Page
RAILWAYS IN CHINA
TRANSPORT PLANS
THE HANGCHOW KIANG
SHAN RAILWAY
Dr. Sun's Scheme
Commenting editorially on the completion of the Hangchow- Klangshan Railway, the "Chen Puo' expresses the hope that this will be the beginning of the reall- zation of the Railway Construc-.. tion Programme of the last Party Leader.. Dr. Sun Yat Sen.
The journal especially" points out the dual value of railway com- munication. On the one hand,
the development of the railway system is of economic value as it will stimulate the trade and com- merce of the country, especially in interior parts. On the other, it is of strategle value, as the strength- enirig of national defences de- pends to a large extent on the" degree of development of the rail- way communication system of the country.
The journal deplores that since the inception of the Republican regime, practically, no new rali- ways have been built in this coun- try, with the exception of certain private and minor branch lines in the mining urea National de- fence being the most urgent.task of the nation at the present juncture. efforts should be made Immediately to develop to rall way system.
The "Chen Pao" congratulates the Chekiang Provincial authori- ties on their success in completing the Hangchow-Klangshan Rail- way Inspite of the stringent con- dition the provincial treasury. As development of the railway sys- tem by the efforts of the Central Government alone may be impos- sible, the various Provincial au-" thorities should be encouraged to follow the example of the Che- klang, Provincial Government and build ralfways in their respective
areas..
The "Sin Wen Pao" expresses gratiñcation over the fact that the Hangchow- Klangshan Railway has been built entirely with Chi- nese capital and materials and
Shanks
&
CO. LTD BARRHEAD-SCOTLAND
Through Traffic for China
Nanking. Jan B-Comprehen- sive plans for the institution of through trame between the rail-" Ways and highways throughout the country are being devised by the Ministry of Railways, The various ratiway administration have been instructed to make a report regarding the existing high ways and the omnibus companies.
YUSHAN-NANCHANG
"CONSTRUCTION
Yushan-Pipgshan Railway Opens in the Spring
Nanking, Jan. 8.-Construction work on the Yushan-Nanchang section of the Yushan-Pingshan Railway will be started in the spring, according to Information
from the Ministry of Railways In
order to raise sufficient funds for the project. It understood that a domestic loan will be floated. A" Railway Company, to be operated jointly by the Hangchow-Klang- shan, Rallway Administration and banking interests in Shanghai,
will also be established.-Kuo Min,
under direction. The railway moreover has been completed in a comparatively short time, and at comparatively low cost. The „new railway is bound to develop commerce and trade in the cis- tricts through which it traverses.
Similar views are expressed by the "China Times,” which more- over points out that the success of the Cheklang Provincial authori- ties in, completing the railway is also attributable to the coopera-
tion of the people with the au-
thorities of Cheklang.
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1934.
ENGINEERING AND BUILDING
“DIPLOGEN”
Discoveries From Heavy Hydrogen
CORROSION OF ALLOYS
MAGNESIUM
A Highly Reactive Metal
The mag-
A discussion on the new sort of hydrogen, popularly named henvy hydrogen, was opened at the rosina
Magnesium alloys, containing up cent selenious acid solution of the Royal Society by Lord to as much as 98 per cent of the taining 0.5 per cent of sodium Rutherford. After relating
the metak are employed by engineers chloride. For elektron VI alloy to-day for an increasing number of bars the process consists in immer- circumstances of its discovery by purposes. You the chemist regarda sion for fifteen minutes in 10 per the American chemists Urey, Birek.. magnesium s a highly reactive cent selcalous acid; for alloy AM wedde, and Murphy, be pleaded for instal; it is inflammable in air. in 303 sheet the process is applien the adoption of the name diplogen, powder or foil form, as every after immersion of the alloy in 1 which is easily distinguished from photographer knows, and it will at per cent chromic acid at 90deg. c., other scientific names. Dr. N. V. Doe displace hydrogen from many washing, and then immersing in Since solenious acid or in a mixture of Sidgwick discussed the significance aqueous chloride solutions. of the discovery for organic chemis. the alloying elements used with sodium selenite and phosphoric try. He pointed out that hydrogen magnesium do not greatly cut down acid: Part of the success of the takes part in more compounds than the tendency to corrode it seems process is due, Dr. Bengough and any other substance, and the new
paradoxical that the metal should Mr. Whitby suggest, to a limited form of hydrogen can
find any engineering uses at all power of self-healing. exchange places with atoms of the old This Nevertheless, magnesium and its should allow it to be used for map alleys are used in modern engineer: ping the structure and properties ing in the attempt to combine light of parts of organic compounds. nese with strength. Though much Where an atom of ordinary hydro- craft and motor-car construction. has been done, especially in air- gen used to be, an atom of the now heavy hydrogen will be geen. The aluminium and alloys of aluminium to reduce weight by the use of differences caused by this should engineers are greatly attracted by reveal new information concerning magnesium, as it would reduce the the way in which compounds are dead-weight by one-third. Mag- puy together. It has already been, nesium alloys are already being discovered that if some of the atoms used for pistons, and their use is of hydrogen in ordinary sugar are proposed for the deck fittings of replaced by atoms of heavy hydro- speedy motor-boats. In Germany gen significant changes occur, which magnesium alloys have recently reveal quite new information about been used for the wheels of large the properties of different parts of 'the
sugar molecule.
Professor Polanyi described his experiments with heavy "water and gave reasons for believing that in some eircumstances heavy hydrogen will react with other substances hydrogen. Mr. Bernal has already examined the crystal structure of ice made from heavy water and
noticeable differences
"found
SANITARY WARE
MODERN" SANITARY ·
EARTHENWARE
·APPLIANCES IN WHITE COLOUR
THE JARDINE ENGINEERING CORPORATION, LTD.
14, PEDDER ST. HÙNG HỒNG.
(Incorporated under the Companies' Ordinances of Hongkongj
„SOLE ACENTS
SHAMEEN, CANTON,
For Constructural Work of Every
Description
Use Green Island Cement
WHERS GREEN ISLAND CEMENT IS MADE.
VIEW OF THE GREEN ISLAND CEMENT
TAKEN FROM THE SEA.
Issued by the
A GENERAL
WORKS
GREEN ISLAND CEMENT CO., LTD.
2ND FLOOR
EXCHANGE BUILDING
motor-buses,
These and other industrial uses (such as an extended range of air beause the liability to corrode, craft and motor parts) are possible reckoned over a prolonged period, is not. like conductivity, a definite property of a metal. It shows a is variation with changes of en- vironment. And, in addition, thers may be important changes in point of time owing to the formation of Alths of corrosion products. The full rate of attack by corrosion may be governed by these films. In stagnant euustic alkalis, for in- stince, magnesium may be reckoned as almost inprodible because of the formation of a protective film at a hydroxide. Bich is highly in pervious to magnesium ions. But in alkali chlorides the film is physically different, and rapid corrosion occurs. Again, while many dilute acids attack magnesium rapidly, hydrofluoric acid attacks it scarcely at all owing to the formation of a film of the protec-
tive type..
Magnesium is, of course, very liable to corrosion when exposed to sea-water or a moist. atmosphere. An impetus to its extended" use should follow, therefore, from the discovery of satisfactory methods of protecting it. Dr. G. D. Bengough and Mr: Whitby, of the Chemi- cal Research Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and In- dustrial Research, have recently investigated the properties of the films which abstract the corrosion of magnesium, and in a lecture to the Institution of Chemical Engi neers delivered a few days ago they described some, promising.met- hada of protection.
Dr. Bengough and Mr. Whitby point out that the best way of protecting the metal would, "in theory, be by the discovery of some metal or combination of metals which, alloyed with magnesium, would notably reduce its tendency to corrode, increase the strength, and yet not seriously. increase the weight. But this field has been fairly well explored, and fürther important discoveries, though pos- sible, do not seem likely. Mange- dese is now always used, and most alloys contain aluminium in amounts up to 12 per cent. Zine by itself is not used, but some of the best alloys from a mechanical point of view contain both tine and aluminium. Where good thermal properties are required, such as in the manufacture of pistens, copper or cerium is often used, but copper seriously interferes with resistance to corrosion by chlorides or other aqueous solutions.
nesium surface becomes coated with a thin layer of magnesium selenide, which is decomposed by water penetrating through pores in the The hydrogen selenide thus formed thicker covering layer of selenium.
niam, which seals the pores through reacts with oxygen to give sele which the water penetrated. value of the process as a protection The against a moist atmosphere, rain, on spray is clear.
The value of the treatment is anhanced by the fact that the selenium coating seems to give a very satisfactory basis. for application of paints which may be the
pecessary in cases of prolonged or overa exposure. And there is a point of some commercial interest fillip to the use of magnesium, and about the process, Apart from the hence its production, selenium bas not been extensively used hitherto. It occurs in the sludges formed during the electrolytic refining ot copper, but only a small fraction of the output has gone into com. mercial use, and it has been, in fact, regarded as a waste product.
In practice the value of the pro- cesa will probably depend on its behaviour as a. base for paints. Tests were conducted by Dr. Ben- gough and Mr. Whitby to deter mine approximately the water proofing power of paint on coated and uncoated magalesium. The testa were confined to measuring the loss of wright and to visual in- spection; the great additional ex- pense of mechanical tests was felt to be unjustifiable for the preli minary work. The point under consideration was essentially that unless a paint can retain its power for long periods it is of little use for magnesium alloys, since the evolution of hydrogen.
THE DIESEL
ENGINE
Replacing The Petrol Type
Dr. A. E. Dunstan, chief che- mist of the Anglo-Persian Cl Company, addressing the North- western section of the Institute of Fuel at the Manchester En- gineers' Club last night. declared that the day of the petrol en- gine is done, that the new Diesel engine was forging ahead, and that the oil industry was perfect- ly prepared at any moment to fuel the new type of motor.
Dr. Dunstan was speaking on *Fuld fuel" and he attributed the present success of the pil in- dustry and its elasticky to the facts that from the beginning it had had to do its own research, and its own customers, and carry out its operation from" the well to the consumer. No fallure of supply need ever again be fear- ed. A variety of reasons had conspired to make oll shortage in future extremely imporable. Oll shortage scares came with the THE SELENIUM PROCESS
frequency of sunspots, but "now Failing progress in making
the striking of all did not depend alloys, magnesium alloys will pro-
en luck. Geophysicists could de- bably be protected by paints
termine fairly accurately under- applied over some form of chemi-round structures. The ollfield cally produced film, without which of Persia alone was known to ex- paints are unsatisfactory. It is easy to produce films on light alloys of magnesium owing to the high reactivity of the metal, but, unfor tunately, few of them are of any value. The residue after some 600 clifferent solutions had been tried came down to two an alum-dich romate process, discovered by But- ton and Le-Brogg, and selenium process discovered by Dr. Bengough and Mr. Whitby themselves Coat ing the material with selenium," however, appears to be definitely superior for general purposes, and it has the merit of simplicity and comparative cheapes
tend in one direction for 35 miles
and for 15 in the other. Instead of the early 300-foot well they now went down 10,000 feet, and there was no mechanical reason
why they should not go to dou- ble that depth. The available amount of mineral oil was won- derfully increased. and the mo dern methods of production were more ecmomical than those of even five years ago.
Lantern slides were screened showing the methods of produc-- tion with pipe stills and the 1st- est refining and oleracking planta y Mr. Watson Smyth who
It consists in manering the magpresided, agreed with the lecturer nesium materials in a solution of selenious acid or fta alta For
sheet elektrÉN AZM sion for five minutes
immer
10 per
that the day of the petrol engine was finished and that its modern competitor was rapidly gaining popularity
STEAM COOLING
Condensers in Wings of Aeroplane
The Arst British aeroplane to be built with condersers for steam! cooling contained within the wings has now down for about 40 hours, and has given better performance with a bigger load. than
comparable aeroplane fitted either with an air-cooled engine' or with a water-cooled engine and the usual radiator. This system of evaporative cool- ing has been produced by the Gloster Aircraft Company, and tried in a single-seater--Aghter similar to the Gauntlet, recently adopted for service in the RAF...
This experimental machine is equipped with a Rolls-Royce Kes- trel (500 h.p.) engine, but instead of cooling the water from the jackets by passing it through a radiator.. set.beneath the fusel- age, the cooling water is allowed to boil and the steam is carried. into condensers set in a double skin in the leading edge of the upper wing. The whole span of the wing is used, and the conden ser, consisting of a number of Ans to deflect the steaza towards the outer cooling surfaces, occup- les a space some 10in. wide be- tween the leading edge and the front spar. This apparatus "is connected with a header tank into which the condensed water flows and is thence returned to the cylinder jackets. The weight of the system is about 901b., but this is negligible in comparison with the weight of the ordinary radiator and the large quantity of water needed for an ordinary water-cooling system
The
weight-saving in water alone re-
presents about 1001b.
Thus equipped, the Gloster ae- plane has been put through all the usual evolutions of the figh- ter. Many of the, trial flights revealed small faults which have since been put right. The last five hours' flying has revealed no futher defect, and the company intends to embody the apparatus in new aircraft now under deve- lopment, Apart from the gain, in load. evaporative cooling in this case appears to have added over 10 miles an hour to the speed of the aeroplane by saving the drag of the radiator. The few method is of special significance in mil Itary machines, because it redu- ces the risk of disablement by bullets in the cooling systein. A big leak in a radiator would mean
DIRECT RADIO SERVICE
Britain and China to be Connected.
Nanking, Jan. 11.-Direct radio service between Britain and China will be inaugurated on February 1st, it is announced. All engineer- ing work as well as other neces- sary arrangergents for the service have now been completed under the direction of the Bureau of In- ternational Telegraphs. Tests will be made on Monday, the 15th inst. Special arrangements will be made to celebrate the inaugura- tion of the service on Feb. 1.- Kuo Min.
IRON AND STEEL PROSPECTS
Very Great Improvement
It is learnt from a high "au- thority in the iron and steel in- dustry that the rate of output of steel for the whole country in the current month is even much greater than that of November, when the production was higher than in any month since April, 1830.."Undoubtedly the pro- speets are better for the whole Industry," observed my inform-. ant. He attributes this to the in- creasing home, demand, and part- ly to the influence of tariffs on foreign imports.. There were 80 furnances in blast at the beginn- Ing of the year and 79 at the end of November. There are now reports to hand here of several more furnaces being. restarted within the next few months, no- tably in Cumberland, North Lan- cashire, and Lincolnshire.
the immediate loss of the cooling aeroplane to land medium, and would compel an Elmost. im- mediately, whereas a hole in a condenser would mean slower loss of water.
much
Wing cooling has been tried be- fore, chiefly in racing aeroplanes. Machines built for the Schneider Trophy race as long as 1926 had wings with double skins, but these have all been intended to cool "tory condensers in wings without water. The fitting, of, satisfac- altering the wing prole is an achievement of some signincance.
METAL WINDOWS
MANUFACTURER:
MADE IN HONGKONG
FROM
IMPORTED BRITISH
MATERIAL
95% BRITISH.
THE TAI YING STEEL WINDOW MFG, CO.
TELEPHONE: 97482,"
SHIPBUILDERS, SHIP REPAIRERS, BOILER MAKERS, FORGE MASTERS,
OFFICE: 89/85, OHUN YONG STREET. FACTORY:--NORTH-POINT,
OXY-ACETYLENE AND ELECTRIC WELDERS, MECHANICAL AND
ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERS.
HONG KONG.
DRY DOCK
t:
OF HONG KONG. LIMITED.
THE TAIKOO DOCKYARD & ENGINEERING COMPANY
Salvage Tug “Taikoo”
WIRELESS CALL
F.P.G.N. 000 METER,
Length 787 Feet. Length on Blocks 750 Feat.
Depth on Centre of C
SHI (E.W.O.S.T.) 24 NL. 6 Ins. -THREE SLIPWAYS.
Capable of Handling Ships Up to 4,030 Tons Displacement Electric Grane at Sei Wall.
Capable
of Lifting 100 Tons as:70 Feet Radius,
Agents,
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE,
HONG KONG, CHINA & JAPAN. TEL ADDRESS:”” TAIKOODSON Hoxo Kona,
NUMERAL ONE, OVER FAMI, PIZAR