634  Irimethylene  Glycol  in  Glycerin.  {^clmlev^t 
saponification  and  the  recovery  of  the  glycerin.  It  had  probably 
been  produced  in  the  fat  by  spontaneous  saponification  and  subse- 
quent fermentation  of  the  glycerin1.  Refuse  house  fat  formed  a 
considerable  part  of  the  soap  stock. 
The  presence  of  glycol  in  glycerin,  used  for  making  nitro-glycerin, 
might  be  a  source  of  danger,  since  it  reacts  with  nitric  acid  with 
explosive  violence.  Its  presence  would  be  detected  in  the  usual 
examination  by  a  low  specific  gravity  accompanied  by  a  high  oxida- 
tion equivalent,  as  shown  by  the  bichromate  titration. 
Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology,  Boston,  Mass. 
A  statement  of  The  Mineral  Products  of  the  United  States  has  been  compiled 
by  the  Geological  Survey  at  Washington,  covering  the  calendar  years  1885  to 
1894. 
The  largest  production  of  pig  iron  was  in  1890,  when  it  aggregated  9,202,703 
long  tons,  valued  at  $151,200,410.  The  product  in  1894  aggregated  6,657,388 
tons,  valued  at  $65,007,247.  The  largest  production  of  silver  was  in  1S92,  when 
63,500,000  troy  ounces  were  reported,  of  the  coinage  value  of  $82,099,150.  In 
1894,  the  figures  were  49,501,122  ounces,  valued  at  $64,000,000.  The  largest 
production  of  gold  was  in  1894,  wheu  1,910,816  troy  ounces  were  reported,  with 
a  coinage  value  of  $39,500,000.  The  next  largest  was  in  1886,  when  the  product 
was  1,881,250  troy  ounces,  valued  at  $35,000,000.  In  1893,  the  number  of  troy 
ounces  was  less  than  the  product  of  1886  by  142,169  troy  ounces,  but  the  value 
was  greater  by  $950,000.  Aluminum  shows  the  largest  increase  of  any  of  the 
metals  reported,  having  risen  from  283  ounces  in  1885,  valued  at  $2,550,  to 
550,000  ounces  in  1894,  valued  at  $316,250.  Tin  does  not  appear  until  1891, 
when  125,289  pounds  are  reported,  valued  at  $25,058.  A  slight  increase  in  tin 
product  and  value  is  shown  in  1892,  a  decrease  in  1893,  and  none  is  reported  in 
1894. 
Bituminous  coal  product  was  largest  in  1893,  being  128,385,231  long  tons. 
The  product  in  1894  fell  off  nearly  10,000,000  tons.  Anthracite  coal  also  had 
the  largest  output  in  1893,  being  48,185,306  long  tons,  valued  at  $85,687,078. 
In  1894,  the  product  was  46,358,144  long  tons,  valued  at  $78,488,063. 
The  production  of  borax  was  largest  in  1894,  being  14,680,130  pounds,  valued 
at  $974,445- 
The  largest  value  of  metallic  products  of  all  kinds  was  reached  in  1892,  when 
it  aggregated  $307,716,239.  The  same  year  showed  the  largest  value  of  non- 
metallic  minerals  of  all  kinds,  the  amount  being  $339,900,715,  the  figures  for 
1894  being,  respectively,  $218,168,788  and  $308,486,774. 
1Mr.  B.  Twitchell,  of  Cincinnati,  informs  us  that  he  has  found  the  glycol 
present  in  considerable  quantity  in  the  "tank  liquor,"  separating  from  the  fat 
before  saponification. 
