Crocidolite-the blue ferrous silicate hornblende, known in industry as " Cape Blue " -is a mineral peculiar to the Union and occurs in the Cape Colony in the geological horizon known in the nomenclature of the Geological Commission of the Cape of Good Hope as the Lower Griquatown Beds, and in the Transvaal in the base of the equivalent horizon known as the Pretoria Series of the Transvaal Geological Survey. The mineral is found so far south as Keikams Poort, 30 miles south of Prieska, and so far north-east as Malips Drift in the Pietersburg District of the Transvaal. The lineal extension is in the Cape of Good Hope and Bechuanaland, thus some 300 miles, and throughout that distance it can probably be found anywhere, though not necessarily in payable quantity or of sufficient fibre length to warrant exploitation.

The mineral is possessed of many excellent properties and has found a place in industry from which it will not readily be displaced, and because of its distribution on so generous a scale the production of it is capable of expansion on a greater scale than is now the case. It is mined and dressed to-day by primitive methods by "small" mine owners, except for the Cape Asbestos Company, which works on more highly organised lines.

Blue asbestos is a good non-conductor and resists high temperatures. It is free from any material, organic or otherwise, that might react upon the surface of boilers, steam pipes, etc., under the influence of heat, moisture, or other conditions.

in

It is resilient and elastic and retains the shape into which it is manufactured definitely.

It is possessed of high tensile strength and is very durable, being able to withstand an enormous amount of wear and tear rendering it eapable of outlasting, for instance, the boiler which it has covered.

It is the lightest of all incombustible and rot-proof non-conductors of heat, so that an equal weight of blue asbestos will cover twice the area that white does with the same effect. Being light, coverings made from it are easily fitted or removed for inspection without damage, but with all its lightness it Its rot-proof is, nevertheless, stronger. property makes it particularly desirable for brattice cloth or where there are insects, as they will not touch it.

It can also be manufactured into yarn of great tensile strength and durability, complete mattresses of blue asbestos stuffing, sewing and all, can therefore, be made for boiler and other purposes.

Its high non-conductivity of heat makes it a most desirable insulating materfal for cold storage purposes, while its non-conductivity of electricity makes its use desirable in the electrical industry.

In its resistance to the effects of acids, alkalis, chemical solutions, and sea-water, it is incomparably superior to white asbestos. It therefore makes an excellent filter fibre for acids, water, and breweries, in that is lasts longer, gives clearer products, and because of its durability filters made from it can be cleaned.

Packings for marine pumps and other machinery which come in contact with sea water are almost exclusively made from blue asbestos.

(To be Continued.)

GENERAL NOTES.

AUSTRIA.

ACCELERATED ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

The last twelve months have shown a distinct quickening in the pace of Austria's recovery, writes Mr. O. S. Phillpotts, O.B.E., British Commercial Secretary at Vienna, in his Report on conditions in Austria. Hitherto the improvement has been chiefly noticeable in the State finances, and was accompanied by a considerable measure of industrial stagnation following on the stabilisation of the currency in 1922. Since the summer of 1926 there have been symptoms of a change for the better, and these have become much more marked during recent months.

The reports of the Austrian Institut fuer Konjunkturforschung (which was recently founded to study economic conditions on the lines developed in America) indicate that, apart from the crisis caused by the necessity of adapting herself to the changed post-war conditions, Austria has been passing through the depression of an ordinary trade cycle. Of late the usual signs (the relations of the curves of share values, prices of goods and money rates) suggest that the country is now on the ascending

curve.

one-third million dollars over the previous year's record total of $240,437,123.

New output records were established last year in gold, copper, lead, zinc, cement, gypsum and lime and in the value of natural gas and petroleum. Increased production, in comparison with the totals for 1926, was noted in the outputs of arsenic, cobalt, copper, gold, lead, nickel, platinum metals, zinc, coal, natural gas, petroleum, gypsum, pyrites, quartz, clay products, cement, lime, stone, sand and gravel.

BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR CANADIAN MINING INDUSTRY.

"Looking backward over the year just closed, the student must be impressed with the magnificent progress made by the mining industry of the Dominion. Never before has the outlook for the future appeared brighter. In the light of the advances made during the past two years, and considering particularly the extent to which preparatory work was done in so many fields during the past twelve months, he would be a pessimist indeed who could not see a brilliant future immediately ahead in Canada's mining industry.

WHOLESALE PRICES IN FRANCE, GERMANY, BELGIUM AND ITALY.

The index numbers of wholesale prices in November, with the exception of that for France, show no important change from October. The French index number after having dropped each month since March advanced 1.2 per cent. in November from the October figure. The indices for Belgium and Italy declined 0.1 and 0.6 per cent. respectively, while that for Germany advanced 0.2 per cent.

CANADIAN MINERAL PRODUCTION. LARGE INCREASE IN 1927. Confirming the statement cabled by Reuter on December 30, the High Commissioner for Canada in London, is informed by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics at Ottawa that a new high record for mineral production in Canada was set in 1927, when the value of the output reached $241,733,000, marking a gain of one and

THE WORLD'S LARGEST HIGH-
PRESSURE INDUSTRIAL STEAM
PLANT.

A BRITISH ACHIEVEMENT.

All who are concerned with the progress of British engineering will be interested in the steam-raising plant now being constructed for Synthetic Ammonia & Nitrates Ltd., Stockton-on-Tees. This extension to the firm's plant will be the largest highpressure plant in the world as an industrial unit, and it will be designed and constructed throughout by International Combustion Ltd. Every detail of the plant will be manufactured in this country.

America, which previously held the premier place in the construction of large pulverised fuel plants, has now had to yield this position to the achievements of British engineers.

In view of the oft-expressed opinions of Sir Alfred Mond that this country must definitely take the lead in matters of Fuel Research, Utilisation and Conservation, it is gratifying to know that the policy laid down in these words has so rapidly been fulfilled.

The fact that this extension, like others recently made, is to be constructed on the "Lopulco "system of pulverised fuel firing, is a direct recognition of the high economic value of pulverised fuel, and also of steam pressures much higher than previously used. The pressure to be employed in the Synthetic Ammonia and Nitrates installation is 800 lbs. per square inch, which, with the exception of the Milwaukee (U.S.A.) undertaking, where one boiler operates at 1.300 lbs. pressure, is the highest yet employed.

In

Considerable reluctance has been shown in regard to adopting pressures higher than from three to four hundred pounds. Germany the highest pressure employed so far, has been 495 lbs., and the highest figure among American plants, apart from that already mentioned, was the Crawford Station, where 675 ibs. pressure is adopted.

It is interesting to note that the whole of these high pressure plants are associated with the use of pulverised fuel firing, a system which has made it possible to employ a plant on such lines as will provide the greatest economy in steam-raising. The plant at which previously the highest pressure was employed in this country is that of the Leeds Corporation new electricity extension, the boilers working there at 450 lbs. pressure. This contract also was placed in the hands of International Combustion Ltd.

DETAILS OF THE NEW PLANT.

In the new plant for Synthetic Ammonia and Nitrates Ltd., each of the six boilers capacity of 269,000 lbs. maximum evaporation, the final temperature being at the high figure of 840° F. The design of the pulverised fuel plant will be on the Bin and Feeder principle, every wall of the combustion chamber being entirely water-cooled. The new type of "R" burner recently evolved by International Combustion Ltd., will be embodied, the advantages of this being that it will effect a considerable reduction in the size of the combustion chamber, and the second is that it will obviate any possible segregation of the fuel. The Raymond Mills, which will be installed for grinding coal, are to be designed on the closed system. No dryers are to be employed, the drying of the coal being effected in the mill circuit. The plant for handling coal will be on a larger scale than has yet been adopted, and will have a capacity of 3,800 tons per day. For ash sluicing, the "Usco "system will be used. The volume of steam to be dealt with from this plant every 24 hours will amount to 11,700 tons,

this being passed through high-pressure turbines for the production of electricity.

FIRST SMOKELESS SPA.

Following a recent suggestion that a Smoke Abatement Society should be formed for Harrogate, with the object of making it the first smokeless spa, efforts are now being made to popularise the use in the town of the residual smokeless fuel of low temperature carbonisation, which is now being successfully produced in Yorkshire.

During the past few days, there has been a remarkable demand for coalite, and the principal hotels, the Royal Bath Hospital, the Medical Officer of Health and wellknown local doctors, and the local Education Committee are now experimentally using the smokeles residual fuel for the purposes of heating. The results of the tests are expected to have an important bearing on the demand for the product of the new industry.

SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BITUMINOUS COAL. CARNEGIE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, U.S.A.

November 19 to 24, 1928.

The Carnegie Institute of Technology announces a Second International Conference on Bituminous Coal to be held at Pittsburgh, U.S.A., November 19 to 24.

The purpose of the Congress is similar to the one held in 1926 by the Carnegie Institute of Technology; to present the results of recent studies of coal that have to do with improved methods of utilization and combustion. The programme will include the discussion of the fixation of nitrogen, the manufacture of substitutes for gasoline from coal, complete gasification of coal, high temperature distillation, low temperature distillation, coal tar products, power, smokeless fuel, etc.

An invitation is extended to scientists of all countries to take part in this Conference. The President if the Carnegie Institute of Technology, Thomas S. Baker, will visit some of the principal cities of Europe during the months of March and April, 1928, to confer with fuel technologists who may consider the possibility of presenting papers of taking part in the Congress in any other way. President Baker's address after February 25, will be care of the Guaranty Trust Company, 1, rue des Italiens, Paris, where he will be glad to receive correspondence in regard to the meeting.

The Advisory Board of the Conference includes the following American men of affairs-Mr. John Hays Hammond, Mr. E. M. Herr, Mr. Samuel Insull, Mr. Frank B. Jewett, Mr. Otto H. Kahn, Mr. George E. Learnard, Mr. A. W. Mellon, Mr. Auguste G. Pratt, Mr. Charles M. Schwab.

A more detailed statement will be issued later concerning the Congress and will be sent to foreign governments, scientific and industrial organisations and to individuals who are interested in fuel technology.

DEPARTMENT OF OVERSEAS TRADE.

The Commercial Secretary at Cairo reports that the Department of Public Health, Cairo, is inviting tenders for supplies for the year commencing 1 may, 1928 to end 30 April, 1929, as follows:(a) Proprietary Articles.

(b) Sundries (including bottles and jars, filter paper, medical soaps, etc.) (c) Dressings.

(d) Drugs and Chemicals.

(e) Galenicals and packed articles. Tenders will be received by the Director of Stores, Department of Public Health, Cairo, up to noon on the 29 March, 1928. United Kingdom firms desirious of receiving further particulars of this call for tenders should apply to the Department of Ooversease Trade, 35, Old Queen Street, London, S.W.1. Reference B.X., 4172 should be quoted.

99 FOR

PROBLEM OF KEEPING WARM. NATURE'S" MARVELLOUS MECHANISM REGULATING BODY HEAT. Some interesting facts regarding the methods by which the human body is kept warm were given on January 18, in a paper before the Royal Society of Arts by Mr. A. H. Barker, B.Sc., M.I.E.E., lecturer on Heating and Ventilation to the University College, London.

According to Mr. Barker, the human being is kept warm not from without but essentially from within; by chemical processes proceeding in the interior of the body, which furnish a continual supply heat derived from the combustion of the food substances. To prevent the accumulation of such heat, it is necessary that it shall be removed as fast as it is generated-no faster and no slower.

One of the most marvellous mechanisms in the whole of Nature, said Mr. Barker, was the method of thermostatic self-regulation,

by which the balance of heat was maintained. The perfection of the process was secured when the person concerned was unconscious of any discomfort or variation of condition.

Dealing with the different methods of external heating, the lecturer stated that the sensation of cold could be avoided in two ways, (1) by raising the air temperature around the body to a suitable degree; and (2) by allowing radiation from warm objects to impinge on the body, the air temperature being at a much lower degree than this. The difference in effect between the two processes was very great. The warming of th air produced an indefinable feeling of stuffiness, while the person heated by radiation in cool air felt warm and fresh.

"For countless years," said Mr. Barker, "methods of heating by incandescent radiation have been in use, of which the oldest is the old open coal fire.

"This method, many as are its advantages, is, of course, about the crudest and most extravagant that could easily be conceived. Functionally, it consists in using up the energy of the sun, which has been distributed over the earth ages ago and has been chemically absorbed. Early discoverers found this deposit of concentrated energy in the earth in the form of wood and coal, and found that by setting it alight they could release its energy again and use a small fraction of it. No considerations of economy in its use entered their heads.

"This open fire process has been improved in efficiency, convenience and economy, by extracting from the solid fuel a gas of which the advantages are that it is readily carried to the point where it is to be burnt, that its combustion leaves no solid residue, and that the rate of combustion can be regulated by a tap. There are very great advantages. Functionally, the effect of a gas fire is identical with what has already been described. There is no difference between the physical effct of a coal and a gas fire properly fitted with a suitable flue. The idea that a gas fire provides drier radiant heat than a coal fire is merely absurd."

fits into a higher homologue of oleic acid series. The present paper treats of the author's experiments on the constitution of the acid. Firstly, the hydrogenated selacholeic acid (the author's" isoselachoceric acid "), C2H4O2, m.p. 83.5° C., was compared with synthetically prepared n-tetracosanic acid, m.p. 84° C. The mixture of equal parts of these acids melted at 83.8° C. without showing depression; so the straight C-chain structure of selacholeic acid has been confirmed. Secondly, the position of ethylenic linkage of the acid was determined by the ozone method. The acid gave the normal ozonide C2HO; on decomposing it with water, nanylic acid C,H,,O2 and tridecan αν dicarboxylic acid (HO,C) (CH) 13 (CO,H), m.p. 113° C. were identified with certainty. The chemical constitution of selacholeic acid has, therefore been confirmed to be

18

WORLD ENGINEERING CONGRESS IN TOKYO, OCTOBER, 1929.

A World Engineering Congress is to be held at Tokyo for two weeks toward the end of October, 1929, under the auspices of the Kogakkai, the Engineering Society of Japan, a body which unites twelve technical societies for the purpose of co-operation and includes the societies relating to mining, iron and steel, civil engineering, architecture, naval architecture, ordnance and explosives, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, illuminating engineering, telephony and telegraphy and industrial chemistry. The participation therein of Governmental department, universities, institutes, associations and individuals collaborating in engineering is invited.

The Congress proposes to discuss various engineering subjects in anticipation eventually to initiate and promote the international co-operation in the study of engineering science and problems in all its branches and to cultivate a feeling of brotherhood among engineers of the world.

More detailed announcements will be issued later. Correspondence and enquiries should be addressed in the meantime to the Kogakkai, Marunouchi Building, Tokyo.

THE BERTHELOT CENTENARY IN TOKYO.

On October 25 a meeting was held in Tokyo for the celebration of the centenary of Marcellin Berthelot. It was attended by many chemists, and among those present were the French Ambassador, Baron Jujita, Baron Sibusawa, and Viscount Ishii. Prof. Sakurai, President of the Imperial Academy, made a speech, and Prof. Matsubara gave an address about the life and work of this great chemist.

THE INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY.

30, Russell Square, London, W.C.1. The Fourth Annual Dance will be held at The Hotel Russel, Russell Square, W.C.1., on Wednesday, 15 February, 1928, at 7.30 for 7.45 p.m.

Frederick Arthur's Dance Band will be in attendance.

Carriages at midnight. Ample garage accommodation is available in the vicinity. Russell Square Tube Station communicates with all parts of London and the Suburbs. Members wishing to spend the night in London should make early application for accommodation to the Manager of the Hotel.

Tickets, 7s. 6d. single, 14s. double, including refreshments), can be obtained from the undersigned. E. H. HUGHES,

Hon. Secretary.

THE CO-PARTNERSHIP PRINCIPLE.

In order to encourage their employees to become shareholders in the company, Imperial Chemical Industries Limited are giving special facilities for doing so. Any employee of one year's standing can invest each year up to 20 per cent. of his wage or salary, and can pay for the shares if necessary by easy instalments. Employees on over five years' standing can invest a larger proportion of their year's remuneration in the shares. The price will be in all cases 2s. 6d. per share less than the market quotation the previous week. Further, the company will arrange to give a bonus of one free share for every four shares subscribed for if the yearly remuneration be £200 or less, or one bonus share for each five shares subscribed for if the remuneration be from £201 to £500 per annum.

Clearly, the company is determined to enable their employees to take a big upward step towards becoming capitalists in a small