h's familiar
lines say of a man whose eyes had not been opened,--

"A primrose by a river's brim
A yellow primrose was to him,
And it was nothing more."

These books are planned to show the children that there is "something
more"; to broaden their horizon; to reveal to them what invention has
accomplished and what wide room for invention still remains; to teach
them that reward comes to the man who improves his output beyond the
task of the moment; and that success is waiting not for him who works
because he must, but him who works because he may.

Acknowledgment is due to the Lehigh Valley Railroad, Jones Brothers
Company, Alpha Portland Cement Company, Dwight W. Woodbridge, the Utah
Copper Company, the Aluminum Company of America, the Diamond Crystal
Salt Company, T. W. Rickard, and others, whose advice and criticism
have been of most valuable aid in the preparation of this volume.

EVA MARCH TAPPAN.

CONTENTS

I. IN A COAL MINE 1

II. DOWN IN THE QUARRIES 11

III. HOUSES OF SAND 21

IV. BRICKS, THEIR FAULTS AND THEIR VIRTUES 31

V. AT THE GOLD DIGGINGS 39

VI. THE STORY OF A SILVER MINE 48

VII. IRON, THE EVERYDAY METAL 57

VIII. OUR GOOD FRIEND COPPER 65

IX. THE NEW METAL, ALUMINUM 76

X. THE OIL IN OUR LAMPS 84

XI. LITTLE GRAINS OF SALT 95

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

A STRUCTURAL STEEL APARTMENT BUILDING vi

HOW A COAL MINE LOOKS ABOVEGROUND 5

MINERS AND THEIR MINE 10

OPENING A GRANITE QUARRY 13

BUILDING A CONCRETE ROAD 27

IN A NEW JERSEY BRICK MILL 33

HYDRAULIC GOLD MINING 41

THE STORY OF A SPOON 51

IN THE STEEL FOUNDRY 61

IN A COPPER SMELTER 67

A "MOVIE" OF AN ALUMINUM FUNNEL 79

A CALIFORNIA OIL FIELD 87

[Illustration: A STRUCTURAL STEEL APARTMENT BUILDING

_Courtesy American