constantly adding to the knowledge of the proper utilization of gas in domestic as well as industrial appliances. Many universities are also working on this most important problem. The Consolidated Gas Electric Light and Power Company of Baltimore recently established a Research Department, and has men engaged a t the present time on different problems of research in the fields of production, purification, and by-product recovery, as well as utilization. Among the important problems which are of interest to the gas industry are the following: 1. The synthesis of motor fuels and alcohols from water gas. 2. The catalytic enrichment of blue gas. 3. Studies for the improvement of present methods, or the development of new methods for removing hydrogen sulfide from gas with subsequent recovery of the sulfur as a by-product. 4. The removal of organic sulfur compounds from the gas. 5. The removal of the constituents of gas which accelerate corrosion, such as cyanogen, oxygen, and water vapor. 6. Processing of coke oven gas to recover a greater percentage of valuable constituents. 7. Treatment of bituminous coal to recover the volatile matter as gas prior to burning the residue under boilers. In addition to the above, there are many other production and utilization problems that are continually demanding the attention of the gas men. The entire manufactured " pas industrv realizes the im~ortanceof research to effecteconomies in production and increase the utilization of its product, To this end the national association, as well as the individual companies, is placing an increasing load on the research departments.
Future World's Metal Supply Doubtful. The world's metal supplies in the rocks of the earth are showing signs of failing and experts are worried over whether the most efficient applications of science and technology can keep pace with the demands of coming generations, according t o D. F. Hewett, geologist of the U. S. Geological Survey. The European trend toward cartels and understandings t o control such metals as iron and steel, mercury, aluminum, zinc, lead, and copper has arisen from the unspoken realization that Europe's metal production has taken a downward tendency. I n America vast resources of iron, copper, lead, zinc, silver, and gold have been - attacked so vigorously that many leading districts are approaching exhaustion, and metal production is being maintained by the application of new metallurfical processes to lower grade ores. American mining operations are deepening shafts a t a rate two t o four times as fast as those of Europe, Mr. Hewett observed. If we are willing t o pay the price in fuel, power, and labor, enough iron, manganese, aluminum, and gold can be produced, Mr. Hewett indicated; but mercury, lead, and chromium are less Likely to he produced in sufficient quantities for future generatias even if the price is increased to stimulate the supply.-Science Service
