864 EEPORT — 1887. 



another siding, and is succeeded by a full one. At the Orconera Co.'s Luchana 

 staithes, the height of the approaches was not sufficient to obtain the inclination 

 necessary for shoots. An ingenious arrangement, devised by Mr. Roe, was therefore 

 substituted. The staith terminates in a tower from which is suspended one end of 

 a platform, the other end being jointed to the staith at the level of the rails, draw- 

 bridge fashion. The platform bas a discharging hole in the middle, and to the 

 underside is tixed a telescopic counterbalanced trunk, with doors at the bottom. 

 This is lowered or raised by a load of ore or by the balance weight.s controlled by a 

 brake respectively, the object being to introduce the first few loads of ore gently, 

 lest the bottom of the ship should' be damaged. The Orconera Co.'s shipping 

 arrangements are considered the best in the port. About 150 tons per staith per 

 hour is the highest rate attained. 



After some observations on wasteful selection, caused by the pressure of 

 consumers and others interested in maintaining a high percentage of metallic iron 

 in all ore exported, the author gives figures showing the cost of raising and putting 

 it f.o.b. to be usually from 4s. 11^. to 5s. 6d. per ton, but he thinks it is done in 

 some cases for less. 



He then enters into the question of probable duration. The area of the 

 known deposits is about 7,000,000 square metres, equal to 12,600,000 tons per 

 metre of average depth. The quantity still remaining is estimated by different 

 authorities at from 50 to 200 million tons, and the duration at from 12^ to 50 

 years. 



The next question touched upon is whether the ore of Bilbao can be more cheaply 

 smelted into pig iron on the spot or in England. Inasmuch as two tons of ore at 5s. 

 per ton for freight are carried in the latter case, against one ton of coke at 6s. per 

 ton for freight in the former case, it would appear that Bilbao has the advantage. 

 An import duty of lOd. per ton on coke is balanced by the cheaper labour of 

 Spain. England has, however, better shipping facilities to most neutral markets. 

 Export statistics are given showing the following results, viz. : — That at present 

 hematite pig iron for British consumption can be obtained more cheaply by import- 

 ing ore, rather than pig iron, and the same applies to the north of France. The 

 British export trade, in the same article, has not yet been affected by Spanish 

 competition, as regards America, Holland, Belgium, Germany, and Austria. 

 But to Italy, Southern Russia, and ISIediterranean ports generally, the Bilbao pig- 

 iron exports have increased nearly 300 per cent, since last year, and Great Britain 

 seems no longer able to compete. 



In conclusion, the author tenders his thanks to the writers of the papers he has 

 consulted, and to various gentlemen connected with the iron-mining industry, who 

 have afforded him valuable assistance. 



2. Improvements in the Manufacture of Portland Cement. 

 By Fkedk. Ransome. 



The author described the method up to the present time generally adopted in 

 making Portland cement, which he designated the ' kiln process,' and he pointed 

 out the several defects that he considers inherent in it. He then proceeded to 

 describe a method that he bas devised and patented which is free from the defects 

 alluded to. Its main features consist in burning the materials of which the cement 

 is composed in the form of powder instead of in lumps, and he demonstrated the 

 economy of capital, space, time, fuel, &c., insured thereby. 



He then gave a statement of facts bearing upon these results, describing actual 

 working details, illustrating his method by diagrams of the apparatus as devised, 

 and exhibiting samples of the materials employed, with sections of some briquettes 

 produced therefrom, with a table of the tensile strains to which they have been 

 subjected. 



He concluded by alluding to further developments and the utilisation of other 

 materials capable of producing excellent cement, which could not be accomplished 

 economically by the ' kiln process.' 



