0
942
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y .
area. The northernmost portion of the beds first discovered was in Wyoming, but an outcrop of the same character and in the same geologic formation was found last year in Montana, some 160 miles farther north, so t h a t Survey geologists believe t h a t workable phosphate beds may be found in many other places. The Geological Survey has just published a bulletin embracing three reports on western phosphate fields, one covering a portion of the Idaho phosphate reserve, b y R. W. Richards and G. R. Mansfield, another on rock phosphate near Melrose, Mont., b y Hoyt S. Gale, and a third being a reconnaissance report on the phosphate deposits in western Montana, b y Eliot Blackwelder. The report b y Messrs. Richards and Mansfield includes a detailed description of the Idaho field, the investigations having been made by townships, the outcrops examined, and the tonnage of highgrade phosphate rock estimated. Tonnage estimates were made of the phosphate rock in nine townships, and in no township was there found t o be less than approximately 60,000,000 tons of high-grade phosphate rock, containing for the most part from 50 t o 8 2 per cent. phosphoric acid. One of the townships examined contains a n estimated 2g3,ooo,ooo tons of phosphate rock, the net result of the Survey’s work showing a n approximate tonnage of 2 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 long tons with 7 0 per cent. phosphoric acid. Nor does this include the tonnage of the Montana phosphate withdrawals, which aggregate nearly 34,000 acres. Mr. Gale’s report is a brief description of his discovery last year of the Montana deposits near Melrose, withdrawals of which were immediately made b y the President. The Survey’s tests of a’number of samples collected b y Mr. Gale show the rock to be high-grade, approximately equivalent t o 7 5 per cent. phosphoric acid. The thickest beds are 6 or 8 feet in thickness. A 6-foot bed would contain approximately 21,000 long tons t o the acre. “One of the most important considerations in connection with the discovery of phosphate rock in western Montana,” says Mr. Gale, “is its significance as t o the probable extent of the western phosphate fields, for it now appears probable that similar deposits may extend over a large part of western Montana. Their nearness t o the large copper smelters is important, for these smelters produce great quantities of sulphuric acid and sulphurous acid fumes which are usually allowed t o go t o waste through the smokestack of the plant. Reduction of phosphate rock b y means of sulphuric acid appears t o offer what is perhaps the largest commercial use for these waste products of the smelters.” Mr. Gale quotes a report showing the daily loss at the Anaconda smelter alone of about 3,800 tons of sulphuric acid. Mr. Gale suggests a further innovation in the treatment of phosphate rock which would greatly reduce t h e transportation charges t h a t at present stand in the way of development. By this process a ton of concentrated phosphate would equal three tons of ordinary superphosphate. The fertilizer distributor
Dec., 1911
would therefore pay freight on one ton where he now pays it on three. The report calls attention t o the fact that under the present mining law there appears t o be no adequate provision for the disposal of phosphate lands, and t h a t it is presumed t h a t Congress will, in the near future, pass some well-considered measure t o cover this need. Mr. Blackwelder’s contribution on phosphatk in western Wyoming is a preliminary report and shows large and widely distributed deposits. He also mentions the presence of very great quantities of low-grade rock, which in course of time will doubtless be mined. For instance, in the Snake River canyon in western Wyoming he noted a total thickness of phosphatic beds exceeding 40 feet, of which about 29 feet contain more than 30 per cent. phosphoric acid and some beds contain 7 0 per cent. or more.
POTTERY P R O D UCTION.
The manufacture of pottery of various kinds has grown t o be an enormous industry in the United States, and i t was in a highly prosperous condition in 1910, according to a report by Jefferson Middleton, United States Geological Survey. I n 1899 the value of the pottery products of the United States was $17,250,250. The product for 1910 was greater b y $16,534,420, a gain of 95.85 per cent. During the same period the imports increased 40.73 per cent. The pottery products of the United States, as classified b y Mr. Middleton, consist of red earthenware (flower pots) ; yellow and Rockingham ware (culinary utensils, teapots, etc.) ; cream-colored ware, white granite ware, semiporcelain and semivitr’eous ware, a n d china in its various forms (general household wares, such as table ware, toilet sets, etc.) ; sanitary ware (bathtubs, lavatories, washtubs, etc.) ; and miscellaneous wares, including art pottery made under various trade names, chemical pottery, jardinieres, pins, stilts, and spurs for potters’ use, porcelain door knobs, porcelain hardware trimmings, porcelain lighting appliances, smoking pipes, toy marbles, turpentine cups, umbrella stands, filter stones and tubes, and shuttle eyes and thread guides. The product of most importance is white ware, which includes general household ware, though it is produced in only 8 states. This product was valued a t $14,780,980 in 1910, compared with $13,728,316 in 1909. Ohio was the leading producer, reporting a value of $9,730,408 for 1910. West Virginia was second and New Jersey third. White ware composed 43.75 per cent. of all pottery products. Chinaware, the highest grade of general ware, though comparatively small in value of production ($1,962,126 in I ~ I O ) , showed a gain of $195,306 in 1910. It was produced in but 3 States in that year. New Jersey was the leading State, reporting ware valued a t $1,131,412. New York was second and Pennsylvania third. China constituted 5.81 per cent. of all pottery products in 1910.
Dec., 1911
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y .
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Sanitary ware was valued at $6,758,996in 1910, vented in Germany, where' i t probably has had its which was a gain of $769,701 over 1909. It was greatest development. ObservAtions made there seem produced in 9 States. New Jersey was b y far the to prove that sand-lime brick is a building material largest producer, the value of its output being which will resist shining soot. Three years ago an $4,955,066. West Virginia was second and Indiana inn was built in Greifenhagen, in which sand-lime third. Sanitary ware formed 2 0 per cent. of the value brick was used for everything but the lining of the chimney flues, which were built of common brick beof all pottery products. Porcelain electrical supplies were produced in I O cause a t that time the question whether sand-lime States in 1910,of which Ohio was the leader, reporting brick was equally resistant to fire had not been settled. ware valued at $1,277,144.These wares composed I n spite of the fact t h a t lignite briquets were burned, shining soot was found in the flues in a short time, 11.23 per cent. of the total value of pottery products. Red earthenware was made in 33 States t o the and the flue bricks were permeated as high as the value of $854,196,Pennsylvania being the largest rafters of the ground floor. When the flues were producer. Ohio was second and Massachusetts third. pulled down i t was found, however; that the sand-lime Stoneware and yellow and Rockingham ware were brick were entirely unharmed and white in color, in valued a t $3,796,688 and were made in 28 States. spite of the fact t h a t the brick walls were only about This is the only branch of pottery production t h a t 41/ainches thick. If this experience is repeated elseshowed a decrease in 1910. Ohio, as for many years, where, i t is stated, the fact will be established t h a t was the leading State in the manufacture of these sand-lime brick is the best building material to withwares, reporting 43.84 per cent. of the total. Illinois stand shining soot. was second and Pennsylvania third. Ohio is the leading pottery-producing State in the Union, reporting a value in 1910 of $14,794,712. or 42.31per cent. of the whole. New Jersey was second, IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY, 1910. with wares worth $8,588,455,or 25.42 per cent. of The iron and steel industry in the United States the total. West Virginia was third, with wares valued broke all previous records in 1910,according t o Ernest a t $2,675,588. The 5 leading States-;-Ohio, New Jersey F. Burchard, of the United States Geological Survey. West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York-proThe iron ore production was 56,889,734long tons, duced 88.60 per cent. of the total. the pig iron production 27,303,567 tons, and the Imports of pottery in 1910were valued a t $11,127,steel production 26,094,919tons. These figures show 405, a n increase of $520,193,qr 4.90 per cent. The increases over the production in 1909 of iron ore exports of pottery, which are confined almost ex5,734,297tons, pig iron 1,508,096 tons, steel 2,139,898 clusively t o the lower grades of ware, increased tons. The following table shows the enormous growth $177,994,or 20.61 per cent. over the 1909 exports. of the iron and steel industry in the United States since 1900: SAND-LIME BRICK.
The sand-lime brick industry was in a prosperous condition during the year 1910,according t o statistics compiled b y Jefferson Middleton, of the United States Geological Survey. These statistics also show a rapid development of the industry in recent years. The value of the production in 1910was $1,169,153, against $1,150,580in 1909 and only $155,040 in 1903. Michigan led in 1910,as for several years, and reported products valued a t $240,649;this was a gain of $22,423, or 10.28per cent., over 1909. Michigan's output constituted about one-fifth of the total value of all sand-lime products in I g IO. Minnesota, the second in rank, producing $154,250worth, was the state t o show the largest increase over 1909-$41,181, or 36.42 per cent. New York was third in output, Florida fourth, and Pennsylvania fifth. Of the states for which totals are compiled b y Mr. Middleton Indiana showed the largest proportional gain, 9 3 . 7 0 per cent. Of these States only two showed a decrease in value of the product, Iowa $16,941,or 35.14 per cent.; a n d New York $1,252,or 1.39per cent. EFFICIENCY OF SAND-LIME BRICKS.
The process of making sand-lime brick was in-
1900.. . . . . . . . . . . 1905 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1906 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1907 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1908.. . . . . . . . . . . 1909.. . . . . . . . . . . 1910.. . . . . . . . . . .
Iron ore.
Pig iron.
27,553,161 42,526,133 47,749,728 51,720,619 35,924,771 51,155,437 56,889,734
13,789,242 22,992,380 25,307,191 25,781,361 15,936,018 25,795,471 2 7 303,567 ~
Steel. 10,188,329 20,023,947 23,398,136 23,362,594 14,023,247 23,955,021 26,094,919
The value of the iron ore produced in 1910 was $140,735,607,as against $109,964,903for 1909, and t h a t of pig iron was $425,115,235, as against $419,175,ooo in 1909. Iron ore was mined in 28 States in 1910. The following table shows the production of the five leading States : Long tons. Minnesota.. . . . . . . . . . . 31,966,769 Michigan.. . . . . . . . . . . . 13,303,906 4,801,275 Alabama.. . . . . . . . . . . . New York... . . . . . . . . . . . 1,287,209 Wisconsin... . . . . . . . . . 1,149,551
Value. $78,462,560 41,393,585 6,083,722 3,848,683 3,610,349
The five leading States in pig iron production were as follows: Long tons. Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . 11,272,323 Ohio.. ............... 5,752,112 Illinois. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,675 646 Alabama.. . . . . . . . . . . . 1,939,147 1,938,407 New York.,. . . . . . . . . .
.
Value. $180,695,338 88,122,356 42,917,362 23,754,551 32,410,165
