THE CHEMIST IN CONSERVATION 299 



We are all acquainted with the results of the labors of science in 

 the fields of acetylene and electric lighting, where energy is furnished 

 by water power or where cheap coal can be burned miles away from the 

 dazzling lights. Every city has its object lesson. Only one instance 

 will be spoken of. 



The deficiencies of the carbon-filament incandescent electric light 

 bulb are known to all of us — its reddish light, its decrease in brilliancy 

 with use, its comparatively short life and rather low eflBciency. Most of 

 us can testify to the superiority of the tungsten bulb, one of the latest 

 productions of the chemist and electrician — its white light, its long life 

 with but slightly lessened intensity, the comparatively low cost of the 

 light per candle power. 



From a relatively slightly known substance — material for the min- 

 eralogist's collection — the use of tungsten has rapidly increased. Forty- 

 six tons of its ore were mined in the United States in 1900; in 1907, 

 1,640 tons ; truly, in comparison with iron, copper and lead, an insignifi- 

 cant amount. But when we remember that one pound will make thou- 

 sands of electric-light filaments we can comprehend that revolutionary 

 results may follow. The ore is widely distributed in the Eocky Moun- 

 tains, as far north as Alaska, and no prophecy can be made as to when 

 it may become exhausted. 



Tungsten has many other uses possibly less known to you; among 

 them, as a material for small crucibles to be used in the electric furnace, 

 and as a modifier of the properties of steel, the latter probably the most 

 valuable. Tool steel containing tungsten holds its temper at high tem- 

 peratures. Tools vrith a tungsten content of 16 per cent, to 20 per cent, 

 can be used with the lathe running at such a speed that the chips are 

 blued from the heat yet the temper of the tool is not affected. That is, 

 in consequence of the high speed, about five times as much work can be 

 accomplished as when high carbon steels are used, one man's labor being 

 thus multiplied by five. Here again the metallurgical chemist has shown 

 himself equal to the demand upon him, a demand for a new means of 

 decreasing the drain upon a part of our resources. 



What about the forests? Personally I have no fear. Aside from 

 the methods of scientific forestry, which must necessarily come, other 

 forces are acting. Although the chemist uses forest products as a 

 source of supply, he need not be feared. He can utilize the waste wood 

 — the stumps, the chips, the branches, the sawdust, material fit for 

 nothing else. And he is daily perfecting chemical products to take the 

 place of wood. Cement is one of these; of this the amount is increas- 

 ing and the cost diminishing. In 1908 we made in the United States 

 51,073,612 barrels of Portland cement at a cost of $43,547,679, an in- 

 crease over the preceding year of over two and a quarter million barrels 

 with a decrease in cost of more than ten million dollars. In 1909 some- 



