The Iron Age 1914-08-27: Vol 94 Iss 9

C SUPUUAUEEOOUOLEDEDERUEOUDOUEUROEUOGCUOE DOR OOURDEOEROOD ND? hed 1855 na _ = oe S AUDA VUNEDLLAAUODOAAEEEUUAUAAEABELTL AU UAUEET ETA EEEA TDAP PEUULVELEEUOUEOUORTLTEEEATDPEUL TPE ED ERED EAT EEEE DEAT New York, August 27, 1914 CULUUDODELTUOEEU DEDEDE Vol. 94: No. 9 The Markets of South America and the War European Loans Have Been Cut Off, But Our Manufacturers Have a Great Opportunity— We in Turn Must Buy in South America The broad .fact about the markets of BY CHARLES M. PEPPER South South American America is that the United States has the oppor- tunity to supply commodities which heretofore have been supplied by the European belligerents. There of railroads. will be a deficiency, especially in iron and steel emerging from products. Germany and Bel- gium, for the time being, are entirely shut off from sup- plying South America. Even England, though it may keep the ocean lanes open for its commercial fleet, will find its South American trade dis- located. WAR CUTS OFF SOURCES OF CAPITAL While this is the general situation, there is a limita- tion on the extent to which the United States may profit at once by the deficiency in supplies from Europe. This is the diminished ability of most the South American countries to buy. The United States, by well- directed effort, may legiti- mately increase its permanent trade with South America as the result of the war. But too much should not be ex- pected at the outset, because South America during the war period will buy much less abroad than during normal world conditions. The probability is that the demand for material for har- bor and other public improve- ments, for railroads and for ‘onstruction enterprises of a public nature will be lessened. The war has paralyzed the ability of the PUCUECEOEE UE DEU EEUU ETD COUEEEEEREEDODTER EEE AEEEEEEE CUUUEeAeee wie PUOUODROEOADUDEEOEUEOEOTETEE VUOUOUHERUEDEREON DORA OO AONE sepennnenne peeenene TL SOUU CLEC LUC LELULLL LLL teneteenenet South American Trade Facts to be Remembered There is a limitation on the extent to which the United States may profit at once by the deficiency in supplies This is the diminished ability of most South American coun tries to buy. The United States by well directed effort may legitimately permanent with South America as the the war, but too much should not be ex pected at the outset. The war has paralyzed the of South American countries to row money in Europe and European loans been the their public improvements and struction of railroads. were just from commercial crises due largely to economic causes. It is well to remember that in sup- plying products to South which heretofore have been supplied by the European belligerents it is likewise necessary for the United States to absorb some of the South American products which they have absorbed. from Europe. increase its trade result of ability bor basis of their Some of have con- these countries emerging America CUOADUEDEENUAEEDEDEOEEROADUROEEDDODECRADADUEOSOEOEDEGEGEOOUDREDE EA ER OEOEDUGEEEDOOUDODERURTOORU ONDE Ad EONS ona year. foreicy r, who was for eight years prior to June, 1913, Sent) expert of the State Department at Washington, with eight notable articles to The Iron Age dealing owas ssibilities of increasing the trade of the United i. oh South American countries They were written in thas tS® of a tour through South America and appeared Ameri, owing issues: The Panama Canal and South 1912 7, 2¢e Was treated in a separate article October 16, ete. | various countries were then taken up in the fol- lati and F r: Peru, November 13, 1913; Chile, January 1 ulation. Rolivic seotY_5, 1914; Argentina, March 5; Brazil, April 2 Colombia, June 4 473 countries to Europe, and European loans have been the basis of their public improvements and their construction some commercial crises, DOrrow money in of these countries were just due largely to and were preparing to refund old loans and secure additional ones. economic ‘Alea Causes, Brazil was negotiating for a loan of $100,000,000 in Lon don, with some prospect of success. This money cannot now be obtained. Brazil, in fact, has issued an additional volume of paper currency to meet the stress. Brazilian railroad enter prise, aS represented by the syndicate which has been carrying on a comprehensive plan of extensions and of new was financed in Paris and Balkan wars interfered the readiness of this to advance further but the prospect wa Lon Brussels. lines, don, The with group funds, said to be improving when the present war broke out. In these circumstances about all that can be expected will be to keep going the invest ments already made. With the Brazilian govern ment restricted in its oppor tunities for borrowing in order to carry on public im- provements, and with private enterprise on a large scale compelled to restrict its activities in railroad building, it will be seen that Brazil is not likely to be a large buyer of certain commodities during the present This does not mean any lessening in the value and volume of its permanent market. ARGENTINA RECOVERING FROM LAND SPECULATION Argentina had been getting on its feet after the monetary crisis which followed the riotous land spec Argentine public credit always has been high, and there were some intimations that as con- a] ditions improved the effort to float a new govern- ment loan, which was abandoned a year ago, might be renewed. ‘The province of Buenos Aires, which was in the market for a railroad loan, was also un- derstood to be on the point of renewing negotia- tions. None of these loans can now be floated and some big private enterprises which were dependent on foreign capital will have to be postponed. Argen- tine, however, is in a position to profit by the war, l] 1 1 since the demand for its grain and beef w pe in creased and higher prices undoubtedly will be ob- tained. With this source of income assured, Ar gentina’s purchases abroad may not be appreciably lessened on account of the war. FINANCES OF CHILE AN PERI Chile’s financial condition has been frequently described as sound, but not sane. That is, the country has abundant resources to meet its finan cial obligations, but is apt to be reckless in incur ring these obligations. Chile will maintain her credit abroad, and will pay all her debts, but she is not likely to get fresh loans with which to carry on pul lic improvements. The European market for the nitrate fertilizer is upset for one season at least. This means that the nitrate companies will be compelled to restrict their output and the government will find its reve ho ZL nues from the export tax on nitrates seriously d minished, and all this signifies that for a year a least Chile will be buying less material for con struction enterprises than during the last few years. Peru was seeking a loan to refund existing loans and meet current obligations when the war brok« out. It had no great public improvements under way, and no private construction enterprises of magnitude. Its demand for material therefore may not be materially lessened, but an increase cannot be looked for. Peru has the gold standard, which helps it in economic and financial crises. The cable reports have stated that the government has authorized the banks to issue checks based on gold to meet the stringency caused by the inability to procure the loan that was sought. Credits may not suffer, but Peru, for the next year, is likelv to remain ststion- ary as a buver of manufactured articles. The financial and economic situation in these countries is set forth in order that a e¢ view may be had of the prospect of the S: ican market for the United States. Am: ufacturers and exporters, not familiar conditions, might assume that South Am: buy next year and this year just as bought last year. If the totals show a in certain lines they might draw misk clusions as to the real value of the n abandon it. This would be a grave mist: NEEDS IN MINING AND AGRICULTURAL MA Having stated some of the drawba proper to describe some of the favorable The purchase of mining machinery is ni be altered because mining development ward under the most unfavorable conditio. ing and household hardware are not apt terfered with, since the demand for th affected by international imbroglios. Th reconstruction of the great city of Bue) will go right on, and the requirements for steel, which are so large a factor in its r¢ tion, will continue to be large. Agricultural machinery will contin: wanted in Argentina and Brazil in as la tities, at least, as heretofore. Textile n which has been in demand in Brazil and i1 degree in Peru and Argentina, will also be f ) ’ ( ry Ir 69.956 $19 67 h Nf j 1 9 9 h0 1.470 i9 ) 209 {X: HR 764 137,636 } +9979 04 6,04 1 ¥110 yil i Y,a0%8 ’ do 10.7 ” 1 re (0, l r,O5¢ ‘ i 0 »4.519 a4 SRR 5.9 80.6 ‘ 4 1 q 499 14 O71 ) ‘ R46 Ss ) 4 | 66 9.3 f GO.RRi y ) Nf 44 6.698 042 1 14 L,4 t The same is true of flour mill machinery. Th THE IRON AGE August 27, 1914 ket which recently has been developed in Argent! for woodworking machinery will not be lesse! Tools are always in demand. IRON AND STEEL PRODUCTS—CUSTOMS VALUATI! The nature of the market of the leading > \merican countries in detail, as relates to iron steel products, is exhibited in the customs figures © imports by articles and countries of orig fortunately, however, the statistics are not Da* on the same system as in the United Stat classifications of the different governments ar no way uniform, each country has its own prac! in this regard, and none of them follows class tions similar to those which prevail in th States. Exports of the different commodities United States to South American countries ¢4! obtained from the statistics given in the &0°V er! t 27, 1914 cation, “Commerce and Navigation.” A ry signal, however, is necessary because of ision which usually arises from trying to them with the import statistics of the to which the commodities are consigned. insurance and freights there are other ch make for uncertainty. the South American countries have the fixed valuations of different tariff value as shown in the man- foros,” or ies in the yractice the the exporter to the authorities in the es may not be the same as the classification of the importing shipped to Argentina may the manifest at $50, while the Argentine require it to be valued at $65, or vice customs classifications. V alue istoms A typewriter ame principle applies to numerous other from threshing machines to cash reg- hiefly concerns the American manufac- th ommodities which are now imported pean countries, and which may, under disturbed conditions. be shifted to the tates if proper effort is made to obtain the the classifications are not similar, it some light may be obtained on this m the import statistics of the different rican governments. The nature of market can be gathered from the accom table for 1912, which is the latest year for il] statistics are available. ntine imports of iron and steel and kindred by countries of origin may be exhibited in rent manner. The Argentine Department of ind Industry, in one of its statistical of Argentine international trade, made svstem of percentages in showing the rj importation exceeding $1,000,- principal countries of origin. As in the 1 ], the year 1912 was taken as the one fullest statistics were available. That 1 The statistical! the cles of dered an average year. follows: 4 of O 7 7 j ) - ~™ S ee 6.4 > . hf ' ; { SO. 2 GF ‘ +. ; | } Ge \ . f 9 g ) 6 7 Db I ) t < ¢ 1 { ‘ d ton ‘ > ) 71°97 7 § 72.054 80.0 118 £04 R44 1 N88 R47 a ] 10 4 $1.428,677 6 221 & 8 . $1,341,502 by By MB f anized, $1 4.4 64 2 i $1.302.619 188,964 11.0 42 84.7 10.4 is kinds, $1, ee @ =a » + $1.100.499 : 164.0 97 14 7 i179 79 4 149 oo.a 449 ges, $1,033,855 6.7 77.8 11. which belongs to the east coast group es, is not a heavy purchaser of iron and THE IRON AGE metric tons, the quantity steel products. from all riven in countries as exhibited in 1912 and 19138 ranges from 62,000 tons to 65,000 tons. Machinery varies from 12,000 to 15,000 tons. The United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium all share Uruguay market for iron and steel products vw the United States. CHILEAN TRADI Chile, on the west coast is i ! lt I explained, in the past has beer ! chaser of iron and steel products on a railroad building and its harbor and other improvements. It 1s aiso a good purchaser ing machinery. Detailed statistics by class« nd inti origin of Chilean trade are not yet available. Some thing may be learned, however, fron general grouping of which the port sta are made up. A large portion of iron and ste products come under the head of “mineral prod ucts,” while “machinery” answers for the Liance Under this general grouping some conclus ma be drawn from the following tabular sum: imports for 1913: \ I I Belgium has a large trade with Chile eral products, the total for the ear given naving amounted to $2,497,000, made up principall steel rails. UNITED STATES MUST BUY MORI ROM AMERICA There is a forgotten side to this matter of South American trade. American manufacturers and exporters who are searching for wider market overlook that some of the countri« may also be hunting for expanded markets for their products in the United States. In the present situation it is quite essential that the market for ican products in the United States be enlarged since much of the European market is shut off The raw material which may be wanted for the iron and steel and allied industries need in no way be interfered with by the war. The onl lestior is to what extent additional raw products may be absorbed by the industries of the 1 nited State Manganese exists in Brazil in superabundance and it can hardly be assumed that the European war interferes with the ability t ipply it In ai article on Brazil, published in The Iron Age or April 2, I explained the richness of the Brazil manganese deposits, the facility with which the can be mined and the adeouate transvortatior facilities which now exist. If the iron are e] industry of the United States is embarrassed for lack of Brazilian manganese, it is simply a case of holdup by the Brazilians. The over a prospective shortage of rubber, because of the war may or justified, although the from the Belgian Congo and there mav be interference with shipment the Straits Settlement. But the abundant reserve supply. The hundreds of which a few months ago were tied up at Para are doubtless now busy. The jump in the Amazon rubber ought to help Brazil through its economic crisis, since the drop in price was one of the prime causes of the trouble. Chilean nitrates have been scare of the automobile industry may not be suppl is undoubtedlv in danger, from Amazor has an boats price of used by the manu facturers of explosives in the United States, and it —~ 476 THE IRON AGE August may be that since the war is spreading and explo- sives will be in greater demand, larger quantities ot the nitrates can be absorbed, regardless of their itility as fertilizers. SMELT BOLIVIAN TIN CONCENTRATES HERI \ Bolivian tin is a raw material that, by every reason of sound industrial policy, ought to be smelted in the United States. The tin concentrates which heretofore have been brought down to Ant fagasta and shipped through the Straits of Magel lan, or around the Horn, can now come up through the Canal and reduce the war risk. With Ham- burg shut out entirely, and with some danger at- tending shipments of tin concentrates to Liverpool, the beginning of the tin smelting industry on the Atlantic coast should not be far distant. Chilean copper heretofore has gone largely to England and Germany. The low grade ores from the Braden mine, near Santiago, went to England. Most likely means will be found for absorbing larger quantities of Chilean copper in the United States. Since the Bethlehem Steel Company’s Tofo iron re mines in Chile were acquired in order to supply the Bethlehem works, there will be none of this traffic to divert from other countries. Peruvian copper has been so largely absorbed n the United States that there will not be large idditional quantities to be taken by this country, et there will be some increase. These facts are cited briefly because it is al ways well to remember that in supplying products to South America, which heretofore have been sup- plied by the European belligerents, it is likewise necessary for the United States to absorb some of the South American products which they have ob- sorbed. A final hint may be given on the general sub ect. Ample data have been gathered by the De partment of State and by the Department of Com- merce regarding the details of South American trade. The reports of the Consuls to the State De partment give much useful information regarding trade conditions. The reports of the Department of Commerce give a vast amount of technical data What the American manufacturer and exporter should do is to digest this official informatio1 carefully and not seek to gulp it down at one swallow Iron and Steel Institute Meeting The autumn meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute was to have been held at Paris, September 17 to 22, ind extensive preparations had already been made when the war broke out, the trips including one to Nancy and the principal iron and steel works of French Lorraine. It is now given out by the council of the Institute that all arrangements for the autumn meet ing have been abandoned. Announcement will be made as soon as possible of plat for holding the meeting in England The Longmead Iron Company’s property at Consho hocken, Pa., has not been sold to Emery P. Day, accord ing to a statement received from Lewis N. Lukens, re- ceiver of the company. Mr. Lukens says that the prop erty is still being offered for sale either as a whole o1 in suitable parcels. In spite of the general depression the Aberthaw Construction Company, Boston, reports more work under way than ever before on its books. For several weeks past each payroll has been higher than the pre- ceding week, now being the highest in the history of the company to date. Certain Oxy-acetylene Appara Condemned At a recent meeting in Chicago of the Int Acetylene Association, resolutions were ad demning apparatus for oxy-acetylene work vides for the generation and self-compressior lene or of oxygen to a pressure greater tha square inch. The resolutions, which are her followed a report by the association’s o committee, of which Augustine Davis, presid Bournonville Company, was chairman, and sented by a committee of which Professor P versity of Pennsylvania, was chairman. J. M. Morehead, chemist and engineer, | bide Company, is president of the associat Jenkins, Milburn Company, Baltimore, is vie and A. Cressy Morrison is secretary and The directors are: J. T. Earl, Davis Acety pany, Elkhart, Ind.; A. D. Meeker, Braue: Company, Marshalltown, lowa; Hyman Offutt Acetylene Company, Louisville, Ky.; R. W. Colt Company, New York; M. Kirchberger, M berger & Co., New York, and W. A. Cochr: Simmons Company, New York. The resolutions are as follows: Whereas, the National Board of Fire Und have established regulations regarding th method of generation of acetylene, and instal apparatus for use in connection with the oxy-ac blow-pipe, and for recharging cylinders, and Whereas, these regulations are in harmor such regulations as are in force throughout thx and with the laws of all civilized nations, and Whereas, these rules absolutely prohibit th ation and self compression of acetylene to a pr greater than 15 lb. per square inch, the wisdom of prohibition having been demonstrated by scores of accidents, against which no safeguards are Therefore, Be It Resolved: That this association, of knowledge and from its own experience, condem: methods and earnestly warns all manufactur 1g and prospective purchasers of such apparatus to mediately discontinue such manufacture and usé This association further throws its whole weig knowledge and accumulated experience into th¢ mendation that public officials charged with the safe guarding of life and property immediately prohibit use of such self-compression generators, wo! higher pressure than 15 lb. per square inch, wh found. Whereas, numerous accidents, some of whic been fatal, have come to the attention of this a lf self-compression of oxygen, by heating chi Therefore, Be It Resolved: That this association con } ion, resulting from the simultaneous generatior | ; r f such practice as seriously detrimental to our indust and hazardous to life and property. This asso ati further advises that chlorates should not be used the generation of oxygen, except in connection wi efficient washing system and gas holders opé under inconsiderable pressure, and that oxygen pressed only by means of compressors especiall; structed for oxygen. The Graton & Knight Mfg. Company, Wo Mass., which has heretofore had 16 branches many leading cities, is endeavoring to give its cu still better facilities for quickly obtaining their | requirements. It has opened its seventeenth bra 301 Magazine street, New Orleans, La., wher¢ plete line of leather belting, lace leather, belt d and belt cement will be carried. This branch equipped to handle all kinds of belt repat! ne promptly and satisfactorily. This emphasizes th plete service organization of the G & K system The Andrews Mfg. Company, refrigerati! chinery, Dayton, Ohio, has filed a petition oi tary bankruptcy in the United States District at Cincinnati. th c sugust 27, 1914 A tleavy Multiple Drilling Machine heavy drilling machine designed to pro- number of adjustable spindles over a area has been added to the line built nal Automatic Tool Company, Rich- The special field for which this ma- tended is the drilling of automobile nd work of a similar nature, the ma- ated being one furnished to the motor er for drilling six-cylinder crankcases ition. From 2 to 44 adjustable spindles nted in the machine and it is also pos- p it with cluster boxes which increase number of spindles to 90. Two sizes furnished, both of which are the same , the widths being 30 and 44 in. respec- e of the most important features of the the independent drill speeds in the head two independent speed changes to each each of the three changes obtained in ox, an arrangement, which, it is pointed les approximately the correct speed and each size drill that comes within the range nine. achine is mounted on a heavy base having innel for catching the overflow. There is pocket in the channel through which the ibricant must flow to enter the storage m here it is pumped back to the tools arrangement is relied upon to prevent d other substances from finding a lodgment he oil supply pipes. Two independent pumps loyed by the lubricating system, one for oil- machine and the other for delivering the ompound to the drill points. The column and rigid and is of box section. The heads ed with the machine can be equipped with is combinations of adjustable spindles and ster boxes for drills ranging from %% in. to 1 in. eter. Power feed and a pilot arm to facili- and rapid advance and return are pro- the head. The power feed may be tripped matically or by hand. Three chains sup- counterweight within the column balance and additional sectional counterweighting ir of the machine is employed to compen- the variations in the number of arms used. pindles are made of steel, which is hardened nd, and have ball thrust bearings at the | and lock nuts at the upper to take up that may develop. The spindles are made ther straight or Morse taper shank drills red. Individual flexible oil tubes deliver lubricant to each drill point when the s working on steel or aluminum. The arings of the drill spindles have vertical to compensate for the variation in drill Chis adjustment is easily and quickly se- simply loosening one nut which is always irrespective of how close the spindles may ed. With this construction it is unneces- ove any of the arms from the position in are set, as the spindle adjustment is a onstruction holding the bearing rigidly of the arm and the arm may be moved layout within the range of the head. rsal joints used are composed of only five | the design is not dependent on cross pins There are three independent drill feeds nit the use of any feed with any of the ble drill speeds that are available in the ' these changes being made if neces- e the machine is running. The feed box | at the base of the column and the gears, THE IRON AGE 477 \ Large and Heavy Multiple-Spindle Drilling M Automobile Crankcase ind Sir lar Work H for 90 Spindles which are of large diameter and run at speeds, are cut from solid metal. A small tray con venient for holding tools is provided by the cover of the feed box. A single pulley drive is provided so that the ma chine may be belted directly to a lineshaft or indi vidual motor drive applied if that is desired. The driving pulleys are of large diameter with wide faces and are mounted on roller bearings. box moderate The speed is located at the top of the column and thre changes are provided by a sliding gear transmis sion. push ng the hand lever to the corresponding position and this number of changes is doubled by sliding gears in the head. This also provides independent vari ations in the speed of the several spindles changes can also be running Any of these speeds are obtained by) These secured while the machine is American Wire Gauge in Customs Service WASHINGTON, D. C., August 25, 1914.—The Treas ury Department, in a formal order from Assistant Sec retary William P. Malburn to the appraiser of the port at New York, has authorized the adoption of the Amer- ican wire gauge (Brown & Sharpe) as the standard gauge for use in the customs service, in so far as it may be applicable. The communication of Mr. Malburn, however, declares that the tariff act of October 3, 1913 the present tariff law—eliminated the term “wire gauge” from the tariff schedules, with one exception, and substituted therefor diameters expressed in deci mals of an inch. The single exception appears in para graph 114 in relation to steel strips. Under previous tariff laws the department had authorized the use of the Birmingham gauge for the gauging of all wires but not strips. This, however, nullified by the elimination of wire gauge in the present tariff act in connection with wires. was It is reported that the Great Northern Iron Ore Properties will not operate all the iron mines now under lease to the Oliver Mining Company, when the latter’s lease expires January 1, 1915. The Tod-Stambaugh interests have secured a lease of the Dean mine at Buhl and other companies are negotiating for some of the Hill mines. The Helfenstein Large Electric Furnace Recent Achievements in the Produc- tion of Pig Iron in Sweden—Value of the Waste Gases in Steel Production BY C. VAN LANGENDONCK One large electric furnace takes up, of course, much less room than several small ones. Dr. Hel- fenstein, of Vienna, who has been interested in the electric furnace problem for several years, in draw- ing a parallel between small furnaces with a capac- ity of from 1000 to 1500 hp. and large closed furnaces, estimates that the capital expenditure for Building Containing the Helfenstein Electric Pig Ire Fur nace at Domnarfvets, Sweder the former, including buildings and electric appa- ratus, amounts to about $21 to $22 per hp., while for the latter it does not exceed $12.25 to $13.70 per hp. Large and closed furnaces require also fewer attendants. The consumption of materials for the apparatus also may be estimated at no more than one-half or one-third of the corresponding consumption of small furnaces; in addition to which, with closed furnaces, the conductor cables are protected against heat and smoke, which makes them more durable, while it also contributes to reduce the loss of ten- sion in the secondary conductor. As regards the output, this is not much higher for large closed furnaces than for the others if the loss of energy arising from the employment of higher voltage is not taken into consideration. In regard to the utilization of the energy, the small furnaces have now been brought to such perfection that nothing more is to be expected. The protection of the elec- trodes against the air by means of the charge it- self is, however, of great importance, and this rep- resents a compensation for the greater consumption of electrodes on account of the higher voltage em- ployed. Large units have the further advantage that the working and supervision is facilitated. It is also possible to operate with large variations of the supply of energy by the aid of certain arrange- ments in the transformers; furnaces designed for 10,000 hp. can thus be kept running for months with a load of only 4000 hp., without any risk, either to the furnace or to the process from a technical point of view. The utilization of the furnace gases is possible only in large furnaces, for in small furnaces the supply of gas is so small and so irregu is a matter of great difficulty to recov: sufficient good quality to be utilized. Dr. Helfenstein has erected his first for the manufacture of electric pig iron d iron ore at the Domnarfvets lron Works A view of this is given in one of the il! ion The fundamental principle of this furnac« ast on the experience gained by the author si Q() when for the first time he succeeded in int electric furnaces with up to 12,000 hp manufacture of carbide and ferroalloys. The electrodes are placed in a vertical ing position, this being the only one t adaptable to large furnaces. The questio1 ing the top of such a large furnace is a seriou problem depending mainly on the three following points: 1. Durability of the furnace cover or ro 2. Utilization of the gas. 3. Continual charging. As regards the roof, the solution was found in a very simple construction. This consisted ; water-cooled partitions, which were placed betwee: the electrodes, and which serve two purposes, su ports for the arches and as charging hoppers. In the latter the adjustable electrodes are hanging freely, surrounded by the charging material and underneath the roof the partitions form gasificatio chambers, which make an easy collection of th gases possible. These gasification chambers are, with the aid of nozzles, connected with a commo! gas pipe for the removal of the gases. This pipe is placed alongside the furnace itself as shown i one of the illustrations. The tightening of th opening around the electrode is affected by the charge itself, and the work is conducted in such a way that the furnace is always kept under a gas pressure, so that small gas flames are burning above Helfenstein Electric Furnace Charging Floor with the Ele trodes in the Furnace the roof, which show that no air is being admitted to the furnace. An important feature is that no shaft has been employed for the materials, as the main object has been to make the construction as plain and simple as possible. The furnace is in a way an exper *The Iron Age for June 19, 1913, contained at rticle « the Helfenstein furnace and the exp making calcium carbide and ferrosilicon. A478 27, 1914 from which the furnace gases are n a point as near as possible to that of pment. It is, however, by no means im- shafts may be employed for other the future. The furnace, which has ng satisfactorily from the very start, ed for a capacity of 12,000 hp. and the cables were dimensioned accordingly, al- turned out that in the long run it was to get this amount of energy because the Domnarfvets is provided with the number of periods of which is ab- The generators are working with 62 nich for large quantities of energy causes lisplacement that far exceeds the permis- re for a load of 12,000 hp. It was there- led to employ from 6000 to 8000 hp. only, rned out that with this load (120 volts the phases and 26,000 amperes per elec- dle), it was possible to limit the phase- ent to 0.8. aximum output of pig iron per 24 hours 65 tons, while the output per month varied 1200 and 1600 tons. With charcoal as a material, the average consumption of d materials has been as follows: on at of energy per ton of pig iron 2000 kw-hr of charcoal per ton of pig iron §& to 8S ecwts of electrodes per ton of pig iror l ” lb value of the furnace gases has varied be- en 2800 and 3000 calories per cubic metre of From this it may be seen that the results as regards the consumption of energy are not so rable as those achieved in the Electrometals and the same may be said as to the con on of charcoal. The consumption of elec es is about the same as in the Electrometals for it can be safely assumed that the con- ion can be brought down to 11 Ib. per ton of | ic. © rs ad G et Ce eae ~~ Helfenstein Elect Tapping Slag from the Furnace THE IRON AGE 179 Gas Pipe at Top Conducting the Waste Gas from the Hel nsteil Furnace to the Stee« Departme The furnace has, however, on the other hand, certain advantages as compared with the Electro metals furnace, which are as follows: 1. The capital expenditure is considerably lower. 2. The furnace value, gases possess a considerably rreater as they are equal to 2600 to 3000 calories per cubic metre, while those in the Electrometals plant have a value of only 2300 calories 3. The whole process can be much bette yntrolled and supervised, and the furnace worked much more easily. These started much more quickly than the large shaft fur furnaces can, for instance, be le re large naces, and it has been demonstrated that even after a stoppage of two to three days the furnacs r« started and have the full load on in the course of 10 to 15 minutes, and after a few hours the tapping take place quite normally. It is of great importance that additional materials for improving the charge be added to it c'ose to the melting zone, because the will then be almost immediate, while it may take h« before such admixtures are able to reach the m« zone in a furnace with a high shaft 1, A pulverized ore can be employed without the working of the furnace being hampered in an} and it need scarcely be pointed that th the greatest and most important advantages the whole system. 5. The number of attendar equ I l ing of the furnace is very sn needed. 6. The furnace permits emp reducing material, and this is one | ost tant points in the p em < he « | of pig iron. With charcoal the furnace can ea e work: with 70 volts per chase, while tl figure with coke must be reduced to 50 to 55 volts per chase. Th explained by the fact that coke is an excellent c ductor. The development in this direction is not t be regarded as settled, and it is thus quite probable that the voltage can be raised considerably with 480 THE IRON AGE August 27, 1914 coke as the reducing medium. Operating with The Gasteam Engine for the For coke requires a higher density in the electrodes on account of the lower voltage and the higher weight Company of the ore per unit of volume. The second condition for the employment of coke is a speedy removal of the furnace gases. Low shafts are consequently the only ones that can be considered for such furnaces, because the furnace gases then will have to pass through only a thin layer of the charge. This has, however, the draw- Motor The new power plant being built b Fo Motor Company for its Highland Par! etr Mich., factory, will be a combinaticn steam plant, equipped with steam boile) ducers and regenerators. The Hooven, Owens, Rentschler Com; Ha ilton, Ohio, is building the prime move: : ; The back that the reducing power of the gases is im- 4 ” a ee eo : will be four “gasteam” units, so called. Fach , perfectly utilized. The consequence is that a gas . s : . ; ’ Sa . : gine will consist of a two-cylinder gas « e a) rich in carbon monoxide, CO, will be produced, : - , ranged in tandem and also a tandem compound co) while the consumption of energy and of coal will , : densing steam engine. These two different types o; increase. It has been proved that the consumption ' : ; > Ee engines will be connected to one shaft similar + of energy has risen to 2400 kw.-hr. per ton of pig s ‘ : ; the arrangement employed in a cross npouns iron, while the consumption of coke amounted to nee steam engine. Electric power will be developed b direct connecting on the engine shaft a generator ; 3750-kw capacity. Each engine is rated at 600 b.hp. 6 to 614 ewts. As regards the consumption of electrodes, this was kept on the same level as when charcoal was employed. In ironworks which are only occupied with the faa : , : manufacture of electric pig iron, the most natural This combination gasteam oe has beer solution of the gas question would be to connect the adopted - eee the ee of Ser ones _ main furnace with rotating furnaces, so that the the reliability of a steam engine. With the combi iron ore would be subjected to a pre-reduction by ation type, the ae not supposed to be put it the aid of the furnace gases before entering the een unless there is a half load or more, hene large furnace proper. This would, of course, effect the gas side will always be fully loaded. There has a great saving in the consumption of energy, coke been -_ attempt made to es the gas side, otne! and electrodes per ton of pig iron produced. Sec- than in case of over speeding. The steam side wil ondly, it can be used for open-hearth furnaces. The do all the nti singe and take care of all the loa furnace gases at Domnarfvets are now employed in fluctuations. In case of trouble on the Bas me this manner, and the gas pipes from the large the steam side can pull the entire load with a lat electric furnace are conducted directly to the steel steam cut-off. : : departnient. The two gas cylinders of engine will be of the There is, so far as is known, no apparatus in four-cycle double-acting type with water cooling existence at the present time, which is capable of Each cylinder will be 42 in. in diameter and wi producing such a pure carbon monoxide, CQ, as the have a stroke of v2 _ The tandem compound - electric furnace, and it is produced in the large densing steam unit will have a 36-in. high-pressure units in such quantities and with such regularity cylinder and a 68-in. low-pressure cylinder op that there ought to be great possibilities for a (2-in. stroke. The low pressure cylinder will be proper utilization of this excellent element. This connected to a surface condenser, which in turr gas is no doubt of far too good a quality to serve will be placed in a closed heating system. Thi as ordinary fuel, and if judged by its purity and Vacuum will be regulated to correspond oo also the easy manner in which it enters into chem- ™0oSpheric temperatures and during the winter ical combinations, its real function in the future ™onths the vacuum will be reduced to about 18 . ought to be to serve the chemical industry on a large and the entire amount of circulating water will snake: pumped through all the factory buildings, whic! are heated by hot water. Superheated steam wi A Michigan Tonnage Tax on Copper, Iron Ore be used with a pressure of 175 Ib. and the hig! ond Coat pressure cylinder will be equipped with poppet valves while Corliss valves will be employed on the lov The executive and legislative committee of the pressure cylinder. Michigan State Grange, the farmers’ organization, The attempt will be made to absorb all the r which met at Lansing August 12, adopted a resolu- ‘s : jected heat from the gas side or as much as is pos tion requesting the Legislature to impose a tonnage thle Bs a ie ° ll be cor- tax on all copper, iron ore and coal produced in the sible. Exhaust from the gas engine wi Z ; State. The rates named are a quarter of a cent per ducted into a steam superheater located in th lb. on copper; 2 to 5c. per Ib. on iron ore, according to Steam line between high and __low-pressur grade, and 2c. per ton on coal. Twenty-five per cent. steam cylinders, thus utilizing waste gases of the amount collected is to be returned by the State for reheating the high-pressure exhaust stean to the counties where the tax is paid. In the event of Part of the exhaust gases are shunted throug! the Legislature’s failure to impose the tax, the propo the jacket of the high-pressure steam | sition is to be placed before the people for a vote linder. to offset anv steam heat loss in that evlinde? through the initiative adopted at the 1913 session of Sinn: acitadcink een ith . d the boil cn Scnaltitei ns 1e exhaust gases are then conducted to th feed-water heater. Feed water for the heater The largest armory in the world, it is claimed, is secured from the water used for cooling purpose now being built in New York City for the Eighth Coast in the gas cylinder jackets, where it is brought Artillery, at Kingsbridge road and Jerome avenue. It to a temperature of from 150 to 180 deg. This will extend for 375 ft. on Jerome avenue and 600 ft. on finally raised to a temperature of about 250 des in the heater by means of the exhaust mentioned. Kingsbridge road, covering an area equal to 90 city lots, and its superstructure requires 8000 tons of steel. The roof arches have the greatest span of any in the aca ; . . é world. Only one building, one of those at ae ahaa Chis installation, while not only unique, !s et Exposition, ever had a greater and this has since been on results of operation of a Hooven, Owens at destroyed. The roof will be of fireproof J-M built-up schler gas engine installed by the Ford ( mp asbestos roofing on the flat portions and J-M asbestos some time ago. This unit was of 6000-h] ready roofing on the steeper parts. pacity. tT) [ ne 27, 1914 d Production of Turbine Castings ler for five large cast-iron turbine castings ntly completed by the Birdsboro Steel & Machine Company, Birdsboro, Pa., in a e of time. The order, which was placed re River Ship Building Company, Quincy, ed for the delivery of the castings within from the time the patterns were received. itter of fact, all the castings were shipped Turbine the Large Steam 1 Order for Five days after the patterns were received, and 16 days. castings were made to conform to the speci- of the Argentine Naval Commission and pected by them. Before the actual molding e started loam plates and special rigging had nade. The castings ranged in weight from to 32,415 lbs. Patterns for four of the cast- re received on July 5 and the work of mold- begun three days later in the of the castings and on July 11 in the he fourth. The pattern for the fifth casting eived July 13 and the molding was begun on The pouring of the castings was een July 14 and 21, and by the time the of the last casting was begun three of the case day. nad been inspected and two shipped. The astings were inspected on July 23 and was shipped on the same day. while followed two days after. dles were required for each casting and e and tensile test bars were cast from bars for the transverse test were cast re and were tested in the rough state, tensile bars had a diameter when cast n. and were turned In making the transverse ars were placed on supports 12 in. apart. wing table gives the results of a series of made on the bars: down to 3-4 in. in efore testing. Tests THE IRON AGE 1S] { isting £ hz 6.834 ' 50 It is stated that the fracture of the test ul showed a close grain and graphitic carbon broke! Castings Which Were (« et Shipne n 2 D Patterns Were t Receive up into very The metal well. There curl to the the tool and the piece took a high degree of fi small particles machined was a strong chips fron A Pressed All-Steel Leg for Work Benches The New Machine Brit Conn., has developed a new ste Britair ( ompany New B pate nted bene which iS l! tended to meet a wide range ol factory ditions. It is suitable for shelf and bin cor o! and can be readily swept around, and, it is pointed out does not interfere with locating steam pipes and can be readily changed to a new locatior Or the features is a longitudinal stringer allowing tl eg to be placed as far apart as 8 ft. cente1 The legs are of | ection with the U’s fac py eaci other. This enables the underneath shelving support to be put in betweer the fla pre or tne yand se retained in place. The stringer, it emphasize id to the rigidity of the back portion ar preve ‘ tion and also prevel end pointed out I the tiffne noard whicn is ewed to tne tace the prignt ! ne rear al a serves asa CTee@eT to p event A trory pushed off the ench. The separation of the rear portior if the leg tends t tiffer against end sway by bolting through the | k pi the stringer and the bench leg with througn be The Heilman Machine now in the hands of Henry P Benr } , as the result of proceeding re ti Court August 14 Spee Iron-Ore Output at the Styrian Erzbero Pa A Unique and Extensive Deposit in Austria— How Large Amounts of an Excellent Ore Are Mined by Hand BY OSKAR NAGEI One of the largest and most unique iron deposits operations, except for blasting and trans : of the world is the Erzberg, or ore mountain, in the An advantage of this method is the pos tr northern part of Styria, Austria, with a reserve of regulate the output in accordance with th ket 206,000,000 tons of rich ore and an additional re- conditions and to increase it very conside: serve of 157,000,000 tons of ore containing less simply placing the gangs at a smaller dista than 25 per cent. iron. The ore is a carbonate of each other. iron. The open work at these mines has been car- The operations on these floors are perf: as ried on, at a constantly increasing scale, since the follows: Electrically driven drills—electy wer seventh century and will be carried on for several being supplied to the Erzberg from the blast-fur- centuries more. The manual work of former times nace gas power plant at the base of the n iT is being more and more replaced by machine work, EKisenerz)—are used for the bore-holes, which arc with a consequent decrease in the cost of produc- then filled with dynamite. Blasting is done at fixed tion. hours, three times a day, and about 11 tons of rock The Erzberg has the shape of a regular large are broken per pound of dynamite used. The big The Erzberg or Ore M«¢ tair n Nortl Styria, Austria cone and is made up of three kinds of veins, each lumps are then broken down by hand to about 8-inch several yards in thickness; veins of carbonate of size and the iron ore is picked out by hand work iron, containing 38 per cent. of iron, yielding, after from the limestone. While the latter is transported calcination, a product containing 45 per cent. of to the dump on suitable dump cars moving on iron; veins of a limestone containing about 8 per rails laid all along the working front, the ore is cent. and more of iron and finally veins of a dolo shipped, depending upon the elevation at which it mitic limestone. The veins of carbonate of iron was mined, to one of the following railway stations, amount, in weight, to about one-half of the entire all of which are within the ore deposit: Prebichl, mountain. 3600 feet elevation; Erzberg, 3210 feet elevation; One of the illustrations gives a good idea of the or Eisenerz, 2100 feet elevation. The ore fron the Erzberg, while another shows the floors or plat- ipper part of the mountain (summit 4700 Teet form-levels on which the open work is carried o1 elevatior goes to Prebichl and from here to th in a uniform manner, so that the mountain famous steel works at Donawitz, Styria; the or¢ gradually and uniformly peeled off. There are 60 from the middle part of the mountain goes t sta of these floors each having a hight of 40 feet and tion Erzberg and is shipped to Donawitz or 1 I about the same width. other of the nearby iron works, owned tht The natural consequence of this method of mi1 Alpine Montan Gesellschaft, which is the e. ing is a working front of immense extension, about ownel the Erzberg deposit. The ore fro! 20 miles. The disadvantage caused by this-long lowest part of the mountain is shipped to Eisener front, on which in summer time 3500 men are en where it is calcined and passed through F ployed, is the impossibility of mechanical work and furnaces of Eisenerz. There are two up-to-da oe the necessity of employing manual labor for all furnaces at this place, each of a capacity ot 1914 Mechanic Mining per day. All of the furnace gas is purified by nple and excellent system of Schwarz ( Dort- and used for power generation. Ten per the production of the lowest part of the Erzberg is shipped to the Boehler works. The new re bin at Eisenerz has a capacity of 70,000 tons of While on the floors of the Erzberg rather primi thods of working are followed, because of ficultv of } employing suitable machinery at Platform THE IRON AGE 183 Base lcrz such a dJarge extension of the working front thoroughly modern method of production is use on the broad base of the mountain Here a great flat area is worked by modern mechanical After blasting, the ore the ore cars by means of bucket dredges of whic} methods ‘ is lifted and charged int there are three, one being shown in an illustration The ore is transported to a large breaker, built the Humboldt Machine Works, Kalk, near Cologn and the broken ore is concentrated by being passed Levels of the Austrian Erzberg Where Hand Operati« A iR4 THE over Robin belts, during which passage the lime- stone is picked out. If, as sometimes happens, the broken rock contains more limestone than ore, the receiving bins below the Robins belts are switched in such a manner that the ore is picked out, while the limestone remains on the belt and is conveyed to the dump. One-third of the total production of the Erzberg is produced by these dredges, two- thirds by hand work on the floors. The dredge- work is about 35 per cent. cheaper than the hand work, a considerable saving, notwithstanding the fact that a miner on the Erzberg gets only 5 crowns ($1) per day. The daily ore production in summer amounts to 10,000 tons. The following figures show the growth of pro- duction on the Erzberg since 1875: Tons