350 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXIII. No. 844 



The Composition of Coal. — The object of this 

 investigation of the bureau is the isolation and 

 identification of some of the constituents of coal. 



The Volatile Matter of Coal. — The quantity and 

 composition of the gases evolved from various 

 coals, when heated to temperatures of from 400° 

 to 1000° C, have been determined. In the ex- 

 periments vphich are now in progress, particular 

 attention will be given to the influence of the 

 rate of heating on the character of the gases pro- 

 duced; to the initial composition of the gases at 

 the instant of liberation, and to the thermal 

 decomposition of these gases during passage over 

 heated surfaces. 



Weathering and Deterioration of Coal. — In co- 

 operation with the Navy Department, the Panama 

 Railroad Company and the University of Mich- 

 igan, the bureau is conducting an extensive series 

 of tests on the deterioration of various coals in 

 storage both in the open air and when submerged 

 in fresh water and sea water. 



The Accumulation of Oas from Coal. — The 

 quantity and rate of formation of inflammable 

 gas from freshly mined coal, at ordinary tem- 

 peratures, and the rate of absorption of oxygen 

 by the coal have been determined. 



The spontaneous combustion of coal is being 

 investigated by the bureau. Statistical informa- 

 tion will be combined with the results obtained in 

 the laboratory. 



The Burning of Coal in Mines imder a Dimin- 

 ished Supply of Oxygen. — The factors governing 

 the propagation or extinguishing of fires in mines 

 are being investigated. 



Examination of Mine Gases. — Examination is 

 made of samples from normal mine air, from the 

 after-damp following explosions, from stagnant 

 areas and from burning areas during mine fires. 

 Particular attention has been given to the detec- 

 tion of small amounts of carbon monoxide. 



The Chemistry of Explosives. — Chemical an- 

 alyses are made of all explosives submitted to the 

 bureau for test, of the products of combustion of 

 explosives, and of electric detonators, blasting 

 caps and fuses. 



Coal-dust Explosions. — The two greatest sources 

 of danger encountered in mining operations are 

 the explosive gases given off by the coal, and the 

 finely divided coal dust which exists throughout 

 most coal mines. The first danger can be over- 

 come by increasing the ventilation in the mines. 

 Unfortunately, this increases the danger from the 

 coal dust by the removal of its moisture. 



Abstracts for the following papers have not 

 been received: 



" An Improved Process for Finishing Beef Ex- 

 tract," J. T. Donald. 



" Self-recording Efficiency," A. D. Smith. 



" Efiiciency in Acid Phosphate Manufacture," 



F. B. Porter. 



" Chemistry as a Factor in Foundry Efficiency/' 

 Walter P. Schuok. 



" Note on the Utilization of Lumber Waste," 

 Jas. C. Lawrence. 



" The Use of Peroxide for Silk Bleaching," W. 

 S. Williams. 



" Economical Steam Generation," C. F. Wood. 



" The Importance of Eliminating Air Leaks in 

 the Manufacture of Sulfite Acid," C. M. Ballard. 



" The Spontaneous Combustion of Coal," S. W. 

 Parr and F. W. Kressman. (Illustrated by lan- 

 tern.) 



" The Modern Manufacture of Portland Cement 

 from the Chemical and Mechanical Standpoint," 

 George P. Dieckmann. (Illustrated by lantern.) 



" Errors in Determining the Sizes of Grain of 

 Minerals and the Use of Surface Factors," Har- 

 rison E. Ashley and Warren R. Emley. 



" The Utilization of Smelter Smoke in Pre- 

 paring Sulfates from Clays," Harrison Everett 

 Ashley. 



" The Determination of Water in Mixed Paints," 



G. A. Abbott. 



" Linseed Oil," A. H. Sabin. 



" A Modified Process for Cane-sugar Manufac- 

 ture," Harry McCormack. 



" Notes on the Production and Composition of 

 Mexican Pulque and Mescal," H. W. Rohde. 



" The Importance of a Standard Temperature 

 for Specific Gravity-determinations and for Stand- 

 ardizing Standard Measurings," G. W. Thompson, 



" Soaps from Different Glycerides — Their Germ- 

 icidal and Insecticidal Values in Themselves and 

 when Mixed with Active Agents," H. C. Hamilton. 



" Experiments on the Corrosion of Iron," W. D. 

 Richardson. 



" The Determination of Moisture in Coal," John 

 White. 



" The Disintegration of Concrete in Septic 

 Tanks," Wm. M. Barr. 



" Tensile Strength of Hair Cloth," Chas. P. Fox. 



" The Exact Electrolytic Assay of Refined Cop- 

 per — (1) Standard Method, (2) In Solenoid with 

 Revolving Electrolyte," Geo. L. Heath. 



" The Determination of Arsenic and Antimony 

 in Copper, including a New Rapid Volumetric 

 Method," Geo. L. Heath. 



