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

u. =.
eral committee In charge of the con-
| vention. read a report OF the commit
tee on Field Machinery" The paper
! dealt with the use of tractors and cat
erpilIars on the plantations. The report
revealed that there are at present IN
use in the islands, Is 30-horsePcWer.
90 40-horsepower, 75-horsepower and
. 90-horsepover tractors. These ma.
chaines are used for blowing. harrow
ing, furrowing. shedding stones, haul
ing cane. pulling stumps, stationary
work, etc.
Authorities stated that the caterpillar
emergencies, such as a cane IRE, as a
load of men can be picked up at al,
most any point and rushed to the
scene before a locomotive could be
. coupled to CATS and start with the
assurance Of a clear track ahead. In
the fields, however, the steam pillow
continues TO hold its OWE. 1t is doubt
full whether the gasoline propelled
machine will ever suppiant the steam
engine for heavy duty.
! In kohala, the report stated. a cat.
: erpillar 10 was doing the work Of =
! mules, a direct comparison being OBJ
tanned by working engine and mules
! over the same road, which included a
heavy grade and very rocky road
winding up a narrow gulch. The cat
erpillar 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 irrigat.
ing higher levels during recent dry
spells, mitigated the severity of the
! drought to a 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 further
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
bringing up questions regarding the
| 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 Hilo Sugar COM
pany, was elected president; P. S.
Burgess, H. S. P. A, was elected vice
president; S. S. Peck, of Alexander
and Baldwin, was elected secretary
and treasurer. The executive commit
70 Dc falInuyc. HaIInr 7 :"
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 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 engi,
neers and chemists, the -ntire party
proceeded to Waipahu 20 view che Ga.
hu Sugar company's new mill Lunch
con was served in large tent 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, II. S. Walker, S. s. Peck.
r. s. Norris, H. L. Lyon, A. NJ. Rey-
nolds, L. L. Lynch, P. S. Burgess, f.
T. Dillingham;, J. Schulmeister, G. II.
Halten, +. Westly, Robert Pahau, d.
A. Nicholson, Lionel Brash, Joseph
Steinberg, P w. Alstoy, K. w. Kinney,
N. E. Weight, A M. Schmidt, Alfred
Kraft, G. F. Murray, Charles Geoth,
Alexander Brodie, A. B. Melancon,
William Ebeling, A. J. Kuhlman, w. n
Eklund, Y. z. lger, George L. Renton,
Jr., Charles P. Bent, William Ho, J. (.
Biela, Harvey Vented, Will r. McAi.
len, H. Hadtield, Frank Lee, F. K.
Lee, H. Lawrence White.
! A combined meeting OF both socie
ties will be held tomorrow mornine
at $3.50 o'clock in the library, and
again at 100. At the morning meet.
ing, Mills and Firerooms" will be
discussed, and in the afternoon,
Evaporation and Pans, and Clarified
ton" will be brought before the dele