The sun., 1919-06-08

in coal mines with the idea Of deyel-
oping another source Of birthstone. so
urgently needed in the manufacture
Of explosives, sulphuric acid, &C. We
know now, that we have this raw ma
terial to draw on il occasion requires.
Thanks to the activities of the ser
vice station at Golden, Col, where rare
metals are especially subjects OF study.
part of the time was devoted to evolv'
ing luminous paints for gun sights,
for the dials of aeronautical instru-
ments. etc. 1t was realized that
radium could not be used because Of
it's scarcity and the vast demand for
luminous paints. The problem was TO
find a substitute. and this was re-
vealed, after painstaking investigation,
in mesothorium, which was to be had
in plenty. Paints of this nature are
going to find a great many fields OF
employment in our everyday life. The
discovery of the adaptabiity of meso-
thorium has left untouched the pre-.
cious radium for mans benefilent
uses.
Cheaper Copper Mining.
At Tucson. Ariz., the service station
is in the heart Of one of our greatest
copper producing regions. Thanks 10
the work there u process was devel-
oped for treating low grade ores so
that we should have still more OF that
metal, which is so important in waging
war. Hereafter copper should he
cheaper and in greater abundance be-
cause of this laboratory accomplish
ment. The bureau has at Seattle.
Wash. still another service station.
which is mainly for the purpose OF as
sisting the electro chemical and cleo
ro-metalIurgical industries Of that
region. and this station played very
useful part in strengthening our thews
of war. Quicksilver is indispensable 10
the manufacture Of certain powerful
detonators, and after we Joined issue
with the Entente Allies the demand
for this mineral grew apace Accord
ingly tho service station at Berkeley,
CAL, was given the problem of stinu.
latinS an increased output and Of de-
vising more efficient methods by which
the mercury could be condensed The
service station at Salt Lake CITY,
Utah. ordinarily engaged in discover
ing helpful processes for the refining
OF local ores. concentrated its lato-s
upon war minerals. so called. ana Sue
reeded in developing ways of working
that will be of very marked benefit 10
peace time mctallurgy.
Home Produced Graphite.
In tho manufacture of brass and
NJ lie
are essential. Before the war the
| best graphite came from foreign Lands.
The question was where could we
get this needful material within our
own boundaries. The bureaus SCR
vice station at Columbus. Ohio, whose
regular function is TO aid the ceramic
! industries, was assigned this problem.
AS a result of its work there is every
reason to believe that the graphite in
! Nestigations there will lead TO a real
advance in this field of American en-
! terprise. The cooperation Of these
| several service stations not only
! brings out the manifold and the wide
/ spread activities of the Bureau ~
/ Mines. but makes it evident how much
/ more effectively the bureau will carry
! on with its new laboratories at PITTS
/ burg when running AT their I'M
stride. In that establishment. 81
/ wonderfully we'll located next door. So
t. speak to an unusual series OF tech
| meal institutions, we shall. indeed
/ have the greatest research iahoratorT
In the world Further We have the
men qualified to make the most If The
! coordinated facilities thus placed A.
: their disposal for the good Of tho rs-
ton.
This assembling oc technical apna-
ratuS and scientific personnel oa@ ho.-
effected none too soon. II IS a MAJ
! te. of common knowledge to thas"
that have kept in touch with tie ST..
uation abroad that Grca. Br.'at"
4 France and Italy are already forr'f'
| ing themselves for tho iUov.t no
struggle for future trade and on.h ny
them is determined that Il VIII WaN'
/ home industries as far as possible n
/ all chemical and mining entcrpr soc
vital to native welfare. Great Ert.H
especially. is bent upon developing her
own raw materials or sources ~ rat
ural supplies to hitherto ur"ar
/ os degree. Manifcstly, We shat t'.
! to do battle in the worlds markets
with the keenest competitors.
As has been said American indus
! try has been awakened TO ia tr,nl'
! duus potentialities; and tho term 'a"
material has n more significant wOa0
J inC to us. II other countries
can take our crude substances
pay the cost of shipment mauE'7 -
turo them into finished products. 49,