The Iron Age 1901-04-11: Vol 67 Iss 15

THE IRON_AGE zo 9 A Review of the Hardware, Iron, Machi?! Tieton igs Trades. Published every Thursday Morning by David Williams Co., 232-238 William St... New York. Vol. 67: No. 15 New York, Thursday, April 11 rgot. Single Copies, Ten Came ee Reading Matter Contents Alphabetical index to Advertisers ‘‘ 139 Classified List of Advertisers 141 Advertising and Subscription Rates “‘ 61 Illustrated * Catalogue LJ 7? | JREMING TON ARMS Co Bristol's Patent Stee Belt 4 SIZ ni F425 cioarket Jt. San Francisco. SAVES) - — Time, Belts, | Money. GreatestStrength | READY TO APPLY = FiNiSHEDYOWY With Least Metal | Send for Circulars and Free Samples. THE BRISTOL CO., Waterbury, Conn | SAMSON SPOT CORD BAHAI | BI) | F RS See Page 100 ae eee ww. CAPEWELL HORSE NAILS. PHILADELPHIA, CHICAGO, ST. LOUIS B h Off 11 Broad New York. , Gioveland City Forge and tron Co. - om Yor O. BOSTON, ay “OF OF GOnGRES. BRANCHES: DETROIT, i* CINCINNATI, ast ia SAN FRANCISCO PORTLAND, ORE., if 1901 BUFFALO, S, BALTIMORE, MIP eon AN > NEW ORLEANS. BROS., 465 Kent Ave OOKLYN, N.Y. ke =a THE CAPEWELL HORSE NAIL COMPANY, PILLING & CRANE, © "=": RES. HARTFORD, CONN. Sew Jenkins ’96 Packing. } APOLLO BEST BLOOM vi Pronounced by steam users throughout the world | GALVANIZED-IRON the best joint packing manufactured. Expensive? Not at all, as it weighs 30¢ less than many other packings, consequently is much cheaper. AD > You can’t afford to use JENKINS BROTHERS, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago. common galvanized iron, ‘Brass Prices High So Use Bright “Swedoh” Stamp- see 130 ing Steel, Easily Brass Plated and Save Money, pave ween oe METAL. and makes money. Best Anti-Friction Metal for all Machinery Bearings Pac-Simile of Bar. ye Mitre, Apollo facilitates work American Sheet Steel Compan Park Buildi ~~ Beware of 7 "é imitations. New York MAGNOLIA METAL CO., 266 and 267 West St., London, Chicago, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Owners and Sole Manufacturers, NEW YORK. Boston, San Francisco, Philadelphia. THE IRON AGE. THE ANSONIA BRAss p” COPPER CO. MANUFACTURERS OF BRASS AND COPPER Seamless Tubes, Sheets, Rods and Wire. THE PLUME & Atwood MF6. Co., MANUFACTURERS OF Sheet and Roll Brass —AND— WIRE PRINTERS’ BRASS, JEWELERS’ METAL, GERMAN i ngot Co pper. Waterbury ~ et Co. — Log GILDING METAL, COPPER RIVETS SOLE MANUFACTURERS Established 1845. | Pins, Brass Butt Hinges, Jack Chain, Kere- = a sene Bufruers, Lamps, Lamp Tobin Bronze Sheet, Roll and Platers’ Brass, » sang (TRADE-MARK REGISTERED.) German Siiver, Copper, Brass ant Ger- vi ir rass av + x Condenser,Plates, Pump Linings, Round, men Coseer Dakine. 29 MURRAY ST., NEW YORK. Square and Hexagon Bars, for Pump COPPER RIVETS AND BURS. 144 HIGH ST., BOSTON. Piston Rods and Bolt Forgings. TAPE MEASURES, 199 LAKE ST., CHICAGO, METALLIC EYELETS, ROLLING MILL ¢ FACTORIES : 99 john ‘Street, ° . New York, Brass Kettles, Brass Tags, Powder Flasks, | THOMASTON, CONN. WATERBURY, CONN. BES . . = Shot Pouches, &c.., | ORCC RR OOP iin SMALL BRASS WARES OF EVERY DESCRIPTION | Randolph-Clowes Co., ¢| °xria#e Metal in Sheets or Shetie | SCOVILL MFG. CO., Manufacturers of Main Office aad Mill, DEPOTS : 60 Centre St., New York. 125 Eddy St., Provi- WATERBURY, CONN. dence, R. 1. 38 Mechanic St., Newark, N. J. bx A — Sony Be MILLS AT WATERBURY, CONN. SHEET, WIRE, TUBES. MANUFACTULERS OF SHEET BRASS & COPPER. Deoxidized and Ordnance Hinges, Buttons, Lamp Goods, Nipples, Pumps and Oilers BRAZED BRASS & COPPER for Bieyeles, Braziers’ TUBES. i iEripti Solder. SEAMLESS BRASS Babbitt and Anti Friction Metals, FACTORIES, WATERBURY, CONN. = DEPOTS: Ban dager inonall TUBES Best and Cheapest VEW YORK, .CHICAGO, BOSTON. New York Office, 288 Broadway, Postal Tel- | BRIDGEPORT DEOXIDIZED BRONZE egraph Bldg., Room 202. Chicago Office, 6i2 Fisher Bldg. & METAL CO., JOHN DAVOL & SONS, Boston Office, Cor. Oliver and hase Sts. AGENTS FOR BRIDGEPORT, CONN. Brooklyn Brass & Copper Co., DEALERS IN COPPER, TIN, SPELTER, LEAD, ANTIMONY. 100 John Street, - New York. Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Co., LA SALLE, ILLINOIS. SMELTERS OF SPELTER Arthur I. Rutter, AND MANUFACTURERS OF SUCCESSOR TO SHEET ZINC AND SULPHURIC ACID. WILLIAM S. FEARING, Special Sizes of Zinc cut to order. Rolled Battery Plates. 256 Selected Plates for Etchers’ and Lithographers’ use. Broadway, New York. Selected Sheets for Paper and Card Makers’ use. manasa Aeon Sheet Brass, German Silver, Cop- per, Brass and German Silver Wire, Brazed and Seamless Brass and Copper Tubes, Small Tubing a Specialty. Brass and Copper Rods, Brass Ferrules. Sheet and Ingot Copper; Spelter, Tin, Antimony, Lead, etc. ZINCS FOR LECLANCHE BATTERY. BRASS Finisieas J-J.RYAN & CO. i = Sar ae eae — 1 Cebeb ae] — iE — 1a Oi obla!_-t-c0l 66 “i 99 Best Bronze, Babbitt Metals, Brass and Alaminum CASTINGS.” PHONO-ELECTRIC —_ No better counter | Buy A SEAMLESS LINENOID FOR $25.00 AND WV IER EG. “1's Tovan.” Buys >: Wheel, $3.00 Paddle Your Own Canoe. TROLLEY, 5 Wheel, $3.25 Crane Bros., Canoe Builders, Westfield, Mass. R.A.HART, BATTLE CREEK, MICH SEND FOR CATALOGUE. | ti Daas F ag ae FNONO-CIeCtriC an setae CRS BRO THERS \ TELEGRAPH Belleville Copper Rolling Mills, | LINES. Brazsiers’ Bolt ana Sheathing | Betdgepect, BRIDGEPORT BRASS CO., COPPER, Genus” 19 Marmay St, New York COPPER WIRE AND Rivet . TRACTS ern eco. Se paipee (e Importers and Dealers in Ss cot 0 NT send IN YOUR SE PRICES x Ingot Copper, Block Tin, Spelter, Lead, Antimony, etc. 49 CLIFF ST., NEW YORK. ales tt! GEN SCS TSA ‘THE IRON AGE TuursDAy, Aprit 11, 1901. * The Clayton Fire Extinguishing System. The object of the Clayton system is to extinguish fires —____—— in inclosed places, such as storehouses, grain elevators, During the past year there has been developed in and, above all, the holds of ships. Various reasons have this country a highly interesting and ingenious system compelled the Clayton Fire Extinguishing & Disinfecting ‘ RON AGE Pig. 1.—HEnd Elevation. Fig. 2.—Side Elevation. THE CLAYTON FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS. of fire extinguishing based upon the invention of an American, T. A. Clayton. After experimenting with phur dioxide as the means for extinguishing. Practically | earlier forms of the apparatus, modifications and im- all chemical extinguishers depend for their efficiency upon ; provements were made, which have resulted in the gen-__—ithe liberation of carbonic acid gas, and in the popular ; erator which we illustrate herewith. mind this is generally considered the most effective i Company of New York to use sulphurous acid gas or sul- ee ot eet oe 2 THE IRON AGE. enemy to combustion. Investigations made demon- strated the rather peculiar fact that quenching a fire by this method is not the result of the attenuation of the oxygen, because various gases require to be added in varying amounts to the atmosphere surrounding a fire before it will be quenched. About 15 per cent. ef car- bonie acid gas must be injected to quench a brisk blaze. Those who developed the Clayton system have found in their experiments with sulphur dioxide that less than 5 per cent. will accomplish this result, even when the blaze is extremely fierce. Therefore it appears that there is some inherent property in sulphur dioxide which makes it especially valuable for this purpose. The specific grav- ity of the gas is 2.2 of that of air and 1.5 of that of car- bonic acid. Besides these two superior qualities the fact that the gas can almost instantaneously be developed in large quantities and in very simple manner led to its adop- tion. The gas is generated by the combustion of crude brimstone, and in about five minutes after starting the machine every particle of oxygen entering the furnace April 11, 1901 A very neat arrangement has been introduced. Sul- phur when burned is apt to deposit from the gases some fine flower of sulphur, which in time might choke the hues of the apparatus. In order to avoid this by pro- viding for complete combustion an auxiliary supply of air is introduced into tue dioxide gas before it enters the cooler. The diagrammatic sketch, Fig. 3, will best serve to ex- plain the details of the system. The sulphur dioxide pro- duced by the combustion of the sulphur in the furnace flows through the outlet valve D, the hot gas meeting on its way to the cooler the auxiliary air supply entering ihrough valve B. It is drawn by the blower through the cooler and forced into the compartment in which a fire is to be extinguished or ignition is to be prevented. The main air supply for the combustion of the sulphur is at A, and is made to impinge on the burning sulphur from perforations in the air feed pipes E. A valve, C, permits of controlling this air supply and of shutting it off altogether. When it is desired to stop the discharge of further COOLER 2 ? c 3 | 1E ee mm a 1 < a ] c Z r . — i: DOOR <-¢ —ty == 4 F de I, ~ : ne a t E ef ny z ~ = Vv 4 « E se < Wo«< A os 8 8 = re) vd Penns A= FRESH AIR SUPPLY VALVE. — B =AUXILIARY FRESH AIR SUPPLY. ° C =FURNACE CONTROLLING VALVE, : D =FURNACE OUTLET VALVE. - « E= Air FEED PIPES. We Fs F= CONTROLS RETURN FROM COMPARTMENT. ° o GAS o A | Vv | | Tus Incn AG | °) | | | Fig. 3.—Diagrammatic Sketch of Clayton Fire Extinguishing System. THE CLAYTON FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS. containing the burning sulphur is being utilized. This in itself is a feature of importance, because when all the oxygen is combined with the sulphur the result is a mix- ture of only nitrogen and sulphur dioxide, both enemies to fire. A highly important feature of the system is that after the fire is extinguished the charged atmosphere in the inclosed space or compartment in which the fire was raging is pumped back into the chamber after passing through a cooler. Thus there is added to the fact that the fire is surrounded by an atmosphere incapable of supporting the combustion the fact that the circulation of that atmosphere through the cooler lowers the tem- perature in the chamber to such a point that reignition is impossible. The Generator. In the accompanying engravings, Figs. 1 and 2, are shown end and side views of the generator, which it will be observed is very compact. It consists of a jacketed furnace in which there are traps upon which the sulphur is burned. In the base of the machine is the cooler, consisting of a series of tubes through which the gases flow. On the same bed plate is the blower, driven by a small engine. The floor space required is 4 feet 6 inches by 5 feet 8 inches. sulphur dioxide into the seat of the fire, and to cool the atmosphere in the chamber, the valve F, which controls the return from the compartment, is opened and then the blower performs the function of drawing the gases through the cooler again and again, until the temperature is lowered sufficiently. These operations are carried on by means of a con- troller so designed as to permit of regulating the amount of oxygen entering into the compartment and at the same time obtain perfect combustion of the sulphur. By its use it is possible to obtain a pure gas at a temperature of less than 100 degrees. This does away with any neces- sity of lagging the conducting pipes and the men are free to handle the pipes at any point. The system of dis- tributing piping will be simply that of using manifolds provided with valves and controlling the supply and ex- haust pipe from each of the compartments, and will be exactly similar to any ordinary system of steam or gas piping. Three inches will be the largest diameter em- ployed. Experiments Made. At Greenpoint, Long Island, there is installed a Clay- ton apparatus, and there are two chambers, one of brick and the other of sheet iron, in which some very interesting and convincing experiments have been re- April 11, 1901 THE peatedly carried out lately. In the former a lively bon- fire was started. The doors were closed and the gen- erator started. Through peep holes it was possible to ob serve clearly how rapidly the blaze deadened and finally died out entirely. Flaming torches thrust into the com- partment went out immediately. Into the sheet iron chamber filled with sulphur diox- ide a red hot plate was lowered directly upon a barrel filled with hay. The result was a charring of the hay at the area of contact, but no ignition. Similarly a red hot plate was dropped into a bucket of oil without caus- ing any fire. Highly suggestive experiments have also been made with cotton, which behaves in the same way. It is gen- erally agreed among underwriters that fire is capable of lingering in bales of cotton longer than in any com- modity shipped in great quantities. Recently one of the experimental compartments was opened after a bale A sample of cotton had stood in the gas for 20 hours. THE STURTEVANT EIGHT-POLE drawn from the center of the bale not only smelled strongly of gas, but, when moistened with water, turned iitmus paper red, thus proving how thoroughly the gas penetrates the bale. The experiments made are so convincing to those who have witnessed them that no doubt can remain as to the efficiency of the system. The apparatus itself is cleverly and well designed and is well adapted to its purposes. _ —_= The Sturtevant Eight-Pole Motors and Generators. The motors of this type, built by the B. F. Sturtevant Company of Boston, Mass., were primarily designed for the direct connected driving of large fans at low ro- tative speeds. The magnet frames are of cast Steel, cast iron or wrought iron, according to size or require- ments. In the smallest sizes the field cores are cast with the frame and the pole shoes only are removable, but in the larger sizes readily detachable cores of wrought iron are bolted to the frame. Barrel wound armatures of the toothed hollow drum type are usually employed. The laminations are of special steel plate mounted in each case upon a cast iron spider, the hub of which is extended to support the commutator. All IRON MOTORS AND machines except those for very low speed and high volt- age are bar wound, the two-circuit type being usually adopted. This makes possible the use of a single pair of brushes where only small brush capacity is required. These machines are built in sizes from 1-100 to 50-100, the ratings being based on the horse-power delivered per 100 revolutions. The eight-pole generators are the same in design as the motors of the same type, and in the larger sizes the shunt and series coils of the field windings are wound and insulated entirely separate. The brush holder rig- ging for supporting the holders is so arranged that brushes of opposite polarity are carried on independent rings, which are attached to but insulated from a com- mon ring which is readily detachable. On a small ma- chine adjustment is by hand; on a large machine by means of a hand wheel and screw. The self contained character of the armature and commutator especially fits these machines, both motors and generators, to any GENERATORS. piece of apparatus, the generators being particularly adapted for engine driven sets. The large radiating surface and thorough ventilation make it possible to run these machines at full speed with a maximum tempera- ture rise not exceeding 30 degrees C. on the hottest part. The generators are, like the motors, built in ten sizes, and ranging in capacity from 3 kw. to 100 kw. — R. B. Kellogg, formerly connected with Studley & Barclay of Grand Rapids; B. B. Luten, recently manager of the Chicago branch of the New York Belting & Pack- ing Company, and C. J. Davis have formed a copartner- ship under the style of the Grand Rapids Supply Com- pany, for the purpose of doing a jobbing business in iron, pipe, valves, fittings, pumps and general mill supplies. The store at 20 Pearl street, Grand Rapids, Mich., has been leased and in the near future a line of plumbing goods will be handled. The New England Metal Company of Boston, Mass., have been organized, with $1,000,000 capital stock, to buy and sell metals wholesale, principally pig tin and spelter. Edward P. White is president, John C. Watson vice-president and Austin T. White treasurer. EO een errr oe oat “ve PO ese Fa ms rt : me: OF TE Bt 4 THE IR Recent Treasury Decisions. The Treasury Department has rendered a series of decisions lately which are summarized as follows: “Oorrugated Galvanized Iron and Steel.—Common or black sheets of iron, corrugated or crimped, valued at more than 3 cents per pound, dutiable at 45 per cent. ad valorem under paragraph 193, act of 1897, and when galvanized are liable to the additional duty of 2-10 cent per pound under paragraph 132. Similar sheets of steel valued at more than 3 cents per pound are subject to duty under the provisions of paragraph 135, and, if galvanized, are likewise liable to the additional duty provided in paragraph 132. “ Charcoal Iron.—Charcoal square iron bars dutiable at 6-10 cent per pound under paragraph 123, act of 1897, irrespective of dimensions. Flat iron or ‘ flats,’ in the manufacture of which charcoal is used as a fuel, dutia- ble at the same rate under said paragraph only when ON AGE. April 11, 1901 The New Streit Pulley Lathe. The new 26-inch lathe built by the A. Streit Machine Company of Cincinnati is provided with two tool rests, one mounted on a rail on either side and feeding in op- posite directions. The rails are carried by a table which swivels in the center, and they can be moved in and out to accommodate work of different diameters. A series of holes is drilled through a flange at one end of the table into the bed. In setting the lathe for any desired taper when turn- ing pulleys the table is moved by using the lever for that purpose, so that the proper hole in the table cor- responds with its respective hole in the bed, when a pin is inserted to hold the table in position. As the table swivels at the center this sets both rails at once in a few seconds. The feed can be changed instantly from the finest to the coarsest. When necessary the face plate can be removed and a chuck used in its place. THE NEW STREIT both conditions as to the minimum of width and the minimum of thickness provided in that paragraph are fulfilled, and must, therefore, be not only not less than 1 inch wide, but also not less than % inch thick. Charcoal flat iron less than both or either of these dimensions is assessable for duty under the provisions of para- graph 124.” The United States General Appraisers at New York have made the following rulings: “ Steel Tubes for Holding Gas.—Steel tubes or cylinders for holding gas under pressure are dutiable at the rate of 25 per cent. ad valorem under paragraph 130, act of 1894, and at the rate of 35 per cent. ad valorem under paragraph 152, act of 1897. “Cold Rolled Steel Plates.—Steel or iron sheets or plates valued at more than 3 cents per pound are dutia- ble according to value under the provisions of para- graph 135, act of July 24, 1897. The provisions of para- graph 133 do not apply to articles dutiable under said paragraph 135, but are limited to such sheets or plates which are provided for by gauge. Paragraph 133 fixes a specific rate and must be read as part of paragraph 131.” PULLEY LATHE. Two speeds are obtained from the countershaft, which is furnished with clutch pulleys 14 x 5% inches, one run- ning at 175 and the other at 225 revolutions. The ma- chine is very heavy and powerful, and is especially adapted for turning pulleys, gear blanks, sheaves, small fly wheels and short heavy lathe work. The floor space occupied is 4 x 9 feet, and the weight 5500 pounds. <i —_ The Machinists’ Strike in Chicago.—Machinists in a number of Chicago shops not affiliated with the National Metal Trades Association have struck the past week to secure the same terms as the machinists working for members of that body. The strike is under the direction of the officers of the International Association of Ma- chinists. ’ —o A tin plate plant may be built at the town of Lake, near Milwaukee, Wis., if negotiations now going on are closed. John E. Jones, formerly superintendent of the Emlyn Iron Works of South Chicago, agrees to put up a plant to employ 300 men in consideration of a bonus of $30,000 and 15 acres of land. April 11, 1901 THE The Darling Gate Valve. The Darling Pump & Mfg. Company, Limited, of Williamsport, Pa., are the manufacturers of the gate valve described below. This valve differs from others in that it has compound equalizing wedges, parallel seats, and double revolving gate disks, thus embodying in one design three features of importance. The construction is simple and the action positive in closing and opening. There is an instant release in opening, as a quarter turn of the stem withdraws the top wedge, permitting the gate disks to be drawn from the seats without having Fig. 1.—Section. [IRON AGE. 5 of the disks G. The parts when assembled remain in their proper positions without any special means for fastening them. The operation of the valve in closing is as follows: The valve being open, the parts hang loosely upon the upper wedge. The wedges are extended, or are in align- ment, and hence the disks are arranged with their outer faces at an interval less than the distance between the valve seats. The stem is turned and the parts descend free and clear of the sides until the lower wedge reaches the bottom of the case, by which its movement is checked. Then the disks are in proper position opposite the pipe openings of the valve. The further downward movement of the upper wedge causes the inclined sur- faces of the two wedges to slide upon each other, and thus contract the wedge blocks longitudinally and spread them laterally, thereby forcing the disks firmly and squarely against the seats. This movement does not cause in any way the scraping of the disks across the seats, or any undue wear upon either. When it is de- sired to open the valve the opposite movement of the stem causes the upper wedge to move longitudinally and independently of the lower. Also independently of the disks by reason of the loose feed of the bearing lugs of the upper wedge in the bearing sockets of the disk. This movement raises the upper wedge instantly from the lower wedge and reduces the lateral pressure upon the disks without sliding them upon the seats, thus unseat- Fig. 2.—Parts of Valve. THE DARLING GATE VALVE. any pressure upop them or any scraping of the seats whatever. The sectional view shows the hub end of a bronze mounted iron water gate valve. The interior of the body differs from others in that it is provided with opposite lateral guides or grooves, shown by white lines above the disks G, upon which the peripheries of the disks roll either up or down, in or out, in opening or closing the valve, and are held in proper position in relation to the wedge. This rolling gate feature is especially valuable in valves placed on their sides, since in that case the disks themselves roll like two cart wheels. The wedging mechanism shown with the parts sepa- rated in Fig. 2 is composed of two co-operating members, the upper wedge M and the lower wedge O. The upper wedge is provided with a threaded hole to receive the stem, from which it receives motion to raise or lower the gate disks in opening or closing the valve. It is also provided with two laterally rounded bosses or bearing lugs, upon which fit loosely the bearing sockets in the inner surfaces of the two gate disks, these sockets being formed in bosses projecting slightly from the disks. This wedge is also formed with inclined faces coacting with the inclined faces on the lower wedge to close the valve. The lower wedge O hangs loosely upon the boss on one ing the valve without frictional contact with the seats. The further movement of the stem raises the parts free and clear, leaving a straight passage through the valve. The inclined coacting faces of the wedges are trans- versely beveled, and the lower wedge is wider than the body of the upper one, whereby lateral movement of the upper member is permitted. Thus in case of a slight irregularity of the valve seat—namely, the seats not be- ing perfectly parallel from any cause—the lateral move- ment of the gate disk is possible, insuring the proper seating of the valve. There is no possibility cf the gate disks canting to one side, and there is no undue strain on the stem, as they are evenly balanced and hung from their centers on the bosses of the top wedge. In addition to this the stem has a perfectly clear, straight passage down through the wedge. As the valve is opened or closed the contact of the peripheries of the gate disks with the guides in the case has the effect of partially turning them, and thus presenting them in different positions to the seats, insuring the equal wearing of both. While the parts are held in their proper opera- tive positions while in the case without the use of any auxiliary fastening devices, they can be in- stantly disassembled upon their removal. The pack- ing plate E is held by four bolts, and it can be removed | | Se od 6 without unscrewing a nut the full length of the long bolt up to the top of the gland follower. Instead of hav- ing the bolts project through the packing plate to the follower or gland, separate bolts hold the follower. These bolts have square heads which fit into slotted places on the packing plate and can be removed or inserted with- out disturbing the plate or its bolts. These valves are made with interchangeable parts THE IRON AGE. April 11, 1901 The Pan-American Exposition. As May 1 approaches, the date set for the formal opening of the Pan-Amertcan Exposition at Buffalo, N. Y., interest in it throughout the country is steadily in- creasing. From the announcement made by various technical societies it is evident that many conventions ¢ | WL 2g ae THE MIDWAY PARKWAY LINCOLN SSS) THe IRON AGE N. ¥. C. AH. R. RR. R. S )] N. ¥.C. &4HR. R. R. | See Soe | C f a , | EXPOSITION BUILDINGS, | ; — 1. SITE OF ALBRIGHT | : . . I — al GALLERY, | LS= eo ant a | \- WM n | = CoN — » FORESTRY AND MINES GRAPHIC ARTS. HORTICULTURE. RAILWAY EXHIBIT, NEW YORK STATE. » MANUFACTURES AND LIBERAL ARTS, 11, MACHINERY AND TRANSPORTATION, AGRICULTURE. ELECTRICITY. . ELECTRIC TOWER AND FOUNTAIN, » RESTAURANTS. AMHERST ST 16. RAILROAD STATION, 17. SERVICE. \18. LIVE STOCK BARNS. : | 2. U.S.GOVERNMENT bie | ETHNOLOGY. | | 4 TEMPLE OF MUSIC, prrrerre NX NATIONS INDIAN ExniBiT, Fig. 1.-—Plan of the Grounds. THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION AT BUFFALO. and in sizes for pipe 2 inches to 16 inches diameter, with either hub ends, spigot ends, screw ends or flange ends, either iron body, bronze mounted, or all bronze or all of iron, and for pressures from 300 to 2200 pounds. hs baie AL The Weaver-Hirsh Company, Allentown, Pa., general iron founders and machinists, have opened a branch office in the Real Estate Trust Building, Philadelphia, Pa. will be held either at Buffalo or at Niagara Falls during the coming summer. It may be frankly acknowledged that the impression has gone abroad that the exposition would be more con- spicuous for its aggregation of Midway features than for the more serious business of bringing before visitors from Spanish-American countries the products of our country, and before our own citizens the resources and manufactures of the other nations of America. A visit Aprii 11, 1901 THE to the grounds will thoroughly dispel that idea, so far as the character and number of the buildings are concerned. It is too early yet to judge of the exhibits themselves, because the work of installation has only begun, but it is a fact that in those branches in which the readers of The Iron Age are directly interested the applications for space have far exceeded the room available. The engravings which we present will convey a good idea of the architectural features of some of the leading buildings, the majority of the photographs having been recently taken by J. B. Arnold. It is not too much to say that the architecture and the decoration of the grounds with statuary place the Buffalo Exposition in advance as to pleasing effect of any of the shows in re- cent years, great or small. Under the direction of C. Y. Turner a color scheme has been worked out for the differ- ent buildings, which will be one of the principal claims to distinction, although it has been irreverently dubbed by some “the Rainbow City.” All of the buildings are complete, and it is expected that the interior decorations, which have been harmoniously developed by Miss Ade- laide Thorpe, will be arranged by the opening day. In some of the structures the installation of exhibits has LRON AGE. 7 It is certain that the electrical illumination will be extraordinary, as is natural in view of the proximity of the Niagara Falls power plants. It is stated that about 4000 horse-power will be required for the purposes of the exposition. _ enone New Publication. AMERICAN ENGINEERING COMPETITION. Being a Series of Articles Resulting from an Investigation made by the Times, London. Harper & Brothers, New York and London. The remarkable series of letters collected in this vol- ume, written by Mr. Dunnell, an English engineer sent to this country by the London Times in 1899, is likely to interest readers on both sides of the ocean. From the installments appearing at intervals in the London Times last summer and fall the casual reader was likely to gain a wrong impression. The viewpoint of criticism changes when one has the whole series of letters before him and discovers that through them “one unceasing purpose runs ’—which purpose is the awakening of the British manufacturer and wage earner to a realizing aay yi toll 7 - 1% + a | ‘ bs. er wrenil ! f MV ha = Pl ee Tre Ron Ace Fig. 2.—The Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building. THE PAN-AMERICAN begun, but it is probably too much to expect that more than a fair start will have been made by the opening day. The general lay out of the-grounds is shown in the accompanying plan, Fig. 1. The “clouw” of the whole exposition promises to be the Electric Tower, 14, flanked on the right and left by the Agriculture and Electricity Buildings, 12 and 13 respectively. Then follow, right and left, the buildings of Manufactures and Liberal Arts, Fig. 2, which will have a particularly interesting and brilliant interior court, and the Machinery Building, No. 11. Fig. 3 is a reproduction of a photograph taken of the Machinery Building, while Fig. 4 shows the hand- some architectural treatment of one of the pavilions of the building. Fig. 5 affords a glimpse of the South Tow- ers and facade of the same structure, while Fig. 7 is re- produced to indicate the treatment of one of the pillars. An interesting further group is that of the United States Government Buildings, No. 2, which, unfortunate- ly, have been given the stereotyped gray tint which the Government architects insist upon. Facing it is the Temple of Music, No. 4, and the Horticulture Building, o. 7, flanked by the Graphic Arts Building. A partial view of this group is reproduced in Fig. 6. Another very interesting feature of the exposition promises to be the Stadium, which is to be the scene of athletic sports, &c. The Albright Gallery, which is located at No. 1, is only in course of erection and will not be com- pleted during the summer, EXPOSITION AT BUFFALO. sense of the danger of too much conservatism and too obstinate an adherence to ancient traditions and hered- itary habits, That the letters were in a high degree useful for this purpose cannot be questioned. It would not be fair, however, to assume that the picture given of the conditions reported as having been found in this country represent typical conditions. They do not. The American works visited by Mr. Dunnell are in many respects exceptional in organization and management. This is undoubtedly what he was looking for. No cor- respondent would consider his time well employed in investigating the commonplace or the average. That he was astonished at what he saw is not surprising, still less is it surprising that he filled his letters with data calculated to arouse the interest of his readers. What he found noteworthy, however, is probably the best we have to show, and is so much better than the average as to set up standards inviting imitation by less progressive American manufacturers, as well as by those of Great Britain. The writer came to this country for the purpose of learning and recording why our industries in certain lines were showing a development which seriously menaced British trade interests in neutral markets, and perhaps in some that were not quite neutral, as, for ex- ample, those of Great Britain’s own colonies. Official statistics of the comparative growth of American and British exports were not quite intelligible without a —— NE Pa a ae a - conti ale + geererern i eR ate EE ee 8 critical analysis of the forces operating to produce the results which the figures reflected. He found one ex- planation of the phenomenon in the fact that this coun- try is peopled with a new race. On this subject he gives his imagination free rein, and writes as follows: “ Probably ethnologists do not give it a place in their THE IRON AGE. April 11, 1901 as that the stiffening of the people comes from Anglo- Saxon ancestry. But the blood has been so blended by ctosses from all peoples of the world, and, moreover, the environment of the race during its infancy and later growth has been so different from anything that has at- tended the progress of any other nation, that the char- Fig. 3.—Machinery Building. “y Tne lnon Ate Fig. 4.—-Northeast Pavilion of Machinery Building. THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION AT BUFFALO. classifications, but for industrial and economic purposes it is a new race; just as the Anglo-Saxon was a new race when it founded our empire. We in England, who are proud of our relationship with America, are fond of speaking of this new and, industrially, most puissant people (who should really invent a generic title for them- selves) as ‘of the Anglo-Saxon race.’ This is true so far acter of the people is sui generis, a race apart, a fact which would be more apparent to Englishmen were it not for the common tongue. “The history of our industrial success in the past may interpret much of the present success in America. Our supremacy has been built up largely by foreign im- migration. What religious persecution and political op- April 11, 1901 THE IRON AGE. 9 pression abroad did for us in the past, free immigration is doing for America in this present day. It is produc- ing a people so versatile, so far seeing and so enduring in effort, that the very forces of nature seem to take more plastic shape in their nervous hands.” This, while not a new view of the result of the fusion of various and seemingly incongruous elements in the crucible of our political system, is clearly put, and shows that the writer has perception as well as imagi- nation. A poet of a quarter of a century ago wrote: economic policy “ calculated to strangle enterprise and discourage effort to find foreign markets” for our prod- ucts. Pig iron is, of course, a first consideration, as it is the basis of the industries which contribute to the engineer- ing trades. Up to about ten years ago Great Britain held easily the first position among the iron producers. In 1890 the United States took the lead. Since that time our increase has been to that of the United King- dom about as two to one. Only in one recent year, i¢ ry) |i Deagas “1 ) ‘ , ras eT ae : —/- Fig. 5.—South Towers and Facade, Machinery and Transportation Building. 7 Tvs ee bd Ly ) Fig. 6.—View Showing Horticulture and Mines Buildings. THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION AT BUFFALO. “Turning to our Mother, England, we shall find her making boast Of the Great Republic westward, born of strength which she has lost.” Perhaps this was accurately prophetic, but for the moment the pressure of American competition is too keen to leave room for British pride in American growth and development. Naturally, Mr. Dunnell finds in the variety and abundance of our natural endowment of material re- sources all the reason needed to explain the surprising progress which this country has made in spite of an 1894, was the British pig iron product greater than ours. They were closely balanced in 1896, but since then the relation has been about as 9 to 14. We now lead Great Britain by about as much as our entire production in 1886. In 1898 Great Britain to produce 8,631,151 tons of pig iron had to import about 5,500,000 tons of ore. This was not due to the fact that the native supply of ore was exhausted, but because native ores are too low in iron and too high in phosphorus to be economical in a modern blast furnace or suitable for the production of a metal fitted for conversion into steel. For the present the pig iron competition does not trouble the English eR ny ae ee. 7 A a 10 Ti * jronmaster very seriously, but he is seriously troubled to know what will become of the trade he is not ready to surrender when the increase of pig iron production beyond the requirements of the home market shall give this country a surplus for export. In attributing the preponderance of steel in America to the requirements of the railroads he is, we think, only partially correct. By far the larger part of the steel product of this coun- try goes into uses other than rails or railroad materials. This, however, is unimportant. The significant fact is that England is led by both the United States and Ger- many in steel manufacture. Concerning the tariff and its influence on the develop- ment of the industries of the United States, the writer speaks with moderation and intelligence. He says: “We in England speak of the United States as a protectionist country, and no doubt we do so with literal truth. Probably, if there had been no protective duties on iron and steel the American imports might have been higher, and to some extent the American consumer may thus have been put in a worse position. This probabil- ity of outside supply, supposing duties to be relaxed, is becoming less and less every year, owing to the ad- vances made by American steel makers, enabling them to compete on equal terms with our older industries. Tag ne ra be ma i Ng tien ~~» —? a. ETE bg - Fig. 7.—Sculptural Adornment of Pillars at Entrance of Machinery Building. THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION AT BUFFALO. But if, instead of using the term ‘ protectionist country ’ literally, we may do violence to political geography and think of the States of the Union as separate countries we have an area of highly civilized territory with free trade such as exists nowhere else in the world; for we must not forget that British colonies are very largely protective, even against the mother country. The wide expanse of territory in the Great North American Re- public, the variation in climate and the profusion of mineral deposits—besides other natural riches—enable the different States of the Union to draw from each other duty free materials sufficient for the bulk of the country’s industries. Doubtless some of these things could be bought to better advantage abroad, but the United States will be seen to stand on a different foot- ing, as a protectionist nation, to any other country pos- sessing an extensive manufacturing industry.” In what are classified in English commercial nomen- cluture as the heavy iron trades the writer finds most interest, since in these lines England has been hard hit by foreign competition. It is a fact calculated to startle English readers that of merchandise under this classi- fication our exports to England amounted in 1898 to TRON AGE. April 11, 1901 about three times the value of our imports from that country. From a study of a representative furnace plant the writer reaches the conclusion that our practice is ahead of the English. The significance of the fact that during the last four years under review in these letters the exports of American rails had increased 16- fold, while those of British make had been declining, re- ceives the attention it merits in such an inquiry. The writer attaches more importance than it is entitled to, to the fact that at the time of his visit the American rail mills, though much increased in capacity of late years, were taxed to fill home orders. This condition may not last forever, and probably will not. The descriptions of American steel works are sketchy, but accurate. The labor saving machines which are here considered indis- pensable, the writer describes as wonderful novelties. In the domain of structural steel he discovers many sur- prises for British readers. ‘“ When we find,” he says, “one firm building for themselves a railway bridge across a river as wide as the Thames at London simply to make communication between two of their factories it is easy to suppose that bridges are not very expensive in America.” Our steel buildings impressed him very forcibly, and he says of the means adopted to extend the use of American steel: “The energy with which Americans make business is remarkable. Steel makers manufacture business out of nothing. If an architect says he cannot put steel in place of wood the steel maker employs an expert to show it can be done. This is how the Carnegie staff of designers of steel buildings was called into existence.” In the practice of the more enterprising American concerns of maintaining corps of experts to design what- ever is wanted, the writer finds much to commend. The practice in England seems to be different, since the British contractor, unless consulted, does not deem it within his province to take any part in the preparation of plans and specifications. We quote as follows: “Let us imagine a case in machine shop practice by way of illustration. A locomotive maker may be plan- ing his connecting rods, but a maker of stationary en- gines has found it is better to machine connecting rods by milling. But the locomotive maker will neither seek nor accept advice and goes on planing. That is a crude instance, but it is British; grossly British, no doubt. The American is different. He sends a connecting rod to the machine tool maker and says, ‘Can you design me a machine for this work, and, if so, how many will it turn out per week, and with what labor ?’ He knows the tool maker has wide experience of what is being done in dozens of other shops in kindred branches, and he recognizes that all knowledge of the subject is not concentrated in his own brain. So it is that in the offices of the best machine tool makers in America one will find quite a collection of curiosities. Although we have in England a larger and more influential class of engineers who sell only advice, I think, on the whole, very much more advice is sought in America. The broad difference is that British advice is manufactured largely in offices unconnected with works; in America it is chiefly the product of the workshop.” Concerning locomotives, the writer discreetly avoids encumbering his pages with contributions to the endless controversy as to which type of engine is the best. On this subject he says: “So far as Great Britain and the United States are concerned, it may be said that each type is well suited for its respective field, but when we come to those neu- tral markets where locomotives are most likely to be imported we see that the British maker, who sticks with British pertinacity to his own home ideals, is likely to go to the wall. New countries, our colonies for instance, have railways more approximating to the earlier roads of America than to the solid constructions of our own land. British makers have been apt to think themselves mas- ters of the situation, and tell their customers exactly what they propose to supply rather than consult their wishes. ‘We make only good engines,’ they have said. ‘If you want anything else, you had better go else- where.’ Foreign customers have taken this advice.” It impressed him very much to learn on the occasion April 11, 1901 THE IRON AGE. 11 of his visit to the Baldwin Locomotive Works that he had come just in time to witness the shipment of the last of an order of nine engines which an improvident railway manager had ordered in such a hurry that de- livery within 14 days of receipt of order was insisted upon. Two were shipped within ten days, and the re- mainder within the time specified. All the works had *in stock” were the drawings. Plates for the boilers were ordered by telegraph. It was there that a me- chanic said to him: “I wonder how the British work- men can keep awake with machine tools running at the rate usual in England.” Of the American system in the manufacture of sta- tionary engines the writer speaks with judgment and intelligence. The fact that the BE. P. Allis Company of Milwaukee had lately secured the contract for the Glas- gow tramway engines attracted the writer to that point as the one likely to be most instructive from the point of view of his errand. He had every facility to examine everything that interested him, but admits that he could discover no specific reason for the success of the con- cern. The general reasons are many—an ample plant, well designed in every detail, high tecnnical skill and shrewd and capable business management, willing to invest any amount of capital when the advantage of so doing appears—all of which he finds characteristic of our methods. From Fraser & Chalmers of Chicago, who built works at Erith, Kent, he learned facts pointing to the same conclusion. In this country the manufacturer of machinery has the advantage of cheaper labor per unit of product, and better iron, permitting of designs using less metal without sacrifice of strength. He at- tributes the success of our representative machinery concerns largely to the “ readiness with which they pull out old tools and replace them with new when occasion arises.” In the field of machine tools the British manufac- turer has felt American competition very keenly, and they naturally receive much attention from Mr. Dunnell, who is sufficiently familiar with English shop practice to understand and appreciate what he saw in this country. In machine tools of the higher grades, in which pre- cision is essential, our practice does not suffer by com- parison with the best English standards. The late Joseph Whitworth was the founder of this department of engineering, but so far have his methods been im- proved upon that, as the writer says: “In some of the machine shops of the United States the effort for ac- curacy is carried to such an extent that it would seem almost a craze were it not justified by events.” The use made in this country of accurate gauges and stand- ards attracts the correspondent’s attention. Of heavy machine tools he says: “The designs of the large American machine tools are not by any means copies of ours, except so far as the origin of most heavy machines-is British. There are a good many features about them which at once de- note independent thought. In regard to undue light- ness, an accusation often brought against American work, there is certainly an impression given of this nature when some of the machines—I am thinking espe- cially of planing machines—are looked at end on, but a side view gives quite a different impression. In other words, the metal is disposed to give rigidity more par- ticularly in a longitudinal direction, and it is longitu- dinal stresses that have to be met. There are important firms in the United States that are making heavy tools and bidding for export orders. In meeting them in neutral markets British manufacturers will have the advantage of being more within their own peculiar province, but there can be little doubt, whoever gets the bulk of the trade, that American makers will be foe- men well worthy of our steel.” The manufacture of agricultural implements of the highest grades suggested comments which must have furnished English readers much food for thought. Among other establishments in this line he visited the works of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, where he was told something he deemed it of interest to quote. After he had looked about and returned to the office for conversation, his guide said to him: “You have been sitting in that chair ten minutes, and during that time we have finished and put into ware- house 20 reaping machines or field mowers, weighing from 700 to 1500 pounds each. You English are our strongest competitors in foreign markets, but the Swedes and Germans are creeping up every day. They copy everything, but copying will never get more than the dregs of a trade. The country that originates will always be ahead. Moreover, it is no good copying pat- terns unless you copy methods, too. If a German buys one of our machines and tries to make it he is met by difticulties at every turn. He wants our special tools, our organization, our materials and then he must pro- duce on the same scale we do to get the same economy.” From pages so full of interest and so instructive to all classes of readers, there is a temptation to quote at great length. We cannot, however, follow the investiga- tions in detail, especially as they have been the sub- ject of more or less current comment in these columns. In the final letter of the series (on labor) English condi- tions are chiefly dealt with. His picture of the state of things resulting from union rule in England is in- tended to show that, while it is tolerated, anything like equal competition between England and America in the engineering trades is, and will continue to be, im- possible. This part of the work is designed for home consumption. The American reader will find these let- ters very instructive, but he will make a mistake if he assumes that they accurately reflect the average Amer- ican workshop practice in the engineering trades. They show what is possible with good organization and care- ful management—more easily possible in this country, perhaps, tha