The Iron Age 1888-01-12: Vol 41

rt ke A New Belt Shifter. street, Buffalo, N. Y., is turning out an ingenious single cord locking belt shifter, of which we present two views, illustrat- ing both back and front. Its manner of working is very simple, and will be readily understood from the engravings. In using this shifter for belts or clutches-it is im- possible to make a mistake. There is but one cord to pull one way, as the shifter is IRON THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1888, AGE number of prominent establishments, and | shows, and experience has proved, that in a that shop and territorial rights are to be | most cases this course is neither simple nor Mr. J. W. Dennis, 14 West Seneca disposed of. a Ironfounders and Steel Castings. builds a furnace and attendant plant large The rapidly increasing use of steel cast- | enough to turn out the heaviest articles he ings cannot fail, according to the Engineer, | is likely to be asked for; he engages ex to produce uneasiness in the minds of the | perienced assistants, and commences opera majority of ironfounders. In some depart- | tions. If sufficient work ments of engineering iron castings have'to keep the vel eVvrTT Jn 4 t be - . w Fig. 1 —Front View Fig. 2.—Rear View. gy NEW BELT SHIFTER, MADE BY J. W. DENNIS, BUFFALO, N. Y. a simple reverse motion, and the cord can be led anywhere in the shop most con- venient for the operator. The shifter is always locked while not shifting, thereby preventing machinery starting or stopping | unless the cord is pulled. It can be applied to any shifter rod now in use. The way in which the cord acts when pulled is clearly shown in the front view, Fig. 1, a counterweighted hook on the end of the cord engaging with either one of the projecting ends of the locking and shifting plate, throwing the latter from one side to the other and giving a corres- ponding movement to the shifter proper. The hook is shown in dotted outline when pulled to the upper limit of its travel. We understand that the device has already been received very favorably in a 'steel castings. But a little consideration already been all but discarded, while in|thing like regularity he will in all many other branches the field for their em- | probability, after experiencing some ups ployment is daily growing more restricted. | and downs during the first few years of Marine engineering, which at one time ab- | his venture, find himself fairly established sorbed large quantities of first-class iron | in a profitable business. But this keeping castings, is fast becoming independent of | the furnace regularly employed is the spe iron in any form; and in numerous engines | cial difficulty with the newly established of recent construction little besides the | steel founder. Even a small furnace is cylinders has been of cast iron. This is aj capable of making 50 to 80 tons of clean natural result of the demand for combined | castings per week; and when only enough strength and lightness, but none the less it| orders are booked to make up two or is a very unsatisfactory development for| three casts per week, instead of 12 or the proprietors of iron foundries, who thus} 15 casts, it is plain that the work must see the best paying branches of their busi- | be done at a loss. The open-hearth fur- ness passing altogether out of their hands. | nace cannot, like the cupola, be put in At first sight the remedy for this state of | working order at a few hours’ notice. It matters appears simple. The ironfounder | requires several days to bring it up toa must adapt himself to the times, and make | working temperature, and, once started, must be kept going, burning gas, wasting profitable. Steel for castings of any size is now almost universally melted in open- hearth furnaces, and the founder who has decided to commence this manufacture can be secured furnace going with some- ee ———— c OE EE ow | 5 4 1s brickwork, and requiring attendance, whether actually in use or not, as long as there is any probability of its being wanted. In addition to the direct losses thus occasioned, the irregular leads to the production of inferior and while the expedi nt of making ingots to fill up time generally proves to be an unsatisfactory and unre munerative proceeding. These considera- tions naturally deter ironfounders from embarking in the steel trade, but it is at the same time certain that they do not view the diversion of their business into the hands of the large steel corporations with equanimity, and that many of them would gladly adopt any process for mak- ing steel castings which could be conducted intermittently without pecuniary loss. We are not prepared to discuss the nature of such a process, but may say that indica- tions point to the use of ** blow pipe * fur- naces burning gas of high calorific power, and to the use of aluminium as an agent for reducing the temperature of fluidity of the steel. The whole subject is one of great interest and importance, and well worth the careful attention of metallurgic chemists and engineers. working ‘ , 1? t? . waster Castings ; EE ~ Defective Drip Connections on Engines. With the modern high-speed engine, especially with those of the piston-valve type, or even with any engine located at a distance from the boiler, or where the boiler primes badly, it is necessary that the drip-cocks or valves should be slightly open, in order to afford egress to the water which may accumulate. In a_ very common form of such drip connections the valve-chest, both ends of the cyl- inder and the exhaust drips are led into one pipe connected to the inlet of a trap. This form of connection, provided check- valves opening outwardly are placed on the pipes outside or inside of the drip- valves or cocks, is a good one. Strange as it may seem, however, in about a dozen cases which have recently come to our no- tice less than one-half were provided with these checks, and, consequently, while the | engine was running steam was wasted in | large quantities by being blown directly | into the exhaust-pipe from the steam end | or else into the exhausting side of the | piston, where it frequently occasions a fur- ther loss by creating back pressure, The | latter is especially liable to happen when there is no drip on the exhaust-pipe or when the drip-valve on the latter is closed. | We have frequently seen the drips con- | nected in the manner just described, with- | out the intervention of a trap on the main drip-pipe, the latter being led directly to the sewer or into the exhaust-pipe, where it turns down. The _ losses in this case are frequently very heavy. Again, where a trap is interposed the by- pass valve on the top will be found open, thus preventing the trap from fulfilling its duty, which is to retain water until the pot is filled and then discharge the same under steam pressure. We would recom mend closing this pass-by valve tightly and removing the wheel, or else by means of a chain and padlock secure the valve wheel, when the valve is hard on its seat, to some convenient piping. This pass-by valve in a heating job is a great conven- ience to free the system from water when steam is first turned on ; for drip connec- tions, however, its office is limited to oc- casions when the trap is stuck—or, in other words, when the outlet is obstructed and the trap fills up with water. Ox casionally the discharge-valve to the trap will be- come wedged open, and the trap will thus be prevented from working. This can only be determined by inspection, and upon failure to hear the characteristic peri odical roar incident to discharging. }or flat, flame burner, we shall at once THE IRON AGE. In a large plant of which we know, where numberless traps are employed, a} systematic daily inspection of the traps is | made under the following instructions: If the trap be found cold to the touch, exam- ine all inlet and outlet valves: if these be found wide open the trap is stuck, and the first opportunity must be taken to remove the trap for repairs. If the trap be found warm to the touch, open the discharge- drip (a drip or a tee on the discharge-pipe | between the trap and a main valve on its discharge-pipe), first closing the discharge- | valve. Ifa stream of hot water and steam | shows itself, and continues to blow for | several minutes, the trap is _ blowing through, and it is to be removed and sent to the shop for repairs. If no steam or water shows itself upon opening the drip, or if the flow ceases in a minute or so, the trap is working properly. a Gias-Fired Steam Boilers. At a meeting of the British Sanitary Congress, held a few months ago, a num- ber of papers on boilers were read. Dur- | ing the discussion of these Mr. John Head | explained and illustrated the system of | evas-firing for steam boilers recently per- fected by Mr. Frederiek Siemens, and as | this subject, though not absolutely new, is yet of great importance angl well worthy | of the attention of steam users generally, we | publish herewith an abstract of Mr. Head’s remarks: Mr. Siemens, when considering the action of flame in a furnace heated by contact, came to the conclusion that the flame was misapplied. He found that combustion was disturbed and the flame was partly wasted when brought into contact with any solid substance | whatever, and that this was particularly the case with boilers, the plates of which, being in contact with water, must neces- | sarily and constantly be at a temperature considerably below that of the flame. Mr. Siemens inferred that a gaseous flame, in order to be utilized to the best advantage, should burn freely in an inclosed space without contact with the materials under treatment or surrounding objects—in other words, that it should be placed under con- ditions analogous to those which apply to gas burners. If we consider a gas flame used for artificial lighting, say an Argand gaseous realize how undesirable it would be to} introduce therein any solid substance; the | result would be loss of effect, which would | become apparent by diminution in the light and heat obtained, coupled with the | production of smoke. Expressed in this | manner, it becomes evident that contact of | flame with solid substances is detrimental | to combustion, and where heating by radia- tion has been adopted, the result of prac- tice in high temperature furnaces, such as are used for the production of steel on the open hearth, for heating iron and steel, for the manufacture of glass, and other | purposes, has been a saving of from 30 to 40 per cent. in the weight of fuel, im- provement in the quality of the product, and diminished wear and tear of furnaces. With these encouraging results before him, Mr. Siemens considered the applica- tion of his new method of heating to the tiring of boilers. Gas coming from the gas producer to the boiler passes through a | regulating valve, and thence onward to the combustion flue of the boiler, where it meets with a current of heated air, and, entering into combustion therewith, the flame circulates first through the combus- tion flue, afterward around the boiler, at | the sides, and finally underneath on its way to the chimney. The boiler is set in brick- work, in much the same manner as for firing with solid fuel, the chief difference con- sisting in the provision of a double series | of channels underneath, through some of | the boiler. | production of steam \fidently expected that an January 12, 1882, which the products of combustion pass away to the chimney, while the inflowing air to the boiler passes through adjoining channels. By this means the products of combustion leaving the boiler are deprived of most of their sensible heat, the action being so perfect that at a large works, where these improved gas fired boilers are used exclusively, the temperature in the main chimney flue at a short distance from the boilers has been found to be much below the point of boiling water. Inside the combustion flue of the boiler are placed fire clay rings, the object of which is to pre- vent contact of the flame with the plates of A ring at each end of the com- bustion flue will suffice in short boilers, but where the length of flame flue exceeds |suy 10 feet or 12 feet, as is generally the case with boilers in this country, additional rings are provided at intervals. The flame flue should be clear from end to end, as cross tubes would interfere with proper |combustion, and it is preferred to have boilers, such as Cornish boilers, with only one large flame flue, although at some works boilers with two flame fiues are used, The character and quality of the flame are subject to complete control by means of the gas regulating damper already re- ferred to, the air regulating dampers, and the chimney damper also provided. By |means of these dampers the temperature of the flame may be increased or dimin- | ished at will—or, in other words, the pro- duction of steam may be augmented or reduced at pleasure, and in either case without the production of smoke. In the papers which have been read, it was said that it was possible to avoid the produc- tion of smoke in boilers fired with solid |fuel, provided that they are not pushed for the production of steam, which im- plies that the fires shall be ‘kept thin and be supplied with an excess of air; other- wise smoke cannot be avoided. But in the case of boilers fired with gas and heated by radiation, no smoke need be produced under any conditions of work- ing—that is, whether a large or small quan- tity of steam be required at any time; in fact, the presence of smoke would reduce the temperature of the flame and cause a diminution in the production of steam, so that the men in charge of such boilers would find it convenient, and to their own interest, to avoid the production of smoke. | Where a range of boilers is fired by gas it is preferable to place them under a fore- man who understands how to regulate the by regulating the supply of combustible gases to the boilers, and who can keep the men attending to the gas producers up to their work. Under such conditions boilers at work give regularly an evaporative power of from 9to 10 pounds of water per pound of coal burnt in the gas producers. These results compare favorably with the best solid fuel fired boilers, but better results | having been obtained, under certain cir- cumstances, in later applications, it is con- evaporative power of from 10 to 12 pounds of water per pound of coal will be obtained as a constant result. Where small fuel is available, it can be used in the gas pro- ducers for the production of the gas re- quired for firing boilers, and the saving thus effected, added to that in weight of fuel, will in many cases produce an econo- my of from 40 to 50 per cent. in the firing of boilers upon the present practice with solid fuel. This result will be obtained | with less attention, or hard work, in firing, 'and will be attended with greater dura- bility of boilers, and last, though not least, with total absence of smoke. Messrs. Nettlefolds have adopted the Siemens gas-fired boilers, to the exclusion of any other system, for their new works near Newport. Monmouthshire, and have eight such boilers, 28 feet long by 7 feet 12, 1888. January diameter, in constant work, producing steam at a pressure of 70 pounds per square inch. This firm have arranged to build 10 such boilers, if necessary, to produce the steam required for their works, as in the case of solid fuel boilers being adopted they would have required eight boilers with superheaters, and the cost of superheaters would have been the same as the cost of two additional boilers. Superheaters are, of course, inapplicable where the gases leave boilers at the low temperature men- tioned; and it is satisfactory to find that the two additional boilers proposed to be employed have been found to be unneces- Ae . fii Fiy. 1.—Double ti Fe i | ‘ il i I THE IRON AGE. with results as satisfactory aus those given above. In Germany, where brown coal is used containing a large proportion of non- combustible substances, the figures quoted of course do not apply ; but as compared with boilers fired with solid fuel of the same kind, the advantages realized are rela- tively quite as favorable. I Giirder Street Railway Road-bed. Every one who has given even the slight est attention to the systems now in voour of laying down street railway road-beds Chair for Joints. Ii A i Hi \ NIH Mt Hi i Fig. 2.—Intermediate Single Chair THE WHITE STREET sary, so that the cost of these builers them- selves and settings has been saved. Sixty gas-fired boilers have also been fitted with rings in the combustion flues at the Barrow Hematite Steel Company's Works. This application was made after careful trial to one, and subsequently to six boilers, when it was found that the altered boilers gave distinctly greater evaporative power than the boilers not altered, although all boilers were supplied with the same quantity of gas from the same source; but that source being blast furnaces, the advantage of the application could not be ascertained in figures. Many applications of gas-fired boilers have also been made on the Siemens radiation principle in Germany and Italy, RAILWAY ROAD-BED must have been struck, above all other things, with the creat inconveniences to traffic in laying and repairing them. The engravings which we present on this page, illustrating a method brought out by Mr. R. poo White. 12 Pearl street, Joston, Mass., by which these and many other difficulties are avoided, will therefore prove of some interest. We should note here that screw bolts, fish-plates, and a number of adjuncts to other systems have been discarded by Mr. White, greater simplicity and economy of construction being thus attained. Fig. 1 represents a double chair of cast-iron, used where joints are necessary, instead of fish- plates or splice-bars, with the rail having announced 19 a fillet on the lower edge of the web, which fits tightly into a corresponding eroove in the chair, as shown The rail is held solidly in the chair by an improved key bolt, which passes through the chair under the rail Another one passes be tween the ends of the rails as shown, thus holding the jaws on the chair firmly to the web, making it an utter impossibility to move it when once keyed. Fig. 2 represents a single or intermediate chair, with rail, having a fillet on the lower edge of the web, which fits tight], into a corresponding groove in the chair The rail here also is held solidly in the chair by a kev bolt, which passes through the chair under the rail, holding the jaws of the chair firmly to the web. The chairs ire bolted down to wooden cross-ties, though Mr. White has turned out some n which only iron is employed, the “chair and sleeper being combined. The bottom ribs and outside pairs are, in that case, cast in one piece and have re movable outside’ jaws. The cost of the system, Mr. White tells us, is no greater than that of the ordinary methods now prevailing. The simplicity and durability of the whole arrangement are, moreover, at once apparent, cle sig ys eg Emery-Wheels. In a recent paper presented to the Poiy technic Section of the American Institute, Mr. L. Duvinage divided the emery-wheels now in the market into two general classes. One class of wheels has the grains of emery joined and consolidated by a pitchy mate rial, as rubber, linseed oil, shellac, &c. These must run at a high speed to burn out the cementing material by friction, loosening the worn grains and thus reveal ing new cutting angles. These are non porous wheels. Truing up this class of wheels is done with a diamond tool. The other class consists of two kinds, one made by mixing the emery witha mineral ce ment and water into a paste, which will harden and bind the grains together; the other kind by mixing the emery with a mineral flux or clay, molding into shape and burning in a muffle at a high tempera ture. These are porous wheels, in which the grains of emery are held together by matter having affinity therefor. This class of wheels, unlike the grindstone, has sharp grains of emery bedded together among matter which, in some cases, is as hard and sharp as the emery itself. Such wheels cut very greedily, and do not need to be run at any particular speed, The dresser, made of hardened steel picks, is the proper tool for toning up this class of wheels. I As showing the rapid increase in the value of real estate in Pittsburgh during the past 20 years, a case which has arisen in that city gives some valuable informa- tion. It seems that about the year 1865, when the present enormous iron business of Carnegie Brothers & Company was in its infancy, that firm leased from the heirs of the Denny estate 8 acres of ground situated in the Fifteenth Ward in the above city, at an annual rental of $4200, with the privilege of re-leasing at such tig- ures as might prevail when the agreement terminated. Upon the termination of the lease, which expired a few months ago, the agents of the Denny estate advanced the rental of the property to $24,546 per year, which the firm refused to pay, claiming that it was too high. Court proceedings were then instituted, but at the request of Mr. Andrew Carnegie the matter has been re- ferred to B. F. Jones, John R. McCune and Mark W. Watson, all well-known citizens of Pittsburgh, as arbitrators A partial hearing of the case has already been held, but no decision has yet been Sm eel tan eee ai oie ar Lae , ate > 50 Heating Surface of Vertical Boilers. The Locomotive in its last issue directs attention to a very common error in figuring the heating surface of vertical boilers. We quote: The usual method of reckoning the power of the ordinary form of upright tubular boiler seems to be to ticure every- thing from the bottom of the water-leg to the top of the upper tube sheet in a lump, and call it effective heating surface. Some- times a little more seems to be added to the amount thus obtained, for the purpose, evidently, of making the nominal power fig- ure just right according to some standard. That this method of computing the heating surface of this class of boilers is liable to lead to serious errors may be easily shown. That portion of the fire-box surface below the surface of the layer of fuel is of very little use for making steam. The fuel lays dead against these surfaces within a very short time after making the fire, and unless the fire is very skillfully handled there will soon be a non-conducting layer of ashes in contact with the sides of the furnace, which will effectually prevent the trans- mission of heat to the water in the water- leg. It will be perfectly safe to omit the lower 6 inches or so of the fire-box in estimating the power of the boiler. But the most serious source of error con- sists in estimating that portion of the tubcs above the water line as heating sur- face. In some boilers this forms about 35 per cent. of the total surface exposed to the fire, and it may easily be seen that great discrepancies may sometimes be found between the nominal power of a_ boiler where such surface is estimated and the actual power it may be enabled to develop. For the sake of illustration we have taken the amount of heating surface given in the catalogues of several makers of this kind of boiler, and compared it with the amounts obtained by figuring the same from the dimensions of the boilers as given by them in the same tables. In every case the amounts given exceed, in some cases considerably, the figures we obtained by calculating the entire internal surfaces of the boiler from the bottom of the mud- ring to the upper tube sheet, and when proper deduction is made for the useless portion of the upper ends of the tubes, the discrepancy in every case is found to be very great. Of course it makes no difference in the actual power of a boiler whether this sur- face is estimated or not, the point we wish to call attention to is the fact that in de- signing steam plants if the surface is fig- ured this way, and no margin is allowed, the boiler power will generally be found, when the plant is started, much too small. A single case will illustrate this point. <A heating system was put into a large build- ing, and it was thought that upright tubu- lar boilers were the most available for the space allotted for boiler-room. They were put in, the amount of heating surface being figured very close, as is generally the case with such contracts where there are several competitors forthe work. When the plant was started up it was found that holding steam was simply impossible; a calculation of the heating surface (actual) of the boilers showed it was just sufficient to maintain steam in the supply and return pipes of the system (which, owing to the peculiar arrangement necessary, were very numerous and of large size), and in cold weather this was all that could be done. Every expedient Was resorted to that could be thought of, but all to no purpose what- ever, until more boiler power was added, when everything worked as smoothly as could be wished. I Beginning with January 2, 1888, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company inau gurated a system of savings accounts with THE IRON AGE. its employees, which President Roberts believes will result in great benefit to an army of persons on the company’s pay rolls. He has issued a circular to those in the company’s service on the main line of the road and its branches and leased lines in Pennsylvania, notifying them of the scheme. Certain ticket and freight agents are authorized to receive for the compan) from any employee sums of even dollars, not to exceed $100 in any one month, for which certificates of deposit will be issued. On these deposits the company will pay interest to the depositors at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum. President Roberts believes that the convenience and absolute security of this savings system will induce | employees to put away a large share of their wages that is now spent needlessly, and to prompt them to thrifty and provi- dent habits, for the development of which | only the opportunity was needed. oe = Discovery of Natural Gas in Chicago. A flow of natural gas has been discov- ered at Chicago under very peculiar cir- cumstances. The Cooke Brewing Com- pany’s brewery, at Twenty-seventh street and Johnson avenue, draws its water for steam purposes directly from Lake Michi; gan, which is about 200 feet distant, through a 5-inch pipe. About the middle of last month some difficulty was expe- rienced in making the pump work, as it seemed to be drawing air from some source. An investigation was made, and it was accidentally discovered that gas of some kind was being drawn through the pipe with the lake water. A small pipe was then attached perpendicularly to the main water-pipe in the engine-room, the gas rushed through it, and when it was lighted it made a flame from 8 to 10 inches in} length. The pressure is quite light and | variable, but the flow of gas continues and is attracting much interest in’ Chicago. Experts have examined the flame and analyzed some of the gas, and they pro- nounce it identical in composition with the natural gas now being so extensively utilized in other sections of the country. The question arises, Whence does it come ? The end of the water-pipe in the lake rests in water from 16 to 20 feet deep. The bottom of the lake at that point consists of a stratum of heavy clay, with a light covering of sand. The experts submit a number of theories, but most of them agree that the geological formation of the soil is such as to admit of large quantities of natural gas being formed beneath the bottom of the lake, forcing its way in time through the earthy covering, this view being strengthened by the recollec- | tion of gas having been encountered in boring the tunnels under the lake to sup- ply the city water-works. The result of this latest ‘‘find” is a revival of the natural gas fever in Chicago, and there is | again a possibility of test wells being | cago and Indiana Coal and Coke Company bored in the city and its immediate vi- cinity. I The Coal Mines of Indianain 18S87,.— State Mine Inspector McQuade, of In- diana, in his annual report to the Governor, places the output of the State’s 220 coal mines at 3,217,711 tons, an increase over the previous year of 217,711 tons. But forastub- | born strike in Davis and Vanderburg coun- ties, in which 1000 miners were idle dur- ing October and November, the output would have reached 4.000.000 tons. thus advancing Indiana in rank from sixth to fifth as a coal-producing State. The capi- tal invested is $2,192,000, all of which is actively employed in mining, and not sim- ply in coal lands. This is a large increase over the preceding year. During the year the New Pittsburgh Coal and Coke Com- pany at Alum Cave doubled their capital | stock, making it $300,000, while the Chi- | | of New York. J. E. January 12, 1888. began operations with a capital stock of $250,000. The total number of miners employed was 7304, including 689 day laborers. The two-weeks pay-day, screens, day wages, scales, and other questions caused more or less friction, but all is now quiet. Natural gas had no perceptible effect on the output. On the other hand, | the long-haul clause of the Interstate Com- ‘merce bill, in excluding Eastern coal from Western markets, opened up an im- mense field to Indiana coal, which, owing to scarcity of cars, the railroads could not fill. Thirty-eight accidents, including 17 fatalities, occurred, none of which were from fire-damp or other explosive gases, showing the condition of the mines to be good. - TT The Webb Cotton Press. One of the largest pieces of machinery ever constructed at York, Pa., is an improved cot- | ton press recently built by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Works, of that place, from designs by Mr. 8. J. Webb, and intended for use in the northwestern part of Louisi- ana. The engraving which we _ publish on the opposite page fully illustrates the several prominent features of the press, and will enable our readers to understand without difficulty the manner in which it works. The bed-plate A is connected to the plate B by four corner posts, C. These posts pass through slotted openings, D, in the plates, and have their heads welded or forged on, and each post is made suf- ficiently strong to resist the total pressure upon the bale. A steam cylinder, E, is bolted on to the under side of the plate A, and is provided with a piston and piston rod, G. The plate A is bored out to the same size as the cylinder E, so that it will form part of it. The movable block H is driven up between the four posts C by means of toggles I. Each of the latter has one of its ends connected to the block H, and the other end connected to the plate A by means of pins J. These are 12} inches in diameter and made of the best steel. The toggle K is connected at the knee-joint to the piston-rod G, and has its outer ends connected to the knee joints of toggles I by means of pins V, so that when the piston is driven up all of the toggles are straightened at the same time and the block H is forced up. Fitted to the latter are two hydraulic cylinders, L and M, the former being provided with a piston which is secured to the under side of the bottom platen O, and has a stroke of 7} inches. On the upper end of the rod G is a small piston which acts as a plunger, to drive the water or oil out of the cylinder M into cylinder L—hence, the platen O is forced up 7} inches further after the toggles have been straightened. The object of these hydraulic cylinders is to bring every bale to the same density without having to use a wedge. The pistons, it will be seen, are operated automatically as the steam piston is driven up. Steam is supplied through the pip: Q and branch R, the exhaust pass- ing off through the pipe S. Steam is ad- mitted to and allowed to escape from the cylinder by means of the valves T, oper- ated by the lever U, the latter thus having | direct control of all the movable parts. The cylinder is 80 inches in diameter and has a 94-foot stroke. - I —_ The new Steelton Works on the Patapsco River, near Baltimore, have caused sev- eral large manufacturers to inquire into the special facilities offered at that point, and among those who are reconnoitering are Geo. 8. Strong, of the Strong Locomo- tive Works, and C. C. Worthington, both Stimpson, the dock builder, is making investigations at Locust Point. January 12, 188s, THE IRON AGE. 51 - —— oo — A NEW TOGGLE JOINT COTTON PRESS, BUILT BY THE PENNSYLVANIA his AGRICULTURAL WORKS, YORK, PA. ; onan ee mee = ae PR EDI LE LIS a ’ The Calumet and Heela Fire. While in some particulars it is incom- plete, yet there is a vO xt deal of interest in the following account, by a correspond ent of the St. Louis Globe Democrat, of the condition of affairs in Lake Superior. We quote from it the following: Reearding the exact condition of the Calumet and Hecla fire there exists a great diversity of opinion. The local management has suppressed information about the fire as muchas possible since it first broke out, and has declared that the fire was under control at atime when it is certain that it is far from it Many untrue things have been written ind spoken about this fire, which is so far reaching in its effects, and an exact de scription of the present status of affairs can be pardoned in consideration of the fact that the fire is of such great impor- tance to the industrial world. The shafts leading into the main mine are all her metically sealed with long timbers and dirt packed closely over the entrances. Black Hills or South Hecla mine, which is practically a separate mine, though owned by the Calumet and Hecla Copper Com- pany, is now employing 500 miners and producing 1500 tons of copper each month. The stamp-mills and smelting-works are running with half forces. The miners and workmen out of employment are not despondent, as has been stated in the dis- patches, although their present position is un unpleasant one. Every one who has an intimate knowledge of the workings of the mine, and of the vast deposits of cop per, knows that if every stick of timber were burnt out of the mine it would be reopened when the fire was out. The carbonic-acid gas which is produced and sent into the mine in such large quan- tities may and may not have done as much good as the mine officials claim. One hun- dred thousand cubic feet of gas a day will adulterate the air in 1,450,000 cubic feet of space to such an extent as to put out fire, but the tendency of the gas, which is heavier than pure air, is to drop to the bottom of the mine in bulk and not to re- main where it will do the most good. The temperature reports are taken in this way: A small gas-pipe extends 400 feet into the mine down a shaft. <A thermom- eter is dropped into this gas-pipe and the temperature registered. The temperature varies greatly, probably on account of un- derground currents of air, and cannot be depended on as indicating the condition of affairs in the mine. In fact, the men who are fighting the fire are nearly as much in the dark as an outsider. The peculiar situation of affairs renders it impossible to more than guess at the state of the fire which is burning more than | mile beneath their feet. The caving in, which has oceurred sev- eral times, while not as serious as repre- sented to be by interested parties, is a very bad thing. It is caused by the settling of timbers on the upper level. When the mine was first opened the ignorant miners ‘ stoped ” out the rich copper rock, leav- ing nothing to support the great weight of the drift and alluvial soil above the copper vein. An immense amount of timbering has been required to keep the entire super- structure of the mine from caving in, and new timbers are constantly required to hold up the great weight. When the mine was closed down on account of fire it was ex pected that caves would occur frequently, ind they have. Several years ago the mine suffered greatly from caving in of the hang- ing walls, and i partial cessation of work and the expenditure of immense sums for timbering were required to place it in work able shapr again. If the mine were flooded, as has been proposed, half of it would cay: in before the water could be got out. It is certain that flooding would be tried onl as an extreme measure, and when all other means of extinguishing the fire had failed. THE TRON AGE. January 12, 1888 It is extremely improbable that it will ever |normal price, and it cannot be produced be tried. |in quantities sufficient to supply demands When the fire was first discovered, on |at a much lower price. The commercial November 20, it was announced that the | uses of copper are rapidly increasing, and mine officials considered it of incendiary | will continue to increase. Mining and origin. Later on this opinion was aband- | moneyed men of the district are dabbling oned ostensibly, but there is still an im-| very little in speculation on the price of pression, and a pretty strong one, too, | copper or copper stocks. Dearly bought among the miners and those who know | experience has taught them caution. When most about the circumstances surrounding | they buy, it is for an investment. Copper the mysterious origin of the fire, that the | is being shipped from the smelting works Calumet and Hecla was set on fire, This | just as fast as it can be produced, and impression rests on no tangible proof, but | every effort is being made to increase pro- it cannot be denied that there is a certain | duction. Special trains loaded with copper amount of circumstantial evidence which | leave here almost daily and go straight to goes to support this opinion. It is not a|the Atlantic seaboard for sale. Notwith- common occurrence for a mine to get on | standing the fire which has crippled the fire. Even among coal mines it is not com- | largest producer for the last six weeks of mon, and among copper and iron mines | the year, the product of lake copper for such a thing is almost unknown, and this|the present year will be larger than the is the third time within three years, and | output of 1886, and as prices are ruling the second within four months, that the |50 to 65 per cent. higher than last year Calumet and Hecla has been compelled to | the mines will make more money this year shut down on account of fire. Were the | than last, though the dividends will not fire found to be out and the mine opened be larger. to-morrow the smoke and gas could be| The new smelting works on Dollar Bay cleared out of the mine within three days. | will begin work in 1888, and will be second The Calumet and Hecla is provided with | in point of size only to the mammoth works machinery and appliances for every pos- | of the Calumet and Hecla, at Lake Linden. sible emergency, but unfortunately the em- | The Hancock Smelting Works are turning ergency is sometimes too sudden and the | out much less copper than last year, as the misfortune too great to be overcome by | Lake Linden works, which were started up any machinery or by human ingenuity. The | last summer, now smelt much of the min- fire has led to numerous smaller complica- eral that formerly went to Hancock. It is tions, which, though small individually, | probable that within the next 18 months are in the aggregate a cause of much annoy- | works will be built to manufacture the raw ance. For instance, trouble is now being| copper. This, of course, would furnish had with the boilers at the mine. The | employment to a large number of men, and carbonic acid gas, manufactured by the | would add very materially to the prosperity action of muriatic acid on limestone, or | and population of the district. The policy similar rocks, carries with it a suspension | of the Calumet and Hecla and of several of a certain amount of acid. This acid is|of the other large mines is to centralize absorbed by the water in the mine, and | their business as much as possible. Were the water pumped from the mine finds its | the first-named mining company to enter the way to the dam from which the water for | ranks of copper manufacturers they would the boilers is taken, and the effect of the | at once take a commanding position, and acidulated water on the interior of the| would become as prominent as a manu- boilers is very bad. facturer as they now are as a miner of The immediate effect of the Calumet | copper. and Hecla fire has been to stiffen the prices | , a = of copper stocks and to assist in increasing | _ The report of C. B. Morton, the United the price of lake copper. In the Lake | States Commissioner of Navigation, shows Superior copper district its effect has been | that the business is perhaps more than any noticeable, although not as great as would | other governed by the competition of naturally be expected. The only mine of all nations, and says that unless the Ameri- any importance to resume operations on | C0 ship in foreign ports or in our own the strength of the rise in copper has been | C2? take cargoes as cheaply or more cheaply the Allouez, which was closed down a few | than the English, Norwegian, German or months ago. About 20 men are now) Spanish vessels the merchandise will be at work, and if there is a prospect of 15 transported by the foreign vessels, The cents or 16 cents for copper for a year or Commissioner sets forth in detail the vari- more, by: next spring this force will be | US aids and advantages enjoyed by the largely increased. The Allouez has never | Shipping of other nations, and concludes made any money, and over $250,000 have | that it is impossible without a change of been sunk in the property. The rise in the present conditions for our navigation copper has helped several of the smaller | t© regain its lost supremacy in the foreign mines out of a very tight box. For in-| trade. He says that our vessels must be stance, the Osceola had made less than | put on an equality with foreign ships, or $10,000 for the year up to November 1, | they must be gradually forced out of the but by selling copper at 15 cents and 164 | contest. Bounties or subsidies are paid by cents will have nearly $100,000 in the | Spain, Italy, Germany, France, &c., and treasury by this time. ‘ond can declare a | British vessels have been and are aided $75,000 dividend. The Franklin has sold a | Under one guise or another. With regard large amount of copper at the present ruling |to the coasting trade, the Commissioner prices, and can pay stockholders a $40,000 | 88Y8, the case is different, and the shipping dividend. The Tamarack will pay a big | employed, amounting to 3,090,282 tons, dividend next year, and the Osceola, |i8 reasonably prosperous, especially upon which has at last struck the Calumet and | the lakes, where the coast wise trade is de- Hecla vein on a cross-cut, can pay stock- veloping rapidly, the increase of American holders a nice dividend in 1888. The! tonnage there during the year ended June Kearsarge, Mikado and other mines which | 30, 1887, being 21,161 tons, The gain have been considered ‘promising proper- | Upon the Pacific Coast was 8761 tons and ties can easily step into the ranks of | it was about the same on the Western profit-paying mines next year, providing | TVETS. — rhe total documented tonnage of copper sfays above 124 cents for the season. the United States is 4,105,844 tons, dis- A collapse in the price of copper is gen- tributed as follows: Atlantic and Gulf, erally expected by the mining men of the 2,638,272; Pacific coast, 356,445 ; North- district, and they are as well informed as | €T lakes, 783,721; Western rivers, 327,- any one. The drop in the price of metal 405. The foreign going registered tonnage will be followed by a shrinkage in the | is 1,015,562 tons. The Commissioner con- price of stocks, but ‘unless a strong com- cludes his report with a draft of a bill em- bination is formed to keep the price of bodying his ideas of the legislation re- copper down it will not stay at 10 cents or quired on this and other points calling for even at 11 cents. Twelve to 15 cents is its | prompt action by Congress. January 12, 18ss, Strikes and Lockouts. Commissioner Carroll D. Wright has submitted to the Secretary of the Interior the third annual report of the Bureau of Labor, which relates entirely to strikes and lockouts for the period of six years ended December 31, 1886. This reports is re- varded as of special importance, as it is the result of the first general investigation ever made by any nation of the facts con- cerning strikes and lockouts for any ex- tended period of time or for any wide extent of territory. The report exhibits the facts belongine to each industrial trouble for each locality where trouble was found, without attempting to establish or decide upon the connection between them. The following table shows the number of strikes occurring during each of the last six years, the number of establishments in- volved, and the average number of estab- lishments involved in each strike: No. estab- Aver. No. lishments in each Years Strikes. involved. strike. 1881... oo 2,928 6.2 15882... .. 454 2,105 4.6 1888... : 2,759 5.8 See isnccccscs Se 2 567 53 ISS)... —— 2,254 $.5 ISS6.. . .. 1,412 9895 7.0 Totals.... 3,908 22,536 5.7 In 1887 there were, according to the best information obtainable, 853 strikes, details of which are not available. During the six years covered by the investigation New York had the largest number of es- tablishments affected, both by strikes and lockouts, there being for the former 9247, and for the latter 1528. The building trades furnished 6060 of the total number of establishments engaged in strikes. The total number ot employees involved in the whole number of strikes for the entire period is shown to have been 1,318,624. The humber of employees originating the strikes was 1,020,832. The number of employees in all establishments before the strikes occurred was 1,862,045, while the whole number employed in the establish- ments involved after the strikes occurred was 1,636,246, a loss of 25,798. There were 103,038 new employees engaged after the strikes, and 37,483 were brought from other places than those in which the strikes occurred, In 2182 establishments lockouts were ordered during the period named. In these there were 173,995 employees be- fore the lockouts occurred and 169,436 after the lockouts, while the number actually locked out was 159,548. There were 13,976 new employees secured at the close of lockouts, and 5682 were brought from other places than those in which the lockouts occurred. ‘*It should be remembered, however,” says the report, ‘‘ that these figures do not represent the actual numbers of individual establishments or different employees en- gaged, as in many cases there have been two or more strikes or lockouts affecting the same establishment in the same year. In such cases the establishment and the number of employees engaged are duplicated.” Of the whole number of employees involved in strikes during the six years covered by the report 88.56 per cent. were males and 11.44 per cent. were females. Of those in- volved in lockouts during the same period 68.78 per cent. were males and 31.22 per cent were females. An examination of the tables appended to the report shows that New York, Pennslyvania, Massachusetts, Ohio and Illinois represent 74.74 per cent. of the whole number of establishments affected by strikes throughout the country, and 90.80 per cent. of the lockouts. These five States, it is stated, contain 49 percent. of all the manufacturing establishments, and employ 58 per cent. of the capital in- vested in mechanical industries of the United States. Of the 22,336 establish- ments in which strikes occurred, in 18,342, | rHE TRON AGE or 82.12 per cent. of the whole, strikes were ordered by labor organizations, while of the 2182 establishments in which lock outs occurred 1753. or 81.34 per cent... were ordered by combinations of manag ers. Of the whole number of. establish ments subje cted to strikes there were tem porarily closed for business 13,443, or 60.19 per cent.; on account of lockouts, 62.60 per cent. The average duration of stop page on account of strikes was 23.1 days ; for lockouts, 28 davs., The results of the strikes so far as cain ing the objects sought are concerned, are shown to be as follows: Success followed in 10,407 cases, or 46.59 per cent.. of the whole; partial success in 3004, or 13.45 per cent. of the whole, and failfire fol lowed in 8910 cases, or 39.89 per cent. of the whole. By lockouts 564 establish ments, or 25.8) per cent. of the whole, succeeded in gaining their point; 190, or 8.71 per cent., partly succeeded, and 1305, or 59.80 per cent., failed. As to causes or objects of strikes, it is shown that increas« of wages was the principal one, 42.44 per cent. The other leading causes are given as follows: For reduction of hours, 19.45 per cent.; against reduction of wages, 7.75 per cent.; for increase of wages and reduction of hours, 7.57 per cent. ; against increase of hours, 0.62 per cent. Total for the five leading causes, 77.83 per cent. ; all other causes, 22.17 per cent. Dis- claiming absolute accuracy, the report gives the losses of employees and em- ployers resulting from strikes and lockouts as follows: Losses to strikers during the six years covered by the investigations, $51,816,165; loss to employees through lockouts for the same period, $8,132,717, or a total wage loss to employees of $59,- 948,882. This loss occurred for both strikes and lockouts in 24,518 establish- ments, or an average loss of $2445 to each establishment, or of nearly $40 to each striker involved. The assistance given to strikers for the same period, so far as ascertainable, amounts to $3,325,057, to those suffering from lockouts, $1,105,538, or a total of $4,430,595. These amounts, ho