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Vol. 6 , NO.3
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
these firms all produce benzol of uniform quality. Distribution of the benzol is performed by some 1100 sale depots scattered through Germany. The price a t which the benzol is sold is fixed, and averages 40 per cent lower than the price of petrol. This being true, the latter can not surely maintain its piesent price much longer, in view of the favorable experiences with benzol for motor use. It is stated that the associated firms referred t o have this year produced 140,000,000 kg. of benzol, the entire quantity being obtained from German coal. The coke ovens are responsible for the greater part, and there are signs of further quantitative progress in the production of coke, which will in time supplement the supply of benzol. DOUBLE SCISSORS CROSSING IN ROLLED MANGANESE STEEL There has recently been constructed a t the works of Edgar Allen & Co., Ltd., Sheffield, England [The Engineer, 1 1 7 (1914), 781 for the Buenos Ayres Great Southern Railway, a layout with remarkable features. It is a double scissors cross-over built up entirely of rolled manganese steel rails, and is claimed to he the largest and most intricate junction ever constructed of this material. The entire layout weighs upwards of IOO tons and is about 145 yards long. The application of rolled manganese steel to railway work is a development of the use t o which this material has been put in the tramway world. Although the initial cost of manganese rolled-steel rails is much higher than that of ordinary steel, the life of the former is much greater than that of the latter, so that the expense and trouble of frequent replacements are avoided. Manganese steel is so tough t h a t it may be bent double while cold without fracture, and yet is so hard that it effectually resists cutting by tools, while its resistance to abrasive wear is remarkably high. Rails of this material have been subjected to very severe tests on one of the London electric railways, and the results under the most trying conditions have shown t h a t the durability is far greater than that of other kinds of rails previously used in similar situations. The layout comprises eight sets of 18 f t . switches, four sets of 12 ft. slip switches, twenty acute crossings and closure rails, forming eight turnouts and eight diamonds, two of which have slip roads; the whole when connected with the closure rails forms a complete double scissors cross-over. ANCIENT NORSE IRON NAILS A report in Chem. Ztg., 37 (1913), 1599 of the PolytekniskForenings Kemikergruppe, Kristiana, on chemical methods adapted to preserving wood antiquities, makes the following statement about nails inaViking ship: “While the original old iron nails with which the wooden parts of the ship are held together have remained bright and untarnished, several new ones which had to be used in assembling the vessel have already rusted. The cause of the great durability of the old iron, proof of which is also given by the fully preserved anchor, will he investigated by a special commission.’’ I n connection with this investigation, C. Hugo reports in Clzem. Ztg., Chem.-Tech. Rep., 37 (1914), 13 t h a t a great iron kettle from the Norwegian iron works a t Lesjeskogen, which were in operation between the years 1652 and 1812, was used by him and others in t h a t place in 1886 and following years as a wash kettle, and although it stood in the open and was often left full of water, i t remained completely free from rust as did the clothes washed in i t . There are probably still in Romsdalen large quantities of the ore used in these works. [Teknisk. Ufehlad, 1913, NO. 2 0 , p. 200.1 RUBBER STATISTICS The Chemiker Zeitung, 38 (1914), 96 gives some interesting statistics of rubber production on the Island of Java and out-
lying possessions; after a summing up of the general situation, the following figures appear, the amounts being given in metric tons : TOTAL EXPORTS O F RUBBER FROM
To
1910 Holland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 E n g l a n d . ,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Belgium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Remainder of E u r o p e . . . . . . . . . . 6 United S t a t e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Singapore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Other countries.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Totals.. . EXPORTS
-
71
360
Holland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . England. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . France. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Penang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Singapore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other countries.. . . . . . . . . Totals. . . . . . . . . . . .
TOTALWORLD
1910 45 17
~
1322
1911
70 185 471 1859 4
~
2651
.. 91 15 1176 IOi4 13 ~
1847
PRODUCTION OF
88,000
260 108
2
-
1911
1912
63 22 9 21 56 479 1195
..
Brazil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 9 , 0 0 0 West A f r i c a . . . . . . . . . . . 15,000 g a s t Africa., . . . . . . . . . . . 5,300 2,500 Central America. . . . . . Plantation r u b b e r . . . . . . . 14,200 Guayule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 , 2 0 0 Djelutong. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 , 8 0 0 Totals
1912 794 433 63 10 9 3 10
F R O M THE OUTLYIWC POSSESSIONS
To
From
-
.................. OF RUBBER
JAVA
1911 181 99 15 6 22 25 12
RUBBER 1912
2737
1913
40,500 13,800 4,000 2,500 28,500 7,000 2,700
40,000 13,800 4,000 2,500 38,000 7,000 2,700
99,000
108,000
__
THE CHEMIST IN BRAZIL According to Chem. Zlg., 38 (1914), 57, only the simplest chemical products are manufactured in Brazil. There are many successful pharmacists but few chemists. The local technical schools are only beginning to teach chemistry and the Brazilian5 know almost nothing of professional chemists. The chemist is generally expected to know all trades and arts. Wages are fairly high hut are consumed by high livi- expenses, doctor’s hills, etc. The climate is unhealthy and dangerous to many. sanitary conditions are generally poor. Chemists are urged to investigate the financial standing of firms offering positions and to insist on written contracts, as well as a giiarantee or salary paid in advance. These precautions are necessary on account of the uncertain legal conditions in Brazil. Many chemists have gone to Brazil only to find their company already dissolved or bankrupt. Yet Brazilians are very generous when successful and in many instances have been known t o give bonuses far in excess of regular salaries. A knowledge of Portuguese is necessary, though the educated population speaks French. German is used a little in the South but is nowhere popular. Sulfuric acid is manufactured a t Sao Paulo, by the chamber process, from Korth American sulfur but competition is very severe on account of the cheapness of the imported acid. The brewery industry is chiefly in the hands of Germans. The light products are most successful, but the price is high18 to 20 cents per pint The large quantities of banana leaves, palms, etc., available would support a first-class industry in cellulose products but none exists as yet, Textiles are chiefly cotton and though the industry flourishes there are still many technical difficulties to be overcome. Glass and matches are made in many sections of the country. The brick and artificial stane industries are developed to some extent, but very little is done in the earthen-
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