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By P. W. Ramsey, E. J. Boyle, E. A. Anderson

ONLY a few zinc-rich alloys are in commercial use today, and these depend largely upon solid solution effects for their desirable properties. Typical examples are rolled alloys containing about I per cent of copper, with or without additions of elements such as magnesium,1 and die-casting alloys containing about 4 per cent of aluminum with small amounts of magnesium and sometimes copper.2 A number of elements are capable of forming alloys with zinc, which do not enter into solid solution except in limited degree. The present paper considers one such system, zinc-titanium, in which alloys having potentially useful properties in the rolled form were found. ZINC-TITANIUM SYSTEM The zinc-rich portion of the zinc-titanium diagram, as determined by standard methods in this laboratory,3 is shown in Fig. I. The portion of the diagram of significance in the present work extends from 0 to about 0.5 per cent titanium. Gebhardt4 places the eutectic at 0.45 per cent, but the evidence in favor of the composition given in Fig. I is considerable. The solid solubility of titanium in zinc is very low indeed and possibly places these alloys in a somewhat different category from the commercial alloys previously mentioned. ALLOY PREPARATION All of the alloys used in this work were prepared with titanium metal of 98.9 per cent purity. In most cases high-purity zinc (99.99 per cent) was used but sufficient work was done later to show that zinc of about high-grade composition would yield approximately equal results. Best practice in alloy manufacture seemed to be to prepare a zinc-titanium hardener by adding about 4 per cent of titanium metal to molten zinc and holding under a boric acid cover, with frequent stirrings, at 750°C. until the titanium had dissolved. The desired titanium content could readily be obtained in the final alloy by adding the calculated amount of this hardener. The alloys proved to be quite stable in composition, unless overheated, and, with reasonable temperature control, required no cover or flux to prevent loss of titanium content by oxidation. HOT-ROLLING TESTS Three alloys containing, by analysis, 0.05, 0.12, and 0.23 per cent titanium were selected for preliminary study. Slab cross sections revealed a marked grain refinement* (Fig. 2) in the two alloys of highest titanium content. Cast unalloyed zinc has a columnar grain structure similar to that shown for the alloy of lowest titanium content but without the scatter of small equiaxed grains at the center.

Jan 1, 1944

By W. Crafts, J. L. Lamont

Selection of an alloy steel for a heat-treated article has been facilitated by methods for the calculation of harden-ability,' as-quenched hardness and tempered tensile strength.2 Ductility and toughness may also be estimated if the steel is completely hardened on quenching, 5,6 and the present study was carried out in order to develop a basis for estimating the Izod impact strength of partially hardened steel. The investigation was directed toward the prediction of Izod impact strength in steels of normal commercial quality without consideration of special compositions or heat-treatments that might produce abnormal brittleness. It was found that Izod impact strength of alloy steel is controlled by hardness, degree of hardening on quenching, and grain size. In finegrained steels the impact strength for any given degree of hardening is inversely proportional to the tempered Rockwell C hardness, and the relation of impact strength to hardness is lowered by incomplete hardening. Calculation of the tensile strength and impact strength of heat-treating steels has shown that, except at very high strengths, tensile strength is raised by alloys without loss of impact strength whereas the tensile strength gained by higher carbon contents tends to be accom- panied by a disproportionate loss of toughness. Plain carbon steels give relatively low and unpredictable impact strength. The calculation is sufficiently accurate to be helpful in the selection of alloy steel, and common grades of alloy steel have been evaluated with respect to combinations of tensile strength and impact strength attainable after heat-treatment in sections from I to. 4 in. in diameter. Procedure The study of the relation of hardness to impact strength was based on test data derived from 24 heats from four producers. The steels included the following SAE and AISI compositions: 1020, 1030, 1040, 1340, 3310, 33167 4320, 43.30, 4340, 8620, 8630, 8640, 8720, 8730, 8740, 931°, 9317, 9440, 9917 and three high-alloy chromium-nickel-molybdenum steels. As far as is known, the steels tested were of normal commercial quality. They were supplied in 4-in. sections, which were forged to smaller sizes, prenormalized, and machined to final dimensions. Heat-treatment was carried out by heating to the usual austenitizing temperature for the grade of steel, holding for one hour per inch of thickness and quenching in still oil at room temperature. Previous work had indicated that this quenching treatment approximates a severity of H = 0.3; The bars were tempered as follows: 34 in., I in., and 1% in., 2 hr; 235 in., 3 hr; 4 in., ; hr. All bars were air-cooled from the tempering tem-

Jan 1, 1948

By J. L. Lamont, W. Crafts

Selection of an alloy steel for a heat-treated article has been facilitated by methods for the calculation of harden-ability,' as-quenched hardness and tempered tensile strength.2 Ductility and toughness may also be estimated if the steel is completely hardened on quenching, 5,6 and the present study was carried out in order to develop a basis for estimating the Izod impact strength of partially hardened steel. The investigation was directed toward the prediction of Izod impact strength in steels of normal commercial quality without consideration of special compositions or heat-treatments that might produce abnormal brittleness. It was found that Izod impact strength of alloy steel is controlled by hardness, degree of hardening on quenching, and grain size. In finegrained steels the impact strength for any given degree of hardening is inversely proportional to the tempered Rockwell C hardness, and the relation of impact strength to hardness is lowered by incomplete hardening. Calculation of the tensile strength and impact strength of heat-treating steels has shown that, except at very high strengths, tensile strength is raised by alloys without loss of impact strength whereas the tensile strength gained by higher carbon contents tends to be accom- panied by a disproportionate loss of toughness. Plain carbon steels give relatively low and unpredictable impact strength. The calculation is sufficiently accurate to be helpful in the selection of alloy steel, and common grades of alloy steel have been evaluated with respect to combinations of tensile strength and impact strength attainable after heat-treatment in sections from I to. 4 in. in diameter. Procedure The study of the relation of hardness to impact strength was based on test data derived from 24 heats from four producers. The steels included the following SAE and AISI compositions: 1020, 1030, 1040, 1340, 3310, 33167 4320, 43.30, 4340, 8620, 8630, 8640, 8720, 8730, 8740, 931°, 9317, 9440, 9917 and three high-alloy chromium-nickel-molybdenum steels. As far as is known, the steels tested were of normal commercial quality. They were supplied in 4-in. sections, which were forged to smaller sizes, prenormalized, and machined to final dimensions. Heat-treatment was carried out by heating to the usual austenitizing temperature for the grade of steel, holding for one hour per inch of thickness and quenching in still oil at room temperature. Previous work had indicated that this quenching treatment approximates a severity of H = 0.3; The bars were tempered as follows: 34 in., I in., and 1% in., 2 hr; 235 in., 3 hr; 4 in., ; hr. All bars were air-cooled from the tempering tem-

Jan 1, 1948

By J. Geertsma, F. de Klerk

During the hydraulic fracturing treatment of an oil or gas well the liquid pressure in the borehole is increased until tensile stress in the surrounding rock exceeds tensile strength. Once a tensile fracture is initiated, it is penetrated by liquid from the borehole and fracture propagation under continuous hydraulic action takes place. The fracturing liquid carries a propping agent to ensure a highly permeable flow channel after pressure release. Field results range from failure to obtain increased production to outstanding success. In all cases, however, it unfortunately remains uncertain whether the values chosen for the operational parameters, such as injection rate, pumping time and fluid viscosity, were in fact the ideal ones. Though experience provides a lead, a more satisfactory way to predict results would seem to be to subject the fracture propagation process to a theoretical analysis that (1) makes the maximum use of the relevant physical information and (2) so simplifies the resulting calculations that the field engineer gets practical data that he can handle comfortably. We are attempting here to do this in connection with the prediction of fracture width and areal extent before pressure release. What remains of the fracture afterwards depends on the distribution of the propping agent between the fracture walls, and that is a separate story. Idealization of the Problem To keep the problem tractable, a number of simplify- ing assumptions have had to be made: 1. The formation is homogeneous and isotropic as regards those of its properties that influence the fracture-propagation process. 2. The deformations of the formation during fracture propagation can be derived from linear elastic stress-strain relations. 3. The fracturing fluid behaves like a purely viscous liquid; i.e., any peculiar flow behavior due to the addition of gelling agents or other additives is neglected. Moreover, the effect of the propping agent distribution on the distribution of fluid viscosity in the fracture is not taken into account. 4. Fluid flow in the fracture is everywhere laminar. 5. Simple geometric fracture-extension patterns are assumed — either radially symmetrical propagation from a point source (Fig. 1A) or rectilinear propagation originating from a line source (Fig. 1B). In the first case the periphery of the fracture is circular, in the second case it is rectangular. 6. A rectilinear propagation mode can be accomplished only by injection over a large perforated interval, thus forming a line source. Such a rectilinear fracture must therefore be located in the vertical plane. A circular propagation mode might be expected from injection through a narrow band of perforations. This forms a point source. Because gravity effects are excluded from our considerations, the fracture propagation plane may in this case assume any angle with respect to the wellbore as far as the

Jan 1, 1970

THE third annual Joint Western Mining Convention, held at Los Angeles, Sept. 10 to 13 inclusive, was a notable success both as to attendance and interest. Registration the first day amounted to 201, and the total crept up to 347 before the close. The American Institute of Mining Engineers was well represented, approximately 80% of those registered and most of the speakers being members. This illustrates largely the amount of interlocking membership and the reason for holding at one time and place meetings of the several related organizations. The plan has proved so successful that it is probable that Spokane will extend an invitation for next year that seems likely to be accepted. It is proposed that the convention be timed so as to permit visitors from the East to stop there Oct. 3 to 5, en route to the American Institute of Mining Engineers meeting at San Francisco, Oct. 7 to 9. Simultaneously, it is expected that the Petroleum Division will hold its fall session at Los Angeles, the two streams of travel meeting in San Francisco, just before departure of the party of engineers traveling to Japan to attend the World's Engineering Congress. The Los Angeles meeting opened Monday morning with a general session under the auspices of the Western Division of the American Mining Congress with Philip Wiseman in the chair. After a series of short responses to the welcome extended, Charles W. Merrill discussed the needs of the western mining industry. A complimentary luncheon to members and delegates followed.

Jan 1, 1928

By Leo J. Vogel, E. D. Hummer, David J. Akers

INTRODUCTION An efficient refuse-disposal system is a necessary part of the modem cleaning plant. The large-scale refuse system and disposal area, engineered for the lifetime of the plant, has become more important due to the greater tonnages of refuse produced from increased quantities of mechanically mined and prepared coal. Laws and increased government regulations have affected the design and operation of disposal systems. THE EFFECT OF MINE AND PLANT OPERATION Refuse disposal starts at the mining face. The mining system, the type of roof support, the machinery used, and the degree of discipline at the face contribute to the amount and type of refuse that must be removed through the disposal system. Economies gained through modification of the mining system or mining machinery may be partially offset by increased dilution of the mined coal with impurities from associated rock formations. In some cases the change in the mining system and equipment has reduced the dilution. In all cases the ratio of impurities that must be removed from the raw-coal feed to the plant not only affects the maintenance and

Jan 1, 1979

Joseph W. RichaRds, South Bethlehem, Pa. (communication to the Secretary*): The hold experiment of Mr. James Gayley in drying the blast used in the Isabella furnace has attracted the attention of the whole metallurgical world, and has given rise to a wide discussion of the reasons for its great success. Mr. Gayley and the capitalists who backed him in his work deserve congratulations on the success of the venture, not only because it succeeded, but because they have been rewarded far beyond the maximum that could be expected from theory or probability. To state the case in its simplest terms, all that could have been predicted was: (1) that the removal of the moisture from the blaet would result in the saving of the heat required for its decomposition, representing from 3 to 5 per cent. of the heat-value of the coke used; hence about that quantity of fuel might be saved; (2) that the furnace would be somewhat more independent of variations in the weather; (3) that the campaign would be a little hotter; and (4) that the speed of the blowing-eugines would be decreased, at least in amount proportionate to the reduction in temperature of the air led to them. I do not think anyone anticipated a much larger output per day. The results actually attained were: (1) the furnace made an increase of 24.86 per cent. in the output of pig-iron per day; (2) it consumed 19.6 per cent. less coke per ton of pig-iron made; (3) the blowing-engines were run 15.8 per cent. slower; and (4) the saving in power made up for the power required to run the refrigerating-plant. In addition, the blast was hotter; the waste-gases cooler, because of their smaller volume; and there was a greater proportion of carbon dioxide to carbon

Jan 1, 1906

By Hal T. Morris

The main Tintic mining district in central Utah has produced approximately 13,500,000 tons of ore, containing silver, lead, gold, copper, zinc, and other metals, valued at more than $315,000,000. More than 90 per cent of this ore has come from large, irregular ore bodies that have replaced folded and faulted limestone and dolomite strata. Of lesser importance are replacement veins that chiefly cut contact-pyrometasomatized carbonate rocks and fissure veins that cut altered intrμsive bodies and volcanic rocks. The district is in the west-central part of the East Tintic Mountains, a north-trending fault-block range near the eastern margin of the Great Basin. The consolidated sedimentary rocks exposed at the surface and in mine workings are miogeosynclinal deposits more than 10,000 feet thick that range in age from late Precambrian to Late Mississippian. They are folded and strongly faulted and are partly overlain by volcanic tuffs and agglomerates and by extensive flows of porphyritic and vitrophyric quartz latite, latite, and trachyandesite of Eocene age. All of these rocks are locally concealed beneath thick alluvial deposits of Pliocene and Quaternary age. The Eocene and older rocks are cut by dikes, sills, and small stocks of porphyritic quartz monzonite, monzonite, and latite, which are genetically related to the ore deposits. The district is inactive except for the production of halloysite clay and for minor leasing activity and exploration ventures. Several exploration targets remain untested.

Jan 1, 1968

By Francis H. Crockard

During the past five years we have probably witnessed greater technological advances than in any similar period. Industry and science have steadily marched ahead. The makers of iron and steel products have watched with great interest the development of streamlined trains, faster and safer airplanes, the entirely new science of air-conditioning and the widespread use of stainless steels. Since 1930, we have witnessed the erection of the world's largest suspension bridge, the largest and fastest ocean liner and the spectacular Boulder Dam, while even greater things are planned in these particular fields. Other industries, too, have been moving ahead rapidly. This advance in a few years has been caused primarily by the fierce competition of the depression. Now, more than ever, is the emphasis placed upon quality and service. Makers of southern merchant pig iron have been no exception and have been confronted with increasingly strict chemical specifications and with much greater stress on physical characteristics than ever before. For example, sulfur in the iron must be held very low, competition demanding that it be in the 0.020's and low 0.030's; silicon content must be held within a very narrow range, and definite requirements of phosphorus and manganese are an essential part of the specifications. Physical characteristics are becoming of increasingly greater importance. The introduction of triple-skimmed, slow-cooled iron several years ago was the first step in this direction. Now there are a few customers who buy iron by chemical analysis and physical appearance, having found that the analysis alone is an insufficient guide to their requirements. In addition to questions of quality, the subject of cost has greatly altered the southern furnaceman's viewpoint on many things. Formerly we had low-grade but cheap raw materials, but recent developments, such as greatly increased labor rates, have raised the cost of the same

Jan 1, 1936

By Francis H. Crockard

During the past five years we have probably witnessed greater technological advances than in any similar period. Industry and science have steadily marched ahead. The makers of iron and steel products have watched with great interest the development of streamlined trains, faster and safer airplanes, the entirely new science of air-conditioning and the widespread use of stainless steels. Since 1930, we have witnessed the erection of the world's largest suspension bridge, the largest and fastest ocean liner and the spectacular Boulder Dam, while even greater things are planned in these particular fields. Other industries, too, have been moving ahead rapidly. This advance in a few years has been caused primarily by the fierce competition of the depression. Now, more than ever, is the emphasis placed upon quality and service. Makers of southern merchant pig iron have been no exception and have been confronted with increasingly strict chemical specifications and with much greater stress on physical characteristics than ever before. For example, sulfur in the iron must be held very low, competition demanding that it be in the 0.020's and low 0.030's; silicon content must be held within a very narrow range, and definite requirements of phosphorus and manganese are an essential part of the specifications. Physical characteristics are becoming of increasingly greater importance. The introduction of triple-skimmed, slow-cooled iron several years ago was the first step in this direction. Now there are a few customers who buy iron by chemical analysis and physical appearance, having found that the analysis alone is an insufficient guide to their requirements. In addition to questions of quality, the subject of cost has greatly altered the southern furnaceman's viewpoint on many things. Formerly we had low-grade but cheap raw materials, but recent developments, such as greatly increased labor rates, have raised the cost of the same

Jan 1, 1936

By T. Lane Carter

Before describing the experience with the Chinese on the Rand and the work they have accomplished, it will be necessary, first, to give a brief account of labor-conditions in the Transvaal since the war, and then to show how the necessity of importation of labor arose. As is well known, the Transvaal mines are run on the dual system of labor—that is, the rough work is done by colored laborers under the superintendence of white men. From the start of mining operations in South Africa there has been the cry of shortness of native labor, due in great measure to the failure of Kaffirs to work continuously in the mines. While he works, the Kaffir is a satisfactory laborer, but his period of service is short, averaging about nine months. People unacquainted with the Kaffir have maintained that, by offering a higher wage and better accommodation, better results would be obtained from the native workers, but an increased wage simply aggravates the trouble. The Kaffir's wants are few. While at work Be spends little of his money, and before long has sufficient capital with which to buy wives and become a gentleman of leisure. Doubling the wage of the Kaffir means that he acquires a competency in half the time, so that his period of service is correspondingly reduced. In 1899, before the war, there was always a cry about the scarcity of Kaffir labor. The highest number of natives at work was in July and August, 1899, when nearly 100,000 were employed. At the outbreak of hostilities the Kaffirs were scattered far and near, many doing well during the war by working for the military authorities. On the resumption of mining operations on the Rand a serious mistake was made. Based on past experience, it was argued that if the whole industry decided to start anew with

Jan 1, 1909

By J. R. Sturgul, J. C. Wynn

Computers and computer applications in geophysics are fairly recent innovations. The area of data handling is one that has found many immediate applications. Initially, the use of computers involved in almost all cases, a batch-input arrangement requiring a trip to the local computer center, a wait and another trip. Even though the computer worked at incredible speeds, the time-delays, in case an error in the input data developed, often could be several days. Use of computers in mining exploration by medium-sized or small-sized companies and contractors has been almost non-existent beyond simple data reduction work. The principle J. R. Sturgul, SME member, and J. C. Wynn, both affiliated with the Dept. of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, presented this paper at the Eleventh International Symposium on Computer Applications in the Minerals Industry, reasons appear to be the time factor and the inconvenience of the frequent trips involved. With the advent of time sharing systems, whereby a company need only have access to a terminal, the main objections can be overcome. An Apparent Solution An apparent solution to the time and distance inconveniences which would permit more extensive use of computers in geophysical exploration, is to buy or lease/purchase a medium-sized computer and install it in or near one's office. This is a formidable proposition in terms of cost and programming time on both respects, but several mining companies of larger size have already gone this route. In most cases, the computers have been expensive devices with a limited memory or core size. For routine data handling this memory size is not restrictive; however, for many geophysical applications such as three-dimensional modeling this can be critical.

Jan 10, 1973

J. L. JONES,* Pittsburgh, Pa.-If a nickel anode is cast under commer-cial conditions, will it contain nickel oxide? Will the nickel oxide affect the rate of corrosion in a double sulfate solution; or will the nickel oxide dissolve in a double sulfate solution? I would also like to ask whether a 98 per cent. pure nickel anode will corrode as fast as a 96 per cent. nickel anode; whether electrolytic nickel will corrode less rapidly than nickel containing a small amount of carbon; and whether the materials some-times used in coating molds for casting nickel anodes will affect the rate of corrosion of the anode? In other words, whether an electrically non conducting coating is likely to be present that will prevent the nickel anode from corroding rapidly. JOHN F. THOMPSON.-The nickel oxide will not dissolve in the double sulfate solution, as far as we know. We do not make the ordinary nickel anode of commerce, but we supply nickel to the nickel anode makers. Those makers almost invariably buy a high-carbon nickel shot, ranging around 0.45 per cent. carbon. In their process, they even further, car-burize it so as to get nickel that will melt easily and be fluid enough to fill the mold, so that the ordinary cast anode on the market is unquestion-ably oxide free. The only time that such an anode will have oxide will be through an error in melting. Some cupola makers of anodes have had trouble with oxidation, but as a rule the anodes are thoroughly carburized; so much so that they probably carry a couple of per cent. of carbon of which around. 1.6 per cent. is graphite.

Jan 12, 1919

By B. T., Colley

AS always when metallurgical operations are conducted within or close to agricultural and stock-raising regions, the question of damage due to fume and smoke presented itself when the Cerro de Pasco Copper Corporation's new smelter commenced to operate in La Oroya in 1922, For more than twenty years the Corporation had operated its old plant close to Cerro de Pasco without encountering difficulties from smoke claims, owing to the fact that it was in an open plain where more or less constant air currents carried and dissipated the smoke over large areas, affording ample dilution. But Oroya is in a deep canyon formed by four contributing valleys up and down which the smoke travels for long distances in a more or less concentrated form. Though the altitude of Oroya is more than 12,000 ft., and the surrounding country rises to much greater elevations, nevertheless there exists there a large and important stock-raising industry and also a considerable development in agriculture, consisting of the cultivation of potatoes, barley, etc.

Jan 1, 1945

By L. C. Graton

At the Tenth International Geological Congress, Mexico, 1906, Waldemar Lindgren presented "The Relation of Ore Deposition to Physical Conditions." Retrospect ranks it as the outstanding offering at that Session and as the most fundamental contribution up to that date on the philosophy of ore deposition. Elaborating thereon in his text-book "Mineral Deposits," Lindgren analyzed ore-forming processes under conditions prevailing from great depth up to surface; explained the nature of deposition in each environment; and developed a comprehensive genetic ore classification, which brought wide acceptance and enriching contributions by many. Since Lindgren's latest edition (1933), have come wealths of material relevant to ore genesis, particularly through amazing renaissance and proliferation throughout science. Current publication regarding ores now emanates largely from a generation caught in pressures of the breathless modern tempo, which tempts scant reflection upon earlier truths. Consequently, today's thrilling output contains not a few offerings that need challenge because supplanting interrelationship and system by what seems, collectively, an assemblage of strange, ad hoc and often self-contradictory concepts. From these latter some merit may eventuate but at the probable cost of present confusion and delayed progress. The following pages, naming numerous post-Lindgren advances, record the conviction, held by many, that Lindgren's philosophy, progressively improved, remains the soundest approach to understanding ore genesis.

Jan 1, 1968

By John A. Church

Jan 1, 1903

By James Gayley

(Wilkes-Barre Meeting, June, 1911.) THE paper presented to the Institute in 1910, by H. 0. Hofman, on Recent Progress in Blast Roasting,1 has called the attention of the iron industry to the adaptability of these processes to the reclamation of by-products such as flue-dust and blue billy, and the better preparation of concentrates and fine ores for use in blast-furnaces. The waste of valuable iron-ore through the production of flue-dust has increased at an enormous rate, and much of it has in reality been wasted as far as future recovery is concerned. Only in recent years has a possible future value been recognized, and the material stored. The increased use of Mesabi ores, which carry considerable fine ore, is principally responsible for the great increase in the production of flue-dust. The amount of fine material that is carried over depends on the fineness of the material and the velocity of the gases, and also to a very great extent on the regularity or irregularity of the working of the furnace. Attempts to recover a part of this loss have been made by recharging a portion of the production into the furnace, but as this material has been once carried out from the furnace, it is naturally in good shape to be carried out again. A recent practice at some works, is to soak the flue-dust thoroughly with water to give it more cohesiveness, but by many this is considered of doubtful advantage in the furnace, and the gases are in consequence heavily laden with moisture. There are vast deposits of magnetic iron-ores in the United States and Canada that are too low in iron for use at the present time, but which can be economically concentrated into very rich material ; in many cases the fineness of crushing necessary to secure proper concentration has prevented their

Aug 1, 1911

The Institute is one of the five national societies that joined in organizing the Congress, the others being the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. Each society has pledged from its general funds or some special fund a certain sum to guarantee the success of the Congress. To this the engineers resident on the Pacific Coast added $13,000, the total guarantee fund amounting to $37,000. It is hoped that this money, iii part or in whole, can be repaid to the guarantors of the Congress. The sums necessary to conduct the latter and to publish the proceedings, are to be derived from membership fees paid equally by all participating. A member of the Institute as such is not a member of the Congress and will not receive any of the publications of the latter. He is eligible to become a member of the Congress and it is hoped that he will do so. The membership fee is $5, and this entitles one to receive the introductory volume of the Congress containing the proceedings; a digest of the other volumes and a general index. It also entitles the member to one other volume of the transactions, to be chosen as he will. For moderate sums he can buy additional volumes, the whole set costing delivered, $30 or less. On Jan. 12 the total membership was 2,350, of which only 290 were recorded as mining engineers. Full details regarding the Congress have been sent to every member of the Institute, and the failure of the members to take a more active interest in the matter is believed to be due to some misunderstanding of the situation.

Jan 4, 1915

By S. H. Ash

IN no part of the world other than a small area in Pennsylvania is anthracite mining an industry of major magnitude. As the deposits of anthracite in the United States are limited virtually to Pennsylvania, the difficulties of this industry have been commonly considered a state rather than a national problem. However, there is also national interest in the conservation and wise utilization of all the country's fuel resources and in the control of interstate waterways. The anthracite industry is confronted with a serious problem of water accumulation in many of the mines, a problem that must be solved in the near future if progressively higher mining costs are to be avoided. It cannot be solved by the operating companies without state or Federal aid, or both, owing to the magnitude of the work required, the diversity of interests of the coal and surface ownerships, the hazard to the whole mining community, and interests affected outside the mining region. 'The costs of abating the ever-increasing surface seepage to mine workings and of handling this seepage once it has occurred are beyond the eco¬nomic resources of the operating managements.

Jan 1, 1941

AT A MEETING of the Shareholders of the Russo-Asiatic Cons. Ltd., in London, Oct. 23, 1922, LESLIE URQUHART, chairman of the com- pany made the following statement:* I come now to our recent negotiations with the Soviet Government and to the agreement which has resulted from them. You will remember that the conference at The Hague broke up without having achieved anything very definite. It was not, however, a failure. It elicited from M. Litvinoff an offer which will, I think, come to be regarded as a milestone in the progress of Russia from a ruinous and unpracticable Communism towards a modified form of capitalism. The offer made by M. Litvinoff at The Hague amounted in effect to this: that in return for political recognition on our part the Soviet Government would first acknowl-edge its liability for Russia's national foreign debts, and, secondly, would give the original foreign owners of property in Russia effective compensation. A very great advance that. It showed-and there have been many other signs to confirm it-how real and persistent has been the internal evolution of Russia during the past year from Marxism to the economics of the Western world. I will not now detain you with the reasons why M. Litvinoff's highly promising and significant offer came to nothing. The fact that it had been made and the further fact that The Hague Conference had separated indefinitely were the important things. The first fact seemed to indicate that the Soviet rulers, after all, proved to be people with whom one could do business. The second fact rather emphatically showed that the way to do business with them was not by unwieldy poly-glot conferences of ministers, officials and experts representing a few dozen different governments and a few dozen different sets of national interests. That method had been tried at Genoa. It was tried again at The Hague. Each time it failed, and having failed it left the road clear for a simpler and more direct approach.

Jan 12, 1922