Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-09-07

of the advantage of using natural
gas as fuel in the exploitation OF
manganiferous ores which are vital
for the program of national defense,
it is possible that the project of the
Kansas Pipe Line & Gas Co., for
building a line from HugotOn, Kans.
TO Minnesota, may take a signifi-
canoe which will justify the Govern
ment giving special consideration TO
the proposed line.
Early this year the Reconstruc-
ton Finance Corp. indicted will
ingness to loan around $7,5O0,00O
which amounts to approximately
half the cost of construction. I'm
der present conditions the manage
ment of the pipe line does not re-
gard the construction of the line
as practicable or proper unless 1t
can be a factor of importance in
the present national-defense pro-
gram. 1t is contemplated that the
Reconstruction Finance Corp. will
be asked to consider making a loan
of around S11,25O,0O0 which would
amount to about rs per cent Of the
estimated cost of the project
The relation of the pipeline pro-
ject to the national-defense program
is indicated by the following facts.
1t is understood that the War and
Navy Departments propose to have
enough ferro-manganese for
years requirements of the United
States. 1t has been estimated that
the steel companies have on hand
supplies of ferro-manganese which
will last a year The Government is
planning authority for importing
Although authority for importing
was granted several months ago,
only small amounts have been de-
livered to date. 1t is expected that
100000 tons will come from Bra
I'll and $4,000 tons from Cuba.
Total requirements for a year a
mount to 100000 tons.
The funtion of manganese in
steel manufacture is briefly describ-
ed as follows in Producing Equip
ment Directory, Page A-20:
Function OF Manganese
During the melting, teeming and
stages of the molten
steel it is degasified and deoxidized
by the addition of manganese. The
steel is made easier to forge, press
or roll because the bad Effects of
oxygen, oxides and sulphur are
counteracted when manganese is
added, Also the quenching temper
AZURE and heat conductivity are low
cred. 1t increases the ultimate
strength and to some extent the
by its solution in the
iron base and its carbide forma-
ton. Depth of hardness penetra-
ton is increased and the distortion |
al effects of quenching are greatly |
reduced. Grain growth tendency is |
increased by high temperatures or |
overly long heating periods. Elec-
.rical conductivity is lowered, es-
Decially in the austenitic types.
Manganese II per cent and high
sr.)"
RFC Funds Used
To provide for the future, the
War Defense Committee working 1
n connection with the Bureau Of
Mines is interested in developing
ABILITIES for large ferro-manganese
To this end, Reconstruc-
ion Finance Corp. has authorized Il
oans of 100000 for the con- 4
itruction of three pilot plants on
Juyuna Range which will be oper-
tied by a cooperative arrangement
made by several operators. After
operating pilot plants during the
'irst year, plans call for the con-
itruction of large production plants
turing the second year.
If has been urged that the pilot
plants be large enough for COM
nercial operation. 1t is claimed that
operation will not be
possible unless a fuel is provided
which is cheaper and in more con-
venient form than coal or oil. With
natural gas available at the rate Of
Is cents per thousand cubic feet
.omm ercial operation will be prac-
.icaible for producing SO per
.ent ferro-manganese ore at a cost