Feb., 1912
T H E JOGRLY.1L OF I - Y D L - S T R I A L A N D Ei\;GIA\TEERIl\;G
served fact that the reaction betv een ethyl alcohol and mercuric nitrate, even when wcll acidified Tvith nitric acid, did not proceed, except when nitrogen oxides were present, or until they had been formed, suggested that the first step in the reaction consisted in the conversion of the alcohols into aldehydes, and t h a t then and only then were the fulminates formed. This suggested the substitution of aldehydes for alcohols and on using them, beginning with acetaldehyde, as the parent substances i t was found t h a t not only vere fulminic acid and substituted fulminic acids produced but t h a t the reactions ran on much more smoothly and completely As I have said these operations mere conducted in a desultory may and continued 01-er a term of many years, for m y duties have been numerous and exacting and they have continually encroached on my efforts to conduct researches Fortunately I have now an accomplished student, trained in this field, who appreciates the problem and has entered on its solution and I hope soon that we may present a fuller statement and a more complete record of these interesting reactions and the results t h a t follow from them. GEORGEWASHINGTOX UNIVEKSITP, December. 191 I
CHElWISTRY.
CLAY PRODU.CTS I N 1910. The products of the clay-working industries in the United States-brick, tile, pottery, etc.-reached in 1910 the largest value ever attained, the total being $170, I 15,974, compared 11-ith $166,321,213 in 1909. These figures are presented by Jefferson Middleton, of the United States Geological Survey, in an advance chapter from “Mineral Resources” for 1910“Clay-n‘orking Industries. ” I n the brick and tile industry building brick of all kinds except fancy or ornamental declined in value, while drain tile, sewer pipe, architectural terra cotta, fireproofing, stove lining, and fire-brick showed gains. In the pottery industry every item increased in 1910 except stoneware and yellow and Rockingham ware, which showed a loss of about $zoo,ooo. The following are the ten States with highest recorded production for 1910: State.
Brick and tile.
Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . : . . . . . . . . $17,231,236 Pennsylvania.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,814,355 Xew Jersey..
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Illinois. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kern. Y o r k . . .
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Indiana.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Missouri
TUNGSTEN PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1911. There was a sharp falling off in the production of tungsten ores in 1911, owing to the decrease in the market for tool steels, in which the bulk of the tungsten is used. According to preliminary figures collected by Frank L. Hess, of the United States Geological Survey, about 1,125 short tons of concentrates carrying 60 per cent. tungsten trioxide were produced and shipped during the year, which is less than two-thirds of the output for 1910, when 1,821 tons were marketed. The prices for the year ranged from 64.50 to $8.50 per unit, depending on quantity, quality, and individual bargaining. A t the close of the year $5.00 per unit was offered. The unit is twenty pounds of tungsten trioxide per short ton of ore. As usual the Boulder County (Colorado) field gave the largest returns, 740 tons, and the A4tolia (California) deposits the second largest. Smaller amounts were produced in .4rizona, Nevada, Idaho, and lh’ashington. The ore mined in Boulder County is ferberite (irort tungstate), which is not obtained in large quantity at any other place in the world. I n spite of the poor market several new companies were formed t o mine ore in the Boulder field and commenced operations during the year. Two companies profitably worked over tailings left from former operations. A considerable quantity of the ore mined both in this and in other fields
