprecipitated along with iron and alumina, owing to the presence of fluorine. ‘The writer has had occasion to analyze a great number of samples, and has worked out and adopted the following method: Decompose 0.5 gram in a large platinum crucible with enough concentrated sulphuric acid to thoroughly saturate the sample. Evaporate the excess of acid until white fumes cease to come off; then add 5 grams «of sodium carbonate and fuse for 20 to 30 minutes. Cool, transfer the crucible to a 5-inch porcelain evaporating dish. add 60 c. cm. dilute hydrochloric acid, 1.10 specific gravity; evaporate to dryness twice to render silica insoluble, cool, add 75 c. em. hydrochloric acid of the same strength, ** Modern Methods of Mineral Analysis,”’ by Dr. Hillebrand. February number Journal of the Franklin Institute. August 27, 19)3 boil, filter, and wash twice with acid and five times with hot water. Burn off the filter paper in a tared pi: num crucible and weight the silica. Repeated analysos have shown that the silica is not volatilized accordiug to the following equation: 2CaF, + 2H.SO, + SiO, = SiF, + 2CaSO, + 2H,0, as formerly supposed, but remains as shown by the fol- lowing results: I Old method. New method. Fluor spar, December 10, 1902......22.75 23.26 % Sio, Fluor spar, December 15, 1902...... 4.11 4.42 Gravel spar, December 13, 1902...... 3.96 4.08 Gravel spar, December 19, 1902...... 5.58 5.44 Grave! spar, December 22, 1902...... 4.08 4.14 It is not denied that the above equation holds good when mixed together. Silica and flour spar are heated with concentrated sulphuric acid, but when flour spar alone is treated as directed above, the silica in the spar itself remains as substantiated by the analyses sub- mitted. The following results were obtained on one sample: 5.20, 5.14 and 5.32, which is exceptionally good, consider- ing the mineral. Prior to this discovery the writer had thought that the hydrofluoric acid formed would attack and volatilize the silica present; hence a separate determination had been made by adding hydrofluoric acid and volatilizing. In the filtrate from silica, iron oxide and alumina are precipitated by ammonia, lime by ammonitim oxalate as usual, the calcium oxalate filtered after standing one and one-half to two hours, washed with hot water and calcined, or transferred with filter back into the same beaker in which it was precipitated, then 100 to 150 ¢. cm. water and 5 to 10 c. em. strong sulphuric acid added, warmed and titrated with standard potassium perman- ganate. lron value divided by 2 equals lime, or, more ac- curately, 558.8 parts iron equal 280.6 parts lime. If a quali- tative test reveals the presence of carbonic acid, deter- mine the amount of evolution and absorption in soda lime or potassium hydrate. From the total lime obtained sub- tract the amount necessary for combination with carbonic acid as calcium carbonate; convert the balance into fluoride by the factor 1.3937 or log. 14417. The above scheme of preliminary treatment simplifies the an- alysis considerably and gives excellent results. Since writing the above the writer has found a state ment in the periodical referred to that Jannasch (?) and another chemist have made observation that, in the presence of boron, boron fluoride is evolved without any loss of silica. A sample of gravel spar was subsequently examined for boron, but none was found, so in these cases the fact that the silica in the spar remains cannot be due to the presence of boron. Some of the samples contained zine and a little sulphur, while the others were good commercial samples running over 91 per cent. cal- cium fluoride, the balance being silica, iron oxide and alumina. A few words about the old method for silica may not be amiss. Treat 1 gram with 50 c. em. cold dilute hydro chloric acid, 1 to 10 parts water, to liberate carbonates, if present, wash with cold water, transfer the residue to 4 platinum crucible and burn off the paper, taking care not to heat longer than is necessary for just burning off the paper. Cool and weigh the crucible plus the residue. Add hydrofluoric acid alone (without the addition of su!- phuric) and evaporate on a hot plate, and finally bring to a low red heat for a few seconds with a Bunsen burner Cool and weigh; the loss equals the silica. A New Method for Determination of Titanium. This method is based on a statement in Prescott and Johnson’s work on “ Qualitative Analysis ” that “ Sodium phosphate precipitates the titanium almost complete even in the presence of strong hydrochloric acid.” Su!» stituting ammonium phosphate as a precipitant in ord: to facilitate the washing and precipitating while boili 1s in an about 10 per cent. solution of hydrochloric ac'4, the titanium is completely thrown down as a wh ‘e flocculent, somewhat gelatinous precipitate, insoluble 2 an excess of the precipitant; while aluminum, iron, m: ganese, &c., remain in solution. Only zirconium and ‘:0 interfere. Here we have at once an easy and raj id method ; a determination can be done in about two hours. <4 at VA ad na ite ne nd ne m. al, in- li eT ne b- nie ito yve ine ite- ind the ny tly ese not les ere -al- ind not lro- . of oa are off jue. sul- zy to ner. a @ - Foaooran T= Lad Pad Ancust 27, 1908 rhe method is as follows: Dissolve from 0.3 to 0.5 gre.m of ferro titanium in 15 ec ecm. dilute niivo-sulphurie acid (equal parts nitric acid 1.20 sulphuric acid, one to three parts water) in a No. 2 Griffin beaker, evaporate to dryness or until fumes of sulphur trioxide come off, cool and add 15 ec. cm. hydrochloric acid 1.10 specific gravity; boil, filter and wash once with acid and about five times with warm waiter. To the filtrate in a No. 3 Griffin beaker add enough sulphurous acid (or ammonium bisulphite) to deoxidize the iron, and then, while boiling, 25 ¢c. em. of a 10 per cent. solution of ammonium phosphate, and con- tinue boiling for 20 to 30 minutes; allow to settle for nearly an hour, filter and wash with hot water. The precipitate has a tendency to go through the filter, but if pulp is used a little suction may be applied if desired. Dry and ignite the filter with the precipitate in a tared platinum crucible at a high temperature. Cool in desic- cator and weigh. The titanium factor is 0.336. Opinicns seem to be divided as to the composition of the salt. According to Roscoe and Schorlemmer it is the basic titanium phosphate the formula of which is Ti,P,O,. The writer has been unable to verify this, as analysis shows more titanium and phosphorus than the above formula represents. Using the factor suggested above—viz., 0.336, corresponding to Ti,P,0,—gives results agreeing closely with those obtained by the old methods, as follows: -———Precipitated by—_, Sodium Ammonium hyposulphite. phosphate. POI 6.08.0. 0. ciseidnieeecdbo ns 8.65 8.70 POG RE Mviic Wea ticedusesueewis 15.48 15.35 By Ammonium ammonia. phosphate. 100 c. em. standard Ti sol.... = 0.03528 = 0.0350 0.0354 100 c. cm. standard Ti sol.... = 0.02800 = 0.0283 0.0280 0.0264 0.0261 Ores may be fused with a mixture of potassium and sodium carbonate, transferred to a porcelain casserole and boiled with water. Allow to cool before filtering, as the titanates are not completely insoluble in water, especially in hot; filter and wash with water. Transfer filter with precipitate back to casserole, add 30 to 40 ¢. cm. hydrochloric acid 1.10 specific gravity, boil, filter and wash with hot water into a 500 c. cm. flask and dilute to mark. Pipette off a definite amount, evaporate to dryness, redissolve in 10 c. cm. strong hydrochloric acid and proceed as directed above. Should a very heavy precipitate be thrown down, it is necessary to pipette off a smaller sample, and conversely a larger. sascinniasttaatbiiNRa dissin To Manufacture Radium. A company has been formed in Buffalo to extract the tare metal radium, which to-day is the astonishment of the scientific world, from uranium ores obtained from Utah beds owned by the company. The Buffalo company proposes to make it a marketable commodity, producing it as a commercial article. A few years ago Stephen T. Lockwood of Buffalo, while in the West met two pros- pectors, who in searching for gold and silver had met peculiar ore deposits in Grand County, Utah. They sent the ore to an assayer, who reported not a trace of the precious metals. There was much uranium, however, and Mr. Lockwood knowing its commercial value urged the importance of the discovery upon the prospectors, with whom he had become associated, and claims were staked out upon the whole deposit. The Utah bed was carnotite, a combination of uranium, vanadium, iron, copper and barium, and, as later researches showed, ra- dium and polonium. After establishing title to the claim Mr. Lockwood had returned East and subsequently be- cCanie interested in the discovery of Professor and Mad- ame Curie and Professor Becquerel’s announcement of the radio-activity or uranium, followed as it was by the discovery of radium. This suggested to Mr. Lockwood that the uranium from Utah would yield radium as well as the uranium extracted from the flinty pitchblende. The earnotite from Utah was much easier to work than th pitchblende. Mr. Lockwood, with the aid of George Banta, a young mining engineer, also of Buffalo, began the search. Carnotite was treated in 100-pound lots. The ore was THE IRON AGE. crushed into fine sand and washed repeatedly with acids. The iron, copper and other known minerals were precipi- tated and the gangue sands eliminated, and finally out of the first lot of ore a small bottle of white powder, a compound of barium, was left. The barium compound grew more and more powerful. Then they enlisted the attention of the scientists in the Eastern universities, and at last a sample of radium-barium compound was produced which showed a potentiality of 365 on the deli- cate electroscope in Columbia University. A testing plant will soon be built at or near Buffalo with a capacity for the reduction of 2 tons of ore a day. Such a plant would turn out daily 100 pounds of uranium oxide worth $2 per pound; 10,000 grams of crude radium- barium compound of 10 unit activity, due to the radium, worth about 2 cents a gram, and 100 pounds of other metallic residues, known to contain another radiant metal, polonium. The crude radium-barium product will be converted into a chloride salt, and the process of eliminating the barium chloride begun. When the mass of 10,000 grams has been reduced to 100 grams the compound will have an activity of 1000 units, and if properly dried and sealed in a tube will glow. Upon being still further concentrated to 10 grams of 1000 units activity, it would be unsafe to carry on one’s person except ina lead case. A final concen- tration of the 10 grams to 1 gram of 100,000 units activity will provide a compound 90 per cent. barium and 10 per cent. radium chloride. Such a compound placed in a little aluminum shell and fitted into a lead tube of suitable thickness will pro- vide an instrument which may be carried about by a physician in his instrument case along with a fluoroscope and will serve the functions of a roomful of X-ray gen- erating apparatus and fixtures at no cost of operation, maintenance, renewal or repair. Such an instrument is immediately convertible into a perpetual lamp of several candle power by removing the lead stopper from the tube and inserting in its place a hollow cylinder of cardboard or thin aluminum heavily coated on the outside with a zinc sulphide preparation. The radium rays which emerge only from the opening of the tube must all encounter this sulphide compound and will cause it to phosphoresce. Mr. Lockwood states that he thinks that in the not distant future radium will be made as a commercial ar- ticle for light producing purposes. Mr. Lockwood also states that the effectiveness of the apparatus for produc- ing nitric acid and nitric salts from the atmosphere as used by the Atmospheric Products Company at Niagara Falls can be increased by coating with a strong solution of radium salt the surfaces in the interior of the combus- tion chamber, thus ozonizing it before the nitric oxides are formed. Under the system of progressive reductions in the ex- traction of radium from the carnolite, which it is pro- posed to use at the testing plant which the company will build, the by-products of iron and copper which will be obtained will themselves be valuable. The name of the company is the Welsh-Loftus Ura- nium & Rare Metals Company, incorporated under the laws of New York. Stephen T. Lockwood is president and general manager. a Duty on Engraved Steel Plate.—The United States General Appraisers at New York on August 18, in the protest of Theodore W. Morris & Co. against the de cision of the collector of customs at New York as to the rate and amount of duties chargeable on an engraved steel plate used in the manufacture of plate glass, de cided that it is dutiable under the provision in paragraph 135, tariff act of 1897, for “ plates and steel in all forms and shapes not specially provided for,” and not under para- graph 193 of said act, as a manufacture of metal not spe- cially provided for. ‘The merchandise in question con- sisted of a steel plate engraved with certain figures or devices, about 12 feet long, 6 inches thick and 4 feet wide, mounted like a table top upon a frame, which is moved on wheels, being used in the manufacture of plate glass. In passing upon this case the board followed a recent de- cision by the Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York, since acquiesced in by the Government. Seer ee : a ee a3 ae Cae: A athe nina ee 6 THE IRON AGE. Iron and Steel in Scotland. The Market, August 13, 1903.—The side received in this city are but notwithstanding that, and tion in the stock markets on Atlantic, pig iron warrants have fered, the market for Cleveland warrants, indeed, showing considerable strength. This is accounted for by the heavily oversold position in the warrant market here, and by the scarcity of No. 3 foundry iron in the Middlesbrough district, where makers’ stocks of this quality are only about 7,000 tons. A heavy decrease in exports has been balanced by a large local consumption and a reduced make in the north of England. The following shows the total pig iron stocks in pub- lic stores in the United Kingdom on the dates given: GLASGOW, advices from your very discouraging, the speculative reac- both sides of the not adversely sut- January November July 31. July 30. 1, 1902. 30, 1900. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons.* 106,438 166,353 213,785 126,294 * Smallest quantity of iron in store during 1900. The following are current quotations for the various Scotch brands: wn wn = Coltmess, No. 1....4..: 72 6 Eglinton, No. 1........56 6 Gartsherrie, No. 1..... 63 0 COG A 8 ia kav ces 62 6 Summerlee, No. 1...... 68 0 Carnbroe, No. 1........56 0 | ae Ae 62 6 Monkland, No. 1....... 55 «6 Langloan, No. 1....... 70 6 Glengarnock, No. 1.....61 6 Shipbuilding. The shipbuilding industry here has not yet recovered from the Fair holidays. The yards were closed for the greater part of the second half of the month and have reopened tardily. The output of the Scotch yards in July was only 17 vessels of 17,315 tons, comparing with 29,885 tons in June and with 32,022 tons in July of last year. The Clyde output was 15,903 tons, bringing the Clyde total for the seven months up to 203,700 tons. The new contracts booked in July do not amount to more than 10,000 tons, and include a 2545-ton 25-knot “ scout ” to be built by the Fairfield Company for the British Navy, and three new Cross Channel steamers for the Midland Railway Company to be built by John Brown « Co., Wm. Denny & Bros. and Caird & Co., respectively. The Scotch steel companies as a rule closed their working year, 1902-3, last week, and the financial re- sults have not been very satisfactory. It has been the worst year experienced for some time, not that trade has been bad, but because prices have been low and costs high, so that the net outcome is either loss or re- duced profit. A year ago boiler plates were selling at 7 10s. per ton plus extras; to-day they are £6 net. The output of boiler plates is large, and a drop of 30 shillings a ton is bad enough, but it is made more serious by the loss of the extras. Steel ship plates were £6, less 5 per cent., a year since, and they are £5 17s. 6d. now, but in the interval they have been as low as £5 5s. The recovery has been helped by the reduction of pro- duction through the stoppage of the Mossend Works and by a change from ship to boiler plate making at Clyde- bridge Works, making a difference in the Scotch supply of ship plates of between 70,000 and 80,000 tons per an- num. Steel angles are being quoted £5 7s. 6d., less 5 per cent., on the 12 months, being a decline of about 5 shillings a ton. The price of Scotch hematite has ad- vanced some shillings a ton, and the reduction in the charge for fuel does not compensate for the enhanced rate of other raw material. There is no sign of a pos- sible early improvement in the position. Shipbuilding is in a very poor way on the Clyde, and so long as freights continue as they are at present ship owners have no inducement to add to their fleets. North of England, ‘ I have just returned from a visit to the iron and steel districts in the north and midlands of England, where I found business generally only from hand to mouth, and although makers’ quoted rates remain prac- tically without change, in the open market there is much low cutting to effect sales. In pig iron buying is re- stricted to small quantities to cover current require- - , August “7, ments, and prices are irreguiar, quotations being s) y easier in some cases. In billets there is still keen petition from the Continent, at prices ranging from £4 6s. 6d. to £4 7s. 6d., and local makers have been t £4 13s. 6d. Apart from the activity which is still n tained in counecticn with the locomotive building electrical and engineering trades, the situation thr out the general engineering industries is unsatisfa Works are fairly well engaged, but there are very shops that could not do with a good deal more \ than they have in hand, while many firms are ge g short of orders to keep their shops going, with com) tively little new work in prospect. In the midlands I found that the new quarter bh: far been disappointing, business being scarce and co tition keen. ‘ Manufacturers were actively engaged clearing up the orders on hand before the holiday son. Rolling stock makers are an exception to the gen- J eral rule, having received some good South Amer ; contracts recently, and they are now assured full em- | ployment throughout the year. The Syduey Harbor Bridge. Sir William Arrol & Co., Ltd., and one or two of our other bridge building firms are considering designs and specifications for an immense bridge which it is pro- posed to build across Sydney Harbor, New South Wales. Work is so far in progress to test the sustaining power of the foundation possible under the bed of the water- way. Trial cylinders are being sunk. and staging is being prepared. This question must be solved before any decision can be ‘come to as to which design to be adopted, so that some time must elapse. B. T. ee Iron & Steel Affairs. The Susquehanna Company's As a Climax of the troubles of the Susquehanna Iron & Steel Company which have beset that corporation for some time, a petition was presented to Judge Landis at Lancaster, Pa., on August 13, by John Q. Denney, for- merly general manager and recently elected director, asking that a receiver be appointed to take charge of the colnpany’s business and wind up their affairs. Mr. Denney in his application alleged that for tle past 12 months the company’s accounts payable were $277,064.12, for the payment of which a large portion of their merchandise and quick assets are pledged, aud that the total cash on hand for the payment of this sum is but $7934.17. He further said that the loss, as shown by the company’s books for the past six months had been $74,351.75, whereby a surplus existing at the open- ing of the year, amounting to $57,618.92, had been en- tirely exhausted, leaving a deficit of $16,732.83. Not- withstanding this fact, Mr. Denney alleged, the compaly started the erection of the pipe mill for which it in- curred a total indebtedhess aggregating $278,482.10. of which $258,000 is secured by bonds, and that in addi- tion to the above figures there is still due $44,932.67 on contracts. He complained of the large salaries paid the company’s officers and the maintaining of an office in Philadelphia as useless and extravagant. The company’s answer to Mr. Denney’s application de nies generally that the company are insolvent. It states that the company have tio more floating indebtedness than any well conducted corporation in like business might properly have; and that there is no “ urgency ihe demands of their creditors” as alleged by the p): tiff; and that the accounts receivable on June 30, 1° were $186.298 and the quick assets and merchandise w: $427,850, and cash $7934, together providing resources over $600,000, with which to pay accounts payabl $277,064. The answer further says that it is not true that 4 large portion of the company’s merchandise and 4q! assets are pledged for the payment of these accounts though since making the treasurer’s report referred the directors secured a loan from a national bank pledged some of the company’s manufactured product quick assets as collateral security for the repayn thereof, but the pledge of these assets does not inter! ct be be CS ct es ee - August 27, 1903 with the conduct of the company’s business. It is de- nied that there is any profligate, wasteful and unprof- itable mismanagement of the company. The defendant further denies the allegation of the present unprofitable- ness of the operations of the company and lack of work- ing capital, and avers that the maintenance of the pres- ent oifices in Philadelphia is necessary. The new pipe mill of the company was not under- taken in the unprofitable fiscal year ended June 30, 1903, but this proposition was first undertaken in 1899. The defendant’s answer further avers that the allegation that the company will have to raise money to complete the pipe mill is untrue and false. According to the bill the volume of business done by the company last year was $2,000,000 gross. The Farwell Stool Plate Molding [achine. The molding machine here illustrated is intended es- pecially for stripping plate work where stooling is neces- sary. In molding, say, a gear wheel, the hub and rim of THE FARWELL STOOL PLATE MOLDING MACHINE. the pattern rest firmly upon the pattern frame at all times. This frame is securely fastened to the frame of the machine. The stripping plate rests upon adjusting studs and the stool plate is also supported upon adjusting studs while the sand is being compressed. All parts sub- ject to strain during compression have a rigid foundation and are not supported by cranks or connecting rods. The stripping plate is fastened to rods which serve as guides for the stripping and stool plates and connect the two. This machine, which is built by the Adams Company of Dubuque, Iowa, will take flasks up to 24 inches in length by 18 inches in width. EEO aS High Explosives; Their Safe and Economical Method of Handling. At the recent meeting of the Lake Superior Mining Institute, J. S. Karkeet of Iron Mountain, Mich., read a paper with the above title, an abstract of which is as follows: In no department of human energy has there been more rapid advance than in high explosives. Their rap- idly extending use for various purposes has led to in- creases of effectiveness and adaptation to every shade of demand, until they are marvels of chemical perfection, so varied in their method of action that they are adapted to all varieties of practical work. THE IRON AGE. 7 On account in part of the fact that cost of explosives is the least expense of drilling, the higher powered the explosive is, even though it may cost the more, the cheap- er it is in practice. But strength alone is not the only desideratum in an explosive, the mode of action often being of more importance. One will rend, another will shatter, a third will heave. If we have a hard rock and wish to deal with great force on a small surface we need the high powered, concentrating explosive, and if in a soft rock we shall find that this is too local in its action, and we need a weaker or slower action. Relative costs need not be considered.