746 
Production  of  Mercury  in  Spain.  {ANoVemberPhi9rim' 
redden  litmus  paper.  Titrate  the  unneutralized  acid  with  N/2 
NaHO,  using  methyl  orange  as  indicator.  Each  Cc.  N/2  acid  neu- 
tralized corresponds  to  0.08  Gm.  sodium  salicylate.  The  following 
results  show  the  relative  merits  of  the  methods  above  discussed : 
(a)  1.6  Gm.  analyzed  by  the  B.  P.  method  required  19.5  Cc. 
N/2  H2S04,  indicating  only  97.5  per  cent,  sodium  salicylate.  A 
further  0.4  Cc.  N/2  H2S04  was  used  to  neutralize  the  alkali  ob- 
tained from  the  carbon  residue,  making  a  total  of  99.5  per  cent, 
sodium  salicylate. 
(b)  1.58  Gm.  were  examined  by  the  U.  S.  P.  method;  19.3  Cc. 
N/2  H2S04,  were  neutralized  by  the  alkaline  solution,  indicating 
97-75  Per  cent-  sodium  salicylate;  a  further  0.3  Cc.  N/2  H2S04  was 
consumed  by  the  alkali  retained  by  the  carbon  residue,  making  a 
total  of  99.25  per  cent,  sodium  salicylate. 
(c)  1.5885  Gm.  were  examined  by  the  new  process  described; 
19.75  Cc.  N/2  H2S04  were  neutralized  by  the  alkaline  solution, 
corresponding  to  99.44  per  cent,  sodium  salicylate. 
Experiments  (b)  and  (c)  were  performed  on  portions  of  the 
same  sample. 
We  are  indebted  to  Messrs.  Howards  and  Sons,  Ltd.,  in  whose 
laboratories  the  experimental  work  of  this  note  was  carried  out,  for 
permission  to  publish  these  results. 
PRODUCTION  AND  EXPORTATION  OF  MERCURY  IN 
SPAIN.1 
By  Trade  Commissioner  W.  M.  Strachan,  Madrid. 
Mercury  is  produced  in  the  Provinces  of  Ciudad  Real,  Granada, 
and  Oviedo,  but  the  most  important  mines  are  those  of  Ciudad  Real, 
which  are  located  at  Almaden  and  cover  a  surface  of  485,187  acres. 
They  are  owned  and  operated  by  the  state. 
The  Estadistica  Minera  de  Espana  contains  some  interesting  sta- 
tistics as  to  the  cost  of  operation  of  the  Almaden  mines  during  the 
year  191 7.  In  this  year  excavations  were  made  at  300  sites,  at  which 
2,765  cubic  meters  were  excavated  at  a  total  labor  cost  of  $97,333- 
The  average  daily  wage  paid  was  $2.50.  The  average  labor  cost  per 
cubic  meter  was  $35.20.    The  archwork,  solid  walls,  and  masonry 
1  From  Commerce  Reports,  August  18,  1919. 
