Dec., 1911
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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 .
entire output of the United States in 1870 and more than half of the total output in 1880.
INCREASING USE O F ELECTRIC FURNACES.
Prof. McWilliams, of the Sheffield University, in a report prepared for the meeting of the British Association a t Portsmouth, gives some interesting figures relating t o electric steel production. Up t o June, 1910, there were about 118 electric furnaces of all types, of which 7 0 were in use, IO were not working, and 38 were being built. There were 77 arc furnaces recorded, of which 29 were credited t o HCroult, 17 t o Girod, 13 t o Stassano, 6 t o .Keller, a n d I 2 others. Of ,the induction furnaces there were 14 of the Kjelling type and 15 of the Rochling-Rodenhauser type. The total capacity of all electric furnaces was 350 tons per charge. I n June, 1910, there were 29 HBroult furnaces with a capacity of 80 tons in use and furnaces Of 50 tons in course of erection, while in June, 1911, there were 43 furnaces with a total capacity of 242 tons. The output of electric steel in Germany, the United States, and Austria-Hungary in 1910 amounted t o almost 1 1 2 , 0 0 0 tons, which is a n increase of 63,000 tons over the figures of 1909. Those are the only countries for which the exact output of electric steel is published; probably the figures for Sweden, France, Belgium and Italy would also show large gains. The increase will likely be more than maintained in 1911, a s more than 30 new furnaces of various types’will be started during the year and many t h a t started toward the end of I 9 I O will p u t in a full year’s work in 19 I I. England will also, for the first time, appear as a regular producer, with a n output of about 13,000 tons.
PRODUCTION O F PRECIOUS STONES, 1910.
It may perhaps be surprising to many people t o learn t h a t the United States produces almost every variety of precious stone-from diamonds down. The precious stones produced in this country last year had a value of $295,797, against $534,380 in 1909, according t o an advance chapter from “Mineral Resources of the United States,” on the production of gems and precious stones in 1910. The large decrease in the output of a few of the more important gem minerals-tourmaline, turquoise, chrysoprase, etc.,-readily accounted for the fall in the value of production. As a n instance of this decrease in production, about 8 ’/? tons of rough turquoise were produced in 1910, as compared with more than 17 tons in 1909. All the diamonds produced in this country in 1910 came from Arkansas and California, the output of Arkansas amounting to about 2 0 0 stones. Several diamonds were found in California last year, one of which weiglis about half a carat and another between
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13/, and 2 carats. The latter is a brilliant, clear, flawless stone, with a tinge of yellow. Colorado yields some very pretty agates and some are being successfully handled in the tourist trade but a number of these stones sold each year a t the s u p m e r resorts of the State are imported from Germany, where they have been polished. Others are native stones polished abroad, although some are polished in the United States. I n Montana a sapphire weighing over 41,1a carats has been found. This stone when discovered had very much the shape of a rough diamond crystal, on account of which it had very great refractive power.
---MINERAL WATER PRODUCTION. I n 1910 the sales of mineral water in the United States amounted t o $6,357,590, the product being 62,030,125 gallons, as reported b y George C. Matson, of the United States Geological Survey. Minnesota was the greatest producer, with 9,962,370 gallons, derived from 19 springs. New York was a close second, selling 8,780,903 gallons from 46 springs. Wisconsin, however, obtained the greatest income from her mineral waters, her sales amounting t o $974,366; New York was second, with $858,635; and Indiana third, with $514,958. Minnesota’s sales amounted to $281,009. Louisiana has only four commercial springs : they produced 2,313,000 gallons. Maine’s output of mineral waters, from 29 springs, decreased 277,370 gallons, but on account of high prices increased in value over 1909, the figures for 1910 being 1,238,171 gallons and $404,539. Of Wisconsin’s mineral waters, 2 , I 5 I , 782 gallons were used in the manufacture of “soft drinks.” Pennsylvania has 44 springs a n d produc5d 2,536,337 gallons, valued a t $221,685. . The mineral water trade continues t o be prosperous although there was a decrease in output of about 4 per cent. as compared with 1909. The importation of mineral waters in 1910 was 3,306,303 gallons, valued a t $983,136.
---FLUORSPAR. Fluorspar, one of the lesser minerals, has come t o occupy a comparatively important place in every-day, affairs. It is used in the manufacture of glass, of enameled and sanitary ware, in refining antimony and lead, in the production of aluminum, a n d as a flux in blast furnaces and in the manufacture of steel in basic and open-hearth furnaces. The production of open-hearth steel alone in 1910 was over 15,000,ooo long tons. The production of fluorspar, according t o Ernest F. Burchard, of the United States Geological Survey, in a report on fluorspar and cryolite just issued, increased from 18,450 short tons in 1900, valued a t $94,500, to 69,427 tons in 1910, valued a t $430,196. There was a n increase in 1910 of 37 per cent. in quantity and 47 per cent. in value over the
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