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large gas plants constructed by that company. In 1906 Mr. Mayer severed his connection with the Bartlett Hayward Company and organized and established the Didier-March Company in the United States, taking the position of General Manager. Having made a life study of the carbonization of coal for metallurgical and domestic purposes, to him must be credited the establishing of some of the best foreign apparatus in the United States for the carbonization of coal by both the intermittent and continuous system in vertical retorts for gas house practice. He not only secured these rights for the United States, but he promoted the companies, erected the plants and put them in successful operation. Mr. Mayer had invented many improvements for the manufacture of illuminating gas, patents of which were secured in the United States, Germany, France and England. At the time of his death Mr. Mayer was 59 years old, an ardent and tireless worker, well known in the United States and abroad; a member of the American Gas Institute, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Illuminating Engineering Society, Chemists’ Club, American Peat Society, German Club and many other social and technical organizations. Mr. Mayer is survived by his widow. JAS. V. V. COLWELL. THIRD INTERNATIONAL RUBBER CONFERENCE. The Third International Rubber Conference convened a t the Grand Central Palace in New York City, September 24-30, 1912. After a careful consideration of the subjects discussed a t the International Congress of Applied Chemistry, it was considered desirable to take up a t the Rubber Conference those topics which appeared to be of more immediate importance to the manufacturer and consumer. Specifications for Materials, especially fire hose, were considered in detail. Probably the first attempt which was made to bring rubber goods manufacturers in consultation with the consumer was the Navy Conference, which was held within the past year, and which brought out such a frank expression of opinion. The Executive Committee,rwhich was formed to act in an advisory capacity to the Conference, consisted of the following: Henry C. Pearson, New York, President; Frederic Dannerth, Ph.D., Honorary Secretary; E. S . Land, U. S. N., Washin:ton; D. A. Cutler, New York; Dr. Lothar Weber, Boston; Dr. W. C. Geer, Akron, Ohio; Dr. S. P. Sharples, Boston; Dr. Eugenio Dahne, Brazil; C. E. S. Baxendale, Federated Malay States; F. Crosbie-Roles, Ceylon; A. Staines Manders, London. Fifteen of the principal American railways were represented a t the Conference through their chief chemists and engineers of tests. ’ The following organizations and Governments were represented by official delegates: American Chemical Society, American Society for Testing Materials, Society of Chemical Industry, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, German-American Technical Society, Institute of Operating Engineers, U. S. Department of the Navy, U. S. Department of Commerce and Labor, U. S.Department of the Interior, U. S. Isthmian Canal Commission, The Official Material Testing Bureaus of the principal foreign Governments, The Factory Mutual Laboratories of Boston, Mass., Federal Government of Brazil, Federated Malay States and Straits Settlements, Ceylon, Hawaiian Islands, Province of Moro, Philippine Islands, Burma (India), The State of Amazonas (Brazil), The State of Matto Grosso (Brazil), The State of Para (Brazil), The State of Acre (Brazil), The State of Minas Geraes (Brazil), Bolivia, Republic of Honduras, State of Bahia (Brazil).
SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS. Tuesday, Sept. 24th, a t
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address of welcome by
Oct., 1912
the President, Nr. Henry C. Pearson. Topic discussed, “Crude Rubber.” Special papers: “Rubber Contracts,” Arthur W. Stedman. “The Plantation Industry,” Cyril E. S . Baxendale, Esq., of the Federated hlalay States. “Various Manihots Producing Rubber in the Central States of Bruzil,” J. Santiago Cardwell-Quinn, Commissioner. “Possible Rubber Producers in the Temperate Zone,” Charles P. Fox, Akron. “Some Eflects o j Acclimatization upon Guayule. Partheni u m ilrgentatum,” Francis E. Lloyd, Montreal, Canada. Wednesday, Sept. 25th, a t IO A.M.: “Problems in Vacuum Drying,” J. P. Devine. “Manufacture of Dipped Goods,” T. W. Miller. “Physical Methods o j Testing Rubber and Rubber Products,” P. L. Wormeley, Bureau of Standards, Washington. “Factory Management and Organization Methods,” J. C. Jurgensen (President of the Institute of Operating Engineers), and Frederic Dannerth (Consulting Chemist). Thursday, Sept. 26th, I O A.M.: “ A Brief History o j Fire Hose Sbecifications,’’ E. A. Barrier. Topical discussion on specifications (mechanical rubber goods for railroads, Federal and Municipal Governments), including as sub-topics: Air brake hose, railroad steam hose, fire hosc, navy packings, etc. “The Commercial Possibilities of Synthetic Rubber,” L. E. Weber, Boston, Mass. Friday, Sept. ajth, a t IO A.M.-A report of the transactions of the Navy Conference a t Washington, December, 1911, E. S. Land, U. S. N. Topical discussion on specifications: ( a ) Materials for insulated wire; (b) Textile materials (sheeting, duck and yarns). A preliminary report of activity by the “Railroad Committee” on “Standard Methods of Testing Rubber Products.” At j P.M.-Inforrnal dinner for rubber chemists and engineers. Saturday, Sept. 28th, a t IO A.M.-Meeting for the presentation of resolutions and recommendation of official methods for physical testing and chemical analysis of crude gum and manufactured rubber goods. MUNICIPAL WATER CONSERVATION EXHIBIT OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA. The Department of Public Works of the City of Philadelphia is to open on or about the seventh day of October this year, and continue for two weeks, a noteworthy exhibit pertaining to the use and waste of the municipal water supply. This exhibit will be held in the courtyard of City Hall and every endeavor will be made to make it of great educational value to the people. Suitable booths will be erected so that all the interesting exhibits displayed a t the time will be properly protected from any adverse weather conditions. In addition to the official display of the Department of Public Works, all the local manufacturing and jobbing trade in water appliances have been invited to show every device and apparatus pertaining to the use, but particularly to the conservation of water. I t is the idea of the Department of Public Works to make this exhibit entirely along popular lines, easily understood by everyone and to so educate the consumer of water that the enormous waste which now obtains in this City may be reduced thereby to a minimum. There will be much in this exhibit of interest to Engineers, and all those connected in any way with municipal water plants, architects, and students of civic affairs in general. All inquiries on the subject should be addressed to H. W. Benjamin, Room 790, City Hall, Philadelphia, Pa.
