Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-10-29
MILL engineers AND chemists
OPEN FIFTH ANNUAL CONVENTION

J. A. GLIB. chairman Of the gen.
eral committee in charge of the con
yention, read report OF the commit
tee on Field Machinery" The paper
dealt with the use OF tractors and cat
erpillars on the plantations. The report
revealed that there are at present in
use in the islands, I3 30-horseHCwCr.
20 fa-horsepower, 5 1:,-horsepow2T and
q" 90-horsepower tractors. These ma
rhaines are used for blowing. harrow,
ing. furrowing. shedding stones. haul
ing cane, pulling stumps, stationary
work, etc.
Authorities stated that the caterpillar
tractor IS almost Indispensable i'll
emergencies, such as Il cane fire, as a
load of men can be picked up at al
mcst any point and rushed to the
scene before a locomotive could he
coupled to cats and start with the
assurance OF a clear track ahead In
the fields, however. the steam plow
continues to hold its own. II is doubt
full whether the gasoline propelled
machine will ever suppiant the steam
engine for heavy duty.
In kOhala, tne report stated. a cal
erpiliar TO was doing the work of -
mules, direct comparison being Oh.
tanned by working engine and mules
over the same road, which included
heavy grade and a very rock! road
winding up u narrow guich. The cat
eTpillar 10 is used over a portable
track, loads as high as 43 cars being
hauled
Cane leaders fitted to caterpillars
are being extensively experimental
with by several plantations, with re-
suits sufficiently gratifying to justify
the purchase of additional equipment.
Emergency belt work, notably irrigaI-
ing higher levels during recent dry
spells, mitigated the severity of the
drought to q considerable, extent
The 40 h. p. tractor has met with
considerable success on many planta-
tons. This machine leaves each fur
row in shape to plant without furthe:
work by hoe gang, and costs about
half what an animal gang would
At the close of the report, a general
discussion was held, the engineers
Ia 14toiuS up luSSlIOuS ISSdI IHS
merits and dement's OF the tractors.
The Chemists association held an
annual election OF officers, followed
by the reading of two reports. w. f.
van Duker, of the HiIo Sugar COM
pany, was elected president; P. 5.
Burgess, II. S. P. A, was elected vice
president; S. S. Peck, of Alexander
and Baldwin, was elected secretary
and treasurer. The executive commit
tee is as follows: G. H. Halden, ]. W.
Donald, J. H. Pratt, George F. Renton,
Jr., DR.. r. S. Norris and H. S. Walker
F. T. Dillingham; or the College Of
Hawaii read a paper on the 'Fixation
of Atmospheric Nitrogen" which
dealt with the utilization OF nitrogen
converted from the air. The federal
government has appointed commit
tees to look into the methods of secur-
ing nitrogen for munitions, and the
paper read this morning dealt with
some of the results of their investiga-
tions.
A paper by a. Brodie on the report
of the committee on Glucose Determi
nations" was read by r. S. Norris. II
dwelt on the subject of extracting
glucose from the waste molasses.
: Following the meetings of the engt-
neers and chemists, the -ntire party
proceeded to Waipahu 20 view the Ga
hu Sugar company's new mill Lunch
con was served in a large teat beside.
the new building, following which the
experts inspected the new apparatus.
They made the journey in twenty five
machines.
Delegates Present
Delegates present at the meeting OF
the Chemists association were: A. de
Bretteyille, H. S. Walker, S. S. Peck.
r. S. Norris, H. L. Lyon, A. NJ. Rey-
nolds, L. L. Lynch, P. S. Burgess, +.
T. Dillingham;, j. Schulmeister, G. Ii.
Halten, +. WestlJ, Robert Pahau, u.
A. Nicholson, Lionel Brash, Joseph
Steinberg, P. w. Alstoy, X. W. Kinney,
N. e. Weight, A NJ. Schmidt, Alfred
Kraft, G. F. Murray, Charles Geoth,
Alexander Brodie, A. B. Melancon.
William Ebeling, A, J. Kuhlman, w. \
Eklund, V. =. lger, George l. Renton,
Jr., Charles p Bent, William Ho, J. L.
Biela, Harvey Vented, Will r. Meal !
len, II. Hadfield, Frank Lee, +. X. |
Lee, H. Lawrence White.
. A combined meeting of both socie
ties will be held tomorrow mornine
at $3.50 o'clock in the library, anG
again at 1:30. At the morning meet. |
ing, mills and Firerooms" will be
discussed, and in the afternoon,