The Iron Age 1904-12-08: Vol 74 Iss 23

Published every Thursday Morning by David ‘Williams Co., 232.238 William St... New York, Vol. 74: Reading Matter Contents ......page 63 Alphabetical Index to Advertisers ‘ 165 Classified List of Advertisers.... “ 157 Advertising and Advertising and Subscription Rates‘ 164 Rates “ 164 FORSTER” 9” Hon Split Putley| | Perfect Balance, Light and Strong. Forster Pulley Works, CUBA, Ne ¥s No. 23. THE BRISTOL COMPANY, Waterbury, Conn. Bristol’s Recording Instraments. vow Pret Hea taR ye ~ Medal, Paris Exposition. All Ranges, Low Prices, and G anteed.’ Send for Circula . SAMSON SPOT CORD Also Linen and Italian Hemp Sash Cord, SAMSON CORDAGE WORKS, Boston, Mass. TURNBUCKLES,. ne Branch Office. 11 Broadway, New Cleveland City Forge and Iron Co., = Serta, oO. TURN BUCH IES: ABs tation Mill Ginder. Brooklyn, E.D .N.¥ Girard Building, Phila, PILLING & CRANE, friscitie?\ow'Vore A Good Terne See AMERICAN SHEET & TIN PLATE COMPANY’S Ad. on page 23 New York, T; bin December 8, 1904 $8 0% a Year, iy Gena Postage. Single Copies, 15 Cen . Field Guns Are RemarKable for although they shoot hard and last long, they can be bought at a moderate price. Dealers can retail the hammerless “ K grade for $25.00 and make a handsome profit; other grades at higher prices. Remington Guns are thoroughly advertised among the sportsmen. THE REMINGTON ARMS COMPANY, ILION, N.Y. Agency, 315 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Depot, 86-8 First St., San Francisco, Cal. ce PLAIN PATTERN REGULAR HEAD, (2 ~ THE CAPEWELL HORSE NAIL GOs, Martiord, Conn. a : ll Horse Nails : : Gapewell Horse Nails : os > ¢ NEW YORK, Branches: PORTLAND, one, 7 Q PHILADELPHIA, UFFALO, o y CHICAGO, DETROIT, BALTIMORE, , S8T. LOUIS, OC} NCINNATI, NEW ORLEARS, : ¢ s0sToR, SAN FRANCISCO, DENVER. : a m 2 PLAIN PATTERN REGULAR WEAD. Ee JENKINS BROS. VALVES are the original Renewable Disc Valves, and are unquestionably the best for steady, every day service. No matter what may be the con- ditions, they always prove to be durable and reliable, giving the most perfect satisfaction with minimum amount of attention and repair. Write for Booklet—‘ Valve Troubles.” fe. eine BROS. NewYork Boston Philadelphia “Swmedon” Gold Rolled Steel sm, Drawing = Stamp Chicago THE AMERICAN TUBE & STAMPING COMPANY ping (Water and Rafl Delivery) BRIDGEPORT, CONN, paum a MAGNOLIA METAL. Best Anti-Friction Metal for all Machinery Bearings. Pac-Simile of Bar. . imitations. Ks MAGNOLIA METAL CO.., Owners and Sole Manufacturers, 3-116 Bank Street, 8" F Wi Chicago, Fisher Bldg. NEW YORK. We manaiacre al era of Babble Mews Gi London ee ae Aye nn 2 7 é ees — Sago PEPE sate ores ne 5S ae ton THE IRON AGE. BRASS SHEET | THE PLUME & ATWOOD Mrs, Co,, MANUFACTURERS OF AANA WIRE a | sueer (oNeet and Roll Brass | COPPER a WIRE PRINTERS’ BRASS, JEWELERS’ METAL, GERMAN GERMAN (steer [smn sas corm en ROD Pins, Brass Butt Hinges, Jack Chain, Kero- Tas SILVER WIRE "ieee ata cio aOR! |tow BRASS. SHEET BRONZE. |2 murray ST., NEW YORE: ee one catesieas HAPES SEAMLESS BRASS AND COPPER 144 HIGH ST., BOSTON. CEC NZ2NELeAew) |TUBING. BRAZED BRASS AND eT Vo BRONZE TUBING. :::::::: Randolph-Clowes &. ¢lwarepRurY BRASS CO,,|f SCOVILL MFG. 6O., Main Office and Mill . BRASS WATERBURY, CONN. WATERBURY, CONN. GERMAN SILVER MANUFACTURERS OF 99 John St., New York. Providence, R. |. Sheets, Rolls, Wire Rods, Bolts and Tubes, SHEET BRASS & COPPER. $|————_—__________— BRAZED BRASS & COPPER $ | BIdgeporl a BIONZE &| frase onete, cape, Hinges, ROLLING MILL : | FACTORIES : THOMASTON, CONN. WATERBURY, CONN. TUBES. ig Special Brass Goods to Order. SEAMLESS BRASS sa lal Ua CONN. Factouizs: & COPPER TUBES WATERBURY, CONN. ocantindiines, Automobile Castings a Specialty. atin a adie New York Office, 258 Broadway, Postal High Tensile Strength. Bronze and Aluminum Alloys. JOHN DAVOL & SONS, Write Us. DEALERS 16 COPPER, TIN, SPELTER, - a. LEAD, ANTIMONY. Matthiessen & Hegeler Zimc Co., Bi) ico jorn street, - New York. LA SALLE, ILLINOIS. SMELTERS OF SPELTER Arthur T. Rutter & Go. SHEET ZINC AND SULPHURIC ACID. Special Sizes of Zinc cut to order. Rolled Battery Plates. 25 6 Broadway, Selected Plates for Etchers’ and Lithographers’ use. Selected Sheets for Paper and Card Makers’ use. NEW YORK. Stove and Washboard Blanks. Small tubing in Brass, Copper, ZINCS FOR LECLANCHE BATTERY. Steel, Aluminum, German &liver, &c. Sheet Brass, Copper and Ger- man Silver. Copper, Brass and uss ON eceM ASA race Best iranih Babbitt Metals panes ' aie reno BRIDGEPORT, CONN. — 0 lee oe ae Meee , ap Seah, aS Paes one C A * T I N G %, oe 7 N. rth St, Philadelphia. — COCNATRO- HUNTED. MANUFACTURERS OF — Se SS.___meiigepert, Conn) Brass ( SHEET HENDRICKS BROTHERS AND TUBING Belleville Copper Rolling Mills, | Copper \ WIRE Lamp Geods of all Kinds, Brasicrs’ Bolt ax nana Sheathing BRASS AND COPPER GOODS COPPER, I COPPER WIRE AND RIV EMS, | ™s Metric Fatlecy, ang the Metric Importers and Dealers in With tables, and engra By ted. Ingot Copper, Block Tin, Spelter, Lead, Antimony, ete. reves crcertenscesstesceseesae 49 CLIFF ST., NEW YORK. For sale by David Williams Co. 282 William St. N. Y ‘THE IRON AGE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1904. The Scottdale Corliss Engine. A new branch of manufacture for the Scottdale Foun- dry & Machine Company, Scottdale, Pa., is the building of Corliss engines. These are of up to date design and have several novel features of construction. They are built in all combinations—simple, cross compound and tandem compound—adapting them to various classes of service. There is but one style of bed—namely, a heavy box or rolling mill pattern. The bed, main pillow block and guides are in a single casting, the metal] in which is distributed in a manner to best resist the work- ing stresses. Lubrication is one of the most important items in the design of modern engines, and has been care- fully provided for in the Scottdale engines to insure smooth running qualities. The main bed plate bears on the foundation its entire length, not only at the sides but also in the center, through tom box babbitted and bored to fit the shaft. base of this bottom box prevents springing when the weight of the shaft and wheel comes on it. Wedges fitting the whole length of the side box are used to take up the longitudinal thrust of the box. The side boxes themselves have sufficient area to stand the whole thrust of the engine under maximum load. As will be noticed in Fig. 1, a hole is cored in the forward end of the main pillow block. This is for the purpose of allowing the engineer at any time and with perfect safety to himself to feel the bottom box to determine its temperature. The main pillow block cap rests upon a separate top box. All four boxes are babbitted and so arranged as to accommo- date themselves to the shaft. The steam valves take steam on the outer edges, as this arrangement allows the best design of gearing on the wrist plate side. The valves are of a form that will not retard the flow of steam from them, and the passage is as The ample Fig. 1.—The Crank Side of the Scottdale Corliss Engine. which runs a longitudinal web. The base is extended, and is surrounded with an oil retaining flange. The manner of fastening the cylinder to the bed is novel. It will be noticed from Figs. 1 and 2 that, instead of the usual circle of bolts and a decreased diameter on the neck of the bed in order to get flange room, this bed has been carried back in parallel lines, the end being square to meet the squared end of the cylinder. The connecting bolts are arranged in straight lines and are easy of ac- cess. The arrangement is believed to make for better alignment between the bed and the cylinder, and cer- tainly gives a desirable broad joint. The cylinder is cast of a special mixture of close grained iron, and is thick enough to allow for two or more reborings. The exhaust steam passage is separated from the cylinder barrel by an air space. The front head carries the stuf- fing box and comes within the boxlike portion of the bed containing the guides, making it removable without disturbing the joint between the cylinder and bed. The usual safety relief valves are provided to pass off en- trained water in the cylinders and avoid danger of break- age. The main pillow block, as has been stated, is cast solid with the bed and is fitted with an extra heavy bot- direct as if steam was taken on the inside of the valves. The valve stems are large and extend directly through the valves, having a bearing in the back caps. Fig. 3 shows the valve operating mechanism clearly and calls for no special description. Attention should be called to the ample bearing which the bell crank has on the bonnet. Also that the bearing is extended on both sides of the line of strain. The steam crank is counterbored to fit on the end of the bonnet, so as to relieve the valve stem of wear from that source. On the inside of the bonnet there is a ground ring on the valve stem forming a steam tight joint where the stem passes through the bonnet. For this reason the joint is practically self packing, but stuffing boxes are also provided in the bonnet. The governor shown in Fig. 4 is of the fly ball pattern, designed to run at about 60 revolutions per minute. It is claimed to keep the speed within very close limits when the load varies from nothing to the full power of the engine. The revolving collar to allow for oiling is lo- cated below the fly ball arms of the governor instead of between them, as in many governors. It is arranged to run in a recess which is filled with oil. The retarding dash box is concentric, with the governor spindle, avoid- WEEE ee Sea » = ee Berens an 4 ae - 2 THE IRON AGE. ing side strains and undue friction. All oil dropping from the collar ring is caught in this dash pot and may be drained away. A safety catch is provided which prevents the engine from running away in case the belt should break. This catch may be operated by the engineer from the throttle valve, or is made automatic if desired. The dash pots, the general form of which is shown in Fig. 5, have been designed with almost as much at- tention to lubrication as is given to the proper proportion- ing of the parts of the engine itself. Probably there is no one source of trouble in dash pots more annoying than that which may be traced to faulty lubrication. This December 8, 1904 dash pots or valve gear when the length of the dash pot rod is not properly adjusted. This is likely to happen if the engineer, when indicating the engine and changing the length of the steam connections, forgets or neglects to change the corresponding length of the dash pot rod. In addition to being a safeguard against such breakage the spring in this dash pot is also a means to the attain- ing of almost silent running. The arrangement of the air valves in the dash pots is clearly indicated in the figure. The eccentrics are fastened to the shaft by direct clamping of the split halves entirely about the circum- ference of the shaft without depending on set screws. The Fig. 2.—View of the Side Carrying the Valve Mechanism. THE (RON AGE Fig. 3.—Detail of the Valve Operating Mechanism. dash pot is placed below the base plate of the cylinder, as may be seen in Figs. 1 and 5. The plunger is closed at the upper end and turned and polished. It can easily be kept clean and no dust or dirt can collect about it. Most important of all, it is so constructed that all parts can be flooded with oil while in motion. Oil poured around the outer rim of the upper plunger will find its way from the upper end of the lower chamber, after which it will drain out of the small air valve in the bot- tom without damage to the pot. The dash pot is con- nected to the valve gear by a light rod having a ball joint on its lower end, which is kept in position by a spring, as shown. The purpose of this is to prevent breakage of . straps are of extra width and are babbitted on the wearing surfaces to insure cool and easy running. The wrist plate is a plain turned disk having the pins on the inner side. The bearing is large and of extra length, extending on either side of the plate, so that the wear is central and uniform, and all overhang avoided. This extended bearing allows the starting bar to be used in a position which is well clear of the valve gear, as shown in Fig. 2. From the same iluustration it will be noticed that a feature of the rocker arm is the use of an extra heavy trunnion stud. Below this is placed a cast iron pan for catchjng oil drip. The eccentric hook block is of the sliding type, but so arranged that all wear is taken up: ap December 8, 1904 THE IRON AGE. 3 automatically. The center of the rod is in line with thesmaller sizes the crank has a single key and in the center of the wrist plate pin, so that the strain is central. The wrist plate pin has adjustable brasses and adjusting screws to take up wear. The cross head guides are cast solid on the main bed and bored in true alignment with the cylinder. A spe- cial feature of the guides is the copious lubrication ob- tained by circulating a large quantity of oil on the lower guide, the cross head effecting this circulation. The lower guide is in the form of a trough, flanges being provided at the ends, beyond the limits of the cross head stroke, to retain oil. As the cross head moves from end to end it crowds the lubricant ahead of it. Near each end an opening is made downward, which connects by piping with another opening leading up into the trough at a distance from the end toward the center of slightly more than the length of the cross head. ‘Then, as the oil is crowded toward one end or the other, it drains down through one or the other of these pipe connections and ip seeking its level rises at the opposite end of the cross head just before it starts on its return stroke. The upper guide and the cross head pin are lubricated from station- ary sight feed oil cups, the two for the pin being provided with wipers. The connecting rod, cross head and crank are all gen- erally designed in keeping with what is regarded as the best accepted practice of the time. The rod is made of hammered steel and has solid ends fitted with bronze boxes, adjustable by micrometer adjustment or by keys. The cross head is heavy in its proportions, is made of Fig. 4.—Detail of the Governor. tough cast iron and has the cross head pin fitted in tapered holes. A large flanged head on the outer side of the cross head pin is held to the cross head with four bolts easily accessible when it is desired to remove the pin. The crank is furnished either in a heavy plain or disk pattern, made of strong, tough cast iron, and is pressed on the shaft under hydraulic pressure. In the larger sizes two keys are used 90 degrees apart. In addition to such special features for lubrication as have already been mentioned, it should also be added that every moving contact is supplied with a continuous stream of oil, and that every drop used is caught in a receptacle and drained to Fig. 5.—Detail Showing the Dash Pot Construction. a basin from which it may be carried to a filter and used over again indefinitely. The manner of lubricating the cylinder is at the choice of the purchaser, although the preferred method is to use a mechanically operated pump or else supply the oil under hydrostatic pressure from a large receptacle under the floor or in some out of the way place. The engine is made in simple heavy duty pattern, compound noncondensing heavy duty and compound con- densing heavy duty types. The first ranges in size from 14 x 36 to 40 x 72 inches, the compound noncondensing engines from 10 and 15 x 30 to 32 and 50 x 60 inches and the compound condensing from 10 and 18 x 30 to 32 and 60 x 60 inches. The largest and most powerful engine is slightly over 2000 horse-power. ~~ +e An Important Educational Work. A highly important work is being carried on in trans- Mississippi States, in which professors of agricultural colleges and experiment stations, assisted and en- couraged by railroads running through agricultural com- munities, are holding meetings for the purpose of edu- cating farmers to the use of better and more prolific seeds and the adoption of better and more effective meth- ods of agriculture. This work is carried on by means of special trains, which carry the instructors and their assistants, together with quantities of seed corn and wheat and other cereals. At intervals along the route this train is side tracked and meetings are held, at which the professors give the farmers who attend the benefit of their information and advice. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad carried on a campaign last year with a view to increasing the corn crop in tae terri- tory served by that road, and it is stated that the results are highly encouraging. This year the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul is conducting similar work in South Dakota. oa ae ee 4 THE IRON AGE. The Repudiation of Contracts. We have received through the courtesy of W. H. Has- singer, vice-president of the Republic Iron & Steel Com- pany, Birmingham, Ala., a copy of a most interesting brochure entitled “ Retribution; or, Why It Pays to Carry Out Contracts.” This booklet is issued by the Pioneer Mining & Mfg. Company, Birmingham, Ala., a subsidiary interest of the Republic Company. The Pioneer Company manufactures the well-known brand of Pioneer pig iron. The contents of the book consist wholly of copies of correspondence passing be- tween the company and an unnamed customer who on April 21, 1904, entered his order with that company for 500 tons of No. 2 foundry pig iron for delivery between the date named and October 1 at the price of $10 per gross ton, f.o.b. furnace, delivery to be made as the cus- December 8, 1904 it. The company answered this by calling his attention to the fact that his contract had expired by limitation, the completion of it being due by October 1. An effort was then made by the customer in most seductive terms to endeavor to hold the company to its contract. To this the company replied calling his atten- tion to the fact that No. 2 foundry was then being sold on the basis of $12 per ton for delivery over the balance of the year. No comments are made, the inference being left to the reader of the book. —_—~o+-e—— — The Colburn 53-Inch Boring and Turning Mill. There. are a number of new features in the new boring and turning mill recent!y brought out by the Colburn Machine Tool Company, Franklin, Pa., which will be ap- preciated by those familiar with this line of machinery. Fig. 1.—Front View of the Colburn Boring and Turning Mill. tomer’s requirements might demand within the time specified. Acording to the correspondence, the customer in May called the attention of the company to the fact that pig iron hed gone off 50 cents. In June he asked the com- paiy to ship him one car of No. 2 foundry at $9.25 per ton. When the company called his attention to his con- tract he replied that it was “nixie.” Some quite spicy correspondence followed this claim, but nothing conclu- sive resulted. In September the same customer asked the company if it would take an order for 200 or 300 tons of No. 2 foundry at $9 and No. 4 foundry at $8.50 for immediate delivery. The company replied that it could not quote as it was sold up and would be out of the market for at least 60 or 90 days. On October 12 the customer requested a quotation for prompt shipment on 200 tons of No. 2 foundry, to which the company replied that it was sold up for the balance of the year on the grade mentioned. On October 18 he wrote referring to his contract of April 21, and requested prompt shipment of two cars of No. 2 foundry to apply on One especially desirable feature is the method of mount- ing the driving mechanism at the rear of the machine, as shown in Fig. 2. It is assembled independently of the machine in a separate head stock, which is set low down between the housings and held in place by heavy bolts and taper pins. This arrangement does away with overhang- ing cone pulleys, as they are carried between the housings, and the cone shafts have bearing supports on both sides, thus eliminating any tendency for the bearings to wear more on une side. Considerable floor space is also saved by this arrangement, as everything is more compact. This style of main drive can be easily adapted for electric motor drive, the motor being placed on suitable brackets between the housings. In place of belt drive silent chain or direct gear can be used with either a constant or vari- able speed motor. The feeds are positive, being gear driven, and there are ten changes, ranging from 0.025 to 0.500 inch horizontally, and from 0.020 to 0.400 inch in vertical or angular directions. The feeds are changed by turning the hand wheels on the feed boxes at sides of the machine near the floor, and a spring locking pin holds the gears in the proper position. Five of the sir en quae = December 8, 1904 THE changes are obtained by turning the hand wheel one revolution, and the multiplying lever shown on the front of the boxes changes the combination of driving gears so that by means of a second revolution of the hand wheel five more changes are obtained. Both the right and left hand heads have independent feed boxes placed on either side of the machine, and the vertical and horizontal feeds are obtained through the same feed box. A friction brake is provided which is operated by a treadle placed within easy reach of the operator at the front and right side of the machine. The friction is applied to the inside of the lower driving cone pulley by means of a taper friction cone, and by operating directly upon the prime mover all shock and jar is avoided and the table brought to a dead stop ow — 5 7 ee or] Se tient | IRON Riisiesiteesnianial AGE. 5 The machine is built to stand the heaviest cuts taken with high speed steel, and for this reason its proportions are very massive. ——_~- e _____ At the convention of the Implement and Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association held at Chattanooga, Tenn., recently Newell Sanders, president of the Newell Sand- ers Plow Company, Chattanooga, Tenn., proposed that steps be taken to hold in that city in the year 1915 a semicentennial “ Peace Exposition,” to celebrate the semi- centennial of the establishment of peace between the North and the South in the Civil War. Chattanooga, he explained, was a geographical center of the war and the scene of noteworthy battles. His proposition was re- an ' DADs ee ODD P TO ORR er DO 0 OP ODORS OO Fig. 2.—Rear View of the Colburn Boring and Turning Mill. instantly in any desired position. The conical form of the brake entirely avoids distorting the bearings. The spindle has an angular bearing, making it self centering. This bearing is of large dimensions and a system of lubrication is provided. The speeds of the spindle are graded in geometrical progression from 2% to 45 revolu- tions per minute. The heads are entirely independent in their movements, both as to direction and amount of feed, and can be set to any angle either side of the central position. The rams have a travel of 26 inches in vertical or angular directions, and have steel racks and pinions. The tool holders are of steel forgings with shanks 3 inches in diameter. The mill will swing full 54 inches in diameter, and take 48 inches under the cross rail in its highest position. Below is a summary of dimensions and weights: PE: 2 cache eee kek GliM de eek e+ 0 ode cess Wake 54 inches Maximum distance under cross rail.................. 48 inches ee er ee ee re 50 inchs Pe LL UUW babe Re Seecc ch nesccéeeacasccdwus 26 inches i eS Tee ee Cee errr crs 8 iaches a OR OE eer eee errr re eer 7 feet 6 inches EE 6 ads We aR e aC Keen aaee oleae 18,000 pounds ceived with great enthusiasm, and it is possible that the city of Chattanooga and the State of Tennessee may es- pouse the project and take steps for its active realiza- tion. The annual meeting of the Engine Builders’ Associa- tion of the United States will be held in New York City on December 9 and 10. Headquarters of the association will be established at Sherry’s, Forty-fourth street and Fifth avenue. The first session on Friday will be opened by an address by the president of the association, C. A. Gates. The professional papers arranged for are as fol- lows: “Costs,” by C. M. Lauer, Philadelphia; “The Steam Turbine,” by F. C. Bates, New York; “ Employers’ Associations,” by Chas. L. Eidlitz, New York; “ Sales- manship as an Applied Science,” by R. U. Conger, New York. At eight o’clock on Friday evening the annual dance will be held at Sherry’s. The session on Saturday will be executive, and will include the reading of re- ports of committees and the dispatch of the routine busi- ness of the association. —_— 22 ae ee Dk Si ee a FL Lot ange ga ere em ance an ear Pa penn tan i eo ‘a oe ee © an mAs. ioe ee TE 6 THE IRON AGE. Development of American Tin Deposits. Review of Industry by United States Geological Survey. WasHINGTON, D. C., December 3, 1904.—An_ inter- esting report upon the development and production of the tin deposits of the United States in 1903 has just been completed for the United States Geological Survey by Joseph Struthers. This report, which is the most com- plete résumé of the subject thus far attempted by the Survey, embraces a brief description of the process of “detinning” by which a considerable number of com- panies are now engaged in recovering the metal from new tin scrap, and a statement of the most recent developments in the South Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska and the so-called Carolina tin belts, in addition to the latest available statistics of the world’s production. As in former years, there was no commercial produc- tion of tin from domestic ores in the United States dur- ing the year 1903, although many bundred tons of metal- lic tin and chemical salts of tin, chiefly the chlorides, have been obtained by the chemical or electrolytic treat- ment of new tin scraps from tin can and fruit tin facto- ries. But as tin from these sources is manifestly of sec- ondary origin the quantity so produced cannot be prop- erly classified as a first mineral or metal product in the sense that those terms are used in the statistics presented by the United States Geological Survey. Recovery of Tin From Scrap. The treatment of new tin scrap, known as “ detin- ning,” has become of considerable importance in the United States, and at least ten companies were actively engaged in this special branch of the industry during the year 1903. The average yield from. tin scrap is approxi- mately 2 per cent. of metallic tin. In addition, a large number of small concerns in the principal cities recover the tin from old tin cans and similar material by a smelt- ing treatment in a furnace, the tin being obtained in the form of solder, which is either used as a basis for making new solder or is treated chemically to yield metallic tin or tin salts. The residue of scrap iron is generally utilized in the manufacture of sash weights and other castings of inferior quality of iron. A smelting plant for the furnace treatment of tin ores was erected at Bayonne, N. J., during,1903. The works included 4 reverberatory furnaces of a combined capacity of 50 tons of ore a day. The plant was designed:to treat tin ore concentrates from the Malay Peninsula, but be- fore the completion of the works a prohibitory tax was placed on the exports of tin ore from. the Malay Penin- sula, which destroyed the immediate prospects of the company owning the plant. Deposits of South Dakota and Wyoming. The mineral cassiterite, tin dioxide (SnO,), containing 78.6 per cent. of metallic tin, has been found in no less than 17 States and Territories of the United States, yet in only two or three places have attempts on a large scale been made to place the industry in this country on a productive footing. Notable among the discoveries of do- mestic tin ore are the deposits at Harney Peak, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and the deposits in North and South Carolina and in Alaska. The development of these deposits, however, has not as yet been carried for- ward to financial success. The Harney Peak Tin Mining, Milling & Mfg. Com- pany reports, through its receiver, that during 1903 there has been no development of the properties beyond the regular amount of work required for the annual assess- ment. The court having jurisdiction would not permit the company to make any extended test of the properties or expend any money except in connection with a part of the placer ground, concerning which it is necessary to satisfy the Land Office that tin ore was present in the gravels. There was abundant proof of the presence of tin ore, but the experiments were on too small a scale to determine accurately the average quantity of tin that the gravels would yield. Although there has been no appreciable development December 8, 1904 of the Harney Peak properties, the Tinton Tin Company, controlled by Chicago interests, has been working dur- ing the last two years on its claims located in what is known as the Nigger Hill and Beer Gulch districts, west of Deadwovd and Lead, S. Dak., and 75 miles northwest of Harney Peak. This new district is partly in Lawrence County, S. Dak., and partly in Crook County, Wyo., being on the border line of the two States. The Tinton Tin Company has been operating a small concentrating plant, but owing to the lack of proper smelting facilities in the United States it has shipped to European ports for treat- ment a carload of concentrates said to contain an aver- age of 62.5 per cent. of metallic tin. One parcel of its property, 140 by 50 feet, and another 90 by 6 feet, yielded an average mill return of 1.16 per cent. of metallic tin, which was 0.16 per cent. greater than the assays of hand * samples made in the laboratory. The quantity of ore so far treated has averaged 1 per cent. of metallic tin, and the concentrates therefrom have ranged from 62.5 to 65 per cent. of metallic tin. Developments in Alaska, The tin deposits of the York region, Seward Penin- sula, Alaska, were recently described by Arthur J. Col- lier in a bulletin of the United States Geological Survey, an abstract of which recently appeared in 7'he Iron Age. In the year 1900 Alfred H. Brooks of the United States Geological Survey discovered tin ore in the placers of the Anikovik River and its tributary, Buhner Creek. It was not until 1902, however, that the occurrence of tin bearing gravels. was discovered on Buck Creek, 20 miles north of the town of York. Several tons of tin ores have been shipped from the deposits of Buck Creek, and sev- eral companies have been operating their claims during 1903. In one instance an average of 27 pounds of con- centrates containing 60 per cent. of metallic tin was obtained from a cubic yard of gravel. Cassiterite is found irregularly distributed over an area of 450 square miles of the Seward Peninsula, and though many discoveries of lode tin other than those referred to have been pros- pected none has yet been proved of workable value. Carolina Tin Belt. What may be called the Carolina tin belt extends from Gaffney, Cherokee County, 8S. C., in a general north- easterly direction across this county, across the south- eastern corner of Cleveland County, N. €., and across Gaston’.and Lincoln. counties, N. C. The tin deposits found in Rockbridge County, Va., may be a continuation of the Carolina tin belt across Catawba, Iredell, Yadkin and Surry counties, N. C. The general direction of the rocks carrying the tin ore is the same as those in Vir- ginia, and the continuation of this direction from the Carolina deposits would approximately cross those places in Rockbridge County, Va., where tin ore has been found. The principal locality in South Carolina where tin ore has been found is about one mile north of Gaffney, on land belonging to Capt. S. S. Ross. The principal deposits that have thus far been located are the Ross mine at Gaffney, 8S. C.; the deposits in the vicinity of the town of Kings Mountain, N. C.; on the southern end of Chestnut Ridge, about 24% miles north- east of Kings Mounain, and on the John E. Jones plan- tation, 7 miles portheast of Kings Mountain. The Southern Railroad passes over a considerable portion of the tin belt, following almost the general direc- tion of the formation from Kings Mountain to Gaffney. At the former place the railroad turns sharply to the east, crossing the tin belt, which continues toward the northeast. Thus any commercial deposits that may be developed will have good railroad facilities. The first production of tin ore from the Carolina belt was during the summer and fall of 1908 and was from the Ross mine, the shipment consisting of 38,471 pounds of tin concentrates, which were sent to England for treat- ment. There has also been a small production at the Jones mine during the development work, but none of this has as yet been shipped. World’s Production of Tin. At the present time none of the tin used in the United States is produced in this country, but it is all obtained a1 vipa geaaness & ij December 8, 1904 THE from foreign sources. The fact that about 45 per cent. of the world’s production of tin is consumed in the United States emphasizes the importance of discovering a source of supply of this metal that can be controlled by this country. In the following table is given an approxi- mate idea of the production of tin by countries during the last three years, which shows the growth of the tin industry as well as the yearly production of each of the countries named: 1901. 1902. 1903. Country. Gross tons. Gross tons. Gross tons. PERISH BtOtOGieics.ccicd ccceccus ss 02,080 53,756 54,797 Banka and Billiton............ 19,365 18,765 20,060 SE evcueradats beeneocuant 9,670 10,150 9,500 Cofiwali, Bngletd... ...scccses 4,125 3,950 4,150 EN a Vd baw ed eake cake eae 3,276 3,206 4,991 PID 6 nike kt dale win's 450 350 395 OUNEE:. 6 6.0 Savi ets sae wdee s 89,875 90,177 93,893 As is seen from this table there has been an increase in the total amount of tin produced each year, but this is still short of the demand for this metal, as indicated by the great decrease in the stocks of tin that have been kept on hand in the various countries. The production of tin during 1903 was consumed approximately as follows: 43 per cent. by the United States, 28 per cent. by Great Britain, 22 per cent. by other European countries and 7 per cent. by India and China. This, of course, does not include small produc- tions used in Mexico, Japan, Bolivia, &c. The average prices of tin per pound in New York in 1903 were as follows: January, 28.33 cents; February, 29.43: March, 30.15; April, 29.81; May, 29.51;.June,28.34; July, 27.68; August, 28.29; September, 26.77; Oxtober, 25.92: November, 25.42; December, 27.41; year, 28.09. w. L. C. ee The Taylor Compressed Air System at Norwich. The hydraulic compressed air system of the city of Norwich, Conn., which replaces steam in not a few- of the stationary engines of the city, has now been in opera- tion for two years, long enough to permit of an intelli- gent analysis of its merits and of its cost. ‘The general opin- ion among the manufacturers of the city is that in small units the air is a desirable and economical substitute for steam. In larger units the air has its advantages, but it is more expensive. The Taylor system of hydraulic compression is em- ployed to develop 1000 horse-power of compressed air, delivered to the consumer at a pressure of 88 pounds at the engine gauge, through a pipe system extending to a maximum distance of three miles from the compressor. These details were contained in a description of the system printed in The Iron Age of July 9, 1903. Briefly speaking, the plant consists of a shaft sunk in the Quinne- baug River below falls with 18 feet head, the shaft being 208 feet deep and 24 feet in diameter, with a bell shaped chamber at the bottom with a maximum diameter of 52 feet. There is an inner shell 14 feet in diameter at the center of the hole, which is the downflow pipe. The water, pouring down this hole at great pressure, takes with it large quantities of air in the form of bubbles, compressing it as it falls, and at the bottom a separator removes the air from the water and it is stored for de- livery to the mains. The loss of pressure in transmis- sion is 2 pounds. The air is dry and quite suitable for its purpose, as compared with air from a mechanical compressor. The compressed air is introduced to the engine cylinder exactly as if it was steam, it being perfectly possible to use the engine with steam one day and com- pressed air the next, which is necessary at times of low water, the compressor, of course, being dependent upon the power of the water to the same extent as a water wheel. Consumers of the power in small units find it all that can be desired. In a large textile finishing plant it is employed in operating a number of small engines which are used intermittently, and is said to be economical as compared with steam. Other consumers who use it in small engines express their satisfaction, excepting, of course, that there is inconvenience at times of low IRON AGE. Water, just as in other forms of power generated by water. It has the great advantage of constantly main- tained pressure in certain classes of establishments, as, for example, a wood working shop where heavy addi- tional loads are necessary, which with steam are apt to: pull down the pressure of the boilers to an inconvenient extent. No matter what load is put upon an engine run- ning with air, the gauge is hardly affected. The gauge hand moves slightly if the load be too suddenly applied, but it returns to the 88 point almost instantly. These are the advantages of the system. The compressed air is sold at prices varying from $40 to $50 a horse-power per year. In small units this eost compares favorably with steam, according to the experience of consumers at Norwich, who get their coal at seaboard prices. In figuring costs, however, it is neces- sary to reckon in the cost of heating the air. To pass it through a heater adds to its efficiency and is desirable at all seasons. In the cold months it is absolutely nec- essary, because the chilled air entering the engine cylin- der causes the oil to congeal and seriously interferes with the lubrication of the engine parts. It takes coal to run the heater, which is, of course, an additional ex- pense. In Norwich horse-power in 100 horse-power units costs about $36. In 300 horse-power units plants are operated at about $25 a year. In still larger units the cost is less. Buildings must be heated in the cold weather, and if engines are operated by air, or if electric power is received from stations outside of the works, the additional cost of heating must be reckoned in making comparisons. On the whole, it will be seen that where engines of large power are used steam is much cheaper than air. No comparison of the cost of electric power delivered from outside sources is available in Norwich, because the city took over the local company’s power plant just before it was ready to enter into competition with the compressed air company. But taking New England as a whole, from $75 to $100 is the price for small units of electric power, which is an advantage for the air. The Norwich plant cannot be considered as a basis on which to estimate an investment, because of disastrous freshets which carried away the plant time and again, bringing its total cost up to $750,000, it is said. Probably the plant could be duplicated for one-third of that sum, according to the belief of Norwich manufacturers. ee Dover Iron Products.—Good iron, made in old fash- ioned ways, is slowly but surely growing in demand, for roofing tin, corrugated sheets, galvanized sheets, bar iron and special shapes. Appreciating this fact, the Dover Forge & Iron Company, Canal Dover, Ohio, has built a plant to manufacture genuine charcoal iron in knobbling fires with charcoal fuel, also having a puddling depart- ment to make refined iron. The company has not built any finishing mills. Its products consist of blooms, bil- lets and bars, which are sold to other mills for rolling into smaller sizes or special sections, also billets for forg- ings. This unique plant has recently been very much improved with a view of securing uniformity in quality. The products are made according to old, well tried and successful methods. The works are exceedingly well built, modern ideas having been introduced to make the re- sults perfect. Dover charcoal iron is now being used with success for rolling black plates for tinning and for many other purposes where durability is the main considera- tion. Dover charcoal iron and vefined iron billets are made in various sizes, ready for rerolling, of a quality suitable for carriage work and other exacting require- ments. nnetiindacensaili ll catcaitccasc The effects of the Laurier Retaliation Act may result in the upbuilding of the Canadian side at Niagara Falls. One of the first companies to take steps looking to the erection of a Canadian branch is the Natural Food Com- pany, which company has secured options on a site on the Canadian side, and it is understood that if the proper railroad facilities can be obtained a Canadian branch will be opened there. oa a Re nt aprile NT, 8 THE IRON AGE. The Dynelectron. BY 8. D. V. BURR. Every chemical action that is violent enough to be recorded by instruments produces an electric current. Like results are caused by mechanical movements that place bodies in changing relations with each other. But these currents can be utilized only when the disturbances, chemical or mechanical, are of appreciable magnitude. It is easier to measure the power of Niagara than that of a rain drop, and easier to calculate the force impris- oned in a ton of dynamite than the energy expended by a firefly. Therefore, as it is impossible to go far with positive knowledge, the beyond must be studied by anal- ogy, and since electric action is always found in any Fig. 1—Three Dynelectron Cells Coupled in Series. movement which can be investigated the law is assumed to be universally true. A chemical action to be of any service as a useful and commercial source of electricity must be rapid or violent. The strength of a battery depends upon the speed of the chemical change taking place within it, or the rate of the destruction of the element. The ordinary Leclanche cell is weak as compared with a Grenet, which is also weak when likened to a Bunsen. In the first the action is very slow, in the second it is quicker, while in the third the destruction reaches the maximum and the action is most powerful. In all primary batteries the current is proportional to the violence of the chemi- cal action. But, unfortunately, it also appears to be directly proportional to the cost of the materials of which it is composed. Zinc, the metal generally em- ployed, is extremely expensive compared to the electrical output obtained, hence it is not commercially practicable to use it in generating powerful electric currents. The search for other substances which would by their chemi- cal reaction produce the results hoped for has not yet been successful. It is a strange fact that the capacity of primary batteries varies almost directly as the cost of the component materials. Powerful cuerents are ob- December 8, 1904 tained only with expensive substances, and with cheap substances the current is too weak to be of much value. Scientists have long dreamed of transforming the tremendous energy stored in coal into electricity. They have tried to do this without the intervention of costly or cumbersome apparatus, but have so far only demon- strated that the transformation is possible. Only a very small percentage of the electricity has been ob- tained which should result from the union of carbon and oxygen in the combustion of coal. The conditions are ideal, but their utilization remains for the future. The two elements, carbon in coal and oxygen in air, have a strong affinity for each other, and their union is under absolute control; but as yet the electrical results have been insignificant. All investigators have not confined their labors to Bach Cell produces 9-10 Volt, 600 Amperes. solving the electro-carbon problem, but have sought other substances giving the necessary chemical reactions and which would be more amenable electrically. One of the first of these has been James H. Reid of Newark, N. J., who has consistently and persistently followed the question for several years. He has succeeded in ob- taining an electric current of commercial proportion by utilizing the chemical action and reaction of substances that are cheap. These substances are not destroyed, in the sense that they are so changed as to be of no use in the apparatus, but a new combination is formed which is again changed back to the original. These alterations are taking place uniformly and without inter- mission in the cell, and the loss of the substances is in- significant. Description of the Apparatus. The construction of a Dynelectron cell, as the in- ventor terms it, will be understood from the accompany- ing engravings and the following description: All of the parts are placed within a cast iron shell, A, Fig. 4, which measures 16 x 16 x 26 inches. When the cell has been assembled the case is air and water tight, except for vents or exhaust openings E B, the purpose of which ae il pr ¥ br we Pees Ars et aed eel December 8, 1904 THE IRON AGE. 9 will be explained later. Depending from the cap cover- ing the shell is a closed central chamber, in the sides of which are placed iron tubes D, open at both ends. With in each tube is a porous carbon rod mechanically at- tached to the iron but insulated from it. The carbon rods are bored part way through, the inner ends being open to the central air chamber and the outer ends closed. Each cell contains 64 of these rods arranged as shown in the engravings. The rods are separated from their containing tubes by a space of about 1-16 inch. The central chamber is air tight and contains the bus bar B, to which the rods are connected by cables. The side chambers, into which the carbon tubes project, con- tain an electrolyte composed of 15 gallons of water and a small quantity of sodium hydrate and iron oxide. It will now be perceived that the unit, as it stands, pro- vides two poles, a negative and a positive, the iron shell constituting the former and the carbons the latter. Cur- rent is taken from the apparatus at F and G. Air and Heat Necessary. In its present condition the chemical action is prac- tically nil, since caustic soda will not attack iron vio- lently, and the electrical output is imperceptible. Two things are essential to bring the unit into active opera- tion, air and heat, and neither is effective without the other. The central chamber containing the bus bar and carbon terminals is connected with an air reservoir carry- ing air at a pressure of 10 to 12 pounds per square inch. The cell is heated, when arranged as in Fig. 1, by a gas furnace. It has been found that there is what may be termed a critical temperature at which the maximum effect in the shape of electric current is produced. This temperature is 392 degrees F., at which the cell must be Fig. 2.—One Element Carrying Carbon Electrodes and Their Containing Tubes. maintained. Below this the action is too sluggish and above it too violent. Chemical Action. The air provides oxygen which unites with the hy- drogen of the sodium hydrate and escapes as vapor. Since it can only enter the electrolyte through the pores of the carbon rods it permeates every part so that the action is uniform throughout. As the hydrogen of the sodium hydrate unites with the oxygen of the air to form water, which passes through the vents as vapor, there remains a sodium dioxide. This in turn combines with water and forms a highly caustic hydrate of so- dium. The ferric oxide changes to a sesquioxide, a minute portion of which escapes when the cell is first put in action. No part of the sodium is liberated, but is first changed to a dioxide and then recombined as a hydrate. These actions are continually taking place in all parts of the electrolyte. The vents or escape passages E are about 3 inches in diameter and open into the chamber containing the carbons and their tubes. Each vent contains several lay- ers of canvas and wire gauze, which prevent the escape of the electrolyte but offer only a slight resistance to the passage of the vapor. Each of the cells of the size mentioned above gives 9-10 volt and 600 amperes, or nearly 1 electrical horse-power. Every 4 square inches of carbon surface gives 1 ampere. Cells of an improved form Fig. 3.—The Two Elements United and Ready to Be Placed in the Containing Shell. are now being constructed which, with the same outside dimensions, will contain many times the carbon surface and have a corresponding increase of electrical energy. Experiments with Cells, A few days ago the writer witnessed several very interesting experiments with two of these units. A Weston voltmeter and ammeter were placed in the circuit. When the cells had been brought to the desired temperature, but with no air passing through the carbons to the electrolyte, there was no indication of electric current by the instruments. The instant air was admitted the pointers began to move, and they reached their max- imum position when the circulation of air through the apparatus had been established. The pointers began to fall toward zero as soon as the air had been cut off. The mutual dependence of heat and air was illustrated in a still more striking way. A short length, perhaps 2 inches, of fine iron wire was introduced in the circuit. This was soon heated to bright red. When the supply of air was shut off