The Heavier Nonferrous Metals in Transportation

MY first reflection on the subject assigned to me by the officers of this symposium was that a critical description of these lesser characters in the cast of inanimate actors now before us under the title "The Role of Metals in New Transportation" would be about as well received as the description of a horse race in terms of harness buckles and jock-ey's buttons. The word "new" in the title of this symposium seems to shout strong aluminum and stainless steel, unless we transfer our attention to transpor-tation on another planet where the strength-density ratios may require very different engineering treatment. To load a speaker with the "heavier nonferrous metals" amidst the airy consideration of flying or 20th century gliding along the earth and through water, like Hermes, the messenger of the immortals, and expect an instructive or enlivening flight into the area of current exploitation and popular interest in transportation would, of course, require the performance of a miracle or at least the exhibition of genius to which I can lay no claim. But copper and nickel, headliners in other classifications, are also indis-pensable as components of the important new structural materials of transportation, and together with lead, tin and zinc perform many minor or contributory functions in this field that may indeed be con-sidered well-nigh indispensable. A complete and well planned fabric of classification, explanation and critique of even these secondary functions would take much time, and I cannot hope in the 25 minutes or so alloted for the purpose to offer more than a rambling treatment, in which a thread of continuity will be sought by anchorage to one after another of the following attributes or appurtenances of the moving vehicle: 1. The machinery and accessories. 2. The framework and superstructure, and the line or travelway. 3. Light, heat, power, water, sanitary and housekeeping services. 4. Embellishment, or style.