Bisbee daily review., 1909-01-17

"SiA HHicu VIII nave 10 De done
 more or less continually, iu the Brit ish Islands.
 As a matter of interest bearing on
 the present extended use of copper, it
 may be mentioned that at a recent
 meeting of the institute of metals, a paper was read by J. T. Miner on | Some Points of Interest Concerning Copper and Copper Alloys" -1 the course of the paper, the author refer red to failures of alloys when used in parts exposed to stress and. expressed tle opinion that alloys or other metals either new. or applied to new pur. {, poses. ought tO be submitted to fa- tigue tests before being employed in important parts in which consistent durability was essential to satisfacto- " working He also pointed out the unfavorahle results which followed
 n the case of copper castings. when the metal was poured at too high a temperature
 Oae other allusioa will be of fn terest tp smelters and to users of COD per and copper alloys. Speaking of
 "beafings' compositions of the white
 metal" class. and of the mystery which was allowed to attach to such compositions. ha a1Eir1asf that expef- iments had proved that the so-caIled secrets and mysteries Of mixing the different metals had no especial yalu, in the working quality of them. This
 was good word for the older and welltried alloys. in which larger pro portions Of copper were used. gun metal, for example. which is in so large use in the United Kingdom. con
 taining about 90 per cent of copper.
 The use of copper for making alloys suitable for engine and machine bear
 ings, ranks now as one or tue more
 important uses of the metal in the United Kingdom. Apart from the
 very large and increasing use of cop per for bearings for machines of the | smaller and Fighter classes, there has,
 been a steady increase in the use of the metal, for bearings for machinery
 Of the newer and larger kinds. For steamship engines, main driving en- zines for factory, mill, cOlliery, pump jag and other heavy and continuous uses, copper, as the principal con- ponent Of the metal from which the
 bearings are made, is now being used mere largely than ever
 The heavier steamship machinery. especially, is making greater and in-
 creasiug demand for such metal, as the InerC nassiver main shaft bear ings 'thdust blocks" ald journal bearings have attained dimensions
 which have given these parts and the construction of them, Q new character and importance; as much from the metal merchants point Of view, as
 from that Of the shelter, finisheT or engineer.
 The returns from the ship-building yards show that the demand for new steamers is mainly for vessels Of the medium-to-large class. This means demand for the heavier bearings and also for the heavier class Of copper bends and steam pipes. for cOnnec- tions in which pipes of this metal are still used Through the past year, shipbuilding has been in an abnormal state; a strike, affecting the building yards Of the. northeast coast. keep 'ng the industry in these yards, practical ly at a standstiH, for a couple of months, and the quietness of trade generally, causing orders for new steamers to be held back.
 NSiA ias however now pIOeeedlh5 again on regular lines and orders for new steamers gre again being placed. Trade in the United Kingdom Is i'm proving, SO that the prospects for the new year are brighter.
 The supply visible at the time of VT ting consists of 5, 634 tons. as against 51 ,999 at the corresponding date in 1907; showing a slight in- crease Of 1885 tons in stocks now held or near to hand.
 The total imports of copper at IIv- erpool and Swansea. from January 1st ! 10 the middle of December, were re- turned as 131 ,s93 tons, as compared l with 109,140 tons in the corresponding | period of 1907. hnd the deliveries, | l15,31S tons in 1908. as compared with 1 III ,261 tons in 1907.