Standardizing analysis methods

December, I9o5.]

_/Voles a n d Cot~znlellts. WIRELESS

467

TELEGRAPHY.

THE GOVERNMEXT AnD W~RELESs.--A recent special dispatch to the New Y o r k Tribune says: " T h e wireless experts of the G o v e r n m e n t are applying themselves with energy to the p r o b l e m of getting rid of the influences which are destined to interfere with t h a t form of c o m m u n i c a t i o n in time of war, or at least to p r e v e n t secret e x c h a n g e of messages. T h e r e have been m a n y assurances t h a t this would be possible by means of special devices used, but it is found t h a t the wireless stations a l o n g the coast obtain many messages, in whole or part, which are n o t intended for them. Thus, at t h e W a s h i n g t o n Navy Y a r d recently there were received messages evidently b e i n g e x c h a n g e d b e t w e e n ships in distant S o u t h e r n waters. T h e r e is n o t h i n g to account for this irregularity in the action of the m e s s a g e s ; so much depends upon the wave influences. At the same time, it is realized t h a t s o m e t h i n g m u s t be done t o w a r d the regulation of the wireless communication. M u c h m a y be acomplished by g o v e r n m e n t a l control, but this may n o t be possible, n o w t h a t the wireless companies are fully o r g a n ized and have sold stock to people who may feel t h a t t h e i r interests would not be helped by legislation a l o n g the lines s u g g e s t e d by t h e special j o i n t b o a r d of which R e a r Admiral E v a n s was the senior m e m b e r . T h e r e is also much to be o b t a i n e d from an i n t e r n a t i o n a l discussion of the subject, but this appears to be out of the question d u r i n g the war b e t w e e n Russia and J a p a n and until the British and Italian g o v e r n m e n t s adjust t h e i r relations with the M a r c o n i people."

STANDARDIZING

ANALYSIS

METHODS.

H. E. Diller, Secretary of the Metallurgical Section of the Association, made a r e p o r t for the past year. T h e principal w o r k u n d e r t a k e n was the standardizing of m e t h o d s of analyzing cast iron. T h e c o m m i t t e e has a g r e e d o n t h e m e t h o d for d e t e r m i n i n g 3ilicon and had almost ready a m e t h o d for d e t e r m i n i n g total carbon. T h e c o m m i t t e e ' s m e t h o d for the det e r m i n a t i o n of silicon in pig iron and cast iron as follows: " W e i g h I g r a m of sample, add 3o c. cm. nitric acid (I.I3 specific gravity); t h e n 5 e. cm. sulphuric acid (conc.) E v a p o r a t e o n h o t plate until all fumes are driven off. T a k e up in water and boil until all ferrous sulphate is dissolved. Filter o n an ashless filer, with or w i t h o u t suction pump, using a cone. W a s h once with h o t water, once with hydrochloric acid. and three or four times with h o t water. Ignite, weigh and evaporate with a few drops of sulphuric acid and 4 or 5 c. era. of hydrofluoric acid. I g n i t e slowly a n d weigh. Multiply the difference in w e i g h t by o;47o'2.'' T h e c o m m i t t e e presented this m e t h o d as o n e that sacrificed s h o r t n e s s to insure accuracy, and that left little to the j u d g m e n t of the chemist. W h i l e it was recognized t h a t it is a l m o s t impossible to get chemists to use a s t a n d a r d m e t h o d in t h e i r daily work, the one p r o p o s e d would serve as a check m e t h o d in case of dispute b e t w e e n l a b o r a t o r i e s or between buyer and seller.--Foundrymen' s Assoc' n.