The Iron Age 1892-01-21: Vol 49

‘THE THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1892, IRON AGE Torpedo Boat No. 2, U.S. N. We have from time to time, as oppor- tunity offered, presented very complete illustrated descriptions of the several types of vessels forming our new navy. These articles cover quite thoroughly the several designs necessary to the construction of an entire fleet of war vessels, and are of his- vessel by use of an intercostal vertical keel and broad heavy stringer plates. She is also stiffened by the coal bunker bulkheads and side plating forming box girders which are unbroken through the machinery space. She will havea ‘* turtle- back ” deck at the bow for the fixed tor- pedo tube and loading gear. Figs. 3 to8 inclusive clearly show the hull arrange- ment, driving a separate screw; both screws turning outboard. The collective indi- cated horse-power is estimated at 1800, the number of revolutions at this power being 412, and the piston speed 1100 feet per minute The valves will be piston valves for all cylinders except the low, which will have double-ported slides. The framing will be forged steel columns truesed by steel stays in a manner de- Fig. 2.—Side Elevation of Engines. “se } 5 ee RY n ) SESS ee ee! eer Pe Soros sss ee xg ~ Mey Fey ress “I SS eeesss ye rs OSs srs r A} i} ; : ws B | aye , Sr Sito TORPEDO BOAT No. 2.—SPEED, 24 KNOTS. torical interest as showing the rapid strides which have been made during the past two or three years. We now have to describe the Torpedo Boat No. 2, which, because of the speed required, 24 knots per hour, is of unusual interest. General Description, This boat is 150 feet long, 15 feet 6 inches beam, draft amidships 4 feet 9 inches, having a normal displacement of 120 tons. Her hull is constructed on the transverse system, special attention being paid to the longitudinal strength ot the The armament will consist of one fixed torpedo tube at the bow, two diverging tubes on training circle aft, and four 1-pounder machine guns. The tubes will accommodate the new 18-inch Whitehead torpedo. Engines. Her motive power will consist of two quadruple expansion engines (shown in plan and elevation in Figs. 1, 2 and 9) of 114, 16, 214 and 30 inches diameter of cylinder by 16 inches stroke. These en- gines are rights and lefts, placed in a com- mon water-tight compartment and each signed to combine the greatest possible stiffness with the least weight. All the working rods about the engine will be of mild forged steel. The bed plates are made of steel plates stiffened with angles and built into the vessel. The piston and counecting rods will be oil tempered. The Condenser will be made entirely of composition and sheet brass in the lightest and strongest manner possible, with a cooling surface of 1379 feet. The circulating pump will be January 21, 1899 THE IRON AGE. 102 ‘OL 72 uonvag—'g “big > ON LVOd OdAdYOL "uospoag pourpny buoy yo01)404—"> “Org ZI yD uorpag—, “Brq "GL 7D UuorqQIag—"9 “Brg 6t ' ‘6L 2D u0rn00g—"g “624 January 21, 1892 of the centrifugal variety, which with its engine is formed directly on the condenser head. The injection pipe will have a scoop on the outside of the ship by means of which water will be thrown through the condenser by the motion of the vessel. The main air pumps are placed directly under the condenser and afte worked directly from the main sbafts. An auxiliary air pump is provided to keep the condenser free while the main engines are standing -_ The Boilers will be of the water-tube variety, con- structed for a pressure of 250 ogee per square inch, which will be the working ressure of the engines; one boiler will be placed forward and one abaft the engine room, each in a water-tight compartment and the closed fire rooms will be furnish Torpedo Boat No. 2,—Fig. 9.—End Elevation of Engines. with blowers capable of supplying air to burn 60 pounds of coal per square foot of grate per hour. There will be two main and two aux- iliary feed pumps fitted, the main feed pumps being worked from the main shafts through a worm gear which reduces the number of strokes one-fourth. There will be an evaporator and distiller supplied. The entire weight of the engines, boilers and all engine-room and fire-room weights complete for sea, with water in boilers, will not exceed 52 tons. Rc There have been no new developments during the past week regarding the affairs of Jas. P. Witherow, engineer and con- tractor, of Pittsburgb, mention of whose assignment was made in our issue of last week. Mr. Witherow is lying seriously ill at the Monongahela House in that city, and under directions from his physician no one is allowed to converse with him regarding business matters. We under- stand that a number of the largest creditors have held several informal meetings since the assignment was made, but as -near as ‘we can learn, no definite plan of action has been devised. In this connection wedesire THE IRON AGE. to state that any omy ition looking to the arrangement of the business affairs of Mr. Witherow and submitted to the assignee would no doubt be favorably received by that person. From several of the larger creditors we have received expressions of opinion to the effect that the terms of the original extension as granted to Mr. With- erow are still thought to be the best way out of the difficulty. If this extension should be adopted, and go into effect, the works would then be under the direct supervision of Alexander Thomas, assignee, and would, no doubt, be operated in a manner satisfactory to the creditors and also to Mr. Witherow. It is probable that definite action of some kind on this matter will be taken in a short time. The Soo Canal Business. In his report to General Casey, Chief of Army Engineers at Washington, Colonel Poe discusses the Soo Canal and its busi- ness aspects as follows: The canal opened for navigation April 27, 1891, and closed December 7. The season was therefore 225 days long, or three days shorter than in 1890. The av- erage number of vessels passing per day for the whole season was 45.3, and for the months of June, July, August and Sep- tember the average was 54.6. The size of the vessels continues to increase, as is shown in the following statistics: Tons. In 1887 the average registered tonnage per CI MR. bik: Sccackdudd. alekstetesual wow i Tn 1888 the average registered tonnage per WE Sitnekesenindacuassve 701.5 790.5 WO iy kdcncccccdtcadbveecccundascanted 833.8 In 1891 the average registered tonnage per vessel was.... .. ... san ainihxead re a ede 862.1 The total registered tonnage for the sea- son falls 53,750 tons short of that for 1890, and the freight tonnage was 152,454 tons less. For the whole period since 1881 the iron ore carried through the canal has been 47 per cent. of the total freight, and in 1889 and 1890 it was more than 50 per cent.; therefore the freight may be divided into two nearly equal parts, one of which was the iron ore, the remainder being the ag- gregate of all other freights. The per- centage of increase since 1881 falls between 12 and 39 each year, the average being 22. During 1890 the freight other than iron ore amounted to 4,266,445 tons, and for 1891, 5,328,548 tons. This shows an in- crease of 25 per cent. in the freight of 1891 —other than iron vre—over 1890, or a lit- tle more than the average increase for the preceding ten years. Hence the decrease ia iron-ore freight alone is sufficient to ex- plain why the business of 1891 did not show the usual increase. Excluding iron ore and wheat in 1891, the remaining tonnage was 3,725,860. Hence the increase in freight, exclusive of iron ore, was 8 per cent., which indicates quite a falling off from the average rate of 22 per cent. for the last. ten years and shows that if the wheat crop of the North- west had not been unusually good this season there would have been a slight de- crease in the volume of freight other than iron ore. The foregoing relates solely to tonnage. If we consider the value of the season’s freight, we find a very large increase over any other. The average yearly increase in the value of the freight transported since 1881 was about 15 per cent., but for the season of 1891 it was about 25 per cent. The cause of this great increase in valua- tion is plainly due to the very large wheat crop. Since we are not likely to be im- mediately favored with another such crop, a decrease in valuation may reasonably be predieted for next year. The iron ore carried in 1891 amounted to 3,560,213 tons, as compared with 4,774,- of quicksilver at California mines in December were 1287 flasks, against 1182 flasks same month in 1890 and 1386 flasks in 1889; 14,982 flasks were received during last year, 12,947 in 1890 and 16,264 in 1889. The exports from that port by sea last month were 138 flasks, of which 110 went to Mexico. the year 1891 were 80 flasks to Japan, 10 to Australia, 250 to New Zealand, 210 to Central America, 3491 to Mexico and 5 to $175,730. $173,660, were exported. There has not 103 768 tons during the previous year, and the copper weighed 69,190 tons, an increase of 25,461 tons over the previous year. The pig iron transported amounted to 27,181 tons, an increase of 4469 tons. The total valuation of commerce through the canal for the calendar year was $128,178,208, against $102,214,948 in 1890. ce American Goods in China. Edward Bedloe, American Consul to Amoy, who has returned on leave of ab- sence, speaks entertainingly of prospects in that country. that the Chinese entertain a —— respect for America and Americans pation in the world. They know the value of American products and will use them in preference to all others when procur- able. who are in China know this, and have the audacity to counterfeit on the American imports. All our cotton goods, machinery, fire arms, implements and tools have gained such a foothold that the mer- chants spoken of import like goods—like only in appearance—from England and Germany with the names of the American manufacturers, trade-marks and every- thing. These are sold indiscriminately to the Chinese, who learn the deception only after they have used the goods. superiority of the American products in this line of manufactures that go to China is so apparent that little more need be said 3}on that point that the Premier of China, in conversation with one of our naval captains, expressed a desire to see some of our cruisers of the make of the San Francisco, stating that the Chinese Government wished to buy It isa fact, he says; for any The Dutch and English merchants The It is a matter of record four of that class, and from the descrip- tion he had seen of it he thought that class of a vessel would be much more de- sirable than that of the German or Eng- lish make, and that if the United States shipbuilders would send one over for him and his people to see, he thought the order would be placed with us. This is a pointer for our ship builders. —— EES The Quicksilver Trade.—The receipts San Francisco from The exports in the same way for British Columbia, of a total value of In 1890, 3426 flasks, valued at been a flask sent hence to China in three years. Four years ago China took 3758 flasks from us. siderable quantity was imported from In the year 1891 a con- China for account of Mexico, and re- shipped from San Francisco. | The Western Traffic Association formed as the outcome of the ‘‘ bankers’ agree- ment” has shown unexpected powers of endurance. Railroad tariff rates have been maintained: with some appearance of stability. But last week, in consequence of a hasty expression of Mr. Gould respect- ing the attitude of the Missouri Pacific, a belief was entertained in many quarters that his road would withdraw from the association. This act, it was assumed, would be fatal in its consequence. Two members of the organization had been officially adjudged guilty of rate cutting. Neglect to enforce the penalties much hard feeling. The difficulty, it is now supposed, will be smoothed over. 104 ———————— es eee THE IRON AGE. January 21, 1899 WORLD'S FAIR NOTES. Construction Work. The past week was a period of extremel cold weather. But in spite of cold an snow the work on the buildings at Jackson Park was pushed without cessation. Nearly 300 workmen engaged in landscape garden- ing were laid off because the ground was frozen and they could do nothing, but on the buildings work has steadily progressed. The iron men are especially active, and amidst the driving snow have been putting up the immense steel ribs in the dome of the Horticultural Building. These weigh 6 tons each, are 110 feet high to the apex and have a span of 180 feet. Staffmakers and carpenters are busily engaged, and although they labor at a disadvantage they continue to make daily progress. Chief of Construction Burnbam realizes that he is under obligations to complete the build- ings on time and he does not intend that stormy or cold weather shall interfere with progress on the great structures. There are at least 3500 men at work now, and they are to be kept constantly employed rearing the big buildings. Chief Skif™s Mission. Chief Skiff of the Mines and Mining Department has returned from a trip in which he visited, in the interest of the Mining Department, New York, Philadel- = and Washington. He found that the epartments of the Smithsonian Institu- tion and others in Washington, represent ing which are Major Powell, Professor Clark and Dr. Day, are deeply interested in the welfare of the mines and mining exhibition at the fair, and are anxious to assist in every possible way. In the Patent Office Commissioner Simons said he would further it by carrying out illustrations in the evolution of mining processes. This will be done by the exhibition of models already in the Patent Office. Mr. Skiff has brought back blue prints of all the forms and styles of showcases and cabi- nets used for the exhibition of mineral specimens in all the largest scientific uni- versities in the world. Conflicts of Authority. As is usually the case with enterprises having a double headed management, there are continual conflicts of authority be- tween the National Commission and the Board of Directors. Thus far everything has been peacefully adjusted, and it is un- likely that there will be any serious diffi- culty between the two organizations. The latest clash has been caused by a ruling of the Board of Directors which permits the regulations governing exhibitors to be withheld from distribution for several weeks until passed upon by the special committee appointed by President Baker This is a somewhat serious charge, and appears to reflect on the management of the directory. Of the fourteen great de- partments of the fair it appears that the chiefs of only four have been able to get their rules and regulations printed and distributed. Chief Allison of the Department of Manufactures has sent a strong letter to the Director-General, urging him to have the regulations which he prepared printed. Mr. Allison is chief of probably the big- gest department of the fair, and he de- clares that his work is completely blocked. He has a stack of letters from corres- pondents who burden him with queries for information which he says is already in type, but cannot be issued. Chief Bu- chanan of the Department of Agriculture, and also we Chief of the Department of Forestry and Live Stock, is in a worse fix than Mr. Allison. His regulations have been ready, it is said, for six weeks, awaiting the approval of President Baker» or the special committee recently ap- pointed by him. Other chiefs of depart- ments are besieged with inquiries which they cannot answer until authorized to do so by the officials of the Board of Direct- ors. The whole trouble seems to grow out of the fact that while the commission is granted rather extensive powers it has no money with which to exercise the func- tions conferred. Meanwhile the Board of Directors, with millions back of it, has decided to exercise a close supervision over all expenditures. This supervision has taken the form in a measure of juris- diction, and while, by agreement bet ween the commission and the Board of Direct- ors, the chiefs of departments are to issue regulations, the directory, by refusing to pay the bill for printing them, can suspend any action. Will Bulld a Blue Grass Palace. Advices from Creston, Iowa, state that the Blue Grass League perfected its an- nual organization by the election of the following officers for the ensuing year: President, William Scott, Creston; secre- tary, J. J. Steadman, Council Bluffs; treasurer, Z. T. Wiedner, Corning. Numerous letters from the various county organizations were read, promising hearty co-operation in any action of the league. Harrison County was admitted to member- ship. A resolution favoring an exhibit of the products of the now famous lowa Biue Grass region and the building of a Blue Grass Palace at the World’s Columbian Exposition was unanimously passed. Said Secretary Steadman: ‘*The World’s Columbian Exposition at Chicago will present the one opportunity of our lives to let the whole world know what a grand country southwest lowa is, and we must not permit the opportunity to pass. I favor the most liberal of appro- priations by our Legislature, and a part of that appropriation ‘should be given the Blue Grass League with which to make its exhibit.” Creston will rebuild its Blue Grass Palace this year, and it will be more beau- tiful and attractive than any of its pre- decessors. Sanitary Appliances, The American Public Health Associa- tion has offered its services for bringing to Chicago not only all facilities known for the promotion of health, but all the leading thinkers in lines of sanitation. It will probably be intrusted by the World’s Fair promoters with the details of the work. The scheme of the association covers a sanitary exhibit surpassing any- thing of the kind ever before made. Its membership includes the sanitary officers of the various States, of the army and navy of the United States, and of the Gov- ernments of Canada and Mexico. Its classification of sanitation work is: Dwell- ings, schools and education, factoriés and workshops, clothing and dresses, food, sanitary engineering, public health ad- ministration in cities and towns, the labora- tory, and the red cross section. It has been in existence since 1872. Dr. J. H. Rauch, who in 1872 was Sanitary Super- intendent of Chicago, was one of its founders. Its officers for this year may be mentioned, as they will cut a big figure in preparing for the World’s Fair exhibit. They are: President, Dr. Felix Formento, New Orleans; first vice-president, Dr. Domingo Orvavanos, City of Mexico; second vice-president, Dr. Walter Wyman, Washington, D. C.; secretary, Irving A. Watson, Concord, N. H.; treasurer, J. Berrien Lindsley, Nashville. Dr. J. H. Rauch of Illinois is chairman of the committee of this association to oo for a suitable exhibit at the orld’s Fair. The next — of the association wil} be held in the City of Mexico this year and the next annual convocation will be in Chicago during the World’s Fair. Brevities. The average Southern pine lands cut 15,000 feet of lumber tothe acre. Op this basis it will require 4500 acres of standing pine to finish the construction work now in progress on the World’s Fair site. The electrical subways or tunnels will be 6 feet in diameter, and will conduct the wires for electrical power and light for the grounds and buildings. The bids have been opened and the contract will go to T. C. Brooks & Co. for about $35,- 000. The Construction Department has issued a prospectus asking for bids for the rail- way in Jackson Park. The various trans- portation companies in all parts of the world are invited to submit propositions, From this it appears that the road may be electric, steam, cable, or any other species which may prove acceptable. The bids are to be opened March 1. Chief Buchanan received information from the Southern Lumber Manufacturers’ Association saying it would put in one of the grand vestibules in the Forestry Build- ing and construct it of yellow pine in a way to show the beauty of this variety of wood and its susceptibility to polish. The National Association of Hardwood Lum- ber Manufacturers has consented to put in another of these vestibules. About 25 States have agreed to furnish columns for the building. The Illinois Board of World’s Fair Com- missioners purchased for $8000 the fine Worthen geological collection which was the property of the late Professor Worthen, State Geologist at the time of his death in 1888. The collection’ contains 42 boxes of fossils and minerals and 800 volumes of geological books. Reports from Spain state that the Expo- sition in Chicago is quite well understood there; that in Madrid it has aroused a con- siderable interest, and there is a prospect of an interesting exhibit from that country. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company lines have taken up the matter of an ex- hibit for the Department of Transportation Exhibits of the World’s Fair systemati- cally. They have appointed a committee which will consult with the officers of the different departments of all these differ- ent roads and ascertain their views as to what it is best to show. The special committee of the United States Potters’ Association called last week on Director General Davis and Chief Alli- son of the Department of Manufactures and made a formal request for 32,000 square feet of space in the Manufactures Building. The committee assured Di- rector-General Davis that the Potters’ Association would endeavor to surpass in its display any similar exhibit that might be sent from Europe or other foreign countries. Edward H. Williams, A. B. Farquhar, Luther 8. Bent, James M. Guffey, J. P. 8. Gobin, George N. Riley, Thomas P. Merritt and P. Filey, members of the Com- mittee on Machinery and Manufactures of the Board of World’s Fair Managers of ‘Pennsylvania, have issued a circular to the manufacturers of that State, appealing to them to extend their aid in placing Peon- sylvania in the lead at the great exposi- tion. The-Chemical National Bank Company of Chicago were awarded the contract by the Ways and Means Committee for con- ducting a bank on the exposition grounds. January 21. 1892 THE IRON AGE. 105 All the conveniences of a down-town banking institation are to be furnished. Safety vaults will be provided and the company will be placed under bond to fulfill their engagements. The safe conduct of the institution is to be in a measure guaranteed by the Exposition Company, and intending customers are expected to feel that transactions with the bank will be without risk, SE —————— The Parker & Knight Screw-Cutting Engine Lathe. The object aimed at by the Parker & Knight Company of Baltimore, Md., the manufacturers of this lathe, was the production of a heavier and stiffer machine in its working parts than is usual. The headstock has a five-stepped cone pulley, whose largest diameter is 12 inches and smallest 4 inches, carrying a 24-inch driv- ing belt. The spindle is of hammered steel, with a 14-inch diameter hole its en- tire length, the front bearing being 3 inches diameter by 4} inches long, and back bearing 2 inches diameter by 34 gibbed carriage and slide block for the tool post; een rest is furnished, however, when desired, as also follow rest and slide block for work of large diameter. Its weight, complete with counter and face plates, center rest change gears, wrenches, &c., which accompany each lathe, is 1900 pounds for 6-foot bed. _— LL International Banking. Charles R. Flint of New York, one of the largest exporters from this country to South America, addressed the Merchants’ Club of Boston last week in advocacy of the establishment of an international American bank. He spoke of the difficulty of opening up markets abroad for our sur- plus products of manufacture. The sur- plus stock has a far more important bear- ing upon dealings in every article than its ratio to the total trade. He touched on the manner in which our merchants bor- row money from English banking houses. This system, said he, results in the loss to America of interest and differences in exchange, as well as of commissions, all of SCREW CUTTING inches long. The actual swing of this lathe over the ways is 17} inches, swing over carriage 10 inches, while it will take stock 32 inches long between the centers. The back gearing is heavy and powerful, being in the ratio of 15 to 1. The tail spindle is hammered steel, 2 inches in iameter and 13 inches long, with 7 inches of travel. The lathe centers are tool steel, i} inches in diameter. The feed motion has a wide range, as with the aid of the stud shown on the lower cone, in connection with the gears on its inner end, six dis tinct changes of feed can be obtained. All the operations of throwing in feeds, reversing, throwing in screw-cutting nut, &c., are accomplished in the apron, the operator not being obliged to reach over to the back of the lathe or go to the end of the headstock to reverse the gearing. The range of screw cutting is every num ber from 2 to 16, inclusive, and every even number above that to and including 36 per inch. The carriage is made very long on the ways, 224 inches, and is pro- vided with four slots in the front and two on the back for holding work on the to for boring. It has friction cross feed an the gearing can be thrown out when cut- ting screws, so that even should the feed friction be set tight no harm can be done. The lathe has friction countershaft, with 12 inch by 3 inch face pulleys for drivin belt. As shown, the lathe is built wit ENGINE LATHE. which could besaved to America if inter- national American banking were developed and systematized. At the Pan-American | Congress last year in Washington a chosen | committee decided that the best means for | the development of financial relations be- tween the markets of North, South and Central America would be the passage of a law by the United Slates incorporating an international bank. Such a bank, hav- ing agencies in the financial centers of the America3, would materially promote the establishment and immediate use of a com- mon standard for calculating values when- ever such a standard shall be determined upon by the nations in interest. To ex- tend our business as exporters we as mer- chants must be prepared to give larger and longer credits. But whom shall we trust ? Who are credit-worthy? By the estab- lishment ofa well-organized system of in- ternational American banking, our mer- chants and manufacturers would be able to get reliable information as to all the mar- kets, and would be prepared to extend larger credits and with greater safety. The representatives of the system in the several money markets of the Americas would immediately become interested in fostering such relations and facilitating such business to the utmost extent. The verdict for $5000 secured by Joseph W. Robinson of Plainfield, N. J., for the oss of an eye, is nominally against the Pond Machine Tool Company, but the real losers are the Fidelity and Casualty Insur- ance Company, in which the Pond Com- pany have an employer’s liability policy. The Pond people have 400 employees. The accident by which Robinson lost his eye was a curious one. He was at work in the Pond shops when the eyeball was struck by a flying minute particle of steel from the chisel of a fellow workman. The sight was instantly destroyed. The resultant suit was considered a test case. Robinson obtained a verdict for the full amount sued for. The insurance company will carry the case into the highest courts to settle disputed questions of law. —_—_—— EE The Rolling-Stock Litigation. The fight now being waged between the unsecured creditors of the United States Rolling Stock Company and the stock and bond holders of the company took a dif- ferent aspect on the 15th, when Carnegie, Phipps & Co. filed an intervening petition in the suit of William Brander of London against the company. Brander brought suit as an owner oi certain of the com- pany’s debenture bonds to foreclose a mortgage executed to the Central Trust Company of New York to secure the issue of the bonds. Carnegie, Phipps & Co. say they are unsecured creditors for a large amount, and they believe the suit brought by Brander was instituted by him in pur- suance of an agreement between the com- pany’s shareholders and bondholders for the sole purpose of carrying out a scheme of reorganization having for one of its ob- jects the sale of all the corporate property of the company for the benefit of the share- holders and bondholders and to the exclu- sion of the judgment and floating credit- ors. It is also charged that the suit is an agreed one between Brander and the com- pany’s solicitors, and chat as speedily as possible some agreed final decree of fore- closure and sale shall be obtained for the purpose of carrying out the scheme. Itis also charged that Brander is a stockholder and one of the Reorganization Committee, which, it is charged, is scheming to ex- clude unsecured creditors. The default in the payment of interest on which suit was brought is declared to have occurred ex- pressly by the consent and direction of Brander and other members of the Reor- ganization Committee. While the receiver and his counsel have been industrious in resisting the claims of the petitioner and other creditors unse- cured, it is claimed that nv defense has been interposed in resistance of the fore- closure asked by Brander, and the charge is made that the receiver is acting in full concert with the Reorganization Commit- tee. The petitioner asks to be allowed to enter the suit as a defendant and to take proper steps to resist Brander’s scheme. Phil. Armour, the provision packer of Chicago, is said to carry on the heaviest individual business of any man in the world. During the year 1891 his Chicago jobbing business amounted to $66,000,000, and his elevator business to $9,000,000, making a total of $75,000,000. How do those figures strike you? At the stock- yards . Armour employs an army of over 8000 men, while his clerical force numbers between 250 and 300 men. He gives his close personal attention to the de- tails of his enormous business, and may be found hard at work at his desk bright and early every morning. ‘‘ Armour’s stock- yards,” one of his representatives remarks, ‘‘are a sight worth going hundreds of miles to see, and ought to inspire every young man with an ambition to try and see what he can accomplish in this world by devoting himself strictly and conscien- tiously to business.” 106 THE IRON AGE. January 21, 1892 STEAM BOILERS.* BY JOHN J, HOGAN. (Concluded from page 6.) In the class of boilers illustrated in Fig. 43 (page 6, The Iron Age, January 7, 1892), the circulation is assumed to be up the in- clined tubes to the receptacles or inclined vertical passages at fron: end. These in- clined verical passages vary in design and proportions, some being of large internal volume relatively, others present curved, intricate and <«trcuitous ways, offering every possible obstacle to a free ascent of the heated water and ascending globules. The boiler shown in Fig. 43 of this class presents as clear and open passages as are ractical to attain in this construction. e presence of descending or cooler cur- rents is apparent, as these vertical passages which connect the inclined tubes to the upper water and steam drum of front end have only one side exposed toward the heated gases, while the surfaces of the other side give off a certain quantity of heat to the air space in which they are placed. In some designs of this form of boiler the front vertical passages receive on the sur- faces exposed to the gases less heat than the vertical passages which connect the lower part of the. inclined tubes to the back end of the upper water and steam drum. When this occurs circulation is seriously interrupted, if not stopped. If the descending currents to the lower end of the inclined tubes are impeded, not to the tubes, which are vertically inclined, while the others may be said to be hori- zontally inclined. Circulation takes place between three upper drums and one lower drum. The upper drums are intercon- nected in their steam spaces, but are not connected below the water line. Each of the upper drums circulates through its connecting tubes and the lower drum. When heat is applied, the water in the tubes of each of the three upper drums which receives the highest temperature relatively is displaced by the water in the less heated tubes, which it may be inferred no effort made to prevent the interming- ling of currents. An advan may be claimed for the large volume of water at each end of the inclined tubes as a pre- caution to secure a local circulation be. tween the front and back end of the tubes, This claim would be more apparent if the upper inclined tubes received the greatest heat, which is not possible in this con- struction. Another Design. Fig. 57 represents a design of inclined- tube boiler differing from the preceding types, Figs. 43 and 56, in construction Fig. 55.—The Sterling Boiler.— American. Fig. 57.—Seller’s Water-Tube Boiler. say stopped, steam is readily produced in the inclined tubes over the fire. The presence of this steam tends to maintain the impediment to circulation and results in producing irregular pressures jn the lower part of the boiler, as well as the ex- cessive heating of one or more inclined tubes. The overheating of some of the tubes produces excessive expansion, result- ing in fracture where the construction is not of sufficient strength to withstand the unnatural strain. A Becent Design. Fig. 55 illustrates one of the latest de- signs in water-tube boilers. It differs from the other boilers in the position of * Doprtighies, 1891. by David Williams, New ork . Fig 56.—The Wood Boiler.—American, Fig. 58.—Pipe Boiler.—Ascending Currents Delivered Below Outlet for Descending Currents. STEAM BOILERS. are near the ends of each drum. As the temperature of the fire increases the verti- cal ascending and descending currents be- come more rapid. If steam is produced in any of the tubes, the pressure being uniform throughout, the water in the other tubes displaces the steam, because it is relatively heavier. Each tube in this boiler conveys its heated globules of steam and water to the steam and water drum without intermingling with or being ob- structed in their ascent by other currents of relatively lower temperatures. Another Construction, Fig. 56 illustrates an inclined-tube boiler in which drums are used at each end of the tubes in place of vertically inclined pas- sages. In this design there is apparently and design, yet retaining practically the ‘same provision for circulation. A large | volume of water is maintained at each end of the inclined tubes, and the front con- nection, or the ascending passage, receives apparently less heat than the back or descending p e. The lower tier of bent inclined tubes receive the greatest heat, and the steam and water of high temperatures pass freely and unimpeded to the front or higher D-shaped drum, Here the temperature of these currents is reduced by intermingling with others of a lower temperature from the upper tier of bent inclined tubes. From this front D- shaped drum the heated currents are sup- posed to pass up through the front con- nection to the upper steam and water drum, which connection is possibly of a THE IRON AGE. 107 January 21, 1892 eee eee eee less temperature than the back connection. | ‘‘ pipe boilers.” Where this design oc- The water which is to displace the highly heated water in the lower tier of bent in- clined tubes should apparently pass down the back connection from upper steam and water drum to lower D shaped drum. This course is, however, impeded ap- arently by the temperature given to the Soa or descending connection from the upper steam and water drum. It is im robable that the course of circulation is down the upper tier of bent inclined tubes to the lower D-shaped drum, except at the sides where they are less exposed to heat. Therefore, any impediment to the descending currents in the back con- nection from the upper steam and water drum affects the rapid displacement of the heated globules in the lower tier of bent inclined tubes. The general design of this boiler, Fig. 57, see ore easy pas- sages for the ascent of the heated currents, and if the heat was applied so as to pro- mote their ascent as well as the descent of relatively cooler currents, circulation would be improved. curs it has more generally been adopted as a means of introducing heating surfaces than for assisting circulation in a partial way. ; Cast-Iron Bollers. No reference has been made to cast-iron boilers, as it is probable that they will not be proposed for high press- ure steam. Cast iron sectional boilers for power purposes may. be used with safety to certain limits of pressure, possibly 75 pounds per square inch. The pressures of the future will be generally somewhere between 100 and 200 pounds, and it is, therefore, but fair to assume that boilers made of cast iron in large or small pieces will never be used under the pressures named. For this reason an examination of their water circulating capacities has not been considered. Conclusions, The conclusion which can be deduced No change in the applica- | from this summary of existing methods of tion of the heat will, however, entirely circulating water in all classes of boilers is, Fig. 59.—Pipe Boiler.—Descending Currents Not Provided For. Fig. 60.—Pipe Boiler.—Horizontal Pipes, Both Ends Level. that in a well-designed boiler its circula- tion can be positive, clearly discernible, 'and impossible to impede or even to stop when fired with accelerated or natural draft at any temperature. It will be positive be- cause Gefinite passages will be provided | for the ascending and descending currents. Fig. 61.—Pipe Boiler.—Horizontal Pipes, with Ascending and Descending Cur- rents Provided For. STEAM BOILERS, prevent the intermingling of currents of various temperatures. Water-Pipe Boilers, Figs. 58 to 61 inclusive show diagrams | of some parts of water-pipe boilers. It is unnecessary to point out fully or at length what little provision has been made to| promote natural circulation, as it is almost apparent. Fig. 58 presents an error met with in pipe boilers. It is not considered of much importance, but offers a decided opposition to free circulation in addition to the oppo- sition due tu the use of inclined horizontal pipes. Fig. 59 is another design in which circulation is not provided for and results in the destruction of the pipes exposed to the fire. Fig. 60 shows a construction which exists in many designs of boilers of the ‘‘ water-pipe” as well as the ‘‘ water- tube” types. Here the construction is mechanically incorrect. Two or more pipes or tubes are placed parallel between two fixed headers. The lower ones are ex- posed to more heat than the upper ones and therefore elongate; straining the joints of the'less-heated tubes by tending to push the headers apart or injuring the joints of the elongated tubes is the re- sult. Especially as there is no provision for circulation, as in Fig. 60, irregular straining is more frequent and fractures occur. Fig. 61 represents a manner of providing partially for circulation in | It will be clearly discernible because the | passages provided for the ascending cur- | rents will be directly exposed to-the action of the highest temperatures of the fire so ‘as to absorb all the radiant heat possi- ble, while the passages for the descend ing currents will be removed from the action of the highest temperatures. Cir- | culation cannot be impeded or even stop- ; ped, because the water inthe descending | passages can never acquire the same tem- | perature as the water in the ascending | passages, and in these latter passages there will be no intermingling of currents or | frictional resistance to prevent the con- _ tinuous and uninterrupted displacement of | steam and relutively heated water by the weight of the water in the descending passages. Tubes in Construction. To obtain this circulation tubes and small cylinders used in the construc- tion of steam boilers are more desirable than large cylinders and flat surfaces. With the use of small cylinders and tubes, independent passages for the circulation of smal! bodies of watercan be provided, and vertical and inclined heating surfaces se- cured. By such means the structural strength of the steam boiler to withstand high internal pressure is made sure, and the waste of material used in providing for irregular strains is saved. The use of tubes and small cylinders without stays insures reater safety with high pressures than eavy plates and large spaces held uncer- tainly by numerous stays. Thestrains due to irregular expansion caused by bad circu- lation are removed by the introduction of good circulation, and all the contrivances necessary to provide for such strains are therefore avoided in a well designed steam boiler. The Feed Water. The introduction of the feed water into the steam boiler is a matter that has de- manded a great deal of attention. This consideration is not so much due to a de- sire to obtain economical working results as to the fact that the existence of the boiler depended on the condition of the ‘feed water. To allow cold water to enter the majority of the boilers constructed as just described would cause them to leak, and the undue strains to which these boilers were subjected by the admission of cold water endangered their existence. Sedi- ment and the deleterious matter in the water, as well as the chemical qualities, are also sources of trouble, because these ingredients were precipitated within the boilers. Scale was readily formed on the surfaces, and still more rapidly accumu- lated, on account of the absence of circula- tion, which will prevent its rapid accu- mulation. In a well-designed boiler the feed water should not be admitted in or near the water from the surface of which the steam is given off. The feed water should be allowed to enter the boiler in such a way that during its passage to the heat-absorbing surfaces it will attain the | temperature of the water in the boiler and | precipitate all foreign substances before passing to the principal heat-absorbing surfaces of the boiler. It should enter so that the effect of its temperature will be distributed among the numerous descend- ing currents, thus assisting their descent. By such an arrangement it will be impossi- ble for cold water to cause injurious effects. The Condition of the Steam, The condition of the steam—that is, its dryness—on leaving the boiler reflects the manner in which it has separated from the water within the boiler. If the circula- tion of the water is good and uniform the steam disengages from the water freely and naturally as soon as it arrives in the steam space, and the water falls back to descend in the passage to which its gravity guides it. Under such conditions what is termed ‘‘dry steam” will be the natural result. When the circulationis bad, not uniform, and fierce ebullition is the average condi- tion of the water, steam and water com- bined gain the surface spasmodically. The steam lifts the water, tossing and throw- ing it in indefinite ways, because there is no channel to give it direction or guideit. Structural Defects Left Out, In designing a steam boiler structural defects which necessitate additional mate- rial should be left out. Good circulation, safety, durability and economy in construc- tion and working, as well as mechanical correctness, are capable of a co-existence in a well-designed boiler. Good circula- tion will secure safety, durability and economy. Large cylinders or shells for high pressure need excessive thickness of plates and large rivets, in place of which small cylinders or shells of light material with a greater margin of strength can be used more conveniently and with more eco- nomical results. Flat surfaces whose strength is dependent on the accuracy in the manner of adjusting a multitude of stays are not suitable for high pressures, especially when a greater margin of strength and safety can be secured by other forms of construction. To place one or more small riveted or welded cylinders within a larger riveted cylinder, and con- nect the ends of the internal cylinders and 108 THE IRON AGE. January 21, 1899 —————————————— — —— _ ——_—__ _ _ ———_ those of the external cylinder to two flat) No part of a boiler which does not con- | recognized in the face of a half century of plates; thea to heat the inside tubes or| tain water should be exposed to the con-| prejudice in favor of bad designs, much cylinders to a higher tem ture than the | tact of the heated gases, A well-designed | goo1 will have been done. outside one, is mechanically incorrect, un-| boiler does not need to dry its steam. safe and not durable. It is a waste of | Threaded joints should not be used in the Built-Up and Steel Engine Housings. hip Owing to the difficulty in obtaining ire steel castings of the rather complicated loMWo shapes necessary for engine housings, the Wi contractors for one cruiser have adopted the style of built-up housings shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This housing is made of plate steel and angles united by rivets. The webs are of j-inch plate. The flanges at the front of the housing are of the same thickness; at the lower part of the back they are § inch, while at the upper part of the back they are thickened to 1 inch to receive the guide plates for the crossheads. The top of the housing is a continuation of the thickened back. The feet or bottoms of the columns are made in one piece with part of the back, but are thickened to 1 inch. The rivets used are of steel, § inch in diameter; pitch, 24 inches. The en- gines to which these housings belong are to develop about 2700 horse-power, The cylinder diameters are 264. 39 and 63 inches by 26-inch stroke. The housings present a very light and neat appearance. They are perhaps to a slight extent exper- imental, but with the careful workman- ship that has been put upon them they will no doubt prove reliable. The cross sec- tional drawings are through the lines A B and E F. Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are views and sec- tions of a housing for an engine of about Fia. 2 7000 horse-power. It has been successfully iis made in cast steel. It will be noticed that the legs of the Y, shown in section in Fig. BUILT-UP ENGINE HOUSING. 5, are not of the box form, as usually de- signed. This change has greatly simpli- fied the casting and has avoided much of treasure to use intelligence, labor and ma-| construction of a high-pressure boiler. | the danger of shriakage cracks. The ver- terial in devising and making various | All openings in shells should be stayed by | tical part of the Y is of box form, as shown contrivances and makeshifts to delay | wrought iron or steel counter pieces. All by the half section, Fig. 6, the sides of rather than prevent the destructive consequences of such irregular expansion. This is English practice in the Lancashire boiler. The Best Remedy. The best remedy is not to use such or similar designs, especially when other designs will give more economical results in construction as well as working. To place a fire directly under one end of a | riveted cylinder or shell and elongate the | under side by the application of heat while the top remains at its normal temperature | is a structural arrangement which is not to be used, because the extent of the strains | due to irregular expansion and the conse- quent weakness involved are unknown. This is the practice in the United States in the horizontal multitubular boiler. To fix two or more parallel tubes between two tube plates, headers or manifolds or shell sides is mechanically incorrect, as no nat- ural elasticity is provided to allow for dif- | ferences in expansion of some tubes. Stay tubes, differing in thicknesses from the surrounding tubes holding the tube plates, are mechanically incorrect. ee | | | | | | ' | ! \ ' | | | L Manufacture Simplified, These are some of the principal struct- ural defects to be avoided in designing 4 steam boiler. None of them are necessary in a good design. Their absence will ma- | terially simplify manufacture. There are a ae nanan it 4 or to keep | in mind in deciding on the desi or merits of a good halier. There paula be CAST-STEEL ENGINE HOUSING. a natural elasticity of all parts which should prevent the possibility of an irreg- ular or excessive strain. Tube plates in | parts and all joints should be accessible | the box being formed by the webs of the which tubes are expanded should not be | for cleaning and repairs. legs of the Y. In some frames now being exposed to the direct action of the fire.| If these remarks assist in causing the | made the vertical leg will be divided in All tube joints should be metal to metal. | merits of some well designed boilers to be| halves along its middle line, thus doing Fig. 8 January 21, 18%2 ee eee ain away with the box form of castin throughout the frame. The halves of th frame will be united by flanges and bolts at the front, and by flanges and bolts aided by the guide plate at the back. The minimum thickness called for in the draw- ings of the frame shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 is 1 inch. ———$—$—— a ——$____— The Holton Furnace Valve. A common occurrence is the warping or burning out of the bases of gas furnace valves, which has heretofore necessitated the renewal of the whole valve. With the object of making the lower part removable, and thereby saving the upper and expen- sive portion, which is never subjected to sufficient heat to destroy it, C. H. Holton of the Phoenix Horse Shoe Company, Plan. THE HOLTON Poughkeepsie, has des