Document bBz7o8OYnovzbDd4y1jYwwnpZ

FILE NAME: Garlock (GAR) DATE: 1966 Oct 7 DOC#: GAR078 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Meeting Minutes with Attendee List - Asbestos Textile Institute t tabbies' Minutes G E N E R A L l ii :TING Asbestos Textile Institute October 7, 1966 The Homestead, Hot Springs, Va. In Attendance A F R I C A N A3CESTOS J.W. Weber J,,L. Rainey J.W. Christenbury D , F. luealy h.H. Walter G. F. Fabel GARLCCK, INC. E . W. Jloughton TEXTILE CORT. J0HNS-MAJJVILL2 CORP. W.S. Hough E.A. Schuman W.C. Atkinson I. 3arnett -N-'.'/. He n d r y ( C a n a d i a n Johns-'a n v i l le) H. K. PORTER OOTANY, J. A. Gallagher J.D. 'eCluer D.E. Childers INC. RAYBESTOS-MANHATTAN, S.R. Zimmerman, Jr. J.A. Brown, Jr. M.q. Scowcroft J.P. virons ki L.C. Williams J.W. Hawkins INC. ASBESTOS CORPORATION W.W. Ought red ;:.P. C a r s o n G.F.A. Brink E . L. Alexander LIMITED BELL ASBESTOS MINES F. P. Smith Ito.J.W. S m i t h R. Dodds-lJebron LI ITED CASSIA:! ASBESTOS J.D. Christian J. G. Berry CORP. LTD. LAKE ASBESTOS OF QUEBEC, LTD. K . VI. N e l s o n TURNER BROS. ASBESTOS CO. LTD. W.r. Deckman TURNER & NEWALL, LIMITED B. Lincoln CAD! /ALAD E R ,W I C K E RS HAM & T A F T P.Jay Flocken (Legal Counsel ) T A L L I 'AN-i-:C C L U S K E Y FA3R I C S C O . UNITED STATES RUBBER COMPANY S .J. Peelfi, J r . D.T. Austin, Jr. ASBESTOS TE (TILE INSTITUTE H.E. Sunbury (Secretary) --- G U E S T S --- T.J. Smith - American Society for Testing A Materials H.E. Shearer - FiC Corp. - American Viscose Division * * * * * * i-inutes * * * * * * 1. President J o h n A . 3rown, Jr., called t h e m e e t i n g to order at 9:30 A.i and a s k e d e a c h p e r s o n to stand a n d i d e n t i f y hims e l f and h i s company affiliation. 2. The minutes of the last meeting were presented for reading. Mr. Peele mo v e d that the reading be omitted. Seconded by Mr. Schuman. So voted. i'inutes - General Meeting - continued Page - 2 - 3. T h e F i n a n c i a l Report was p r e s e n t e d by ,*x. E .A. Schuman, T r e a s u r er. i ' x P e e l e m o v e d t h a t it b e ' a c c e p t e d , s e c o n d e d by ;ar. Hough, and so voted. The report is attached to these minutes. 4. fx. T . J a y Flocken, Legal C o u n s e l , d i s c u s s e d the b a c k g round, s t a t utory construction and means of enforcement nertaining to the Sher man Act, with particular emphasis on the per se offenses which have been established under Section I of the Act. 5. Mr. N.W. Hendry, General Sales Manager, Canadian Johns-Ianville Asbestos Limited, Asbestos Fibre Division, presented a most interest ing report on behalf of the asbestos fibre producers. The full text of his report is attached to these minutes. 6. Mr. Howard E. Shearer, Industrial Development Coordinator, FMC Corp. American Viscose Division, Marcus Hook, Pa, addressed the meeting. His subject, "Some Fiber Relationships of Interest to the A s b e s t o s T e x t i l e Manufacturer'*, w a s roost i n f o r m a t i v e . A s s i s t e d by r h o t o m i e r o g r a p h i c slides, fir. S h e a r e r e x p l a i n e d the v a r i o u s s t e p s in the manufacture of rayon and distinguishing features of the many de s c r i p t i o n s o f s t a p l e p r o d u c e d by t h e A m e r i c a n Viscose Division. It was indicated that the uniform diameters and lengths of a crimped rayon with a serrated cross section; and its cohesive and processing properties enhanced by the presence of a delustrant and special lu bricating finish, make such a stanle e s p e cially attractive as a car rying fiber for spinning of asbestos. xesident Brown expressed to Mr. Shearer our appreciation for his fine talk. 7. The committee reports were given by the respective chairmen as listed below. The full text of their reports is attached to these minutes. A i r H y g i e n e & M a n u f a c t u r i n g C o m m i t t e e - V.f.C. A t k i n s o n , Sales Promotion Committee - W.S. Hough, Chairman T e c h n i c a l Committee - J . D . iicCluer, Chairman Fiber Testing Committee - J.P. Wronski, Chairman Chin. 8. President Brown reported w i t h deep regr e t the death of T.C. McCluskey, President of Tallman-McCluskey Fabrics Company, which oc cur r e d on J u l y 18, 1966. Mr. f.k:Cluskey w a s a m ost l o y a l s u p p o r t e r of the various activities of the A.T.I., and had served as its treas u r e r in 1958, and as Vice President in 1961 and 1962. President Brown stated that he had written a letter of sympathy to Mrs. HcCluskey on behalf o f the Institute, and the letter is made a part of these minutes. 9. Mr. Peele, Chairman of the Nominating Committee, reported that the m e m b e r s o f t h e B o a r d of G o v e r n o r s for t h e co m i n g ye ar w o u l d be: J.A. J.A. E.A. S.J. J.L. J.L. G.P. Brown, Jr. - Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc* G a l l a g h e r - H.i:. P o r t e r C o m p a n y , Inc. Schuroan - J o h n s - M a n v i l l e Corpor ation Peele, Jr. - United States Rubber Company Mitchell - Tallman-McCluskey Fabrics Company Rainey - American Asbestos Textile Corpcr ation Wiess - Garlock, Inc. Minutes - General eeting - continued Page -3 10 J'r. P e e l e i n f o r m e d met on October 6, 1966, in the coming year: the and members elected that the Board of G w e r n o r s had the following officers to serve President - J.L. Rainey, American Asbestos Textile Corporation V i c e P r e s i d e n t - EA. Schuman, John s - i 'a n v i l l e C o r p o r a t i o n Treasurer - N.LA. Martucci, Garlock, Inc. 11 President B r o w n stated that the present chairmen of Air iiygiene & I'fg., T e c h n i c a l , Sales P r o m o t i o n and F i b e r T e s t i n g C ommittees, all of whom have completed only one year of the normal two year service, would be continued for another year without change* 12* President Brown, retiring president, was presented with a hand s o m e A T M O S c l o c k o n b e h a l f o f t h e members, b y tir. Peele, in a p p r e c i a t i o n o f h i s l e a d e r s h i p of the I n s t i t u t e d u r i n g the past t w o ye ars. President B r o w n e x p r e s s e d his t h a n k s for t h e g i f t id t h a p p r o p r i a t e remarks, and said that it had been a most pleasurable and worthwhile experience to have had the opportunity to serve the Institute as its President. He thanked the members and the Board of Governors for the fine cooperation given him during his tenure of office. 13. President Brown commented on the fact that so many of the mem bers had brought their respective wives to this meeting (about 30) and remarked that the ladies had contributed a great deal to the so cial success and good fellowship so evident in the two days preceding this General Meeting 14. President Brown announced that the next regular meeting of the Institute would be held on February 9-10, 1967, at the CliEURY HILL INK, C h e r r y H i l l , ii.J. T h e C h e r r y Hill Inn i s w e l l - k n o w n for i t s n e w and e x c e p t i o n a l l y fine a c c o m m o d a t i o n s It is loca t e d n e a r C a m den, N . J . , just ac r o s s the r i v e r f r o m P h i l a d e l p h i a . It is c o n v e n i e n t b y T A X I to P h i l a d e l p h i a 's t r a i n s and airports, and also is c l o s e to the New Jersey Turnpike for those who drive their cars to the meeting 15. Th e r e being no further business to come before this meeting, it was duly adjourned Respectfully submitted, H.E. S u n b u r y - Secret Ary" R e p a r t cf rune' 3 .-.SB ^ jT c s pilj: Svir*-= -b :c 9, 1 9 a .-. B a l a n c e cn H a n d at l a s t Report, !r.T 9. 1 9 6 6 General Fund Savings Fund Potty Cash rund 7415.41 10CC9.96 20.28 Receipts T o S a v i n g s xhina (Interest) T o General Fund { 1966 Luos) To General Fund (Book Sales) To General Fund (Assessnents Fibre Test 212.30 500.00 02.52 5^68.91 L i s b u r 3 orients .nnu* 1 ) T o t a l O n H a n d r.rd R o c o i v jd Legal Retainer ( six n o s ending Secretary's Salary ( 3 nos.) F.I.C.-'.Tax (2nd Qtr 1956) Secretary's travel Office rent ( 3 nos.) Exhibit expense F i b r e T e s t lir.nual rxper.se 8/31) 1005.20 359.25 31.50 194.05 225.00 62.60 54." :-;.43 Handbook expense (3rd Edition) 999.00 P r i n t i n g ft O f f i c e S u p p l i e s 173.00 Stenographic Meeting Jlxpense (June 1966) Insurance ( 3 year rentals) 27.50 773.34 115.00 Flowers (T.C.AcCluskey) 21.65 Telephone ( 4 nos.) 122.63 Petty Cash (Vouchors 239-266 incl.) 103.10 B a lana on Hand ns of 5 opt.9,1266 Funds General Fund(Eanic Savings Fund Petty Cash Fund Statement of Sept.S,l&66) 4C67.S9 19223.25 7 6 .90 Total Funds IP6453 5 6565.73 .:0019.2a 9651.33 23368.05 23360.05 Assets as of Sept.9.1966 General Fund Savings Fund Petty cash on hand A c c o u n t s R e c e i v a b l e { Book S*>les) Accounts ReceivablefF.Test Ijar.Assessnt) Postage on Hand F u r n i t u r e iiquipnent (For.inr.1 Value) Total Assets Liabilities (Rone) Ret Y/orth 4067.69 19223.26 76.90 96.03 251.52 (*> 4,50 1.00 23721.10 U 23721.10 (-*.) P a i d 9 / 1 5 / 6 6 Hasp ctfull submitted Siincury - jlcst. T r e a s u r e r 'FIBRE C O r r i T T E : RT.IVRT T he year 1966 has been a difficult one for the asbestos fibre produc ers in that asbestos fibre shipments were interrupted for a five w e e k period in liy and June by a s tevedore s t r i k e at the St. Lawrence River ports. Secondly, a strike of the'Canadian railroad workers oc curred in the latter part of August and ear l y September for a ten day period. Inflation is of increasing concern on the Canadian scene with labour assuming more militant tnndencies and demanding higher and higher wages. New asbestos mines under development include the Clinton Creek operation of Cassiar which is scheduled for production in 1968. The Asbestos Hill development of Asbestos Corrcr ation in t h e Ungava region of Quebec is scheduled for production in 1970. These two mining operations will produce additional asbestos cemait fibres to supply the growing market in this field where the demand i s increasing throughout the world. Countries in the Far Bast and in South America continue to expand their production of asbestos cement p r o d u c t s w i t h t h e r e q u i r e m e n t fo r a s b e s t o s f i b r e s . .T h e d e m a n d for r.sbestos fibres in brake linings par t i c u l a r l y in the United States c ontinu es at a h igh level and this demand is expected to continue at the same strength providing the automobile industry continues to pro d u c e at a r e c o r d pace. Also, the many m i s c e l l a n e o u s uses for asbes tos fibre continue in good demand and it is encouraging to note a broader usage of asbestos fibre from year to year. Production of asbestos fibre in Russia continues to exceed that of Canada although sales outside the borders of that country are limited t o Europe, I n d i a and J a p a n at a r a t e e s t i m a t e d at 175, 0 0 0 to 200,000 t o n s p e r y e a r . D i f f i c u l t times a r e b e i n g e x p e r i e n c e d by T. St N. in Southern Rhodesia whereby the asbestos fibre from that country is be ing embargoed in many countries of the world aid we see no early ter mination to the problems related thereto. T h e economy of North Amer ica continues at a high level and no indicati on of a slowdown in de mand for asbestos fibre is yet apparent although it is expected that the continuation of the tight money policy in the U.S. and Canada will have its effects in the near term. The currency problems of many countries in South America has lessened during the past two years and this has resulted in a higher demand for asbestos fibre in many of the South American countries. The economy of Europe contin u e s at a h i g h l e v e l w i t h the e x c e p t i o n of t h e United Kingdom w h e r e s e v e r e p r o b l e m s i n d i c a t e d i f f i c u l t tiroes f o r t h e y e a r 1967. C e r t a i n ly, the problems in the United Kingdom will affect the asbestos in dustry in the near term. The demand for asbestos fibre in the Far E a s t is c o n t i n u i n g to g r o w at a r a p i d r a t e w i t h th e i n c r e a s i n g p r o d u c t i o n of a s b e s t o s cement p r o d u c t s . It is e x p e c t e d t hat t h e s e m a r k e t s will c o n t i n u e to g r o w at a r a n i d rate p r o v i d i n g currency p r o b lems can be solved and providing that external forces do not disturb the normal political situations. C o n cern has b e e n rgistered regarding the possibility of asbestos as a health hazard such that it is pertinent t o mention that the Quebec Asbestos Pining Association has embarked on a broad medical study w h i c h viill i n v o l v e the e x p e n d i t u r e o f s u b s t a n t i a l s u m s of money. Three very competent medical personnel have bee n retained to conduct basic studies on asbestos fibre from the standpoint of its effect on t he health of human beings. Sufficient information is not yet at hand to provide t he basis for any p u b l i cation and it will be some time before such is available. N'.'ni/bh N . W . H E N D R Y , G e n e r a l Sales ligr. Canadian JOHNS-MAIIVILLE Asbestos Ltd., p.o. n-- MINUTES A I R H Y G I E N E A N 1) M A N U F A C T U R I N G COi ITTEE OCTOBER 6, 1966 THE HOMESTEAD - HOT SPRINGS. VA. Attending: 'embers: W.C. Atkinson, Chairman I.J . A. G a l l a g h e r C. Williams II. W a l t e r K. W. Nelson Johns-Manville Products Corp. il.K. P o r t e r Co., Inc. Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc. American Asbestos Textile Corp. American Smelting * Refining Co. Absent: R.B. A.C. C.L. T.D. Smith Link Sheckler McCluskey Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc. United States Rubber Co. Johns-Manvilie Products Corp. Tallroan McCluskey Fabrics Co. Dausch and Lonb Automatic Dust Mr. Nelson of American Smelting and Refining Co. gave a demonstration o f the Dausch a n d Lorob 4 0 - 2 A u t o m a t i c Oust C o u n t e r . T h e C o m m i t t e e was impressed vith its simplicity of operation and its versatility. It is portable and can be carried around w i t h ease, and requires no special training to operate. Maintenance is practically nil. By a simple adjustment the range of particle size to be counted can be c h a n g e d . It a l s o has t h e a d v a n t a g e that it g i v e s i n s t a n t and c o n t i n uous readings which, with the addition of a recorder, makes it possi b l e t o set t h e e q u i p m e n t ur> at a g i v e n s t a t i o n and m o n i t o r the a t m o s pheric conditions for extended periods of time The present cost of the instrument is $3,800. plus $800. for the re corder. It wa s s u g g e s t e d , for c o n s i d e r a t i o n , that t h e A . T . I . p u r c h a s e o n e which could be rented or loaned to individual member companies. There was also some discussion on literature received from the Union Industrial Eauipment Corp. which described the Unico Cassella Gravi metric Oust Sampler. This instrument still requires manual counting the same as the Greenberg Smith method. Environmental Health Survey A letter from Dr. Lewis J. Cralley was read in which h e stated that t h e y expect t o c o m p l e t e the i n - p l a n t p h a s e o f t h e i r s t u d y td t h i n a year from this fall. He also enclosed copies of the following papers they have written on the environmental phase of the asbestos study since its beginning. Additional copies may be obtained by writing direct to: Lewis J. Cralley, Scientist Director Occupational Health Research & Training Bureau of State Services 1014 Broadway Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Facility Tinutes - Air Hygiene and Tanafacturing Cornittee Fage -2- Environmental Health Survey - continued 1 . ) Ayer, et al: A comparison of inringer and membrane filter t e c h n i q u e s for e v a l u a t i n g air samples in a s b e s t o s plants. 2 . ) Ayer, et al: Relationship of inninger counts to fiber con centrations by membrane filter in asbestos textile plants. 3 . ) Ayer and Lynch: Notes and fibers in the air of asbestos processing plants and hygienic criteria for air-borne asbestos* 4 . ) Cralley, et al: Occupational health study of the asbestos products industry in the United States. 5 . ) L y n c h : A s b e s t o s s t u d y - P r o c e d u r e s and fi ndin g s . 6 . ) L y n c h and A y e r : 1'e a s u r e m e n t of d u s t e x p o s u r e s in t h e asbestos textile industry. "CUBICAL WEEK" Article T h e r e \vas a j o i n t d i s c u s s i o n w i t h the S a l e s P r o m o t i o n C o m m i t t e e o n an arti c l e p r i n t e d i n t h e S e p t e m b e r 10t h i s s u e of "C H E M I C A L V/E-K" e n t i t l e d ''A s b e s t o s : A w a i t i n g T r i a l " . A full report on the actions to be taken will be rerorted in the minutes of the Sales Promotion Committee. Respectfully submitted, N o v e m b e r 9, 1 9 6 6 V/.C. A t k i n s o n , C h a i r m a n Air Hygiene & Jlfg, Committee Minutes: sates rno;orion coniittee ASBESTOS TEXTILE INSTITUTE O C T O P iR 6th, 1 9 6 6 AT HOT SPRINGS, VIRGINIA The Sales Pronotion Committee net on October 6, 1966. All nenber c o m p a n i e s w e r e p r e s e n t except li.Ji. Porter Co . and T a l l m a n - l c C l u s k e y Fabrics, Inc. As a result of a direct nail campaign to a selected list of colleges and universities with Engineering Departments, we have had some re sponse in the natter of interest in using our A.T.I. Exhibit in their schools. T h e d i s p l a y h a s b e e n s e n t to A l f r e d U n i v e r s i t y S c h o o l o f C e r amics at A l f r e d , Ne\* Y o r k , a s s i g n e d for t h e fall s e m e s t e r u n t i l February 1st, 1967* We have tentative assignment of the exhibit for Stevens Insti tute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, from February 1st, 1967 to June 1st, 1967. We h ave possible interest from South Dakota School o f i'ines f o r s o m e l a t e r date. At an appropriate time in 1967, we will send out a similar, direct mail letter to the remaining portion of the mailing list of universi ties. A report was made that a small quantity of Japanese made Asbestos C l o t h has been reported sold in the midwest area as low as 46$ per lb. This situation is being watdi ed carefully. Final decisions on all copy has been made for publishing the Third Edition of the Asbestos Textile Handbook. We have coordinated in the H a n d b o o k all cf the ASTI-; specificati ons r e v i s e d aid a p p r o v e d by A S T M for our publication. Contract has b e e n let for publication of 12,500 copies to Confort & Company, New York City, with an approximate six weeks* delivery prom ised as of October 17th, 1966. The Sales Promotion Committee agreed to recommend to the Board of Governors sending a copy of the A.T.I. Handbook to all important en gineering school libraries. Discussion took place as to the advisability of e xpanding our inter m e m b e r r e p o r t i n g o f b u s i n e s s levels o f p r o d u c t i o n anc! s a l e s o f indi v i d u a l c o m p a n i e s to s u p r l e m e n t C a r u s o r e p o r t s . N o d e c i s i o n w a s con cluded. A supplementary meeting was held with all interested A.T.I. members concer ning recent adverse publicity of asbestos products as written in Chemical Week Magazine. Members of the Asbestos Fibre Committee and the Technical Committee joined with the Sales Promotion Committee in this discussion. Sitting as a Committee O f The Whole, it was felt advisable to register with Chemical Week our concern of their irre sponsible article in the September 10th, 1966, issue. rSnues: SALES PROMOTION COHMIITSS Page -2- Thru our legal counsel, we plan to register our dissatisfaction both verbally and in written form We rejected at t his tine a p lan o f t r y i n g to obt a i n a written state ment from either Dr, Cralley or from the Industrial Hygiene Founda tion which could be used by sales organizations to refute adverse publicity. (Signed) W,S, Hough W.S. Hough - Chairman MJPUTES: Asbestos Textile Institute Technical Committee Report October 6, 1966 The meeting vas held at The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia IN ATTENDANCE; J. W. Hawkins - Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc. Irvin Barnett - Johns-Manville Corporation G. E. Houghton - Garlock, Inc. D. T. Austin - U. 5. Rubber Company Valter M. Beckman - Turner Brothers Asbestos Company D. F. Quealy * Smerican Asbestos Company J. D. McCluer - H. X. Porter Company, Inc. Paul Smith - ASTM Herbert E. Sunbtusy - Asbestos Textile Institute SUBJECTS DISCUSSED; Revision of ASTM Specifications In order to give an intelligent report of the meeting on Thursday, October 6th., it is necessary to describe the activities of the committee since the June meeting. Following the June meeting, the committee reviewed and reported discrepancies in the 1966 ASTM preprint on D315, D1571, and D2100. These were reported to Paul Smith, ASTM. In the meantime a conflict in use of terms was noted wherein the word "Type" was used in two places to imply different meanings. In D315 and D1571 Types 1 to 5 designate the various kinds of y a m that can be used. In D2100 Types 11, IV, and VI designate the magnetic rating of various asbestos textiles. In order to avoid the conflict it was recommended that the word "Class" be nsed in designating the kinds of yarn used in D31$ and D1571 and the word "Type" be retained in D2100. In order to give all members of the committee an opportunity to express confirmation of the change, a letter ballot was mailed by the chairman to each member with the request to vote for or against the change. The response was 100JS for the change. This information was relayed to Paul Smith for proper changes in the ASTM draft and also to Bill Hough and Howard Bain for proper insertion in the new A.T.I. Handbook. This completed the committee's work in assisting Sales Promotion with the A.T.I. Handbook. Copies of the bth. Draft of B1918, as set up at the June meeting were distributed to all members and a copy to Dr. Scroggie. Comments and re commended changes on this draft were received from Dr. Scroggie in July. Copies of his comments were sent tolall members prior to the August 18th. and 19th. meeting. - 1 - Meeting of the Technical Committee August 18th. - 19th., 1966 at ASTM Headquarters, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania IN ATTENDANCE: Irvin Barnett - Johns-Manville Corporation W. S. Hough - Johns-Manville Corporation J. W. Hawkins - Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc. William Maaskant - American Asbestos Company G. E. Houghton - Garlock, Inc. J. D. KcCluer - H. K. Porter Company, Inc. Paul Smith - ASTM Arthur G. Scroggie - ASTM Herbert Sunbury - A.T.I. On Thursday August l8th., the committee set up the 2nd. Draft of D299 yams. Bill Hough, chairman of the Sales Bromotion Committee met with the committee that day and his assistance was greatly appreciated. On Friday Ausust 19th., Dr. Scroggie met with the committee and with his assistance a better arrangement of the specification was formulated. Time did not permit at this meeting the consideration of the various equations involved. Following the August meeting several exchanges by correspondence have been made within the committee and with Dr. Scroggie on the equations involved in D1918, At the present meeting on October 6th., consideration was given to D1918 and so far as the editorial script is concerned, agreement seems to have been reached between the committee and Dr. Scroggie's committee. The equations are yet to be resolved. Due to the urgency of completing the revision of the specifications, the committee felt that an intermediate meeting should be held. Decision was to have this on Thursday and Friday, December 15th. and 16th., 1966 at ASTM Headquarters, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. J. D. KcCluer Chairman of the Technical Committee 2 Minutes: ASBESTOS TEXTILE INSTITUTE BIBER TESTING COMMITTEE October 5-7, 1966 Hot Springs, Virginia Attending: J. L'ronski J . Berry G.F.A. Brink D.E.Childers J. Christian R.Dodds-Hebron B.Lincoln Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc. Cassiar Asbestos Corp. Ltd Asbestos Corp., Ltd. H.K.Porter, Inc. Cassiar Asbestos Corp., Lt Sell Asbestos Mines, Ltd. Turner & Newa11, Ltd. Subjects Discussed 1. Mr. Deivey Childers of H.K.Porter discussed the present status of a test procedure he is trying to develop to determine the spicule content of milled textile grade fibers. So far, results have been inconclusive. By the time of the next meeting he hopes to know definitely whether his apparatus will function \vell enough to do the job he wants. 2. Members of the Fiber Testing Committee representing both fiber producers and consumers plan to attend the next meeting of ASTH Sub Committee A-4 on Asbestos Textiles which meets in New York City the 19th of this month. One of the items scheduled to be taken up at this meet ing is the revision of ASTM test procedure D-1118, which is the procedure for determining the magnetic rating of asbestos. Since the magnetic rating test presented in our test manual is patterned very closely after the ASTM procedure, the Committee feels we should follow any proposed changes in the ASTII procedure very closely to see if the proposed changes might suggest any modifications to our own procedure. Results of the ASTM deliberations will be reported to Committee members at the next meeting. 3. The Committee discussed a situation that arose occasionally in which test values for fiber openness or surface area reported by a mine sometimes differed appreciably from the values found by the fiber pur chaser on the same lot of fiber. It was agreed that this problem arose when the miner made his tests on fiber before it was packed in shipping bags and the purchaser made his tests on packed fiber removed from the bag. The effect of packing makes a big difference in fiber openness test values. / This situation emphasized the need for both the miner and the purchaser to condition and prepare the fibers in the sane v/ay before any tests are made on them. At present the best procedure we have for this is outlined in the first test in our test manual under Method of Sampling and Preparation. 4. Mr. Gay Brink of Asbestos Corporation briefly reviewed for the Committee the results of the recent meeting of ASTM Committee D-30 on Inorganic and High Modulus Fibers. This is the committee established a few years ago to handle standards and test procedures on fibers and whiskers made of such materials as boron, carbon, aluminum oxide and other materials as well as on asbestos. Respectfully submitted, J. i.'ronski - 2 -