The Iron Age 1899-06-22: Vol 63 Iss 25

THE IRON AGE A Review of the Hardware, Iron and ~ oe eazajaengs SSONd 10) lished every Thursday Morning by David Williams Co., 2: ¢gZ1 o uvlBigry * New York. New York, Thien, on 22, pon $4.50 a Year, including Postage. Single Copies, Ten Cents _LXIM: No. 25. Reading Matter Contents......... page 54 Ciassified List of Advertisers..... “' 117 ~r Aiphabetical Index to Advertisers . Blank Cartridges for Rotiday Celebrations. MADE TO FIT ANY CALIBRE--RIFLE, GUN OR REVOLVER, EXTRA CRIMP—LOUDEST REPORT. Advertising and Subscription Rates ‘' 61 Fi Dynamo — St. cae Mo. TRO Wew York. TUDOR IRON WORKS, ST. LOUIS, Mo. A NEW WORLD’S RECORD MANUFACTURERS was made at Peoria, Ill., May 8, 1899, when HARROW TRETH| — <*SGeecerinalees ko Gristo’s Patent Steel Belt Lacing. QImiON [etallic Cartridge Company, SAVES BRIDGEPORT, CONN. Time, Belts, AGENCY, 333 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. Money. Greatest Strength etal WINNERS OF HANDICAP, 1893, ’94, 95, ’97, ’98, 799, Me ER MW 3 } f i: > iy +h i fb 4 ta READY TO APPLY FINISHEOVOINT with Least Me Send fer Circulars and Free Samples. THE BRISTOL CO , Waterbury, Conn. a 2 eo el soon onom= CANAL BOILERS * > Also Massachusetts and Phenix Brands of Sash Cord, SAMSON CORDAGE WORKS, - Boston, Mass, CAPEWELL HORSE NAILS. TURNBUCKLES. — —) ca NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, B 0 11 Broadway, New York, peppy RANCH OFFICE: roadway, New Yor ST. LOUIS. Cleveland City Forge and Iron Co., - ‘Cleveland, 0. + BOSTON, 34 DETROIT, DROP HAMMERS. BRANCHES: ciNCINNATI, MANUFACTURED BY SAN FRANCISCO, MERRILL BROS., Brooklyn, N.Y. rent rag ORE., BALTIMORE, BESSEM FR PItj NEW ORLEANS. PILLING & CRANE, cizare Sutiging, Ptings THE CAPEWELL HORSE NAIL COCIPANY, yLewis Block, Pittsburgh | HARTFORD, CONN. Compare Weights 1 Senin yetians> WHEN YOU ARE TOLD THAT JENKINS ’96 IS MORE <M we EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER PACKINGS JENKINS STANDARD PACKING Average weight %" “Jenkins 96,” 11 lbs to the square yard. 38 Eaind> ‘ : "i" Red -socang i a é m At 50c. per pound “JEN KINS °96” is not only very much cheapec, but the best joint vo king manufactured. "7 8 = CP) Yat Ore RE i. ta 5 7 <3 eS 2s. cae ‘ ; a FR JENKINS BROS., New York. Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago. Brass Prices High, So Use Bright “Swedoh” Stamp- see IN7 ing Steel Easily Brass Plated and Save Money. _™ You may as well have a poor shop and tools as use inferior galvanized iron, Apollo Iron and Stee! Company, Pittsburgh. + a = oe pea pM = Sein —s Pe a ee ae at: i os 7s THE IRON AGE THE PLUME & ATWOOD Mes, Go, Sheet and Roll Brass WIRE PRINTERS’ BRASS, JEWELERS’ METAL, GERMAN SILVER AND GILDING METAL, COPPER RIVETs ingot Copper. (Waterbury Brass Co.|“°""™ k Chain, e- EF one on NS Established 1845. Pins, Brass Batt Hinges, Jack Chain, Ke; Tobin Bronze sett, Roll and Platers’ Brass) |“ "stmsines'es. ™"" Trimmings, &c. German Silver, Copper, Brass and Ger- (TRADE-MARK REGISTERED.) man Silver Wire, Brass and Tondenser Plates, Pump Linings, Round, Copper Tubing. TS AND BURS. Square and Hexagon Bars, for Pump COPPER RIVETS Piston Rods and Bolt Forgings. PERCUSSION CAPS, 99 John Street, - MANUFACTURERS OF BRASS AND COPPER Seamless Tubes, Sheets, Rods and Wire. 29 MURRAY ST., NEW YORK, 144 HIGH ST., BOSTON. 199 LAKE ST., CHICAG( TAPE MEASURES, METALLIC EYELETS, Brass Kettles, Brass Tags, Powder Flasks, Shot Pouches, &c., AND SMALL BRASS WARES OF EVERY DESCRIPTION. HICK’S PRIMERS, BERDAN PRIMERS. Cartridge Metal in Sheets or Shells a Specialty. DEPOTS: 60 Centre St., New York. 126 Eddy St., Provi- dence, R. |. 38 Mechanic St., Newark, N. J. MILLS AT WATERBURY, CONN. NEW YACHT COLUMBIA All Her BRONZE CASTINGS are made of our... Ordnance Bronze Bridgeport Deoridized Bronze & Metal Co,.JOHN DAVOL & SONS, AGENTS FOR BRIDGEPORT, CONN. Brooklyn Brass & Copper Co., DEALERS IN COPPER, TIN, SPELTER, LEAD, ANTIMONY. 100 John Street, - New York. WILLIAM §. FEARING, 256 Broadway, NEW YORK, SELLS TO THE TRADE Sheet Brass, Fancy Sheet Brass, German Silver, Copper, Brass and German Silver Wire, Brazed and Seamless Brass and Copper Tubes, Brass and Cop- per Rods, Brass Ferrules, Pure Copper Wire, FACTORIES : New York. WATERBURY, CONN RANDOLPH 8 CLOWEs WATERBURY, CONN, ROLLING MILL : THOMASTON, CONN. | SCOVILL MFG. CO., Manufacturers of BRASS SHEET, WIKRE, TUBES, Hinges, Buttons, Lamp Goods, Nipples, Pumps and Oilers for Bicycles, Braziers’ Solder, Aluminum. Factories, WATERBURY, CONN. DEPOTS : Chicago, - “MANUFACTURERS OF— TEETIBR . sit COPPER?= 3. BRAZED BRASS & COPPER TUBES. SEAMLESS BRASS & COPPER TUBES”38"DIAM. . N DEPOT, 226 La : west RCH ICAGO, ILL. = S7, [ WEW YORK, ROOM 202, POSTAL TELEGRAPH a oe en as: cence pape ee pat oe amet wim iF New York, Boston. Tor ie BLOG, 253 BROADWAY. ~. ( PHILADELPHIA,ROOM 320 PHILA. BANK BLDG. 2, | CINCINNATI, 0. ROOM 308 NEAVE BLOG deed “<d} Bae ty ] Fh ¥ et) ; ig a 5 Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Co., LA SALLE, ILLINOIS, SMELTERS OF SPELTER AND MANUFACTURERS OF SHEET ZINC AND SULPHURIC ACID. Special sizes of ' 3 ae eee oe enema ronaios tin - ey mppeseents Fi) a Zine cut to order. Rolled Battery Plates Selected Plates for Etchers’ and Lithographers’ use Selected sheets for Paper and Card Makers’ ure Stove and Washboard Blanks, ZINCS FOR LECLANCHE BATTERY. aa > ag fincas: By MF: wma ee Pe (ee ee ae a pe Z . ) ~~ = T2822 Lo 555 7 es Mirs. of Stamped Brass, Silver and Nickeled Goods, Brass Labels for Cans and . . Rubber Moulds. Address all eemmunica - tions to the Sheet and Ingot Copper; Spelter, SPECIAL Tin, Antimony, Lead, &c. GOODS ‘cm | BQIGN-LIGHT” BRONZE DOOR ENOBSB, OIL and GAS Bronze and Plated Roses, Combined Rose and Escutcheon Plates, Socket Shells, &c., Patent Mirror Pin Cushion Business Cards, Mucilage Brushes. Novelties of new design made to order. . SALESROOM: 117 Chambers St., New York. FACTORY: 86-92 Third St., So. Brooklyn, Bicuele Lanterns . HENDRICKS BROTHERS, Proprietors of the Belleville Copper Rolling Mills, Bramiers’, Bolt and Sheathing COPPER. COPPER WIRE AND RIVETS. Importers and Dealers in ingot Copper, Block Tin, Spelter, Lead, Antimony, etc. 49 CLIFF ST., NEW YORK. - send ter Circulars and Electrotypes. THE BRIDGEPORT BRASS CO., Bridgeport, Conn. 19 Murray 8t., N. Y._ 17 No. 7th 8t., Philadelphia. 85 to 87 Pearl St., Boston. \\E_E_SELGE MFG CO_ 63 SUDBURY STREET. BOSTON. ‘THE IRON AGE. THURSDAY, JUNF 22, 1899. The Brown Cantilever Traveling Cranes at the travel on its ways at a hight sutticient to clear the larg- Cramp Shipyard. est hulls, and its trolley must overlap both shipways. ees High speed [he traveling cantilever crane has become part and are of parcel of the equipment of the modern shipyard. Its ef ficiency has long since been demonstrated and its wonder ful adaptability is being proved continually. Its intro duction was a bold step, but having found a new field for prime importance and the ability to work in all kinds of weather and under adverse wind must be present. conditions How well all this has been performed can only be thoroughly appreciated by those who have watched one s in conformity with the fast spirit of the age Te Pe te ie Pee! bios x sere. U. S. S. “ Maine.” Russian Battle Ship ‘* Retvizan.”’ Battle Ship Crane. THE BROWN CANTILEVER TRAVELING CRANES AT THE CRAMP SHIPYARD. itself it quickly advanced in design and construction until to-day it represents a perfected type of labor saving ma- chinery. of these immense machines at work. Its appearance conveys no idea of its vast strength, and the wonder is that it so easily and so surely transports such ponderous The problems to be solved were entirely at variance masses. with those of previous crane service and the duty re- quired was of such a character as to demand wide de- parture in methods. The crane must handle all of the material of two large ships building simultaneously. It Cleveland, Ohio, and 26 Cortlandt street, New York, for must be powerful enough to easily carry the heaviest the William Cramp & Sons Ship & Engine Building Com- loads and must have such power and speed as to keep pany of Philadelphia. fully abreast and even in advance of the work. It must One of the latest and best examples of this type of crane is dere illustrated. It was designed and built by the Brown Hoisting & Conveying Machine Company of The plans contemplate the erec- tion of three cantilever cranes, placed side by side, as a NN UR Ni te oe ~™ ae 1s 6 eee abet + = ee etm > eb teal Geen EEE ee. H é } ry t | — < : <5 re “lee arr poms = am eee Py oe ae ale . ae els) eb NR ED — ne? _ ~ =r \) a eye 7 i ks _ cA aA a 2 THE IRON AGE. shown in the plan, Fig. 7, and each serving two ships. While identical in design the cranes vary one from the other in size, power and length of travel. This was made necessary because of the difference in character of the | | = > = —— j Fig. 2.—Top View of Trestle, Showing Method of Fastening Rail. June 22, 1899 The main features of the three cranes may be enu- merated as follows: The battle ship crane has a track of 547 feet in length over all. Its trestle is 20 feet center to center of side columns. Its cantilever measures 202 feet 10 inches over all, and will lift its maximum load of 25,000 pounds, and carry it 60 feet either side of the center line of the trestle. Loads of 9000 pounds may be lifted 95 feet each side of the center line. From the lower chord of the cantilever to the.ground level is 92% feet. The trestle consists of a center panel 82 feet wide and 11 others each 41 feet long. The ship ways served by this crane are each 76 feet wide. The cruiser crane is located between the other two and has one more panel, making it 582 feet long over all. Its trestle is 14 feet center to center. The cantilever is 143 feet 10 inches long, and the hight from the lower chord to the ground is S85 feet. The maximum load of 25,000 pounds can be lifted 391 feet from the center line of the trestle. Each ship way is 54 feet wide. The merchant crane has 15 panels in its trestle, which is 664 feet long and 14 feet center to center. Its canti- lever is 168 feet 10 inches, and the maximum load of 20,- 000 pounds can be carried 46 feet each side of the center of the trestle, while loads up to 6000 pounds may be moved 78 feet each side. The clear hight of the canti- lever is 95 feet. Each ship way is 66 feet wide. A crane of this type consists primarily of an elevated ie VAVATAVAVAN VAS OD F iq. 3.—Center or Anchor Pane! of Trestle THE BROWN CANTILEVER TRAVELING CRANES AT THE CRAMP SHIPYARD. essels intended to be built by each crane. The battle ship crane shown in operation in Fig. 1, and in sectional elevation in Fig. $8, has the longest cantilever or trolley travel and the shortest length of track, the great width and comparatively short length of the battle ship favor- ing this design. The cruiser crane and merchant ship erane vary but little, although the latter has the longest cantilever travel of the three. track, upon which travels a transversely arranged bridge of the cantilever type. Upon the latter the trolley moves longitudinally. In these particular cranes the design bears the strongest resemblance to that of the ordinary railroad drawbridge, but of course all loads are carried from suspended arms. This overhanging principle made necessary the introduction of a traveling counterweight, which moves along one arm, or one-half of the span, June 22, 1899 THE IRON AGE. 3 while the load being lifted travels along the other half. This simple means provides for aceu rate counterbalanc- ing and maintains the equilibrium of the structure. All motor is of 85 horse-power. The crane is moved along its track, the trolley is oper ated and the weights are raised and lowered by suitably arranged friction clutches, - ‘ E E i NOW RUN q ‘ 470 Over-all i \ = ; | T = bod = = am eu) | 4 Fig. 4 r 582 0 Over I iq. ) e 64 ( ill . = = - : n | mT * 7 ” - Fig. 6. Side Elevation of the Three Trestles, } . ex ME SICE Sr 4 7 P T 00 { EXTREME SIDE F SHiP i . = — . = - i ee ae ee 7 + Se = TH LATA AAAAAAAAAAAAAA } I oa POS SS SPSS OS SO SSSS SS OS AS ES SS S08 CLOSE b+ + : ; PYUVTYVVUVUVVUITYVVvy7yyi ie aul ? a apne - F) EXTREME SIDE OF SHIF : i E / sitTiES ie EXTREME SIDE OF SHIP > EXTREME SICE OF SHIP ( ee 8 | nee 4 ‘ ba HL < a { -} Biteaee. ", A + ‘ - < EXTREME SIDE OF SHIP | - a , , , Se, ey. ee, > are | eee ce Ree ae Oe Y CRUISER CRANE > ie fr 6 Sn aed Ses Sd Sra els eres el Se cA ee ee Pee PF, EXTREME SIDE OF SHIP a] A t ao tned fea EXTREME SIDE OF SHIP ~~ 4 EXTREME SIDE * Smurf - EXTREME SIDE OF SHIP KASS se pr i ee ie ie a ae ae ee ee, a, ee, ee, a, ee, ms bo ye Sw oe, oe, Sa, a, oe, on —T LE TE ae aa ea a a a Sty ee St CA SRE URS SNS NS NS eR A aR ee aS “a a Cae ae 1, chien alt, inl -_-- sap eces 2 SS ee ae oe pardny ay rtf he ai, oo ; ------ EXTREME SIDE OF SHuP MERCHANT CRANE oo ae Z - A ‘ a r . r OO tte an as ites ida aca Tee oe : oe) Se EXTREME SIDE OF Sup Fig. 7.—Vlan of the Three Cranes. THE BROWN CANTILEVER TRAVELING CRANES AT THE CRAMP SHIPYARD. the movements and all speeds are obtained from one which engage with the motor shaft, which runs continu- electric meter mounted in the cabin beneath the canti- ously. All operating levers are within convenient reach, lever, and to which current is conveyed along suitable and so perfect is the system that the operator can obtain conductors. In the case of the battle ship crane this any desired speed on any three of the movements and EO e+ ae ee yr EEE tem een meron eae me ~ ee —_ ee weer ee eee: = as: oe avez Aer sy can further obtain any desired combination. That is, the maximum load on the battle ship crane can be raised 125 feet per minute, while the crane is traveling at the rate of 690 feet per minute, and while the trolley is moving at its maximum or minimum or anywhere between. In this crane 9000 pounds and under can be lifted at the rate of 350 feet per minute. One of the most noteworthy characteristics in the de sign of the entire machine is that found in the trestle, side elevations of which are presented in Figs. 4, 6. It will be 5 and noticed that the trestles consist of two parallel lines of columns, the tops of which are united by trusses which carry the tracks. While this structure is braced amply in each transverse panel it will be noted that there are no diagonal members in the longitudinal panels. This provides ample head room for the passing of material, but it was not for that purpose especially In a trestle of this kind, upon the top of which an immense load is to be carried at high speed, the absolute and perfect alignment that these diagonals were omitted. of the rails is of the utmost importance. As shown in THE IRON AGE. June 22, 1899 efficiency will be appreciated from the statement that it lifted the stern post of the Russian ship, carried it the entire length of the ways and set it in position in 21 min- oS hed utes. The post weighed 27,800 pounds. Michigan’s Anti-Trust Law. The Sayre Anti-Trust bill, which Governor Pingree of Michigan has announced will be made a law by his sig nature this week, is of the most sweeping character. It declares unlawful every partnership, corporation, com- bination or agreement designed to increase or reduce prices of output, reduce trade, or prevent competition in manufacturing, transportation, sale or purchase of any merchandise, produce or commodity. Every such trans- action is declared to be a conspiracy against trade and persons, firms or corporations connected with them are subject to severe penalties. Michigan corporations will be proceeded against for the forfeiture of their fran- chises, and foreign corporations will be deprived of the right to do business in Michigan. In addition to this the offending corporation is made liable to a tine of from $50 to $5000 and the principal manager, director, agent, servant or employee thereof to wo N 100 tj 1 - : li A asi aS fh) — 3 — at rc A =< ov \ — i J dt dt. " 1% 7 | Fig.8. Battle Ship Crane, THE BROWN the top view of Fig. 2, the rails are hot riveted to the up- per chords of the trusses, forming one united piece the entire length of the trestle. The absence of the diagonals mentioned permits the free movement of the upper ends of the columns in the longitudinal direction of the trestle, so that expansion and contraction have no effect what- ever upon the alignment of the tracks. While this per- mits of a certain movement of the upper part of the structure ic does not in itself add any to the general rigidity. We therefore find that the center panel of each truss is double the width of the others and is provided with an elaborate system of diagonal bracing. This is indicated in the engraving, Fig. 3. This panel acts as an anchor for the entire trestle, each part of which is free to move under expansion or contraction in either direc- tion from this as a starting point. The completed battle ship crane shown in Fig. 1 is en- gaged, at the left, upon work of the United States battle ship “ Maine,” the keel of which has just been laid, while at the right is shown the hull of the Russian battle ship “ Retvizan,” the largest battle ship ever laid down in this country. So perfect has been the working of the crane that it has caused absolutely no delay in the con- struction of either of these vessels, and as an actual fact has been idle more than half the time. Its power and CANTILEVER TRAVELING CRANES AT THE CRAMP SHIPYARD. imprisonment for one year. Each day’s continuance of the violation is made a separate offense. Further than this, every person, firm, partnership, corporation or asso- ciation of persons who shall violate the law is to forfeit $50 for every day the violation shall continue, and per- sons injured in their business by the trust are to re- cover judgment for twice the damages sustained. =. The movement in favor of subsidies to American steamship lines has strong support. President James J. Hill of the Great Northern Railway Company, in a speech at a banquet at Seattle, Wash., on the 138th inst, argued strongly in favor of subsidies. He declared that with a subsidy for steamship lines America’s trade with the Orient, particularly with China, would startle the world within a decade or so. Mr. Hill has exceptional opportunities to estimate the value of the Pacific trade. His railroad is connected directly with this trade and de- rives a great deal of business from both the export and import movement. With his influence and that of other men of prominence connected with our transportation interests, the adoption of a policy of establishing sub- sidized steamship lines seems to be one of the reasonably certain measures to be enacted by Congress next winter. The net earnings of the De Beers Consolidated Mines, Limited, were £1,834,449, out of which £1,579,582 were paid out in dividends. The total amount of diamonds obtained were 2,603,250 carats. June 22. 1899 Carbide of Silicon.—Its Purpose and Use in Steel. BY F. J. TONE, NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y. The use of carbide of silicon in the manufacture of steel was first proposed in 1893, but its high cost of man- ufacture prevented any extensive experiments being made toward its introduction. Karly in 1895, with a prospect of a great cheapening in the cost of production, Johu Darby began experiments in England which proved very successful. He was fol- lowed later in the year by F. Luermann, the well-known German metallurgist, and by the late Capt. A. E. Hunt, who made it the subject of a United States patent. It is only during the past two years that it has found any wide or general application. At the present time it is being used in Increasingly large quantities by several of the leading manufacturers of steel castings, and a brief review of its special advantages and range of ap- plication may he of interest to the steel founder. Carbide of silicon, also known as carborundum, is produced in an electrical furnace, from coke and sand, and contains theoretically one atom each of silicon and carbon, making the proportions by weight, silicon, 70 per cent.; carbon. 20 per cent. The commercial article, how- ever, aS manufactured by the Carborundum Company at Niagara Falls, N. Y., under the Acheson patents, con- tains certain impurities, the average analysis being as follows: I chin anndcocmeheeiibneNbadkde dash ce dubncakckseewienbbkewerseecu ED EEE a aS eee | 0 EERE RS STS EG AE SESE SP ae Oe TIE inn ae 1.5 CS ESB EE RELL AT Ad BAAR S eeae ca “neice aha emmamed 1.5 Total.... 100.0 It also sometimes contains traces of calcium and mag nesium. The iron and aluminuin are not present in the metallic form, but, like the silicon, in combination with carbou as carbides. Of the total 35 per cent. carbon about 28 per cent. is in combination and 7 per cent. in the form of free carbon. Although formed at a temperature of not less than 6500 degrees F. and insoluble in any acids, it dissolves readily in iron at the temperature of the blast furnace or open hearth, aud its high percentage of silicon early sug- gested it to metallurgists as a source of this element for the prevention of blow holes and the production of sound castings. The cause of the quieting action of silicon on violently foaming or boiling steel is twofold, and while authorities may differ as to the relative importance of each action in the final result of a sound casting, there is general agree ment that both actions occur. The first is its action as a reducing or deoxidizing agent. Such blow holes as are caused by carbon monox ide and carbon dioxide (and with these the open hearth process has principally to contend) are the result of a re action between carbon and oxygen, the latter being either uncombined and in solution, or combined with the iron as an oxide (probably the protoxide, FeO). On adding silicon, cither in the form of ferro-silicon, silico-ferro manganese or carbide of silicon, the silicon displaces the carbon preferentially in the above reaction, and a solid body (SiO,) is formed instead of gas, which readily unites with the ferrous and manganous oxides, forming a slag which rises and floats on the molten steel. This action, however, deals only with that portion of the silicon which is consumed and does not appear in the final analysis. The second action depends for its accomplishment on that portion of the silicon which combines with or dis- solves in the steel, and results from its well-known prop- erty of enormously raising the solvent power of steel for its occluded or contained gases. These may be carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, oxygen or nitrogen, though the three latter are of major importance in the Bessemer process. The above results are obtained when silicon is added either in the form of ferro-silicon, silico-ferromanganese or carbide of silicon, but in the latter case, however, with the addition of valuabie and unique effects, best understood after relating its practical manipulation in the open hearth process. It differs radically, in that it is a ladle addition in stead of a furnace addition. The bath before tapping has been brought down, we will say, to a silicon content of 0.02 and carbon 0.10. The proper quantity of carbide of silicon in the form of powder and not previously heat- ed is dumped into the empty ladle and the contents of the furnace tapped upon it. During this operation con- siderable reaction and commotion seem to occur, which, however, cease about as soon as the ladle is filled, and the steel is ready to be drawn into the molds at once. Here let us first note its advantage over ferro-silicon THE IRON AGE. 5 as a means of raising the solvent power of the metal for its occluded gases. The mere presence of silicon in any proportion does not assure that the metal will be quiet in the ladle and solid in the mold, but rather the fact that it has been added just previous to casting. Increasing silicon raises the saturation point, but it does not make supersaturation impossible by any later operation tend- ing to introduce or liberate more gas. Even ferro-silicon containing 15 per cent. silicon may be porous after cast- ing. A steel may be high in silicon and still be super- charged with gases and evolve them copiously on teem- ing, but a further addition raises its capacity for holding its gases and gives a tranquil metal. This being true, und in order that the final content of silicon may not be excessive, the addition of the same should be as late in the operation as possible, after all opportunity for reac- tion is past. With ferro-silicon the agitation of the metal and entrainment of air due to tapping into the ladle might cause reaction and release of gases which the sili- con previously added to the furnace would not control. Carbide of silicon, being a final ladle addition, precludes the possibility of any subsequent supersaturation of the metal from the generation or absorption of more gas. The most valuable property of carbide of silicon, how- ever, is its power of enormously raising the temperature and consequently the fluidity of the metal in the ladle. This is dune to the fact that carbide of silicon is an endo- thermie compound--that is, on dissociation it gives off heat. When carbon and silicon combine to form a e¢ar- bide at the extreme temperature of 65090 degrees F., a point only attainable by the electric furnace, they store up as latent heat an enormous amount of energy. Its value has never been accurately determined, but from the closest approximations it has heen possible to make it is found to greatly exceed the value of the heat that may be derived from the oxidation of the contained silicon. The calorific value of silicon in the reaction we are considering is much higher than that of either aluminum or Manganese. The heat available from the combustion of one gram of these elements to their oxides is respect- ively: PE PIPES, cas catebdunnGen cccadkeveceuceundeaneisebeseanecion wee J Ee 6 Ferre nd iiatnarmiesegsede Kam PII BON NEI, ne a cwenraiganus ened 3ar patadedsanieet?*> wanes 17 When to the calorific value of the oxidized silicon we add the, as yet, undetermined but undoubtedly large amount of energy available from the destruction of the carbide of silicon (an endothermic compound), we have advantages over aluminum and ferro-silicon which pre clude any comparison on the basis of increase in fluidity and temperature. When dissociation of the carbide takes place in the ladle the stored latent heat energy is made available and easily accounts for the remarkable rise in temperature not noted with ferro-silicon, where we have the oxidation of the silicon only. This has been aptly illustrated in the difficulty some users have had with the ladle stoppers. Formerly little care had to be exercised in having the sleeves fit closely to keep the hot metal from coming in contact with the stopper rod. When the use of carbide of silicon was begun there arose at once the problem of keeping the now extremely fluid and superheated metal from entering the joints and melting off the rod; it was, however, a small prac- tical detail easily overcome. Some manufacturers are not using carbide of silicon as the sole source of silicon, preferring to add to the bath an amount of ferro-silicon giving the desired silicon content and then tap into the ladle, in which has been placed a smaller quantity of the carbide. This gives a certain increase in fluidity and effectually stops any boiling or scattering of the metal. The final result, how- ever, is not as satisfactory as when carbide of silicon is relied upon to give the total content of silicon and car- bon. The following is the analysis of an average heat, where the whole recarburization of the bath is accom- plished in the ladle by carbide of silicon: Product—Acid Open Hearth Castings. Carbon Silicon. aE COME RIIOG ako 0ks c dcecevesene Renkatentenenceteeehy ae 0.02 DE Th Se OE Oak ota cb ci ccweccccenvenisies 0.32 0.55 RT ins bara enh oben ensinbadwsaek ede eadane nant as 0.41 0.57 Present after recarburization.................-2-eeeee: 0.21 0.25 Removed as CO and SiO g..........-.--e eee nee -» ese. 0.20 0.32 OXYPOM COFFESPONGIOT «occ ccccccccsccccsccccccccscscrce 0.22 0.56 It will be noted in the analysis of the carbide of sili- con given above that it contains no phosphorus or sul- phur.. This is a matter of prime importance in many processes where the percentages of these elements are already at the maximum allowable limit and it is neces- sary to have the recarbonizing material free from these impurities. Carbide of silicon does not dissolve readily at the tem- perature of the cupola, the rapidity of solution evidently 37 RF eee Pet = 9 we 2s 2 = Spee om tees ~ om a mee . - ene encetinne = eer hres — a i ~ : ee oe * = = ao: —- eet Be Wer = wabteemeomaren te vd SS eee on ap ape eee nna te ane Poe ae — ae 6 THE IRON AGE. depending on the temperature of the molten metal. In blast furnace and cupola practice it is impracticable to use it in powdered form, as the blast would carry it out before it could be absorbed by the metal. It must here be introduced along with the charge in briquettes or large masses, and experiments are now in progress using this method. It is probable, also, that the temperature of the blast furnace is high enough to allow the carbide to be intro@uced outside the furnace at the time of tap ping; and the ability of the furnaceman to bring up the carbon and silicon to any required content at this late point in the operation would make it a valuable and use- ful material. This latter method would be of still greater value in the foundry, when the temperature permits. \nother field, in which little work has been done, is ts use in certain processes of copper smelting. Doubtless this unique product of the electrical furnace is bound to tind wide application in the near future in many metal lurgieal urts: and its development will be watched with much interest. ——_ The Sheet Mills Scale Settled. The wage scale committees representing the Associa tion of Iron and Steel Sheet Manufacturers and the Amal vamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Plate Workers met Wednesday afternoon, June 14 in the Conestoga Building, Pittsburgh, for the purpose of arranging a wage scale governing sheet mills for the year ending June 30, 1900. While there was at no time a probability of serious trouble yet a final settlement of the scale was not reached until Saturday afterncon, the committees being in sessicn daily from Wednesday until Saturday. Under the new scale adopted the men receive an advance of about 11 per cent., Which brings their wages up to the figures existing prior to 1898. The new scale as adopted is as follows: It isagreed that when the actual average selling price of Nos. 26, 27 and 28 gauge plain sheet steel, f.o.b. mill, is 2.5 cents per pound, the wages for rolling on a sbeet and jobbing mill sball be as follows, with 2 per cent. addi- tional for each one-tenth advance above said 2.5 cents selling price, and 2 per cent. decline for each deduction of one-tenth to said 2.5 cents selling price: Price for Price for rolling iron, rolling steel, Gauyes per ton per ton Nos 2240 pounds, 2240 pounds. Sand heavier.. eo F : .-$3.60 veer %to ll . 7 ; rene ; ae —- °° geese 12 to 34.... fet Bats ike: MEbes Ames MS oe LS) a ; el SRN Ses Going ia eh Woes w SCntentbesehee eee eee, =o “gears _ oS . RRS Sere eee sme at aueese 8.00 $8.80 >and 26,.... = es ee 9,20 10,12 MEDENDEONGKGcAERA- 55545 ce dcaeesurs 10.00 11,00 28 Mihara sd neeneeanenle 10.65 11.71 Gi Seb shbabns | OESRRDEDSR AD SENS hens es etenewas sabe 11.15 12.30 Pi hivibhts eheih wae ie Sh bs ktesehbephaknheke <xaueekts 12.00 13.20 MEvataRr bi cab archy echGhhaksh ase ebson sk 15.54 17.10 Disksdhhh haba Ce iac6 sehen kaakhinevck: ka bhakew sete 18,87 20.76 Price for rolling on a z-cent card. 5 Gauges Per ton Nos. 2240 pounds S and beavier....... vtsdiacbabeny bhave kn bhbokmOeeeret ree VieuTtee 8: .00 Ohh nis and ancdd-Golnakasccuibikboes akeGacbenbuabeevsnseas 3.50 LENE See SEGkk Ue baWe nk oc vanes Seehdoe ws buisawadbbibisbs bericgewd &iotiek 4.00 Balance of scale to remain as at present. This is to apply only to jobbing mills rolling No. 18 and heavier over 48 inches in width. The foot notes governing the above scale are unchanged until No. 18 is reached. in which the words ** where there are two sets of rolls’ have been stricken out. A new foot note, No. 23, has been added, which reads as follows: * All iron rolled on sheet and tin mills required to be sheared shall be pulled up to the shearman’s standing by the company ready for shearing.” ; The sheet mill hands’ scale as adopted is as follows: Sheet Mill Hands’ Scale, It is agreed that when the actual average selling price of Nos. 26, 27 and 28 gauges plain sheet steel, f.o.b. mill, is 244 cents per pound, the wages for hands on a sheet and jobbing mill shall be as follows, with 2 per cent. additional for each one tenth advance above said 215 cents selling price, and 2 per cent. decline for each deduction of one-tenth to said 2', cents selling price. SINGLE MILL, Per day. PND, cidp bos cunpwhideeas Scans eaehobwaen kk pkenks bebaevebnccal 82.58 ME chicks ba nuh nc skeOoeah ause abe kee bbehs bubKal endows ccmeeesee 2,30 LARGE DOUBLE MILL. Per day. In a Na ke ee $2 fs Doubling Ke dEGL REUTER Reh buns oa aleowiokabat heh utenti ec ecure 2.01 Matcbing..... SE Ry ae + 2 LARGE JOBBING MILLS. When working over 50-inch rolls Per day. ene iAK Sie ch vy xuke GudencudcReuskdakeanecen hihiasuaieen 2.08 Matcher ee Pe Nee bunt SE’ SehVUsAedEROAeEew SEN jmkeubeuks 2.30 OR ca. 1a Geken«srpakchos bhuk echoes canbwenn hasan, eeebkt 2.30 June 22, 1899 SMALL DOUBLE MILL INS. nein cucceieab end sl ca edce aotets tell ant eee ieanaheses kee DMM. 5. Wk as sacs kal udnen beunata<esesusss ene sehen eenees catanwens 1.84 LO Ee Saree nies AIEEE 1,72 The foot notes are unchanged until No. 4 is reached, in which the word “rate *’ has been changed to read ** ratio."’ making clause No. 4 read as follows: Mills that do not double 20 to 24 gauge to work at the ratio of single iron mills, one hundred and eighty (180) pairs.” The new scale for roughing and catching on sheet and jobbing mills is as follows: Roughing and Catching on Sheet and Jobbing Mills. It is agreed that when the actual average selling price of Nos. 26, 27 and 28 gauges plain sheet steel, f.o.t. mill, is 215 cents per pound, the wages for roughing and catching on a sheet and jobbing mill shall be as follows, with 2 per cent additional for each one tenth advance above said 21; cents selling price. and 2 per cent. decline for each deduction of one-tenth to said 2!, cents selling price. On large sheet and jobbing mills the wages for rough- ing and catching shall be $2.99 per turn each of seven (7) heats, and when eight (8) heats are made the rougher and catcher shall each be paid $3.45 per turn. But the price for roughing and catching on small sheet mills shall be the regular 52.58 each per day of seven (7) heats Classification of Work. Number of pairs per turn Gauges Doubling single Doubled Doubled Nos mills. mills. in pairs. in threes a ee ee - 105 BAS ee soi cece iat S4 180 itunes onews Ss aia awe a “4 180 90 pairsof % inches lon wp 7 seetsvenevens ae so iil a ne or shorter 'engths, and all ~deebuhetidg aileliaeasadain 84 180 hanes to be paid extre on Siew wel eb Aco eee we an more than 84 pairs per turn. 25 and lighter.......... 105 180 26 1¢ 1. Mills that do not double 20 to 24 gauge to work at the ratio of single iron mills, one hundred and eighty (180) pairs. 2. Doubled over iron on a single mill to be made at the same ratio as on doubling mills. 3. Single mills to divide the work according to custom 4. A)l finishers to be counted. 5. Roughers running over iron to receive fifty (50) cents per turn additional for running over half the iron. 6. When working tirebed out of single sials less than one hundred and forty-four (144) inches in Jength, twenty- six (26) slabs shall constitute a heat or 182 single slabs per turn of seven heats. Foot notes are unchanged, except No. 1. in which the word *‘ rate *’ has been changed to ** ratio."" A new foot note, No. 7, has been added. reading as follows: ‘25 gauge or lighter, double eighty-four (84) pairs, shall equal one hundred and five (105) pairs of double iron.” —_—_ Gold and Silver Production of the United States Completed estimates of the production of gold and sil- ver in the United States in the calendar year 1898 have just been published by Director Roberts of the United States Mint, which show that more gold was produced Jast year than in any other year in the history of the country. The output of gold last year exceeded that of 1897 by $7,000,000. Colorado made by far the largest output of both gold and silver and also showed the largest increase in production for the year. The production of gold and silver last year by States and Territories, with the value of the gold produced is tabulated as follows: State or Gold, fine, Silver, fine, Territory. ounces Value. ounces SE err ey er 242 $5,000 100 eae tr ee 122,137 2,524,800 2,400 Arizona..... ERR SET ere 119,249 2,465, 100 2,246,800 California......... SRS Hee 756,483 15,637,900 642,300 Colorado...... RE en éseucsss) kane 23,195,300 22,815,600 oe ae ema 6,221 128,600 500 DA | ovc1bsGcbaueewanshaodaenih 83,055 1,716,900 073,800 ES aay ae saebencs 5 —- wihewaes I inances bin 5-46 waeadicuien ee 29 600 ate. a Michigun............ RTE Pe 5 100 32, 400 PN 6tbsiguceeb ute ecvd vce ee 5 100 ey a re eoce 248,014 5,126,900 14,807,200 ES arene. 2,994,500 805,000 BT ID nccaccesshn boneatGea 26,074 539,000 425,300 BOCCR TRTOMMR...«.. cccccccccccces 4,064 84,000 700 PUN. cc: ese Rbascabeskvadiee oe Bt 966 1,177,600 120,000 ee ae 5,041 104,200 300 South Dakote........0.+:sscc0c0. 275,728 5,699, 700 152,300 Tennessee... ... pasebaskuxe ae ‘ 43 900 eee J ee eee oe en 14 300 272,900 ia ies cities as eis 110,556 2,285,4' 0 6,485,900 | EE ae sean anos 218 4,500 ca iaedaaale cin dycenadenihic teats 37,065 766,200 254,400 WP Na wawesnnscncteds sens~sne 257 5,300 RE eae $64,463,000 4,438,000 TORRID TOP BEG7 occceccesiscescccccse tte 57,363,000 13, 860,000 Tune 22, 1899 The Stover Automatic Wire Forming and Staple Machine. The Stover Novelty Works, Freeport, Ull.. have ought out a machine, herewith illustrated, for forming wire and making staples. Heretofore, four-slide ma hines have been operated by three or four shafts con ected by beveled gears running around the machine, one wing placed on each side of the machine, in order to sperate the four slides, which move together toward the enter to form the wire. In this machine, however, only one heavy shaft is used, upon which are keyed two side ams, oue on each end. These cams throw two slides toward the article to be formed. From the same shaft neath the machine two other cams are operated, These work side slides alternately with the other ones, depend ing entirely upon the article to be formed. ‘The product s not confined to various shapes of wire forming, but he machine can be arranged to make staples and other similar articles. It is uot alone intended for short ar ticles, but also for Continuous crimped wire, or cut to any lesired length, as, for instance, in making tie rods for bed THE STOVER AUTOMATIC WIRE FORMING AND STAPLE MACHINE. springs. he machine is adjustable to different lengths, and a large variety of differently formed wire of different sizes can be turned out. It can either be arranged as a single, double, triple or four slide machine, which some- times is necessary on account of various shapes to be formed. It is likewise adapted to either round or flat wire. A straightener is supplied through which the wire is first drawn to insure perfect products. Being supplied with tight and loose pulleys no countershaft is required. —— The Atlantic Tube Company.— The Atlantic Tube Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., a notice of whose in- corporation was published some time since, are rapidly progressing in the construction of their plant, at Grand View Station, on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, 30 miles west of Pittsburgh. They have an ideal location for a manufacturing plant. They have a good water supply and cheap fuel, as well as excellent transportation facilities. The plant is being arranged for the most economical handling of raw material and fin- ished product. The buildings cover 5 acres of ground. The foundations of the rolling mill and boiler house are completed, and within a short time the buildings for the cleaning, annealing and drawing departments will be erected. The company will manufacture seamless drawn tubes, for use in boilers and in the construction of auto- mobiles, bicycles, pumps, &c. The product will be on the market about September 15, in time for the bicycle trade of the coming season. The members of the company are prominent eapitalists of Pittsburgh, who propose to con- duct operations as an absolutely independent concern. THE IRON AGE. The Brooklyn Navy Yard Power Plant. WaASTUNGCTON, June 20, 1899.—The Bureau of Steam Engineering of the Navy Department has prepared spec- itications for the power plant for the new shops at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and also for the cranes to be erected in the machine shop. The power house building will be furnished by tbe Government and will be 80 x 100 feet outside dimensions, and will be made to con- form to the plans furnished by the contractor for doors, windows und partitions. A stack 150 feet high will be erected by the Government and connections to the base of the stack will be provided by the contractors. Three 10 horse-power boilers will be required, fitted with auto- matic stokers of the inclined grade type. Ash and coal conveyors of approved pattern are specified, together with overhead coal storage. The feed pump for regu- lar service will be electrically operated, but there will be an auxiliary feed pump operated by steam. The pressure in the boilers will be from 160 to 175 pounds and no forced draft is provided for. Each boiler will have a total of not less than 4000 square feet of heating surface and not less than SO square feet of grate sur- face. Two of the boilers will be set in one battery and one will be set singly, with ample provision for access to ali parts for cleaning, inspection and repairs. Space is to be provided in the boiler room for the installation of oue 100 horse-power boiler with independent steam driven blower. This boiler is to be connected with the steam system and is to be furnished by an independent contractor, The engines will be of the vertical and cross com- ponnd type of GOO horse-power registered capacity. The hich pressure will be about 16 inches cylinder diameter, the iow pressure about 34 inches, the stroke 36 inches and the speed 136 revolutions per minute. The electric generators will be placed between the engine frames. The type of generator will be a 22-pole two-phase alternating current machine giving 136 revo- lutions with 3000 alternations per minute, the number corresponding with that in commercial use in the Bor- ough of Brooklyn. The installation of alternating cur- rent motors is provided for to amount to about 1800 horse-power. A feed heater will take steain from tbe reservoir of the engine and will heat the feed water to a temperature of about 200 degrees. The consumption of coal is limited by the specifications to 2.1 pounds per hour per kilowatt delivered at the switchboard. which is regarded as a rather low figure considering the size of the units. The steam consumption of the engines is limited to 21 pounds per kilowatt per hour, this figure to include the steam abstracted from the reservoir and used in heating the feed water. A complete system of feed water heaters is to be installed, including an ex- haust feed heater. the heater already described oper- ated by steam from the reservoir, and a third heater, concerning which the contractors are given the option as to whether they shall supply a direct steam heater or fit an economizer in the uptake of the boilers, the former being required if a jet condenser is installed. Great care will be required to prevent any oil from en- tering the boilers. The distribution of power among the various buildings will be approximately as follows: In the power bouse for pumps, air compressors, coal conveyors, &c.. 200 horse-power; in the pattern shop for operation of tools, blowers, &c., 80 horse-power; in the machine shop for the operation of tools, cranes, blowers, &¢., 620 horse- power: in the erecting shop for the same purposes, 500- horse-power; in the boiler shop for the same purposes, 200 horse-power; in the foundry, 200 horse-power. The motors will be used to operate air compressors and ventilating fans both for heating and cooling pur- poses, and a gas generating plant for the forges, as well as for the operation of the tools. All tools requiring above 5 horse-power for their operation will be fitted with separate motors. Small tools will be grouped and run from short lengths of shafting to which slow speed motors will he directly applied. The heating of the buildings will be done by exhaust steam from the en- gines supplemented when necessary by direct steam from the boilers. In the heating system it is expected that the pressure of the exhaust steam will not exceed 8 pounds. Six large cranes are to be supplied for the machine shop, as follows: One of 40 tons, one of 25 tons and four of 10 tons, each crane to be of about 70 feet span. The only crane requiring an auxiliary hoist is the 40-tom crane, which‘has a 5-ton auxiliary hoist. The cranes are all of standard type. In addition a suitable perma- nent hand power transferring crane of at least 15 tons capacity is to be installed in the power house over the generating sets to provide for their ready overhauling. This crane is to be furnished with sufficient chain pul- leys and must be readily operated from the floor. W. L. C. es [5 ee ee ee Awa ee F ae _ weserete “a are, ~ we ee ero => = eee 8 \ German Rolling Mill Engines.*—III. BY ( KIESSELBACH, RATH, NEAR DUESSELDORF, GERMANY. A frequent design for stuffing boxes is that used for a long time in locomotive work similar to that of Fig. 1. Rings are sometimes cut and tightening is done by press ol | | a HE ulin | = ONY gaps eps alii "a eu TL Fig 1. Stuffing Bor for Sitursated Steam ing together the white metal rings. The entire packing is put in with some play so that it may follow the sink- ing piston rod. The design shown has proved satisfac — cai L. 1 tory in all cases provided the piston rod was made with adequate accuracy, and provided superheated steam was not used. For the latter case the stuffing boxes shown in Fig. 2 have been employed. Following American prac tice the piston rods are frequently screwed into the cross head. Generally the material for the cross head is a steel casting, while the slides are made of cast iron. Generally speaking, the statement may be made that nowadays heating of the bearings does not by far play the same part which it did only a few years since. The reasons for this are numerous. The dimensions of the Sliding surfaces are larger, suitable materials are chosen —particularly white metal high in tin—provisions are made for accurate adjustment and for ample lubrication. Sometimes water cooling is employed, but under ordinary circumstances this is not done. Usually in the-case of fly wheel engines the main bearing is made of four parts, * Abstract of a paper read before the Verein Deutscher Eisen Huettenlecte. THE IRON AGE. June 22, 1899 like Fig. 3, the adjustment of the side shells and of the lower bearing being done independently of the cover lig. 4 has side shells and also bearing, which adjust themselves during running under all circumstances. In the case of fly wheel engines the main bearing located toward the train requires the greatest care. While the forward main bearing is easily lubricated on account of the change in the direction of pressure, the back bearing a aie Fig. 2.—Stupfing Bos Jor Supe rheated Steam. is subject constantly to almost vertical pressure, which much interferes with the entrance of the lubricating ma- terial between the surfaces. Besides this, the train exerts STs al Sse enact AU Fig. 3.—Crank Shaft Bearing.— Gebr. Alein, Dahlbruch, a strong axial pressure, which is best taken up by the back bearing. Figs. 5 and 6 show main bearings with Fig. 4. - Crank Shaft Bearing.—Sack & Kiesselbach, Rath. ring lubrication carried out by two different concerns. Eccentrics are usually lined with white metal, but in une 22, 1899 pite of this they often run hot, particularly when the ec- entric ring is designed as a band. It is better to con- truct it as a uniformly loaded curved girder. The solid lubricants, bacon, &c., are being crowded ut more and more by mineral oils. Sometimes central ling systems are used, which are carried through so THE IRON AGE. 9 is shown in Fig. 7. Instead of allowing the steam to en- ter as usual at the outer end of the valve chest and ex- hausting from the middle of the valve chest, the arrange- ment is reversed. A notable result thereof is that the valve stuffing boxes are thus withdrawn from the high steam pressure and from the influence of superheating. Fig. 5.— Bearing with Ring Lubrication.—M. B. A. G. Union, Essen. that the surplus oil floats back to a tank from which it is carried to a filter. In any case great care must be taken not to allow any oil to come in contact with the masonry + JE i, (aCEIr). | i o> en: | Fig. 6.—Bearing with Ring Lubrication.—Gebr. Klein, Dahlbruch. of the foundation, because the cement is dissolved by the oil. Many breaks in foundation plates are due to neglect of this rule. The valves in the great majority of rolling mill en- gines are of the piston type at present. While acknowl- edging their great practical advantages, the reproach is made that they bring about large dead spaces, are not absolutely tight, and offer large surfaces for cooling down of the steam. This is