Four million men must work with tools in order that two million men may fight in France. These men can not, “just be given a tool and told to use it.” It is necessary that they have years of careful training and actual experience in order that they might effectively make use of the intricate tools and machinery which the mother of modern industry is striving to place in their hands. At present every tool steel mill in America is straining its furnaces, hammers and rolling mills to their maximum capacity. They are working days, nights and Sundays and still the demand is far in excess of the supply. Conservative estimations show that with all the added machinery and equipment which is in the process of construction at this time, it will still take at least two years and a half before the tool steel industry of America will come any where near meeting the demand for its product. As we gaze with belated pride upon the huge structure of our present Preparedness, does it not seem strange to think that the most vital pillar of its whole foundation should have been forgotten and neglected so long and which is therefore now caused to endure such an abnormal and terrific strain? We are at last forced to realize that tool steel is the very essence of our whole existence. Of course, the great importance of tool steel in this national emergency does not stop with the actual weapons of warfare. Besides the railroads, automobiles, tramways, elevators, bridges, buildings, shoes, clothing and in fact, every branch of the intricate mass of manufactured products so vital to our daily existence, nations are crying for bread. Victory hangs on our food supply. Our threshing machines, our reapers and our harvesting machinery are all working over time. But before the threshing machines can thresh wheat and before the reapers can reap and before the tractors and other farm machinery can contribute their great service to humanity, it is necessary that the American production of tool steel must pass its rigid inspection and yield forth in full measure the great service which it is called upon to give. APPENDIX. ANALYSIS, USES AND HEAT TREATMENT OF VARIOUS GRADES OF TOOL STEELS. Providing the many complications and difficulties which accompany the melting, hammering, rolling, annealing, inspecting and finishing operations, have been successfully accomplished, the chemical analysis of the best grades of tool steel should come within the following limits: TYPICAL ANALYSIS OF HIGH SPEED STEEL. Carbon .66 % Tungsten 18.01 % Chromium 4.50 % Vanadium .98 % Phosphorus .023% Sulphur .021% Manganese .285% Silicon .228% Iron (by deduction) 75.293% USES. Turning, Boring, Planing, Slotting, Shaping Tools. Also Twist Drills, Milling Cutters, Gear Cutters, Taps, Reamers, Special Dies, etc. HEAT TREATMENT.