236 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[April 1, 1911. 



that which is barren. Its removal to the tram cars constitutes this is first sent to the dryer, and afterwards, for treatment to 



quite a problem. Sometimes dcrricjts are used. But where a the mill. 



considerable extent of surface has to be covered, the use of a Hand cobbing is performed by men and girls. The men at- 



cablewav has been found advantaccous. This cablcway consists tend to the heavier iiicces of material which when broken up 



1 HE Asbestos anu Asbistic Co.'s Pl.\nt, D.\nville. Canad.\. 



of a steel cable, perhaps 400 feet long, which is suitably supported 

 at either end, and of a carriage or basket which runs on it. 

 In addition to the steel rope which constitutes the suspension 

 bridge for the carriage, there are, of course, ropes for adjusting 

 the hoists, stoppages, etc. Working of these cables is controlled 

 by an operator at one end of the line. Of course, if the cable- 

 way is inclined at a sharp angle the cable paraphernalia is much 

 more simple. The inclination of the cableway being sufficient to 

 prevent the carriage moving until the load has been hoisted, the 

 cableway is often run by an engine, the steel ropes passing over 



KoREwo Mines, Asiatic Urals. 



are sent on for the girls to sort into grades. The responsible 

 part of the "cobbing" as it is called, falls to them. They are 

 seated before long tables, having a square of steel in front of 

 each girl, upon which they pound and separate the rock from 

 the fiber. For this purpose are used small steel hammers not 

 weighing over Yi a pound, as great care must be taken in not 

 breaking the long asbestos fibers. After the rock and fiber are 

 separated, it is all carefully sifted and tlie fibers are thrown 

 into compartments marked Grade I and II. No. 1 Grade con- 

 sists of fibers ^ inch long or more; No. II Grade, of fiber 



El Cheer, a Very Rich A.sbkstos Property in Mongolia. 



large drums, and it is so completely under control that it is often 

 used to shift heavy pieces of rock at the bottom of the pit or 

 to handle heavy machinery and the like. The carload of debris 

 is dumped on to the tram car which takes it to its destination. 

 If the cars contain nothing but barren rock, they are sent to the 

 dump. Certain material from the pit, however, contains fibers 

 of asbestos — fibers having lengths varying from 5-16 of an inch 

 up. This is sent to the cobbing sheds, where it is dressed by 

 hand. Material containing the shorter fi1)er, scrapings and the 

 like goes to the mill where meclianical treatment is applied. 

 Certain of the material will ccmtain more or less moisture, and 



Primitive Mining Metikjus Still in Vogue in the .-\siatic 



Urals. 



ranging from 5/16 to f^ inch in length. The screenings and 

 refuse from the hand-cobbing process are treated mechanically 

 at the mill. The mill deals with all difiicult material — that 

 where the fiber is short, etc. 



[TO BE CONTINUED.] 



The exports of rubber wastes to the United States of Amer- 

 ica from the consular district of Dresden, Saxony, show a con- 

 stant increase. In 1907 they amounted in value to $4,449, in 

 1908 to $6,778 and in 1909 they had risen to $6,803. 



