438 
method was devised as the result of many 
thousands of tests described in numerous 
papers on the influence of silicon, phosphorus, 
sulphur and manganese on cast iron, on 
shrinkage, strength and impact of cast iron, 
“Keep’s Cooling Curves,” aluminum, etc. 
His most important publication is his book 
“Cast Iron” (John Wiley and Sons, 1902). 
He was also author of a large number of sci- 
entific papers, most of which are printed in 
the transactions of the different organizations 
to which he belonged. At the time of his 
death he had just finished a paper “ Static and 
Dynamic Tests with Transverse Test Bars,” 
which gives a description of his later experi- 
ments and which will be published. Mr. 
Keep patented many of his devices, one of the 
most important of which is a system of match- 
plates for foundry use. His testing machines 
are well known, also his apparatus for “ Me- 
chanical Analysis.” He was a member of 
the American Society of Mechanical Engi- 
neers, (vice-pres. 1908-5), American Institute 
of Mining Engineers, Iron and Steel Institute 
of Great Britain, International Association 
for Testing Materials, American Foundry- 
mens Association, Franklin Institute, Detroit 
Engineering Society (past pres.), fellow of the 
American Association for the Advancement of 
Science, honorary member of the Rensselaer 
Society of Engineers and of the Foundry- 
men’s Association of Philadelphia. 
SCIENTIFIC EVENTS 
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY IN TASMANIA 
Mr. W. H. Twetverrers, government geol- 
ogist in Tasmania, reports to the British Sci- 
ence Guild that the Tasmanian State Com- 
mittee of Science and Industry has started the 
discussion of several subjects which can be 
usefully considered at the present juncture. 
Small working committees have been formed 
to deal with the questions of fuel, alcohol, im- 
provement of seeds, tuberculosis in stock, uti- 
lization of kelp and Irish blight. 
The committee has drawn up a scheme in 
regard to the study of problems connected with 
the realization of forest products. The scien- 
SCIENCE 
[N. S. Vou. XLVIII. No, 1244 
tifie subjects for investigation are particu- 
larized as: 
1, The production of wood pulp, cellulose, ete., by 
the disintegration of the main body of the 
timber. 
2. The production of volatile and essential oils by 
the distillation of the leaves and twigs. 
3. The production of a potash fertilizer from the 
ash obtained from the burning of the leaves 
and twigs. 
4. The production of dyes, tannins, ete., from the 
various parts of the wood and possibly from 
the leaves. 
5. The production of various distillation products 
from the waste timber and the conversion of 
same into higher priced materials for which 
markets could be found in different parts of 
the world. 
6. The production of building materials from the 
sawdust and wood after breaking down into 
pulp; probably after chemical treatment for 
the removal of various soluble organic mate- 
rials in the wood, such as lignin, hemicellulose, 
ete. 
The state committee, without neglecting 
other subjects, has decided to specialize for the 
present on the forest industry generally. Its 
investigations are expected to indicate where 
and how the large timber areas in Tasmania 
can be improved, and profitable industries 
initiated. The committee has urged the Com- 
monwealth Advisory Council to call delegates 
of the various state committees together so as 
to coordinate the work of carrying out a gen- 
eral scheme, but the council being only a pro- 
visional institution is of opinion that general 
research on forest products had better wait till 
a forest products laboratory is established 
under the permanent institute. In the mean- 
time, specific research will be supported by 
grants-in-aid. : 
The production of electrolytic zine by means 
of current supplied by the state hydro-electric 
installation is proceeding satisfactorily at 
Risdon, near Hobart. The chairman of the 
company announces that the establishment of 
this industry in Tasmania has been owing to a 
desire to prove the ‘application of the electro- 
lytic process to Australian ores and concen- 
trates for the production of munition zine, 
