A SOUTH AFRICAN IRON INDUSTRY. I23 



Cement is, of course, a local product, and structural ironwurk 

 is already produced to some extent. 



Since, therefore, every reqtiisite, including a market, 

 appears to be at hand, sooner or later the industry must come 

 into existence. Indeed, without considering foundries, a be- 

 ginning has already been made in the Transvaal, where two 

 works are producing rails and other sections at the rate of 

 between i,ooo and 2,000 tons per month; several are making 

 crucible steel castings^ and one electric furnace is making stamp 

 battery shoes and dies to the extent of 60 tons per month. 



All these, however, are working up scrap material, no pig 

 being yet produced, 1)ut the position as regards supplies is so 

 critical that it may have to be met by the erection of a small 

 plant, which there is little doubt could be constructed now. and 

 would, under existing circumstances, be profitably ojjerated. 



In lyio Mr. Harbord reported to the Transvaal Govern- 

 ment on the possibility of manufacturing iron and steel in the 

 Transvaal. 



His report, based on conditions then obtaining, was un- 

 favourable. Now, however, conditions have changed. 



Iron ore and limestone are known to be available ; the fuel 

 difficulty can be overcome, and prices have risen enormously. 



Moreover, the country, as a whole, in spite of all discourage- 

 ment, is forging ahead rapidly, with consequent increased 

 demand for iron and steel, and with every prospect of still more 

 rapid expansion after the war. 



(Read. July 5, 1917). ■ 



A Green sun. — The Journal of the British Astronomical^ 

 Association (27 (1917) [s] i/O) contains a short description of 

 the unifiue phenomenon of a green sim recently seen in .Surrev. 

 The setting sim emerged from behind a dark cumulo-nimbus 

 cloud, shining a bright green, and maintained this colour for five 

 minutes as it crossed a clear space between the cloud and a thick 

 haze on the horizon. So green was the radiance that the wet 

 roofs of the houses in the valley all shone with a green light. 

 The sk}' above the dark cloud was of an orange hue. 



