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MAIL NEWS FROM CHINA
TO ESTABLISH METEOR- OLOGICAL STATIONS
The Institute of Meteorology of the Academia Sinica is plan- Ave ning the establishment of meteorological stations at Hsiaho In Chinghal (Kokanor), Paotow, the Western terminus of the Peiping-Suyuan Railway, Cheng- chow, northern Honem. Ninghai elty, and Kutyang (Kulchow, to facilitate the study of weater conditions in the country. compilar.ce with the request the Fuklen Provincial Depart- ment of Reconstruction, the In- stitute is also despatching six engineers, together with the ne- cessary apparatus and equip- ment, for the erection of meteo- rological statler.s in Nanping. Pucheng and Tagchow, Fuklen province...
In 01
AIRPLANE SERVICE FOR KUANGTUNG & KUANGSI
#
The Southwestern Aviation Cor- peration is planning to institute airplane round-the-province
Kuangtung
and for service Kuangs in addition to the Can- ten-Lungchow (Kuangsh Airway. The Corporation is increasing its capital to provide for this expan- sion scheme.
LONG-DISTANCE TELE- PHONE COMPLETED
Instalation work on the sec-" tion of the projected Chinklang- Tslazkiangpu long-distance tele- phone service between "Yangchow and Kaoyu was completed on April 28. The entire line will be finished by the middle of May, it Is announced at the Klangsu Provincial Department of Recon- struction. In order that the long-distance telephone network for northern
Klangsu may be ready at an early date, work on the telephone, lines linking up the districts.of Hualyin, Halchow. Huatan and Yencheng is being expedited.
תן
TANGSHAN-FENGJEN
HIGHWAY OPENED
also
Work on the construction of ' the Tangahan-Fengjen Highway the Luantung Area by the units of the Peace Preservation Corps under General Chao Lai having been completed, the new highway has been opened to traffic on April 28. The highway Is 50 7 in distance and 22 feet, in width with dirt surface. The cost of construction of the road is $5,000, of which $2,000 were appropriated by the Hopei Provincial Govern- ment, while the remaining sum was raised locally.
HISTORY of ENGINEERING
The 13th annual report of the Newcomen Society, which covers the 1933-1934 session, shows that the total membership of the So- "elety on October 31, 1934, was 321, During the session 23 new mem- bers were clected, while the num- ber of resignations and deaths was 25. The Council records with much regret the deaths of Mr. Fred Bland, Dr. O. von Miller. Brig.-General W, B. Parsons, Mr. Clement Chase, and Mr. H. But- ler Johnson. Thirteen meetings were held during the session. namely, eight in London, includ- ing the annual general meeting, four in the United States, and the summer general meeting, four in the United States, and the sum- mer meeting in Derbyshire. Dur- ing 1934, vols, xii and xiil of the Transactions were published, and vol. xlv, now in preparation, is shortly to be issued. The Coun cil is glad to record the founding, In 1934, cf the Society for the Preservation of Old Sheffield Tools and Machinery, which it has joined as a member. The Anances of the Society. It is grati- fying to nole, are in a strong posi- tion-
· MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL
It is gratifying to record that the tonnage of the toll-paylo merchandise traffic which passed through the Manchester. ShiJ Canal during the year ending De cember 31, 1834 and the receipts of the Company from canal tolls, ship dues, &c., showed a sub- stantial increase over the totals for 1933, and were greater than those for any year since 1930. The annual report of the Com- pany shows that the toll-paying
REGONSTRUCTION PLANS
FOR KIANGSI
A large-scale programme of reconstruction for the rehabilita- tion of the province of Kiangs), which is suffering from economie and rural bankruptcy, has been drawn up by the Kiangsi Provin- cial Government, Plans for the development of cattle-raising and. revival of the tea industry by the now being put into effect by the
of Agriculture. College quality of porcelain ware is being improved, with specimens of ancient types as models. Estab lishment of spinning and weav- Ing factories and paper mills is also under consideration.
The
SIAN-LANCHOW HIGHWAY
COMPLETED
Sian. May 2-Omnibus service between on the new highway
and Lanchow, provincial Slan capitals of Shens and Kansu. traffic was formally opened to on May 1 The highway is 750 kilometers long-491 kilometers on the Shenst sectiors and 250 kilometers on the Kansu section. The omnibus trip will take only five
days for the entire route. One of six trung highways in the Northwest, it was constructed by the National Economic Council and is in charge of a special highway bureau under the North- western branch of the N. E. C. The completion of this highway not only provides better con- munication, and transportation In the Northwest, but will also give a great impetus. to economic development in that part of the country.
LANCHOW METEORO.
LOGICAL STATION
The Meteorological Station in Lanchow, provincial capital of Kansu, is nearing completion after four months' work, states a report from Mr. Chu Yunming, Director of, the Kansu Provincial Meterological Institute.
GOLD MINE DISCOVERED
IN ANHUI
A gold mine has been discover- ed in the Chihchi district in eastern Arhui near the Che- klang border, according to a re- port received here from Anking. provincial capital of Anhut." It is understood that the Recon struction Department of the
Anhui Provincial Government has dispathced several mining en- gineers to the district to make an investigation on the spot.
NEW VEHICLE LOADER
A very convenient loading de- vice which can be fitted to any type of vehicle has recently been Introduced by Messrs. Felco Heists, Limited. 17, Victoria-street, London, S.W.1. It consists essen- tially of a beam so attached to the superstructure of the body that it can be set at any angle, or moved to one side as required. The beam beyond the rear of the vehicle," and "is fitted with a trol- ley incorporating a Felco triple- gear chair block. After the load has been raised from the ground. to the required level, it can be deposited on any required point on the vehicle floor by arranging the beam at a suitable angle. When the beam is moved to one side the lorry can be loaded by an overhead crane without inter- ference. The driver can load or unload the vehicle aingle-handed with the device, which takes up a minimum of headroom. It is easy to erect and dismantle, and can be fitted to either covered or open vehicles.-
merchandise traffic totalled 5,949,- 970 tons in 1934, against 5,389,000 tons in 1933 and 6,290,625 tons in 1930. The receipts for 1934 were £1,317,083, compared .with £1,240,405 In 1933 and 21,395,587 in 1930. After paying all inter- est and other charges, a balance of £34,825 has been carried for- ward to the accounts for 1935. Sundry repair works have been carried out during 1934, and the Company's plant, docks and buildings have been maintained in good working condition. The only new works undertaken and completed during the year com- prise additional oll-distribution mains and fire-protection-instal- lations at Stankow O Docks,
I
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1935.
ENGINEERING AND BUILDING
WORK SITES
And Their Selection
The selection of works site is dependent upon so many CON- sideration of policy that the more technical issues become secondary in order of decision, although the chances of bringing a given po- Hey or subsequent modifications thereof necessary to meet econo- mic changest to successful frul tion may lle largely in the tech- nical shown in the actual choice of slie and its utilisation,
So far as policy is concerned. the most common falling is to leave out of account the funda- mental changes in manufacturing requirements that the years may "to nowadays, be depended on bring. For this reason, there is need to approach the matter as ir the intention were to build a werks that could be let without difficulty to a succession or ten- ants, rather than one too closely fitted to a particular manufactur- ing policy which is, after all, un- likely to prove as permanent as the buildings to be erected or the plant to be installed. No doubt it would be possible in trying, as it were, to please everybody to please nobody-not even the first occupants, for which the works
d been designed. None the less, self criticism from this angle may avold at least some of the worst mistakes in choice and, utf- ilsation of sites. In such matters the employment of an experien- ced technical adviser may be the cheapest insurance against any serious error of technical judg ment in implementing a policy. In passing. it may be well to point out that purely architectural skill in a technical adviser in this con- pection can be a deceptive quali- fication to be discovered when too late.
PECULIAR INDUSTRIES
Certain industries are peculiar to particular", districts, and whilst unis is not so defnile to-day as in the past, it is at strongly marked. Normally, the localisa- tion of a major industry carries with the dependent or ancillary industries e.g., textile machine makers find it convenient to be near the appropriate section of the textile trade. This, in turn, tends to make the locality in- creasingly attractive to the major Industry. The concentration and the requisite skilled labour, both major and ancillary, naturally racourages. local development once the major industry has be come established. In certain clx- cumstances, when 'radically differ- ent methods of production are contemplated, it may be a post- tive disadvantage to build where labour is habituated to older methods. The attractiveness of a district may sometimes be due to amenities that will tend to dis- appear as the district becomes fully industrialised.
SURPLUS OF LABOUR
The efforts now being made to induce, Industries to settle in de- pressed areas deserve" full and sympathetic consideration. It is. however, to be borne in mind that it is not enough that there should be ample labour available. It is necessary that the. surplus labour avaliable. It is necessary that the surplus labour should be either already suitable for the purpose in view, or capable on a commercially prácticable basis, of being retrained."
In regard to material supply, location may be important in con- nection with cost and time of transport and/or for easy dealing with supplier Where the weight * or bulk of material is greatly re- -duced in the course of processing. there is the more likelihood that location near the sources of sup- Dly will be essential, e.... in smelt... Ing iron or in making beet sugar.'
1:
His Fate
Teacher: "I feel sure "your" son has a political career in front of him."
"Disturbed "Mother: W-what Would you advise?"
NO, THANKS Traveller-"Can I get anything to eat in this dump?"
Walter" Yas, žah, you kin,” Traveller-" Buch as what?" Walter-Buch as it is, ah,”
GATHERING OF ENGINEERS
At Chemical Congress
An International "congress. em- bracing all branches of chemical engineering. is to be held under the auspices of the International Executive Council of the World Power Conference, at the Central Hall, Westminster. London, S.W.1. From June 22 to June 27, 1938. The technical programme of the Congress, which has recently been drawn up. is divided into six main sections, respectively devoted to chemical-engineering projects. chemical engineering plant construction, fuel, heat. and general problems in chemical engineering administration and works organisation in chemical. engineering. Arend of develop- ment in chemical engineering. and general aspects. As is us ually the case in functions of this kind. each main section is again sub-divided into a large number of headings. but it 13 technical emphasised that the programme as, now issued is in- tended to indicate the scope of the Congress and not necessarily the
titles of the contributions submitted
as
COMPREHENSIVE PAPERS
en-
•
It is particularly desired that each paper presented, while ad- hering strictly to chemical kineering, should deal as fully possible with the econo- subject. In mic aspect of the order to keep the total number reasonable. within.
·01·
papers limits, the organising committee.. the chairman of which is " Sir David Milne-Watson, is only ac- cepting comprehensive paper sub- mitted by representative and, authoritative bodies in each par- ticipating country, through the National Committes concerned. Contributions are not to ex- ceed
7,500 words in length. and It is particular'y re- quested that they be presented in English. They should. however; be accompanied by a summary and conclusion, not exceeding 500 words in length in English, and in two other languages: All papers, in dup'icate, should be in the hands of the Congress authorities not later than Jan- uary 1, 1936. The British Chemi- 'cal Plant Manufacturers' Asso- ciation is holding Its periodical exhibition of British chemical plant at the Central Hall during the course of the Congress, All communications from Great Brl- tain regarding the Congress should be addressed to the Con- gress Office, 56. Victoria-street, while al com- London, S.W.L. munications from other countries should be addressed to the office of the international secretary. World Power. Conference, 36, Kingway.. London, W.C..2
RECENT ENGINEERING"
CONTRACTS
Messrs. International Combus-
*
tion, Limited, Aldwych House, Aldwych, London, ¡W.C.2, inform us that they have received orders from Messrs. Briton Ferry Steel Company for a sloker-fired boiler, from Messrs. Arvind Mills, Limit- ed, for a coal conveyor, and from Douglas, Isle of Man, for an "L" and secondary-air type stoker equipment.
Messrs. J. Browett Lindley (1913), Limited, Coborn Works, Letchworth, Herts.. amongst other orders, have in band a 130 maximum b.h.p., variable-speed. steam engine for driving a board machine at a paper mills near Oslo. A special feature of the en- gine is a variable-speed governor ive a close speed regulation at which can be adjusted by hand to
all. speeds between 350 x.p.m. and 40 rpm. A 112-b.h.p. steam engine supplied to clients in Bouth Africa.
Messrs. John: 1. Thornycroft and Company's Limited, Thorny- croft House, Smith-saire, Lon- đơn, S.W.1, are supplying, their R.J./2 type Diesel engines, deve loping 18bhp, and itted with reducing gear, for the 24 life. boats to be carried on the Cun- ard-White Star Hner Queen Mary, The ille-boats, which are being built by Messrs High McLean and Sons, Limited, Glasgow, will be of the open type and capable of carrying 145 passengers. Spe- cial provision has been made to
"LIGHTEST AERO
ENGINE MADE
New Type Weighs Only 11b Per H.P.
en-
(Special Air Mail Service)
London, May 9. A Bristol "Pegasus" aero gine of a new series, designed to replace the standard "Pegasus III," has just completed the 100 hours' official type test.
This ergine, for a take-off power of 920 hp. and a maximum power at 6.000 feet altitude of 875 h.p., weighs only 995!b.
It is the lightest and most efficient production type of aero engine ever made, for although the Rolls Royce racing engine in the Supermarine seaplane which won the Schneider Trophy only for Great Britain weighed 1,540lb. for its 2.350 h.p.. that engine was not a production type,
albelt it afforded data of enormous value for its makers' numerous. standard types.
The famous Gnome rotary air- cooled engine took the flying
world by storm in the years 1910- 1914 with its weight of about 244bs. per hp. The Rolls Royce Racing water-cooled engine of 1931 was only 2-31b. per h.p. The new "Pegasus." Во moderately supercharged. air-cooled engine for production, barely exceeds 1lb. per h.p.
FUEL ECONOMY Together with steady reduction In weight there is a gradual im- provement in fuel economy, The steady progression of lightness in relation to power output may be judged from the following table of approximate values:
1903 original Wright Bros.'
engine toð. 1905 Do.. improved 1908 Do.
weight Der H.P.
12.7 lbs. 9.5 lbs. 5.5 lbs:
1910 average sero engine.
about.
5.7 lbe. 4.9 lbs.
2.5 lbs.
1913 Do.
1911-14 rotary engines 1935 latest air-cooled
types "......
1.15 lbs.
COPPER TUBES FOR SOLDERED JOINTS
Messrs. IC.I. Metals, Limited, Kynoch Works. Witton, Birming- ham, have recently placed on the market the "Acuro" copper tube, which, it is claimed, is made to limits of accuracy hitherto un- obtainable in light-gauge copper' tubes. We understand, moreover, that the product, which is of high-grade quality, is made to a special emper which permits easy bending, while being at the same time rigid between supports. It is stated that the tube is the product of long experimental co- operation between Messrs. ICI Metals and the leading specialists in compression Joints in this country, who are also now makers of solder capillary joints to suit the new tube. The comination of tubes the "ro
with these joints, it is claimed has provided a capillary 'soldered-joint system having the highest degree of per- fection. Tubes having an inter- nai diameter of in.. in.. lin..' and lțin, are supplied, and a lea- flet describing their mechanical properties and giving useful de- tailed hints on the jointing tech- nique to be employed in, con- nection with them is obtainable from the manufacturers.
ensure that the engines will at all times start instantly before. the boats leave the ship's deck..... Tests have shown the reliability of the engine in the coldest wea ther..
Messrs. Marconi's Wirless Tele-
·graph Company, Limited; Electra House, Victoria – ehibankment, London, W.C.2, have received a contract from the Chinese Minis try of Communications. for seven short-wave stations to form part "of a network of new wireless- #communications services linking up the principal cities and com- mercial centres of China Type 8.WB.8 transmitters are to be supplied. These are capable of communication on either tele- phong or telegraphy, and incor- porate special arrangements for rapid and easy wavelength changing The equipment is to be manufactured at the Marconi Works, Chelmsford.
The Cause And Prevention Of Accidents
"LARGE PART OF FACTORY WORK
In the third Shaw Lecture. which was delivered before the Royal Society of Arts recently Leonard Ward, H.M. Depúty Chief Inspector of Factories, said that the subject of accident preven- tion embraced a'large part of the work of the Factory Department and part of the activities of organisations such as the
Na- tional Safety First Association. the Industrial Welfare Society the Tstitute of Industrial Psychology and Industrial In- surance Companies. particular- Iy the National Mutual Assurance
Employers Company.
It also included the efforts of the safety organisations in many hundreds of factories. He, how- ever, proposed to deal only with accident
prevention
the engineering branch. where methods which might be accep- ted to-day would not necessarily hold good for all time. As an instance, until two or three years ago no guard was avaliable for Now however, as the result of the in- vention of the link-motion guards. several thousands Of machines had been protected: within the last eighteen monchs. It was also evident from the fact that
paper-cutting guillotines
10
no" leas than 22.855 ma- chinery accidents occurred 1931 that there was need for constant vigilance in the search for improvement and in consider- ing measures for prevention.
cases Mr.
FENCING OF ENGINES Turning to specific Ward said that too frequently the motors tencing of engines and was placed too far from the moving
The parts.
proper method was to fence close to the dangerous parts, so that the ne- cessary olling could be done in safety by an attendant standing outside. As regards transmis- sion machinery, the most effec- tive
the measure wRS to stop shafting before approach was at-... tempted, while losses due to this cause could be reduced by the ad- option of individual drives or by drives and the use of group clutches. To render belt mount-. ing safer “inching" devices' might be fitted. while several types of
TRADE RELATIONS
い
COMMITTEE
The Federation of British In- dustries, as a result of the recent mission to the Far East, has ap- pointed a committee to maintain contact with the committee al- ready appointed by the Japan Economic Federation' in Tokyo. The aims of the two committees will
be to, consider jointly the problems affecting the general Industral relations between Great Britain and Japan, and to offer their good onces to any in- dividual industries which may desire to enter into discussions with the object of solving the the problems confronting them.
mechanical belt mounters were available. The use of belt per- ches and belt poles was also a means whereby dismounding and mounting could be effected from. As far floor level.
as possible olling should be done during non-running periods and paint- lime-washing or wiring should not be conducted unless Such the gearing, was at rest, accidenta as falling down Lift
wells could be prevented by the use of gates so controlled that "the lift could not be moved, un- less they were shut; and the systematic inspection of both this class of machinery and of cranes
Cranes was essential,
should also be Atted with authomatic
indicators to safe load
prevent
Was the overloading which frequent cause of accidents, The same applied to chains and chain slings.
WELL-DESIGNED SAFEGUARD
7
The safeguarding of operative machinery without interfering with production was often a dificult problem, though a well-designed safeguard generally reulted in increased output, in consequence of the greater security felt by the worker. The most simple and effective method of fencing the dangerous part was its complete
was fre- enclosure, but as this quently impracticable, many in- genious alternatives had been evolved. So far as possible the question of safety should be con- 51dered when the machine was designed, but where this could not be done arrangements could be made to push the hand of the operator out of the danger zone: to interlock the dangerous part with the driving mechanism, so that it could not be exposed un- less the machine was at rest and so that the machine could not be started unless the part was
to instal a covered;
trip me chanism, so that the machine was stopped when the worker's hands approached the danger zone: to employ distant feeds or double- hand controls and even to ensure that the machine would be re- versed when the operator's arm came into contact with the guard fencing.
AWARD OF THE KELVIN MEDAL
The Kelvin Gold Medal for 1935 has been awarded to Sir John Ambrose Fleming, F.R.5, în recognition of his eminent ser- vices to electrical science. The. presentation ceremony, it is anti- cipated, will take place in the Great Hall of the Institution of Civil Engineers, London, 8.W.1. early in May. The Kelvin Medal is awarded triennially as a mark of distinction in engineering work or investigation of the kinds with which Lord Kelvin was specially Identified.
THE TAIKOO DOCKYARD & ENGINEERING COMPANY OF HONGKONG, LIMITED.
A
"BUILDERS OF ALL CLASSSES OF SHIPS.
BUILDERS OF RECIPROCATING STEAM ENGINES. BUILDERS OF MARINE AND LAND- BOILERS. BUILDERS OF TURBINE MACHINERY
Under License From Messrs Parsons. BUILDERS OF DIESEL ENGINES
Under Special License From Messrs Sulzer Bros., Winterthur.
Licensed To Manufacture Lanz Perlit Irosi, Specially Suitable For Internal Combustion Engine Working Parts.
DOCK & SLIPWAYS.
FOR DOCKING VERY LARGE, AS WELL AS SMALLER VESSELS,
ON ANY TIDE.
ALL CLASSES OF SHIP, "ENGINE AND BOILER
REPAIRS AND EXTENSIVE
WELDING, BOTH ELECTRICAL AND OXY- ACETYLENE SKILFULLY AND PROMPTLY CARRIED OUT.
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, Agents,
· HONG KONG, CHINA & JAPAN.
TEL. ADDRES: “TaskooDoGE," HONG KONG. Taarnoxx: 3211.
Call Plam“ Nukerat One” Öykü “PENEANT ANL