New Books a n d Booklets T H E A I R M E N A C E AND THE ANSWER. Elvira K. Fradkin. XVIII -h 331 pages, 22 X 15 c m . T h e Macmillan Co., New York, 1934. Price, $3.00. M R S . FRADKIN is either a very credulous person or one who knows exactly w h a t she w a n t s t o "believe. Consequently, she paints a very gloomy picture of w h a t will h a p p e n t o non-combatants in the next war. As a m a t t e r of fact, if people would o r could keep in t h e houses with t h e windows closed during a poison gas a t tack, the n u m b e r of casualties would b e relatively small. There is n o prospect a t present of poison gas being as dangerous to people in cities as high explosives. Even if one discounts M r s . F r a d k i n ' s tales of horror b y 80 or 90 p e r cent, which would probably n o t be unfair, t h e fact still remains t h a t t h e n e x t war will be worse t h a n a n y t h i n g t h a t t h e world has ever known. A t the m o m e n t t h e knowledge of t h a t fact is one of t h e i m p o r t a n t things in keeping the world out of war. Nobody knows just w h a t m a y or m a y not happen, a n d t h e fate of t h e beaten nations in t h e t w e n t i e t h century will n o t differ much from what it would h a v e been i n t h e time of Genghis K h a n . W e cannot abolish high explosives; we cannot abolish war gases; a n d we cannot abolish airplanes. T h e only feasible thing to d o , as Mrs. F r a d k i n says, is t o abolish war. There are really t w o alternatives, t h o u g h M r s . F r a d k i n recognizes only one. We can form some sort of a League of Nations which will actually prevent war or w e c a n wait until after t h e next world war, wipe o u t t h e offending (defeated) nations, a n d then form some sort of a League of Surviving Nations which will . actually p r e v e n t w a r . I t is quite clear w h a t t h e world should do. I t is probably equally clear w h a t t h e world will d o . W h a t M r s . F r a d k i n is trying to do is worth doing. Whether her method is t h e b e s t possible is of no real importance. She is doing her best t o accomplish t h e result t h a t we all w a n t . Most of t h e rest of us a r e not doing a n y t h i n g a n d a r e refusing to face the facts. F o r some years we believed t h a t prosperity was just round the corner. F o r some years we shall probably believe t h a t the n e x t war will n o t be just round t h e corner for a long time to come a n d t h a t it will not affect us. W I L D E R D . BANCROFT M I N E R A L R E S O U R C E S OF T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S , 1931.
cleanliness a t t h e plant, to enhancing neatness of appearance, t o controlling nuisances and hazards, t o beautifying t h e layout, a n d even t o ways of attracting birds. The final chapter is devoted t o a description of German and English textbooks, the different journals publishing papers in this field, a n d some of t h e more i m p o r t a n t technical publications of the last few years. There is no book in this country which compares with this one. I t wrould b e excellent for short courses given by a number of institutions, provided t h e chapter on control m e t h o d s was exp a n d e d . T h e volume can b e highly recommended t o those who wish t o have a clear-cut, general knowledge of t h e many and different modern methods used in sewage a n d w a s t e t r e a t m e n t , w i t h o u t having t h e time, inclination, o r patience t o study more technical THE
Bach.
2 n d ed.
E N G I N E INDICATOR.
ITS DESIGN,
T H E O R Y , AND S P E C I A L
T H I S book should be valuable to a n y o n e who has occasion t o use indicating devices on engines. I t covers a wide field a n d does so in a n authoritative manner. I t contains m a n y illustrations, m o s t of which a r e excellent, but a few of which would have been t h e b e t t e r for a little less reduction or for t h e removal of t h e m a n y letters, numbers, and reference m a r k s which t h e y bear, b u t which are n o t explained and which do n o t even seem to b e referred t o in t h e text. F o r those who have good library facilities, t h e value of t h e work is enhanced b y t h e m a n y references t o articles in t h e literature a n d b y t h e bibliography of books a n d bulletins on indicators. T h e work would be still more useful t o engineers who have occasion t o employ indicating devices if less space were given t o describing t h e older types of indicators a n d t o discussing t h e t h e o r y of their operation, a n d if more definite instructions concerning t h e use of current indicators were included instead. I t would also be more valuable if a larger number of reproductions of representative indicator cards were included. As a whole t h i s book is a comprehensive but concise a n d useful reference work o n devices for indicating variable pressures. T . A. B O Y D AND E . J. M A R T I N H E R S T E L L U N G TJND MASSEN. B A N D I.
Price,
T H I S volume i s an excellent a n d concise treatise on m o d e r n molding practice. T h e first chapter contains a brief description of cold-molding, followed b y a more extended review of h o t molding, a n d closes with a description of injection-molding. T h e second chapter describes t h e methods used for tableting a n d preforming. T h e third gives t h e more special technic involved in t h e handling of colored molding mixtures, embossing, production of metallic, glossy, or m a t t e finishes, and t h e polishing a n d buffing of t h e completed molded p a r t . Various time-saving accessories, such as loading chases, a i r cleaners, unscrewing devices, etc., are detailed in C h a p t e r 4; a discussion of t h e common molding difficulties with suggestions a s t o how t o avoid t h e m is also included. Methods of heating a n d t e m p e r a t u r e control a r e covered in t h e fifth chapter, while the last describes certain outof-the-ordinary types of molding, such as t h e so-called endless molding for t h e production of long rods a n d tubing, t h e molding of pure resin, production of profiled laminated gears, etc. T h e book is well written. T h e a u t h o r is t o be especially commended for his clear exposition of t h e principles of correct molding. N o t only is this done b y example a n d illustration, b u t t h e fundamental facts regarding t h e behavior of resins u n d e r heat a n d pressure a r e clearly stated. Thus t h e molder learns n o t only how, b u t w h y a n d wherefore. T h e t h r e e other volumes planned will be awaited with interest—namely, Volume 2 describing t h e various types of presses a n d t h e i r operation; Volume 3, special a p p a r a t u s for handling synthetic resin molding mixtures; a n d Volume 4, t h e fabrication of various commercial molding m a t e -
V I I 4- 279
pages, 120 cuts. B . Oldenburg, Munich a n d Berlin, 1934. Price, paper, 9.50 m a r k s ; bound, 11 marks. T H E first edition appeared in 1927 and, although t h e second is considerably enlarged, t h e t y p e of t h e book has remained t h e same. I t fills t h e g a p between highly technical a n d very popular descriptions of sewage a n d waste t r e a t m e n t . I t is primarily written for sewage plant operators, engineers in general charge of plants, industries requiring some knowledge of modern treatment processes, h e a l t h officers charged with general supervision, council m e n a n d sewerage committees wishing t o know something about waste t r e a t m e n t , a n d others interested i n this specific field. Beginning w i t h a description of t h e cycle t h r o u g h which water passes, t h e technic and development of sewage a n d waste t r e a t m e n t are given. I n 34 chapters t h e t h e o r y a n d operation of t r e a t m e n t processes are elucidated b y examples, tables, a n d pictures. A chapter h a s been added dealing with t h e microorganisms i m p o r t a n t in biological t r e a t m e n t processes. This chapter, as well a s all others, has been written to present t h e material in a form a s little technical a s possible. The m a n y pictures a n d cuts give t h e reader a comprehensive view of t h e different methods of t r e a t m e n t , as well a s a better understanding of t h e text. T w o chapters a r e devoted t o t h e more simple m e t h o d s of control. Attention is paid t o obtaining
VERARBEITTJNG V O N K U N S T H A R Z - P R E S S D I E PRESSTECHNIK. Kurt Branderiburger.
118 pages. J . P . Lehmanns Verlag, Munich, 1934. paper, 10 m a r k s ; bound, 12 m a r k s .
T H I S volume contains chapters o n t h e following subjects, prepared by specialists of t h e B u r e a u of Mines in t h e respective fields: fluorspar a n d cryolite; p o t a s h ; carbon black; salt, bromine, a n d calcium chloride; fuel b r i q u e t s ; fuller's e a r t h ; talc and soapstone; abrasive materials; sulfur a n d pyrites; silica; slate; feldspar; g y p s u m ; asbestos; asphalt a n d related bitumens; clay; sand a n d gravel; l i m e ; magnesium a n d i t s compounds; mica; b a r i t e a n d b a r i u m p r o d u c t s ; stone; natural gasoline; natural g a s ; coke a n d b y - p r o d u c t s ; coal (bituminous and Pennsylvania a n t h r a c i t e ) ; phosphate rock; cement; crude petroleum and petroleum products. P a r t I on Metals has n o t issued b u t is a t present in t h e h a n d s of t h e printer. H.
W I L L E M RUDOLFS
APPLICATIONS. K. J. DeJuhasz. 235 pages (243 with a d s ) . I n s t r u m e n t s Publishing Co., 3 3 0 West 42nd S t . , New York, 1934. Price, $3.75, including y e a r ' s subscription t o Instruments.
PART II.
NONMETALS. E d i t e d b y 0. E. Kiessling. U. S. Bureau of Mines. 675 pages. Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D . C. f 1933. Price, bound, $1.00.
D E E ABWASSERREESTIGUNG.
books.
rials.
A. J . W E I T H AND J O H N H . SCHMIDT
BENTONITE T H E P R O P E R T I E S , sources, geology, production, and uses of bentonite are discussed in a 40-page booklet, Bulletin 107, of the Silica P r o d u c t s Co., 700 Baltimore Ave., K a n s a s City, M o . Beginning w i t h a definition of bentonite a n d a discussion of i t s chemical a n d physical properties, t h e bulletin goes on t o take
253
254
NEWS
:
up its geographical occurrence a n d geology, followed b y methods for its production, and its use a s a binder in metal foundries, in hydraulic cements, in oil well m u d suspensions, as a ceramic material, for emulsions, as a detergent, etc. T h e bulletin is well illustrated.
PHOTOGRAPHING T H E S U N ' S
RAYS
T H E N A T I O N A L GEOGRAPHIC S O C E E T Y - U . S. Army Air Corps
stratosphere flight is to b e carried o u t with the sole purpose of taking scientific data which will verify or alter present informat i o n regarding temperatures, air pressures, air compositions, distribution of atmosphere, effects and kinds of electricity, cosmic radiation, etc.
D I TI O N
Vol. 12, N o . 13
m a y b e necessary to cut this instrument free from the balloon during descent when near t h e earth, it is enclosed in a basket-like container packed w i t h mineral wool. The t w o other spectrographs will be mounted inside the spherical gondola a n d will receive t h e diffuse light from t h e sky and t h e horizon. T h e horizon instrument will be operated b y a clockcontrolled exposure and film-feed mechanism similar t o that enclosed in t h e sunshine instrument. The skylight instrument will be manually operated t o insure results from a t least one apparatus in case of failure of t h e automatic mechanisms in t h e other t w o , o r in t h e event of loss or destruction of t h e suspended instrument. All three o f these instruments are provided w i t h photographic mechanism t o photograph t h e dial of a watch at the instant t h e exposure is made. Since a record connecting t i m e and altitude is to b e made as a part of the general data taken o n the flight, it will t h e n be easy t o determine t h e altitude a t which each photograph i s taken. The optical parts of these spectrographs cannot be made of glass, since i t is impervious t o ultraviolet light, s o t h e y are made from trie purest a n d clearest natural quartz crystals that could b e secured. Measurements i n terms of millionths of inches must b e made to meet t h e requirements.
Financial News .
AMERICAN- CYANAMID & CHEMICAL C O R P . h a s acquired
the
plant, properties, a n d business of Burton Explosives, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. The plant, located a t N e w Castle, P a . , has a capacity of 18,000,000 pounds annually, and is complete for t h e production o f commercial high explosives, as well as the manufacture of a number of t h e raw materials used. CORN - PRODUCTS R E F I N I N G C O . has declared t h e regular quar-
SPECIALIST D B B I G K T E D
SPECTROGRAPH
Very delicate apparatus, most of which h a v e been specially designed and built for the purpose, will be carried. There will b e three specially built spectrographs, designed and made b y the engineers of t h e Scientific Bureau of Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., under the direction of W. B . Rayton, with the cooperation of Brian O'Brien and his assistants of the Department of Physics of the University of Rochester and D r . Mohler, physicist, of the Bureau of Standards. One of the spectrographs will receive direct sunshine, and the other t w o will receive only scattered glowlike light—one from the s k y half w a y between the horizon and vertically overhead, and t h e other from the horizon. T h e s e spectrographs will all be equipped with devices which will permit t h e intensity of the vario u s kinds of light radiation t o be measured from t h e photographs. Since weight i s at a premium i n this flight, t h e spectrographs h a v e been designed t o conserve weight and at t h e same time t o maintain adjustment under conditions far more severe than those encountered i n t h e laboratory. T h e strongest and lightest of t h e new aluminum alloys were used i n the construction and the principles of bridge building were applied t o give the necessary rigidity and strength. One of the spectrographs will be suspended 4 0 0 feet below the balloon on a slender silken cord. A t this position it will be subjected to the intense cold of t h e stratosphere levels, a s low as 6 0 ° below zero. I t will further be subjected t o the practically untempered heat of the sun. T h i s will have a counter tendency t o raise t h e temperature of t h e spectrograph a s high as 140° above zero. T h e side of the spectrograph a w a y from the sun will have a tendency to freeze, while that towards t h e sun will become hot enough t o burn the band. This instrument is provided w i t h automatic, clock-controlled mechanism to open and close a shutter similar t o a camera shutter, and t o roll u p film between exposures. T h e exposures must b e accurately controlled *or length of time. In order t o provide conditions under which such complicated mechanism m a y work without fail a n d entirely automatically, the banging spectrograph is designed to rotate slowly to present all sides successively t o sunshine a n d shadow. It i s covered all over with heatinsulating spaces and materials which are so disposed as t o strengthen and stiffen the instrument at t h e same time. Since it
terly dividends of 75 cents on the common and $1.75 on the preferred stock, payable July 2 0 a n d 15, respectively, t o stock of record July 2 . Business of t h e company's foreign subsidiaries is better in 1934 t h a n in 1933, b u t business of t h e corn-refining companies of the United States i n the second quarter this year h a s shown a considerable reduction from the extremely high level of the second quarter of 1933. For t h e first 5 months of 1934 t b e grind totaled 24,349,000 bushels, compared with 3 1 , 415,000 in t b e same period of 1933. D o w CHEMICAL. Co. The report for the fiscal year ended M a y 3 1 , 1934, shows net profit of $3,577,651, after depreciation, federal taxes, etc., equivalent after 7 per cent preferred dividend requirements to $5.35 a share on 630,000 no-par shares of common stock. This compares with $1,463,230 or $1.98 a share i n 1933. During the year t h e company retired $720,000 of its gold notes, a n d at the M a y directors' meeting an additional-$500,000 was voted for call in August. A stock dividend of 5 0 per cent was authorized i n April, payable J u l y 2 to stock of record June 16. During t h e past year almost every department ran a t very nearly full capacity. Sales of magnesium and D o w m e t a l reached a new peak a n d consumption is increasing at a s t e a d y rate. A c tual poundage of D o w m e t a l increased 108 per cent t o a total of 422,164 pounds, while shipments of pure magnesium increased 2 0 5 per cent. Employment also reached a new peak. FIRESTONE T I R E & R U B B E R C o . and subsidiaries show n e t
profit o f $1,521,745 for the six months ended April 30, 1934, after taxes, depreciation, etc., equivalent, after requirements for dividends on preferred stock, t o 6 cents a share of common stock (par $ 1 0 ) . This compares with net loss of $1,575,917 for t h e six m o n t h s ended April 3 0 , 1933. HERCULES POWDER C o . has declared t h e regular quarterly dividend of SI.75 on t h e preferred stock, payable August 15 t o stock of record August 3 . LIQUID CARBONIC CORP.
T h e regular quarterly dividend of
2 5 cents, payable August 1, t o stock of record J u l y 17, has been declared. N E W JERSEY ZINC C O . has declared the regular quarterly dividend of 50 cents, payable August 10 to stock of record July 20. PARKE, D A V I S & Co. has declared the regular 25-cent quarterly dividend and. a 10-cent extra dividend, payable June 30. Earnings are running 2 0 per cent ahead of last year. SOLVAY PROCESS C O . , a subsidiary of Allied Chemical & D y e Corp., i s to build a completely integrated alkali plant a t Baton Rouge, La. This is t h e third important new alkali plant under w a y o n the Gulf Coast, the other two projects being those of t h e Mathieson Alkali Works at Lake Charles, La., a n d the plant of t b e Southern Alkali Corp. a t Corpus Christi, Texas. I t is estimated that t h e three new plants will have a t o t a l annual potent i a l capacity of more than 350,000 tons of soda ash, compared with present total capacity of over 3,000,000 tons in this country.
