Sept., 1914
T H E J O I ‘ R N A L O F I N D L’STRIAL A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y
put, special automatic apparatus is now being installed in several laboratories. Empty bottles are conveyed to weighing device where each bottle is held until prescribed amount is placed in container and while in this position a shaking process takes place also which settles material into bottle, when same is released and passes down to corking table for stopper. h’et weight discharges are placed in bottles at the rate of 2 5 per minute. These methods insure a strictly sanitary output. The lay-out as shown is furnished by the Automatic IVeighirig hrachine Company, Kewark, N. J.
DECREASED ACTIVITY I N ENGLISH SHIPBUILDING It is interesting to note, in connection with industrial conditions in England, t h a t a falling off of activity in ship building is reported. Engimwiiig (London) gives the following statistics [98 (1914), 941 taken from Lloyd’s returns, just issued: Including merchant and war ships, there are in course of construction at the present time 567 vessels, aggregating 2,314,669 tons. This is 8.8 per cent less than a t the same date last year, notwithstanding t h a t there is an increase in the number of warships now being built. The figures of work now in progress, with those of a year ago, are given in the accompanying table:
----
J u l y , 19 I4
KO. Merchant ships., . . . . . . . . 47i H. M. S. ( p r i v a t e y a r d s ) , . 60 Foreign w a r s h i p s ( p r i v a t e y a r d s ) . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . 16
H. M. S. ( d o c k y a r d s ) . . . , .
,
Tons 1,i22,124 306,030 152,145
Increase or decrease P e r cent 2 , 0 0 3 , 2 4 1 -14 2 7 3 , 1 4 9 +12
July, ---No. Tons
1913
543 57 1;
14 134.370 -~ ___
-
129,300 f 1 7 . 6 ____ __ 2,405,690 - 9 . 4 132,190 + 1 . 5 __
,567
631
2,537,880
--
___ -
553
2,180,299 2,314,669
617 14
-8
8
AMERICAN RAILROADS The railroads of the United States, with annual traffic revenues exceeding $IOO.OOO, comprised 242,657 miles of line last year, as compared with 238,220 miles in 1912 according t o figures in Engineering (London), 98 (1914), 123. The trzffic receipts in 1913 were $3, I 25,13j.oooascompared with S2,826,958,000 in I 912. The working expenses in 1913 were $2,169,968,000, as compared with $ 1 , ~ j ~ , o g 4 , 0 0 o1912. in Thenumber of passengerscarriedlast year was 1,033,679,000, as compared with 994,372,000 in 1912. The quantity of freight carried was 2,058,035,000 tons, as compared with 1,818,79j,000t.ons. The number of locomotives owned was 63,375, as compared with 61,276; and the number of cars was 2,445,508, as compared with 2,368,942. The aggregate number of persons employed upon the lines last year was 1,81j,239, as compared with 1,799,931. The average rate of dividend last year upon outstanding stocks was 4.28 per cent.
STEAM POWER USED FOR GENERATION O F ELECTRIC CURRENT I N PRUSSIA According to recent statistics, there were employed for the generation of electric current in Prussia steam engines, portable and stationary, with a capacity of 1,410,000 horse-power, and steam turbines used for the same purpose of 1,160,000 horsepower. As the total registered capacity of steam turbines amounts to 1,240,000horse-power, it will appear t h a t 95 per cent of the aggregate is used in the generation of electric: energy. Altogether, 2,570,000 horse-power of steam power are thus employed in the generating of electricity, and although it is a very substantial figure, it must be looked upon as minimum, inasmuch as many steam engines used for this purpose are not included in the record. [Eizgineeriizg (London), 98 (1914), 44. ] In addition to the above, i t must be remembered t h a t a vast number of gas and oil engines are used for the same purpose, in addition
781
t o water power; but of these there is no record. The largest total capacity of steam power used for generation of electric current is in the Arnsberg district with 389,898 horse-power, and the Diisseldorf district with a n aggregate of 419,051 horsepower. Berlin-Potsdam comes next with 375,889 horse-power.
DIESEL ENGINES IN T H E ITALIAN NAVY The continuously increasing use of internal combustion engines of the Diesel type is shown by the news, appearing in the Zeitschr. d . Veerein deutscher Ing., 58 (1914), 1187, that the new Italian battleship “Cristofero Colombo” is t o have its amidships propeller driven by such an engine. This vessel has 26,000 tons displacement and is fitted with eight heavy guns in four turrets and sixteen smaller guns. She has three screws, one of which, as mentioned, is to be driven by a Diesel engine and is to be used for cruising; the other two are to be driven by Parsons turbines. Oil fuel exclusively is to be used. The speed will be twenty-five knots.
Two small torpedo boats of 1 2 0 tons each are also being built t o be driven by Diesel engines of 2,900 horse-power. They are expected to develop 32 knots CALCIUM CARBIDE, CYANAMIDE AND NITRATE According to a French authority quoted by the American Muchinisf, the world’s output of calcium carbide last year exceeded 3j0,ooo metric tons. The autogenous welding of metals 2 2 , 0 0 0 tons being consumed requires a large quantity-about for this purpose in Germany, as compared with ~ 8 , 0 0 0 tons for illuminating. The price for calcium carbide in Europe was maintained a t about $55 per ton. The production and price are regulated by a Syndicate, which at the end of 1913 was renewed for another term. The production of calcium cyanamide in 1913 was over 150,000 tons. The Odda works in Sweden have a plant capable of making 90,000 tons per annum. The production of calcium nitrate in Europe is between IOO,OOO and IZO,OOO metric tons. MINERAL-WATER PRODUCTION I N IgIZ Although nearly 58,000,ooo gallons of mineral water were bottled and sold in 1913, valued a t over $5,600,000, these figures represent a decrease of 7 per cent in quantity and 15 per cent in value compared with 1912. The decrease in production of mineral waters, which began in 1911, is believed by R. B. Dole, of the United States Geological Survey, to be traceable to the decrease in demand for bottled spring waters consequent on improvements in municipal waterworks. Detailed examination of the statistics for the last few years shows t h a t the installation of municipal purification plants in several large cities has been followed by a marked decrease in the sale of spring waters in the immediate vicinity, and doubtless improvement in the quality of water supplies in smaller municipalities throughout the country has similarly affected the mineral-water business and has contributed to the present lowered production. There is also a tendency toward a lower price, which is caused by decreased sales of high-priced medicinal waters and increased sales of low-priced table waters. The general tendency toward a decline in price is doubtless due t o the demand for good, pure, potable bottled waters a t moderate cost in place of the former demand for waters reputed to possess exceptional curative properties and therefore commanding fancy prices. The radioactivity of mineral waters has attracted so much popular attention during the last few years t h a t the Geological Survey’s report on mineral waters this year includes a brief discussion by Mr. Dole on the therapeutic value of radioactive waters and the radioactive strength of many well-known springs.
