The Iron Age 1891-08-20: Vol 48

‘THE Central American Trade. Notwithstanding the advantages arising from the wider diffusion of information through the Bureau of American Republics, established in the State Department at Washington, our consuls frequently speak of the indifference manifested by mer- chants in the United States to the exten- sion of trade with the Southern republics. For instance, Consul-General Kimberly, who is Secretary of the Legations of the United States to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Salvador, says that of the $9,000,000 or $10,000,000 of annual importations to Guatemala alone, scarcely 10 per cent. comes from the United States. While searching for the causes of the supposed condition of affairs the Consul- General wrote a-series of letters to busi- ness men having large interests in Guate- mala, ‘‘for the most part,” he says, ‘‘ American,” asking them why the United THuRsDAY, AuGusT 20, 1891. Valley and Shenango, Pa., $2.20; Cleve- land, Ohio, $2; Hocking Valley, Moxa- hala, Shawnee and Zanesville, Ohio, $2.20; Columbus, Ohio, $2; Jackson, Wellston, Ironton, Ashland, and Hanging Rock, Ohio, $2.20; Detroit, Mich., $1.70. The Whaleback Boat. Last week a boat of decidedly unusuai and strange appearance steamed into New York harbor. She came in ballast from Liverpool, being 14 days on the journey. The boat was long, narrow and presented the appearance of an immense barrel, pro vided at the bow with a small superstruct- ure and at the stern with more elaborate decks, through which passed a smoke stack. Between these two there was noth- ing visible except a curved deck provided with side railings. This boat, the Charles W. Wetmore, is the latest addition to a fleet of barges which have done much to IRON AGE forward of the structures at the stern pro- tects thesmoke stack, the second oneis occu- pied by the compound engines driving the screw, the third being the companion-way. Above are the dining room and cabins. The vessel on her voyage from Liverpool experienced considerable rough weather, and although she had an unusually light load and rolled considerably she behaved well, and very fully met the expectations of her builders. Motive power is fur- nished by a compound engine of 850 in- dicated horse-power, 26 x 50 inches diam - eter of cylinders and 42} inches stroke, built by Samuel F. Hodge & Co. of Detroit, Mich. The boilers, of the regular marine type, were built at the Lake Erie Boiler Works, Buffalo, N. Y., and are 11 feet 6 inches in diameter and the same in length, and are intended to carry 125 pounds of steam. The boat when burning 4 ton of coal per hour has a speed of 14 knots. The Wetmore was built by the American Steel Barge Company, at THE WHALEBACK BOAT C. W. WETMORE. States had not secured a larger share of the commerce of that country. A member of one American firm mentions among the reasons, unwillingness to give long cred- its, while the laws of the country are such that fraudulent failures are unknown; sending price-lists and catalogues subject to discount, instead of making all prices net, and failure to pack goods so as to en- dure the necessary and frequent transfers from steamers to lighters, from lighters to cars, from cars to lighters and from light- ers to steamers again, &c. ‘‘ The freights from New York to San Jose de Guate- mala,” says this merchant, ‘‘are double what they are from Hamburg, Germany, and it will pay any merchant in Central America to ship bulky goods from New York to Hamburg, and have them re- shipped at the latter place for Central America,” —— ESE Chairman Blanchard of the Central Traffic Association gave notice on the 12th inst. that the resolution of the Freight Committee adopted March 11, 1891, provided that the special iron tariffs, which became effective March 30, would not extend beyond August 31, 1891; therefore, the rates in question would be restored to the official classification, be- ginning September 1. The rates to Chi- cago will be as follows: Buffalo, N. Y., $2.50; Pittsburgh, Pa., $2.50; Mahoning revolutionize freight traffic on the great lakes, and which their projectors confi- dently expect will do equally good work on the ocean. The boat is 265 feet long, 38 feet breadth of beam, 24 feeth depth of hull and draws 15 feet 6 inches with a dead weight of 3000 tons. Her hull is formed of steel plates, stiff- ened by angle-iron ribs and struts, as shown in the cross-sectional view. Just abaft of the forward house is a transverse bulkhead, a similar one being placed for- ward of the engine and boiler compart- ments in the stern. The space interven- ing is unincumbered, and forms the hold or freight-carrying compartment of the boat. At intervals in the top of what we may call this central compartment are hatches, through which the load is intro- duced. When once loaded these are bat- tened down and the cargo perfectly pro- tected from the entrance of any water, ‘even should the waves wash completely over the deck. This forms practically a sealed hull for the reception of freight of any description. By consulting the cross section it will be noted that extending across the bottom of the boat is a com- partment for water ballast measuring 3 feet 9 inches in hight in the center, and which really serves as a double hull. The forward house protects the wheel and the companion - way leading to the compartment in the bow. The most West Superior, Wis., and having offices at 36 Wall street, New York. She was designed by Captain Alexander McDougall of Duluth, Minn. This boat is the outcome of practical experiments made on a smaller scale, with barges intended to carry freight on the Great Lakes, but not provided with their own propelling power. The admirable results obtained by these experiments, the unusual loads the boats would carry and the ease with which they could be towed, justified the designers in their more am- bitious endeavor, as exemplified in the Wetmore. The fleet now consists of 11 boats, the tow barge 101, a small craft of 437 tons registry and 1400 tons carrying capacity being the first. This boat was built in 1888, and immediately received the nickname of ‘‘ Pig,” a name which has followed all of her successors. The first steam propeller, the Colgate Hoyt, named after the president of the American Steel Barge Company. was built in the follow- ing year, and since that time has been in successful commission, carrying ore, grain and coal between Lake Superior and Lake Erie ports. The depth and width of the bottom of the Wetmore, and, in fact, all boats which are to follow, were gov- erned by the dimensions of the Welland Canal, through which she was intended to pass in order to reach the ocean from the great lakes. All the ‘* whalebacks,” as eae la laa. eas Ante . ae a a CMM “a A A A le a 282 THE IRON AGE, August 20, 1891 they are generally known, are built upon the same general pattern—that is, a round deck. vertical sides, flat bottom and ended up like the pointed end of a cigar. On the outward voyage to Liverpool the Wetmore loaded with 70,000 bushels of wheat at West Superior elevators, and cleared coastwise for Duluth, where her equipments were inspected by Govern- ment inspectors. At Duluth she took foreign clearance papers, which carried her to Kingston, Canada, where she light- ered her cargo in order to make the run of the St. Lawrence rapids. At Kings- ton she took Canadian clearance papers for Montreal. At Montreal the shipping inspectors required that a bulkhead should be put in the vessel from end to end to prevent the shifting of the cargo, a re- quirement which nettled Captain Mc- Dougall until he raged like a mad walrus. The vesselthen reshipped her cargo and 25,000 bushels additional. In order to show his contempt of the bulkhead re- uirement, Captain McDougall directed the master of the vessel, Captain Saunders, to pile a lot of coal on the upper and round deck, where it would be fully ex- posed to high seas or the tumbling of the boat. On August 1 Captain Saunders’ Transverse Section of Whaleback Boat. memorandum of the voyage was received at the company’s office in West Superior. It is as follows: ‘*In steaming 384 hours from Montreal to Liverpool used 226 tons of coal; distance run 3032 miles (knots). Had head sea 100 hours; beam sea, very high, 50 hours; aft, 50 hours; various the rest. Carried 26 tons of coal on deck from Sydney to clear off banks; rough sea; lost no coal; this is evidence of ship’s ability.” eee A novel question is involved in the voluntary assignment of the National Forge and Iron Company, who have their works in Indiana. Saturday morn- ing at 10.30 the Chicago Machine and Power Company began an attachment suit against the first named company in the Lake County Circuit Court, Indiana. At noon the company made a voluntary as- signment in Cook County, Ill. In the afternoon other creditors began attach- ment proceedings in the Indiana court. The sheriff had taken possession under the first attachment, and the other. creditors assert their right under Indiana law to in- tervene in the first suit and maintain prior liens to those created by the Illinois as- signment. The assignee having no con- trol of the property, his attorney made a motion to have the attachment suits dis- missed so as to place the assignee in charge of the assets. The attachment creditors object vigorously and argue that the Chicago court has no jurisdiction. Judge Brown took the matter under advisement. Consul Turner of Cadiz is of the opinion that there is an open road to trade with Spain if our exporters would only care- fully endeavor to follow it. He points out that exporters would find it profitable to send men prepared to introduce agri- cultural implements, petroleum, hardware, cutlery, machinery, &c. Effect of Pickling and Rusting on the Strength of Iron.* BY A. LEDEBUR. These ex periments have been undertaken in order to obtain further information con- cerning the brittleness imparted to iron by the action of acid in pickling and by at- mospheric rusting, which had been pre- viously announced by the author and other investigators, and to determine whether dangerous deterioration was likely to ensue from such causes. The former experiments having mostly been made with wires it was considered most desir- able to extend them to objects of larger section, such as rails, beams and bars. That has accordingly been done with the following articles: (1) Steel rails, the Prussian State line section from Krupp’s; (2) wrought-iron beams, 94 x 34 inches, from Koenigshuette ; (3) wrought-iron round bars, 0.8 inch diameter, from Lauchhammer; (4) steel round bars, 0.8 inch diameter, from Peine; (5a) wrought-iron wire, 2.2 mm. diameter, from Felten & Guilleaume; (54) steel wire, 2.2 mm. diameter, from Felten & Guil- leaume. These were treated in the following manner: I. Inthe condition as delivered. II. After exposure for the purpose of rust- ing. III. Galvanized and tested at once. IV. Galvanized and exposed foratime. V. Pickled in acid and immediately tested. VI. Pickled and kept for a time in a dry place. The pickling was done with sul- phuric acid diluted with water in the pro- portion of 1 : 100, and the metal was pro- tected from direct attack by covering one end with melted zinc, the time of immer- sion being 17 hours. In a few instances, in order to render the effect more visible, stronger acid 1 : 50 and a period of 41 hours was used. The alteration due to| Be rusting by two months’ exposure was, ex- cept in a few instances, scarcely appreci- able, and a continuance of the experiments for a longer period was likely to have led to a partial destruction of the material and to erroneous conclusions from the result. The samples were tested transversely in tension and compression, and under a fall- ing weight, three experiments being made on the same sample for each of the six conditions, and the tabulated results given at length fill 24 pages. The general con- clusions given in the introductory report are as follows : 1. Bending Tests with Wrought-Iron Beams.—The elastic properties, amount of bending and limit of proportionality are substantially the same for all the con- ditions tested, the flexure for given loads being almost identical when the average results are compared. The maximum loads carried show differences, being highest in the natural conditions and lowest when freshly pickled. Rusting also produces a diminution in strength, which is more apparent in the galvanized than the ungalvanized pieces. In the few instances where the specimens were broken by the tests, the diminution in strength is very decided in the pickled and percept- ible in the rusted specimens. The figures for these are: I. BR We jens Conditions Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Breaking strain. 35 3.9 RT Wé 8 Bending Tests with Steel Rails.—The length between the supports was 1 m, None of the specimens were broken. The average values from the results show that neither elastic nor ultimate strength is affected by any of the methods of treat- ment, the rusted specimens, whether gal- vanized or not, giving rather the highest * From the Transactions of the Royal Tech- nical Experiment Bureau, Berlin, 1890, through Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. figures. This may possibly be due to the chemical composition, which is as fol- lows: Per cent ESOT TET rer ee 0.25 el enic iin wim gtrno swe pekateol aaebnatare 0.21 DS oni cans hacen di nde Oats 0.47 sss iadse ese cners cre ees Rtas 01 SNES sa Lines Vis te nonkviry ny tie ob pebeen 0.06 iin ance “dnt evakakerh bab elena 0.08 A very marked difference was observed in the behavior of the pickled specimens. Those of wrought iron, even after immer- sion for several hours in lime water to re- move all traces of free acid, gave off a strong smelling gas, probably a hydro- carbon compound, for several hours, while those of steel were perfectly odor- less. This seems to show that acid sets up chemical changes in wrought 1ron that it is not competent to produce in steel. Tensile Tests with Round Steel and Iron Bars.—Neither ultimate nor elastic limit was sensibly altered by any method of treatment under the conditions of the ex- periments, but it is considered that differ- ences might have been produced had the action been longer continued. Tensile and Bending Tests on Wires.— The strength of ungalvanized wire, both of iron and steel, is Fiminished by rusting. Galvanizing diminishes the absolute tenacity, but increases the proportion of elongation. The elastic limit and ulti- mate tensile strength observed for the dif- ferent conditions were: Ii. Fu } FE. Iron. Elastic (kilo- | grams per millimeter)| 51.9) 42.5) 45.1) 50.2). ... |...... Ultimate (kilograms per milli- meter).....| 55 | 50.6) 52.4) 82.6) 55.8) 57.1 Elongation | (per cent.)) 4 3.3} 151) 18.5) 5.5) 5 Se 2 10 eT. eh eel Be Steel | | Elastic...... 109.1) 107.7; 103.9) 103.9) 109.1) 114.3 Ultimate. ..| 121.1) 117.7) 116.3) 117.3) 121.7) 121 Elongation.) 8.7, 7.5) 18 | 16.5) 9 \* a 13 9 12 2 | 11 12 ed These results indicate that the diminution of flexibility in pickled and rusted wire is less than that obtained in previous experi- ments. This, however, is mainly due to the circumstances that in the latter the acid used was stronger,sor the action, if weak, was allowed to continue for a much longer time. Compression Tests with Iron and Steel.— These were applied to test pieces 30 mm. and 50 mm. high. No very sensible dif- ferences due to treatment were observed, the diminution of hight for successive equal increments of weight being about the same. The ultimate strength was not de- termined, owing to the bending of the test pieces and the limit of power in the ma- chine, which was 100tons. Under theim- pact of a weight—viz., 56.7kg falling 1 m. —freshly pickled wrought iron was bent about 10 per cent. more by the same num- ber of blows than when in the state re- ceived from the works. This effect was obtained with the steel specimens. A sup- plementary series of bending and falling weight tests was made upon bars about 48 mm. square of steel of the following com- position : ID Cites ue upias 8 page e+ khe Asse EE 0.51 o_o bash oedhs . dss <cabegegeyaMed. « snthnel pe MUONS 6.0 seco esecsvencevedsccesenes 4: POO «no Ko. 0 He snb hk: webag pane oeah 0.09 SONG iin tin Fak vg in 400 + euand eet acen 0.094 both in the natural condition and after pickling with acid 1: 50 for 41 hours, There was no difference in the elastic limits under steady loading, but by ae the pickled specimens bent more il after the fourth blow than the unpre ones. The breaking strain under either condition was sensibly diminished from August 20, 1891 142.7 kg. to 126.8 kg. under steady load, and from 1643.5 net kg. to 895.6 net kg. total energy of blow to produce fracture by the falling weight. The diminution is not, however, as large as that observed in previous experiments, where the breaking strain was reduced from 169.5 kg. to 102.5 kg. by pickling. The latter results were, however, obtained with bars of smaller section—22 mm. as against 48, and which had remained in the acid for nine days. The steel treated on the present occasion was also exceptionally tough in silicon, which no doubt added to its resisting power. As regards chemical composition the susceptibility of iron to become brittle by pickling and rusting is least in cast irop and silicon steel, and highest in wrought iron, and, according to Biidecker, in high-carbon steel. Combined carbon appears to increase the action and silicon to diminish it. The influence of manga- nege in either direction has not as yet been determined. Serr ee Power of 110-Ton Gun. The accompanying engraving, which we take from our contemporary, Hngineering, is intended to show the tremendous power developed by a 110-ton 16-inch breech-loading gun. It will be observed that the projectile has passed through 20 THE IRON AGE, 288 In the ordinary open-hearth furnace the| of relining can be considered to be the composition of the charge varies largely | same in both cases. with the supply of scrap, but may be taken| The same might be said of the number to be, on an average, 30 pig iron to 70 | of heats in 24 hours. This number, as is scrap. We may assume for a calculation | well known, depends largely on the repairs the price of pig iron at $19 a ton, and that | required by the furnace. As these repairs of scrap iron at $21 a ton. The cost of the | will not be heavier in one case than in the ore briquettes may be estimated as follows: | other we may say that practically the same Ore, crushed, ground and concentrated | number of heats can be made in both cases to 64 per cent. of iron can easily be ob- | in 24 hours. tained in ordinary practice at 5 centsa| If we admit, furthermore, that the loss unit, and in many places at a cheaper rate,*! of iron in the pig and scrap process is so that a ton of such ore will cost $3.20. | about 10 per cent., and that this loss in Coke can be obtained at the rate of $4 a| the Imperatori process will not be higher, ton, and anthracite coal, which would be | as has actually been shown for this latter very good to use in these briquettes, is as | process, by several heats during the tests cheap or cheaper. But as the coke or coal | (and it is even lower than 10 per cent. ac- has to be ground to a fine powder, we will suppose it to cost even $5aton. Bri- quettes of a good composition will contain about 21 parts coke to 100 ore; in other words, a ton of ore will require 0.21 ton | of coke. Briquettes containing a ton of ore will then cost: BONE NS oo ro ca Fé ei dae ccenne eden $3.20 | GPE tom: of COND BE GB. oc cccccccccccsccas 1.05 OURS c waa dbdnd bvaewdke eadadew $4.25 But a ton of metallic iron requires the | cording to the tests made in Europe), we can easily establish, as to the cost of steel in the two processes, a comparison which may be confined to those items which con- stitute the difference between them. Ordinary Pig and Scrap Process. | One ton of iron } Pig iron, 0.30 @ $19... 35.70 charged \Serap, 0.70@ 21... 14.70 Loss, 10 per cent.; hence, cost of 0.9- a wsedecdes-Galda Sesiien $20.40 CS CF FID, wo: nicewtccccvewccs 22.67 Imperatori Process. use of 1.56 tons of 64 per cent. ore, and | oi ton pig a B19... 26. eee eee eee oe will cost 1.06 x GU:ED. = O6.60. Tho} cae ere teas: <>; passer ees r . ° 0.: Mii weee 2.96 labor in both cases will be the same, ex- | 50 irom in 60 per Sens, eps, 08 07.61 cept for the making and drying of the 0.86 ton iron charged...............+ $14.76 OES & IL ee ee " ase 5 Pa woe f Se, ae Sie ee ¢ a = ee ee ee ae eres SE oe ry SSS Se a ER. ues BRICK ‘ Concrete DIAGRAM SHOWING inches of compound armor, 8 inches of iron, 20 feet of oak, 5 feet of granite, 11 feet of concrete and has entered about 3 feet into the brick work, making a total penetration of 41 feet 4 inches. It is use- less to conjecture as to the real usefulness of a gun of this size in actual warfare. SS The lmperatori Process. In an elaborate paper on the experiments carried out at the Croton magnetic mine with the Imperatori process, J. P. Nau, who was acting as consulting engineer of the parties interested, makes the following comparison of cost with the ordinary open- hearth process. The paper was presented at the Cleveland meeting of the American Institute of Mining Engineers: The cost of 1 ton of steel in the two proc- esses depends on: 1. The prices of the raw materials used in the charge and their relative proportion. 2. Labor. 3. Furnace repairs. 4. The number of charges made in 24 hours. As to the price and proportions of raw materials, it has been found at the steel works of Savona, Italy, where the Impera- tori process was first used, and where the excellent results obtained since its intro- duction, both as to quality of steel aad economy of operation, have led to its final adoption in current daily practice, that the amount of scrap used in the charge ought not to be higher than about 25 per cent., and even less if possible. The average composition of a charge in this process may be given as follows: 40 pig iron, 20 scrap, 40 ore in briquettes. TW. BENNETT ; im a6 FEET ee me SD OCP atic eee es ee ' es -— pe - —-F FEET... ee en briquettes. In current practice these briquettes will be made by machinery, and it will require only a few men to make from 800 to 1000 briquettes a day, weighing each from 50 to 60 pounds, so that they can be made very cheap. As a liberal estimate, we will take 50 cents per ton of ore, so that the final expense per ton of iron in the ore would amount to : Ore and coal (both ground).............. $6.63 Labor on 1.56 tons of ore at 50 cents per naar) deine: Ge dundts uhédhipaute ess 78 Total cost of briquettes containing 1 SO I vos. cis vncadedeneanesas $7.41 We have now to consider the repairs to the furnace and number of charges made per 24 hours. The average total duration of a test heat, as previously stated, was 8 hours 50 minutes, while the correspond- ing time in the ordinary pig and scrap process is about 8 hours; this would make a difference of about 1 hour in the time required. Now, in the ordinary pig and scrap process the amount of gas coal consumed amounts to about 30 per cent. of the weight of steel obtained. Consequently, if the charge in the Imperatori process were to last about 1 hour longer, it will require about one-eighth of coal more, or say in all about 34 per cent. of the weight of steel. As to repairs, it has been already stated, and with the ordinary so-called ore process it has been demonstrated at many works in Europe, that a neutral lining will re- quire very little repairs and will last for several hundred heats; so that the expense * See Transactions, ‘‘ Progress in the Mag- netic Concentration of Iron Ores,” by John —— New York meeting, September, PENETRATIVE POWER OF 110-TON GUN. Pry ' Oak . 5 © Hence, 1 ton of iron charged (or, after allowing for 10 per cent. loss, 0.9 ton _ of product) would cost......... ....--- $17.16 Or, cost of 1 ton of product............+. 19.06 To which must be added 4 per cent. ex- cess of gas coal over the 30 per cent. of the weight of the steel which is required in the ordinary process, or 0.04 ton, ia ee, eae s 12 Making a total, material and fuel, of .319.18 The difference in favor of the Imperatori process is $3.49 per net ton of steel ob- tained. This economy is important, but it does not constitute the only advantage of the process. In an average charge in the Imperatori process, composed, as has been said, of 40 pig, 20 scrap and 40 ore, the chemical composition of each con- stituent can be accurately ascertained. The pig iron will generally be low in sili- con, sulphur and phosphorus; such iron can easily be obtained at reasonable price. The scrap used can be wholly supplied by the crop ends, rail ends, &c., from the works themselves, no outside scrap being needed; consequently its chemical com- position will be the same as that of the finished product, and can always be relied upon. i to the ores used in the briquettes, there will be no difficulty in securing at low rates concentrated ores (not much used at present) almost free from phos- phorous and sulphur, and consequently constituting an excellent material for the production of the best quality of steel. The carbonaceous material for the bri- quettes may be either coal or coke or charcoal or anthracite, as long as it does not contain too high a percentage of sulphur. Charcoal is very well adapted to this process, as it is very generally free from sulphur and phosphorus. Thus the ee OE ate a es es a M4 Al A Nt ts ” 7 es LSr ; é . Ff A A a te 3 A nt a A ‘ o a ‘ = a ; } i 284 THE IRON AGE. August 20, 1891 well-known chemical composition of the | raw materials used will allow of obtaining, at a low price, avery good quality of steel, which is not always obtainable in the | ordinary pig and scrap process. Another very advantageous feature of the Imperatori process is the facility with which many ores, hitherto almost useless, could be treated, thus enlarging their market, now very limited. Thus many lean ores largely found in the States of New York and New Jersey, and, in fact, in almost every one of the United States, would constitute, when once ground and concentrated, an excellent material for | this process. In Morris County, N. J., ores are mined containing only from 30 to 37 per cent. iron with 0.085 sulphur and 0.06 phosphorus, which, concentrated, furnish powdered ore containing 64 to 65 iron, Fig. 1.—Portable Drill, THE 0.02 sulphur and 0.02 to 0.03 or even less phosphorous. These are well adapted to be used in the Imperatori process. Besides these concentrates, most of the magnetic sands found in large deposits in Canada and in the United States, and con- taining a high percentage of iron (as high as 66 per cent. in certain cases), could be made available by this process. Many of these sands, if not rich, are physically associated with earthy substances which a simple washiny could remove, furnishing a practically almost pure oxide of iron in powder, at a low price and particularly well adapted to be made up into bri- quettes. Another advantage of this proc- ess is its easy adaptation to any existing | open-hearth plant, as it can be carried on in any existing furnace without the slight- est alteration or addition. American contractors have just com- pleted water works for the city of Teguci- tion. The source is a mountainous stream 8 miles distant. The pipe used is wrought iron, spiral riveted, 12 inches in diameter at the dam, reduced by stages to 7 inches | where it enters the distributing reservoirs. I Portable Drilling Machines, The accompanying ergravings show the No. 5 portable drill, countershaft and ‘power transmitter made by Albert L Colburn of New Haven, Conn. The drilling mechanism of this machine is very simple; the clamps can be easily and quickly adjusted to clamp on to a flange or part of the machine in which holes are to be drilled. The cross clamp near the upper end of the post allows the drill to be swung around or over to any angle. The feeding device is a patent differential Fig. 2.—Universal Countershaft. runs to and from the drilling machine are held bya frame with a hollow stud, through which the rope passes, allowing the idle pulleys to turn around radially and guide the rope to the drill in any direc- tion, while the weighted idler by its rise and fall takes up the slack rope. By in- serting sections of rope by hooked coup. lings any distance may be reached. One of the main features of the countershaft is the idle pulley placed up near the driving pulley and by which the rope, which usually encircles about half the driving pulley, is made to encircle nearly the whole of it. The upper post consists of a socket which is first bolted to the ceiling or any convenient timber by three lag screws. When the yoke containing the driving pulleys is inserted, the pulleys are lined up by the eye until the belt is put on, when the yoke is slightly turned until the belt runs in the center of the loose pulley, no leveling or other lining being necessary. Fig. 3 shows the patent power trans- mitting device. It is shown in Fig. 1, attached to the drilling machine. It can be used for various purposes. When light power is required, such as portable cylin- der boring and valve-seat facing, machines in use in locomotive repair shops, it con- sists of a steel shaft, in one end of which is a socket and to which the grooved driv- ing pulley issecured. This driving pulley is in a double three-legged spider or frame, with bearings on the shaft. This spider carries another swivel frame containing two idle pulleys, which guide the rope on to the driving pulley in whatever position it may be. The two guide pulleys cause the rope to encircle nearly the whole of Fig. 3.—Power Transmitter. COLBURN PORTABLE DRILLING MACHINE, | gear, has quick return and is entirely inclosed; it takes up less room than a | worm and gear, and cannot be clogged by ‘dirt or chips. The feeding motion is transmitted to the drill spindle through }a rack and sleeve, the same as in the | modern upright drilling machines. Power can be applied directly to the end of the |spindle for small holes or at the end |of the pinion shaft, as shown in Fig. '1, for larger work. The machine is adrpted to drill holes up to 14-inch | diameter from the solid, and by the use of a boring bar or counterbore can be used | for holes up to 2} inches. The spindle has a feed of 6 inches and where the hole is parallel with the upright post it can be | drilled 1 foot or more deep by moving the | radial arm down on the post. The end of the spindle is reamed for No. 4 Morse taper; the post is 36 inches long and the radial arm 12 inches. The machine weighs 115 pounds. Fig. 2shows the universal countershaft, the driving pulley, and it is impossible for the rope to slip even under the severest strains. i Le A Chicago paper of the 13th inst., says: ‘*Captain Miner of the big steel steamer E. C. Pope, was around town yesterday feeling very much elated over the great feat of his boat in bringing 3139 net tons of iron ore from Ashland to South Chicago. With this load, which beat all records of Lake Superior cargoes, the Pope drew but 14 feet 3 inches forward and 14 feet 4 inches aft. Such a load on that draft of water has probably never been carried in the United States before, The Pope, which is now on its first season. having been built in Detroit last winter, is entitled to the palm of being the biggest carrier on fresh water. A month ago she broke the record on cargoes carried through Detroit and St. Clair rivers by taking 3607 net tons of ore from Escanaba galpa, Honduras, giving much satisfac-| The two idle pulleys over which the rope’! to Lake Erie.” August 20, 1891 THE IRON AGE. 285 The Hunt Bronze Bosh Plates. Much has been said and written within the last two or three years concerning bosh- cooling _ for blast furnaces, and a number of meritorious devices have been put on the market. The accompany- ing illustration shows an improved design applicable to both bosh and crucible, al- though more particularly intended for boshes of furnaces, for effectually protect- ing and cooling the same. This improved plate is the invention of Morris R. Hunt, manager of the Hinkle Furnace, Ashland, Wis., who has had 25 years’ experience in the management of charcoal furnaces and practical tests of all kinds of the various bosh-cooling devices heretofore intro- One of the most effectual outside cool- ing devices heretofore known is a steel jacket, which, being double riveted, forms a water-tight shell around the bosh and is cooled by a system of sprays, with a water trough at the bottom for collecting the water which flows over its surface. This device is ordinarily 4 inch to } inch thick and its cooling is dependent upon the amount of water from the sprays, which flow by gravity down its exterior. Hence it cannot be effectually cooled, as steam is formed by the water coming iu contact with the hot plate, which prevents a close contact of cold water withit. To avoid the difficulties above mentioned, Hunt’s bosh plates have been devised and letters pat- ent, dated May 19, 1891, have been issued. Fig. 1.—Side Elevation and Vertical Section. THE duced. One of the principal objections to building circular plates in the brick work of the bosh, at regular distances apart vertically, is, that the spaces be- tween these plates, not being subjected to and protected by the cooling influences, are gradually cut away, owing to intense heat, forming ledges or projections into the fur- nace. These irregular surfaces or series of scaffolds prevent the regular and uniform descent of the stock, and thereby cause irregular working of the furnace with in- creased consumption of fuel. Bosh walls cut away sooner or later, and any device is objectionable which prevents their wearing away uniformly. Mr. Hunt’s de- vice admits of the building in of the mini- mum amount of brick work inside the plates, and the inner wall is gradually and uniformly worn away until further wear- ing or widening of this portion of the furnace is prevented by the cooling effects of these plates. In fact, the plates can be 80 or lines red. ed as to preserve any given angle | HUNT BRONZE BOSH PLATE FOR BLAST Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 isa side elevation, partly in vertical section, showing the bosh and crucible of a fur- nace supplied with the Hunt bosh plates. Fig. 2 shows construction of a single plate, Figs. 3 and 4 sections of same. Fig. 2 shows the ordinary construction of plate, in which the water enters at lower right- hand corner and passing through the tor- turous passages, as indicated, leaves the plate at outlet in upper left hand corner. Figs. 5 and 6 are modified forms of these plates to suit various contingencies which may arise. Fig. 5 shows the inlet and outlet at bottom of plate. This form is intended for the upper course of plates, to avoid making connections behind mantle bar. The entire jacket can be placed on the outside of the brick work of the furnace when completed, or the plates can be erected and firmly banded and keyed and the masonry built inside of same, which latter form is preferred. The object of the interlocking projections, shown in Fig. 2, is to make the jacket practically Figs. 2, 3 continuous throughout, horizontally and vertically, and as strong as a } inch to } inch steel jacket. By a luting of fire clay and asbestos, placed on the face of these projections, a positively gas and water tight jacket is secured. By constructing the bands which surround the plates of such circumference as to engage the lugs, as shown in Fig. 3, the keys, which are shown in half section, ‘‘ Section 1,” may be readily removed and one or more plates can be quickly removed and replaced, should occasion require, and that without affecting the remaining support afforded by any band. Thus no portion of the en- tire bosh is weakened except the point where the plates are taken out. That this arrangement admits of the renewal of the Fig. 3. Fig. 4. > and 4.—Construction of Single Plate. Fig. 5. Fig. 6. Figs. 5 and 6.—Upper Course Plate. FURNACES. destroyed plate and the replacing of it by a new one, in a very short time, is appar- ent ; and we know of no other outside cooling device which will admit of this. Water connections for these plates can be connected singly or in series of any number, as desired. The two bottom rows that are subjected to the greatest heat can be supplied with separate feeds and discharges if necessary. Fig. 3 shows lugs as constructed on the inside of plates for the purpose of intercepting and hold- ing the kish, or graphitic coating mixed with slag, which is deposited on the walls, and the furnace can be run on this lining. This device is also particularly adapted to the many copper and lead cntlting furnaces which require pa water cooling plates. Estimates and speci- fications can be obtained from Best, Fox & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. cn —— The assessed value of real estate in Philadelphia is $732,300,000, an increase of $21,659,000 over the previous year. 286 THE IRON ™jAGE, August 20, 1891 Labor in Tin Mines in the East Indies. In an elaborate paper, contributed by Charles M. Rolker to the American Insti- tute of Mining Engineers, on ‘‘ The Allu- vial Tin Deposits of Siak, Sumatra,” he gives the following interesting data on the coolie labor of the East: The ordinary workmen employed for mining and allied occupations are Chinese, who are either imported direct by the employers or are obtained more generally through Chinese agencies, which exist in different parts of the East. These agen- cies import the men direct from China, at their own expense, under contract, and then sublet them to individuals or corpo- rations at a fixed cash price per head (sup- posed to cover expenses and profit of the importing agencies) and under agreed and stipulated conditions with their employers, which are signed by both parties and at- tested in the presence of the ‘‘ Chinese Protector.” * The wages of the ordinary coolie are $30 Mexican money per year, $18 of which are advanced to him upon enrollment. The agency in Singapore re- ceives, in addition, a cash payment of $20 for a 12-months’ coolie. At the termina- tion of his contract the laborer becomes an ‘old or free coolie,” and is at liberty to re-engage of his own volition, at a pre- viously agreed price, to the same party, or make his own terms elsewhere, or return to the town whence he came. Asa novelty to American miners, I give a copy of one of these contract forms. GENERAL FORM OF CONTRACT. For Chinese Engaging to Labor in this Colony and in the Native States: It is this day mutually agreed between the employer the A. B. C. Company, his attorney, heirs, or assigns, and Tu-Tru, Chinese laborer, born at — . and aged — years: That the said laborer is willing to proceed to Kotarana Sumutra and be employed there as atin miner, for 12 months, at a yearly wages of $30 subject to the follow- ing conditions, viz. : 1. That the said laborer receives an ad- vance of $18, which shall be deducted by instalments by the employer, at the rate of $1.50 per month. 2. That the expenses for conveying the laborer to his destination shall be borne by the employer. 8. That the said employer shall furnish the laborer with a suitable house, for which the latter will not be required to pay rent. 4, That the said employer shall provide the laborer with his daily food; and also furnish him with one jacket, two pairs short trousers, one mosquito-curtain, two bathing cloths, one sun hat and a pair of clogs. 5. In the event of the laborer falling ill from natural causes, the employer shall furnish him with medicine and a place tor his medical treatment until recovery, and if the days of illness do not exceed 30 days, the loss of time shall be borne by the em- ployer, and the laborer will not be required to make up for it. But should the illness of the laborer exceed 30 days during one year, or should he fall sick from his own fault, or contract any venereal disease, he shall, on recovery, or after the termi- nation of his agreement, make good the days of his illness, and shall also pay to the said employer 27 cents as costs of food for each day’s absence. Should the laborer desert and be captured, all expenses actually incurred shall be repaid by him. 6. Should the laborer be unable to work on account of venereal disease, or stop work through laziness, the number of *The Chinese Protectors are Government officers, appointed to enforce the fulfillment of labor contracts and to take the part of the wronged party, if occasion requires. days of such absence, together with any advances he may have received, shall be endorsed on the contract, and should there be, at the expiration of the agree- ment, any sums outstanding, the laborer shall work at the rate of $6 per mensem, as in the case of old coolies, until the whole amount has been paid. Whenever there is any dispute, the agreement shall be taken to the Protector of Chinese, or, if beyond this colony, tothe local authority. 7. Ten hours shall constitute a day’s work, but in case of emergency the laborer shall work beyond the specified time. Such overtime shall be placed to the credit of the laborer at the rate of wages mentioned in his contract. 8. The customary Chinese festivals will be considered as holidays. The above eight articles having been clearly explained to both parties by the Protector of Chinese, they have agreed to all of them, and have signed this contract with the understanding that they shall hereafter observe all the articles mentioned therein. Register No.—; name in English of em- ployee, —— —— : Age,—; Name in Chi- nese, -——; Original country, : Advance, $——; Signature or mark ol employee, —— —— Office of Protector of Chinese,——, nb, —— — Employer. —— —— Witness. —— —— Protector of Chinese. Coolies introduced into the Dutch po- sessions must have their contracts filed and registered by their employers with the nearest ‘‘resident” or ‘‘ assistant resi- dent.”” The Dutch law does not permit coolies to be worked without a contract, and requires a proper enforcement of its stipulations. So long as coolies live upto their contract they cannot be dismissed before its expiration, without the consent of the ‘‘ resident.” This is an important matter to the promoters in case of an un- profitable enterprise. Coolies work under foremen called mandors, and distinguished as first, second, third or fourth mandor, according to their ability and duration of service, and according to the number of men under them. In Siak each mandor worked 50 coolies. A mandor’s wages vary from $100 down to $70, $60 or $40 (Mexican money) per month. The man- dors are supposed to board themselves; they are paid from one to two months’ wages on account, on enrollment. Man- dors are picked from among ‘‘ old or free” coolies. The wages of Chinese black- smiths (free) vary from $20 to $25 per month, and carpenters cost, according to skill, from $15 to $25 per month. To these wages must be added the cost of brokerage, agency, contract drawing, medical examination and other items; also the cost of shipping coolies to their desti- nation and feeding them en route. The monthly board, either provided by the em- ployer direct or through a boarding-house boss (7auki), against a fixed charge, must also be included. If a coolie dies during contract time the $20 purchase money and any part of the $18 advance not yet worked out is lost to the employer. Moreover, the time lost through sickness of less than 80 days, the cost of medicine administered (see contract), the hospital costs for pa- tients ill more than 30 days and the event- ual funeral expenses and loss of clothing supplied are all charges to be considered when the cost of a unit of labor is com- puted. The time lost during heavy rains (the coolies working out of doors) when calculated for a lot of coolies per year rep- resents a good many days’ work. Adding to all this the necessity of breaking in raw coolies for their especial work, we may conclude that coolie labor is more expen- sive than we might at first have sup- posed. The hours of work in Siak are from 7 to 1l a.m. and from 1 to5p.m. About 10 minutes are lost each time on going to work and getting ready; the coolie’s work is reckoned to commence when he leaves his roof or shelter. Coolies in Siak are paid once a month, nominally $2.50, but $1.50 is kept back on account of the ad- vance made at enrollment, Jeaving the coolie $1 in cash per month during his year of employment. There are no rates per hour, such as are established for overtime in the Malay Peninsula, where the whole coolie labor system, being of longer standing, is a organized and disciplined than in iak. hr Centrifugal Grinding Machines. When a grindstone or emery wheel is used for grinding tempered tools, it has been found necessary to have them revolve at a very low rate of speed, or else employ water to keep them from drawing the temper, and many ways have been in- vented and employed for supplying and applying the water, and none has seemed to become more than half way successful. The difficulties have been that if a wheel or stone was revolved at anything more than a quite moderate speed the moment a drop of water was applied it was bound to fly off. Cases, troughs and coverings have been adopted to catch the water, which have been effectual in this respect, but in regard to keeping the tool cool the result has not been very satisfactory. The means employed in the centrifugal grinders here illustrated, and which are . built by Pedrick & Ayer of Philadelphia, for accomplishing this purpose, constitute a radical departure from anything hereto- fore resorted to. The water is applied to the stone or wheel at a point near its cen- ter, and by capillary attraction is caused to stick to the surface and accumulate in quantity until overcome by centrifugal force imparted by the wheel, then com- mencing to flow in the direction of the point of its largest diameter, which is en- tirely encircled by a case which catches the water as it flies off, and without the aid of a pump 1s conducted back to the tank again. ‘The faster the wheel is re- volved the more rapid the water flows, and the ordinary rates of speed and. amount of water now used can safely be multiplied several times. And this is not all to be noticed in this connection. The water being made to flow on and over the sur- face of the wheel with force, at right angle to its direction of motion, itis not so apt to fly off when coming in contact with the tool, but is inclined to keep on its natural direction of course and then the current of water keeps the stone clean and becomes more effectual in keeping the tool cool by being held on the surface at the point of grinding contact. The horizontal double grinder, Fig. 1, is adapted to machinists’ tool grinding and carries two grinding wheels 8 inches by 1} inch, one at each end of the arbor. ‘Ine arbor is of steel, 1 inch in diameter, and runs in removable bronze bushings which can be replaced in case of wear. These are self-oiling. The water is carried to the wheels from the tank by head force and back again into the tank by centrif- ugal force, keeping a continuous circu- lation as long as enough water is kept in the tank to cover the supply pipes. It is suitable for light and medium grinding and is an effective and substantial machine for tool-room use. This size 1s also made up to carry a sin- gle wheel, and fitted with short legs for bench use, or stand for floor, as preferred. Fig. 2 represents an upright grinder carrying a single wheel 12 inches in diam- eter by 2 inches thick, mounted on a steel arbor 14 inch in diameter, running in re- movable bronze bushings. The grinding August 20, 1891 THE IRON AGE. 287 i PPEDRICK'& AYER SHEN aire —— Ze = = Fig. 2.—Upright Grinder. the tank again by centrifugal force alone, and so continuously as long as water is kept in the tank. This machine is as simple in its construction as the plainest grindstone frame, supplies itself with an abundant amount of water, and will do better and more work. The last engraving is of a machine de- signed for grinding inside gouges, cutters and tools having concave cutting edges, and will grind all such tools to a true arc of a circle within its limits. It supplies itself continuously with an abundant amount of waterin the same manner as the horizontal tool grinder. It has steel arbor with removable bronze bushings for boxes, which are self oiling. This ma- chine is made either single or double, as preferred. It is very valuable for grinding, molding and shaping machine cutters used in car shop and planing mills. I The Canda Mfg. Company of New York have purchased a tract of 1000 acres at Cartaret, N.J., 14 miles from the city, upon which they have begun the erection of a large freight car works. H. M. Ensign of Huntington, W. Va., where the same parties already have extensive car works under the name of Ensign Mfg. Company, will be superintendent also of the new works. - He has lately spent con- siderable time traveling over the country investigating the best system of making car wheels and has decided to adopt the Ridgway steam hydraulic system of bal- Fig. 3.—Gauge and Cutter Grinder. anced cranes. A large order has been placed with Craig Ridgway & Son of Coatesville, Pa., for the equipment. The Ridgway system isa hydraulic one, but uses nO pumps or accumulator. The cranes WINGS’ PATENT CENTRIFUGAL GRINDING MACHINE. are balanced and work quickly and accu- rately and are very durable. The new works expect to be in operation in part face of the wheel is slightly beveled to| having straight edges, like planes, chisels, | by November 1. accommodate the grinding of long knives| knives, &c., and is also eff