68 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XV. No. 365 



for the ti'eatment of iron and steel by this process. As the plant 

 is small at present, attention is mainly given to small articles, 

 such as steel and iron shingles for roofing, builders' hardware, 

 artistic ironwork, furniture springs, polished parts of steam- 

 engines and other machineiy, boiler-tubes, nuts and bolts, water- 

 meters, steam-radiators, and similar easily handled articles ; but 

 the intention is to apply the process, on a larger scale, to archi- 

 tectural and structural iron and steel, telegraph wire, and 

 probably to iron and steel plates for boiler construction, ship- 

 building, and similar uses. 



As described by Pi-ofessor Haupt and Dr. Gesner, this process 

 does not produce a magnetic oxide upon the surface of the metal, 

 as is the case in other processes for making iron rust-proof, nor 

 does it alter the dimensions of the articles treated. It changes 

 the body of the surface of the metal into a compound of hydrogen, 

 iron, and carbon, which is designated a double carbide of hy- 

 drogen and iron, as determined by analysis. Being an integral 

 part of the metal, it cannot scale or peel off ; and it prevents in- 

 definitely the rusting of the metal through exposure to the 



necessary to reproduce here, it being suflBcient to summarize the 

 results as given in the report. ' ' The pieces were gauged both 

 before and after treatment, and showed no change. The tests 

 show practically no effect whatever upon the iron, with the ex- 

 ception of a slight decrease in the elongation. As the area is not 

 reduced, it would be impossible, without further evidence, to say 

 whether or no the ductility were affected. At any rate, the duc- 

 tility being so low, this small reduction, if proved to exist, 

 would be of comparative unimportance in affecting the value of 

 the metal. The steel is benefited. The aanealing undergone 

 during the treatment has softened it to some extent. It has lost 

 about five per cent in strength, but gained five per cent in elon- 

 gation. This metal, as originally, would not have come up to 

 specifications, being iflsuflScient in stretch. The treatment has 

 not reduced the tensile strength below the assigned limit, at the 

 same time it has brought the elongation up to requirements. 

 Pieces of both iron and'steel were bent cold to an angle of forty- 

 five degTees without showing any fracture or scaling of the treated 

 surface. ' ' 



THE STOREY ELECTRIC MINING LOCOMOTIVE. 



weather, steam, damp earth, etc. It is also found that cast 

 iron is to some extent annealed in the process, and its pores 

 filled, so that thin cast-iron pipe which before ti-eatment would 

 leak at five pounds pressure per square inch, will stand a pres- 

 sure of fifty pounds without leakage after undergoing the pro- 

 cess. It also improves the quality of steel. 



The following is the report of Barton H. Coffey, M.E., of tlie 

 Henry Warden Iron Works, Philadelphia, on the results of tests 

 to determine the effect of the hydrogen treatment on the physical 

 properties of iron and steel : 



' ' These tests were determined vipon to decide if the hydi-ogen 

 anti -corrosive ti'eatment had any adverse effect, and if so to what 

 extent, upon the strength and resilience of -nTought iron and 

 steel suitable for boiler, ship, and bridge purposes. Five test- 

 pieces of iron were cut from a single plate one-half inch thick, 

 and five more similarly from a three-eighth inch steel plate. 

 These were machined to suitable sizes for the standard eight-inch 

 test-piece, giving a section of about .71 of a square inch for the 

 iron and .51 of a square inch for the steel. Three of each of these 

 sets were forwarded to Dr. Gesner for ti-eatment, who retained 

 one and returned the remainder. The tests were made with a 

 200,000-pound Olsen machine, and the measurements with 

 Brown & Sharpe micrometer gauges, and are believed to be 

 accurate. ' ' 



The results were recorded ujjon test-blanks, which it is un- 



In conclusion, the report says, ' ' The hydrogen process does not 

 affect the value of iron and steel for engineering purposes. The 

 treatment benefits steel by the annealing undergone in the pro- 

 cess. Tlie treated surface possesses elastic properties of the 

 highest value. ' ' 



ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE FOR METAL MNES. 



We show in another part of this issue a view of a new 

 electric rotary diamond drill, manufactured by the Sprague 

 Electric Railway and Motor Company of New York, which has 

 shown gratifying results in the tests to which it has been put, 

 and which promises to fulfil a long-felt want in electric 

 mining. On this page we show another special electric mining 

 application; i.e., an electric locomotive. This locomotive is 

 simple, powerful,- and compact, and is built with special 

 reference to the rough usage and arduous duties required of such 

 a machine. 



The gauge of the accompanying locomotive is eighteen 

 inches, but it can he accommodated to any gauge in ordinary 

 commercial work. In order to protect the machine from 

 damage, all the working parts are completely boxed in, as 

 shown in the view. The speed of the motor is under complete 

 control by a switch which throws the winding of the field into 



