The Iron Age 1902-03-13: Vol 69 Iss 11

? A Review of the Hardware, Iron, Machi: 280 a ug Published every Thursday Morning by David Williams Co. eo <a Vol. 69: No. rz. Reading Matter Contents......... page 53 Alphabetical Index to Advertisers “‘ 153 Classified List of Advertisers..... ” . 146 Advertising and Subscription Rates “‘ 71 B aonth Lierah inet ETC Co Dynamo St. Louis, Mo. £DELTING> New York. An We > Propucts | bristol’ § stol’s. Patent 's Patent Steel Belt Lacing, SAVES Time, Belts, Money. GreatestStrength TOAPPLY FuusHEeDvomT With Least Metal. Send for Circulars and Free Samples. THE BRISTOL CO., Waterbury, Conn, SAMSON SPOT CORD Alse Hiaccache tts and Phenix Brands ret and Ps Cord, SAMSON CORDAGE WORKS, Boston, Mass. ah h Office, 11 Broadway, New York. Cleveland Cit City Forge and Iron Co., * Cleveland, 0, 4 MERRILL BROS., 465 Kent Ave., 3ROOKLYN. NY Soft Coal. G vane pallding, Phila. PILLING & CRANE, {wis Risse 'Bictsitin 5 7: aoe New York A good galvanized-iron- worker knows the different makes of his stock, and uses the one that pays him best. Apollo. American Sheet Steel Company, New York = EI ES LT Te EE PT OE Ree Tr eS ee el 7 ST a ey, be THE IRON_AGE > rades. 2-238 Ww Tiss. n St., New York, loo Voreb 7 . , - 7 5 $5.00 a Year, including Postage. New York, Thursday, March 13, 1902. Siviche Ocoee, tan Can aotet oSoetoaten’ oefoeteetoetoeteatoeteetoe! Roeforse oetoeteetonte soe’ Soefoetoetoetoetoetoe toe teetee’ Roetoatoetoe tee’ bbO0OO8 %, *, “ ox re, s oatoatee% . 2. ote > 2, * oe! Remington No. { Single SI Shot Ril, odhoet 9 fe fo 0% *, > ++ o@ ?, ? so eottos ¢, oe, > 2. + @ PAPA O 0 Oe 98, oo. retry >, 2. 7? pers , O94, 2 a °, ° + C2 2, a oto . 2, > Now supplied with Take Down attachment at no additional cost. Superior in quality and workmanship, “ By Far The Best ” mod- erate priced rifle on the market. List Price, $8.00. Apply to your dealer for Catalogue and Discount. 2, er, a * areaee eo esoeirs > 2 * ere 2, regrtee ts *, = oe. oe. *, oe, ?, * ee Sa aa ’e' 2, DO. Dt 9° %0* 69%, REMINGTON ILION, N. Y. ARMS CoO., 2, > 2 S. & eee 2, %, * 2, * 2 & + * 3 313-317 Broadway, N. Y. 425 Market St., San Francisco, Cal. = oe 3 Conk oe teetoess ‘oe ofoetostos: roetoeteefoetoetos’ Noefoefoetoe! Soegoetoeteesoetoetoetee tne toeloetoe’ "oaree' aint o-efoeoetoeton’ Noeloafoefoeten’ oafoetoe’ oso oreo’ eaten’ Soot CAPEWELL HORSE NAILS. NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, CHICAGO, ST. LOUIS, BOSTON, DETROIT, CINCINNATI, SAN FRANCISCO) PORTLAND, ORE., BUFFALO, BALTIMORE, NEW ORLEANS, DENVER. THE CAPEWELL HORSE NAIL COMPANY. HARTFORD, CONN. Jenkins ’96 Packing, Pronounced by steam users throughout the world the best joint packing manufactured. Expensive? Not at all, as it weighs 80¢ less than many other packings, consequently is much cheaper. JENKINS BROTHERS, New York, Boston, Philadelphia. Chicage BRANCHES: THE AMERICAN TUBE & STAMPING 00, HOT AND COLD ROLLED Successor to STRIPSTEEL, The WILMOT & HOBBS MFG. CO. vam MAGNOLIA METAL: Best Anti-Friction Metal for all _ee ’ “THE IRON AGE. THE ANSONIA BRASS po” COPPER CO. MANUFACTURERS OF BRASS AND COPPER Seamless Tubes, Sheets, Rods and Wire. Ingot Copper. GOLE MANUFACTURERS ‘Tobin Bronze (TRADE-MaRK REGISTERED.) Condenser Piates,Pump Linings, Round, Square and Hexagon Bars, for Pump . Piston Rods and Bolt Forgings. Seamless Tubes. 99 John Street, Randolph-Clowes Co., Main Office and Mill, WATERBURY, CONN. MANUFACTURERS OF SHEET BRASS & COPPER. BRAZED BRASS & COPPER TUBES. SEAMLESS BRASS & COPPER TUBES ‘TO 36 IN. DIAM. New York coe Oe 258 Becetway, Postal Tel- Bidg., Room Chicago C Office, 602 Fisher Bld Boston Office, Cor. Oliver end Purchase Sts. WATERBURY BRASS C0. ESTABLISHED 1845. Main Office and Mills at Waterbury, Conn. Manufacturers of Brass, German Silver, Copper, IN SHEET, ROLL, ROD, WIRE, BRAZED and SEAMLESS TUBING, GERMAN SILVER in sheet an Wire, for the HARDWARE TRADE. Rivets and Burrs, Metallic Eye- New York. lets, Shells, Ferrules and Small Brasswares of every Description. New York Store has been removed trom 60 Centre St. to 122-130 Centre St. Deoxidized Babbitt. NEVER HAS BEEN BEATEN. Bridgeport Deoxidized Bronze & Metal Co. BRIDGEPORT, CONN. peeetninesyn & Hegeler Zinc Co.,° LA SALLE, ILLINOIS. SMELTERS OF SPELTER AND MANUFACTURERS OF SHEET ZINC AND SULPHURIC ACID. Special Sizes of Zinc cut to order. Rolled Battery Plates. Selected Plates for Etchers’ and Lithographers’ use. Seloct<at Sheets for Paper and Card Makers’ use. Stove and Washboard Blanks. ZINCS FOR LECLANCHE BATTERY. NOUNS merece eu H 88:74 West Monroe St. Best Bronze, , Chicago. PED TS CI NEETU MUTI Rep Race On Short Notic Nonewesccmm" | BRASS, BRONZE and ALUMINUM CASTINGS, “4 Wheel, $3.00 Founders, Finishers. 5 Wheel, $3.25 KEK. wicn, |W: G. ROWELL & CO., BRIDGEPORT, CONN BATTLE CREEK, MICH. HENDRICKS BROTHERS PROPRIETORS OF THE Belleville Copper Rolling Mills, Braziers’ MANUFACTURERS OF Bolt and Sheathing COPPER 5 COPPER WV iRE AND RIVBTS. Importers and Dealers in Ingot Copper, Block Tin, Spelter, Lead, Antimony, etc. 49 CLIFF ST., NEW YORK. R. A. HART, SPECIAL BRASS, BRONZE, and) '29 MURRAY ST.. NEW YORK. THE PLUME & Atwood M6, Co, MANUFACTURERS OF Sheet and Roll Bras: —AND— WIRE PRINTERS’ BRASS, JEWELERS’ METAL, GERMA SILVER AND GILDING METAL, COPPER RIVET | AND BURRS. Pins, Brass Butt Hinges, Jack Chain, Kero sene Burners, Lamps, Lamp Trimmings, &c. 144 HIGH ST., BOSTON. 199 LAKE ST., CHICAGC ROLLING MILL : FACTORIES : _ CONN, WATERBURY, wom. SCOVILL MFG. CO..| Manufacturers of BRASS, GERMAN SILVER Sheets, Rolls, Wire Rods,.Boilté and Tubes, Brass Shells, Cups, Hinges Buttons, Lamp Coods. SPECIAL BRASS GOODS TO ORDER Factories, WATERBURY, CONN. DEPOTS: NEW YORK, CHICAGO, BOSTON. — DAVOL | & SONS, AGENTS FOR broékiyn Brass & Cépper Co.. . DEALERS IN COPPER, TIN, SPELTER, LEAD, ANTIMONY. 100 John Street, New York Arthur T. Rutter SUCCESSOR TO WILLIAM S. FEARING: 256 Broadway, NEW YORK. Small tubing in Brass, Copper, Steel, Aluminum, German Silver, &c. Sheet Brass, Copper and Ger- man Silver. Copper, Brass and German Silver Wire. Brazed and Seamless Brass and Copper Tube. Copper and Brass Rod. ; “PHONO-ELECTRIC”’ WIRD. “ts TOUGH." TROLLEY, TELEPHONE and TELEGRAPH LINES. BRIDGEPORT BRASS CO., 19 Murray St., New York. Phono-Electric Mills, Bridgeport, Conn. TRACTS WanTto ren aa mera wenn PETE C ONT pee ONE S ww fom 5.029588 FACKLITIES FOR MARING a ‘THE IRON GH Tuurspay, Marcu 13, 1902 The Cincinnati Shaper with Two Independent Heads. The new shaper designed by the Cincinnati Shaper Company of Cincinnati is intended for a class of work which cannot be done readily on a pillar shaper, as in it the head travels while the work remains stationary. The bed is very wide and deep, and is strongly ribbed, making it extremely rigid. The face of the bed is pro- vided with T-slots, and forms a true vertical surface to which the work may be directly secured. The aprons have a full bearing on the face of the bed, except where it is cut out by the slots and where clearance is allowed for the rack and pinion provided for moving the aprons. The saddles carrying the rams have long and wide bear- ings, both on the bed and for the ram, and have taper gibs for taking up wear. They are operated by full that the circular feed can be had either by power or hand. On removing the circular mandrel an opening 5 inches in diameter is obtained through the bed, through which shafting may be passed and key seated at any point of its length. The index centers swing 13 inches, and are provided with five disks, accurately cut with 44, 52, 56, 90 and 96 notches, respectively. The gearing is of wide face and large in diameter, giving ample strength and large wear- ing surfaces; and the machine, being back geared, has, with the four-step cone pulleys, eight cutting speeds to the ram. Fe A Steel [lill for the Grand Crossing Tack Company. A very important enlargement is to be made in the business of the Grand Crossing Tack Company, whose THE CINCINNATI SHAPER WITH length and separate screws; consequently the rams may be operated independently and witli the saddles close to gether, even at either extreme end of the bed. The rams, being operated by Whitworth motion, have a quick return, and, on account of their design, have great stiffness and ample wearing surfaces. They also have a rack and pinion for positioning, both for length of stroke and position over the work. This is, perhaps, the most convenient and positive arrangement for accomplishing this result yet devised. All traverse and down feeds are located on the sad- dle and head, and can be actuated by the workmal while in position to see his work to the best advantage. All may be operated automatically by power or by hand, and the direction and extent may be changed while the machine is in motion. The heads are furnished with a variable automatic down feed, and also worm for cir cular work. The two tables are vertically adjustable on the aprons and horizontally with it along the bed. Each is planed all over, and has planed T-slots in three sides. One is plain, and the other arranged to swivel through an are vf 90 degrees by means of a worm and worm wheel. It is easily adjusted and secured, and has the degrees graduated on the plate at the front of the table. A cir cular mandrel can be quickly connected to the saddle so TWO INDEPENDENT HEADS present works are located at Grand Crossing, Chicago. The company have for some time been operating a rod mill and a thoroughly equipped plant for the manufac- ture of merchant wire, wire nails, tacks and other prod- ucts. They have developed their business to a point which requires greater attention to be paid to the matter of raw material, and they now propose to build a steel plant. At their present location no additional space is available for buildings of the size necessary for the ex- tension of operations contemplated. For this reason the company have purchased a tract of 50 acres on the Calumet River, south of South Chi- cago, on which they propose to erect an open hearth steel plant and a blooming and billet mill with all ac- cessories. In this plant they will manufacture sufficient steel to supply their rod mill at Grand Crossing, which now has a capacity of 160 tons per day. The Morgan Construction Company of Worcester, Mass., who built the company’s rod mill, have prepared the designs for the new plant. kK. W. Hutchinson, the secretary and superintendent of the company, has for some time been studying the methods pursued at other plants in this country and abroad, and it is the intention to equip the new works with the most approved automatic labor sav- ing devices. Much of the machinery has already been purchased. 2 THE The Eight-Hour Labor Bill. A Proposition Made and Declined. WASHINGTON, D. C., March 11, 1902.—The House Com- mittee on Labor held a session on the 6th inst. for the consideration of the pending eight-hour bill that was marked by some highly interesting features. The steel manufacturers, as represented by Judge J. K. McCam- mon, made a proposition to leave to the Commissioner of Labor the final determination of the practicability of producing the finest grades of steel without employing single shifts of men for more than eight hours consecu- tively, but President Gompers, of the American Federa- tion of Labor, speaking for the advocates of the pending bill, declined to be bound by the Commissioner’s de- cision, and, with much warmth, declared his intention “to fight to a finish for the passage of the bill.” Subse- quently, in reply to a direct question by a member of the committee, Mr. Gompers was forced to concede that the pending bill was intended to deprive every workman of his right to labor more than eight hours in any one day should he desire to do so. Upon the convening of the committee, Judge McCam- mon presented the following formal communication: “With your permission, I take the liberty of pointing out how your committee can secure an impartial inves- tigation of the subjects more especially discussed by Archibald Johnston and A. C. Dinkey, expert metal workers, in their recent statements before your commit- tee, particularly those relating to the impracticability of making certain steel products of the best quality within the time limit of eight hours. “Your attention is called to the act of Congress of June 13, 1888, creating the Bureau of Labor, Section 8 of which provides, among other things, that the commis- sioner ‘is authorized to: make special reports on special subjects whenever required to do so by the President or either House of Congress.’ A method is thus pointed out by which the query made. by your chairman, Mr. Gardner, at the meeting of February 26, can be an- swered. Mr. Gardner referred to Mr, Johnston’s testi- mony to the effect that it was impossible to produce the best results, or satisfactory results, unless the same mind controlled a heat to its close in the manufacture of guns in the rough, armor plate, structural iron, &c., and added, ‘The same information is stated by the gentle- man now on the stand (Mr. Dinkey), and is admitted by Mr. Gompers that if that be true it goes to the pith of the question as,to the making of steel for guns, armor plate, &c.’ Then came the query by Mr. Gardner, ‘ Now, it seems to me that is a question about which the com- mittee ought not to be left to grcope; that is a matter that can be determined, can it not, with absolute cer- tainty by expert testimony?’ “ Having in mind the desire on the part of the chair- man and of the members of the committee that the com- mittee should have before them the result of impartial in- vestigation of this important question, I suggest that your committee report to the House a resolution requir- ing the Commissioner of Labor to make a special report on the points raised by Messrs. Johnston and Dinkey above referred to. A governmental staff of experts is at the service of the House and of your committee, ready for just such a kind of investigation as is contemplated by the act of June 13, 1888.” “The result of a thorough investigation by the Com- missioner of Labor,” said Judge McCammon, referring to the communication he had just read, “ would of ne- cessity be accepted by all parties in interest. I appre- hend that this investigation would not take any length of time and probably ought to be made within the com- pass of a week.” Mr. Gompers immediately protested against the adop- tion of the plan proposed by Judge McCammon. “ It seems exceedingly strange,” said he, “ that after produc- ing witnesses for the avowed purpose of demonstrating the utter impossibility under this system of producing steel of sufficient fineness and quality to make good ar- mor plate and good guns, and then arguing that they are not opposed to the introduction of the eight-hour system, these gentlemen should now propose an investi- IRON AGE. March 13, 1902 gation by another body, by the Commissioner of Labor, which will demonstrate nothing. The opponents of this measure have for the past three Congresses endeavored to defeat it by every means within their power. After its having run the gauntlet of an investigation by a com- unittee of the House for three Congresses and an investi- gation before the Senate Committee on Education and Labor—a protracted investigation—now the gentlemen propose that the investigation shall be referred to an- other department. It does seem to me that these gen- tlemen, who thus far have produced only two witnesses, are trifling with the committee in this last proposition, and in imagining that the efforts to shift this question by this proposed investigation to the Commissioner of Labor will prolong the matter so that it may die in this session of Congress. “Now, I might as well say to you gentlemen that within these past twenty-four hours I have been ap- proached—it has been intimated to me that it would be to the best interests both of myself and others, and to the best interests of our general purpose, for me to with- draw this eight-hour bill. I do not know who authorized it, or who induced it, but let me say that after this com- mittee has reported this bill favorably on two occasions and after the House of Representatives has passed it practically unanimously, and it has been killed in the Senate by this system of procrastination, which is now attempted—I say now that this bill is going to be fought to a finish. If we cannot secure favorable action at this session of Congress, we will knock at the doors of Con- gress until this’ bill has become a. law. “ The witnesses:produced by the other side have tried to demonstrate that the eight-hour system is impossible. Now, at the last meeting of this committee I took oc- casion to say that I have corresponded with certain gen- tlemen who are experts with-a view of having them tes- tify before this committee because of their well-known practical knowledge of the business. I have their state- ments with me that they will be prepared to testify at any time that this committee decides. Should this matter be referred to the Commissioner of Labor the other side would not be satisfied and would not discontinue its op- position to the bill if the Commissioner should report that their contention was unfounded, and I will say now in advance, that we would not be satisfied if the report stated that our contention was untenable. “We do not propose to wait until after the flood. We want something now, and we believe that we are en- titled to this eight-hour bill. There is not a man who ean defend his position if he contends that it is not economically sound, and it is unfounded for any man to say that it is physically impossible to produce steel within eight hours or that the process cannot be trans- ferred to the hands of other men at the expiration of eight hours. It is not true, and the men who indulge in it are simply depending on the ignorance of us laymen. Our witnesses will testify any day that you may deter- mine to show the utter untenability of the position taken by both Mr. Johnston and Mr. Dinkey.” * Having listened for some time,” replied Judge Mc- Cammon, “ to the eminent metal worker and economical expert who informs us all that certain things can or can- not be done—of course, he knows nothing about it him- self and he has not yet produced witnesses to sustain his statements—I would say that I assume that by an- other week or two we will have his witnesses. But what will that amount to? Of course we can produce more expert testimony, and Mr. Gompers can put his ex- pert witnesses on the stand to contradict ours, but if they are relatively reliable men we will then come to a standstill, and how is the committee to be benefited? It therefore seems to me that the suggestion I have made is the only way by which the committee within a rea- sonable time can ascertain the actual facts on the points discussed by Messrs. Johnston and Dinkey. Mr. Gom- pers is entirely mistaken as to what our position would be upon this report. I have no doubt that the position he states he would take, if the report should be against him, is correct. But so far as we are concerned an in- vestigation made by the Department of Labor will be acquiesced in, undoubtedly, by the people I represent.” Mr. Gompers then inquired if it should be reported March 13, 1902 THE that Messrs. Johnston and Dinkey were in error whether the steel manufacturers would cease their opposition to the pending bill, to which Judge McCammon replied: “Our opposition would not cease until a bill that is creditable to this committee, to Congress and to the American people is presented. We will never be satis- fied to permit, so long and so far as we are able to op pose it, a bill to pass Congress which prohibits working- men in private establishments from working more than eight hours a day, even where necessity—mechanical or business necessity—requires it. There is no incon- sistency about our position. We desire, if it can be rought about by the general consent of everybody in- terested, an eight-hour system, but that system certainly would not be so arranged that mechanics in emergencies growing out of mechanical demands should not be per- mitted to work over eight hours. That is a very differ- ent thing from this bill, and the gentleman, in referring to what I have said, either intentionally misquotes me or he does not know the distinction.” Mr. Gompers was disposed to resent Judge McCam- mon’s remarks as an imputation upon his intelligence, and replied ironically that to the best of his poor ability he labored to bring about conditions under which the workingmen of the country would have leisure and opportunity to acquire a higher degree of education than he himself possessed, to which Judge McCammon re- joined: “Mr. Gompers has again misunderstood me. Let me say right on that point that Mr. Johnston has testified before this committee that he entered the Bethlehem Steel Works many years ago, when he was a boy, and was only able to educate himself in the collegiate sense by working overtime. As to Mr. Dinkey, the fact is that he rose from the ranks; and it is also a fact that within the last three or four years we have had dozens of men before this committee who have told you exactly what Mr. Johnston and Mr. Dinkey told you as to their own careers. It is to prevent just such careers, we take it, that this bill is proposed to be enacted. It is to com- pel men to remain on the same dead level, to prevent them from having the opportunity to rise above their fellow men. That is the direct purpose of this bill. It says to one man of somewhat superior natural ability, ‘You shall not go faster than your brother who has not the same mental capacity that you have. You must all be measured by the same rule. If you have more brains, or more muscle, than others you must not be permitted to exercise them.’ ” Mr. Gompers protested that Judge McCammon mis- represented the purpose of the bill; but the latter replied that he had gathered its purpose to his own satisfaction from examining it and from reading the literature put out by the American Federation of Labor. At this juncture Representative Warnock of the com- mittee put the following direct question to Mr. Gom- pers: “Are you opposed to the laborer retaining his right to make a private contract to work for ten hours if he sees fit; in other words, do you seek the passage of a bill which takes away from the Jaboring man the right to earn an extra hour’s pay, or maybe two hours’ pay?” “Well,” replied Mr. Gompers, hesitatingly, ‘“ that is one way of putting it.” “What is the other way of putting it?’”’ asked Mr. Warnock. “The other way of putting it is that I would have a law to prevent the employers of labor, either directly or indirectly, making such conditions as to compel the workmen to work more than eight hours a day by any species of inducement that shall have the general tend- ency to increase the hours of labor.” “So that to prevent the possibility of any induce- ments of that sort being offered,” continued Mr. War- nock, “ you favor a law which shall utterly and abso- lutely exclude them from the possibility of making any private contracts?” “As applied to those who do any work for the Govern- ment,” assented Mr. Gompers. Continuing, he argued that pay for overtime was really not extra pay; that is to say, it was only temporarily extra pay, for as the [IRON AGE. 3 hours of labor are increased wages generally fall to the amount earned in the shorter working day. “That is all I wanted,” rejoined Mr. Warnock with significant emphasis. No witnesses being available for the presentation of further testimony, the committee adjourned until March 13, when the hearings will close. It is understood that Mr. Gompers will introduce several practical steel mak- ers of more or less experience, for the purpose of contro- verting the testimony given by Messrs. Johnston and Dinkey. w. L. Cc Philadelphia Foundrymen’s Association. The one hundred and sixteenth regular meeting of the Philadelphia oundrymen’s Association was held at the Manufacturers’ Club, Broad and Walnut streets, in that city, Wednesday, March 5, the president, Thomas I. Ran- kin, occupying the chair. Amwong those present may be mentioned the following: Thos. I. Rankin, Abram Cox Stove Company, Philadelphia. W. S. Quigley, Kitson Hydro Carbon H. & I. L. Company, Phila- delphia. H. Lasch, Selig & Co., London, England. Jas. H. Brooks, T. B. Harkins Foundry Company, Bristol, Pa Jas. Halferty, Charlier Furnace, Philadelphia. H. J. J. Charlier, Charlier Furnace, Philadelphia. M. H. Charlier, Charlier Furnace, Philadelphia. Wm. Robertson, American Meter Company, Philadelphia. R. M. Barnet, Brass Foundry Supply Company, Newark, N. J. S. G. Flagg, Jr., 8. G. Flagg & Co., Philadelphia. I. R. Newkirk, J. B. Newkirk & Co., Philadelphia. P. D. Wanner, Reading Foundry Company, Reading, Pa. I’, C. Price, E. J. Etting & Co., Philadelphia. Geo. H. Wadsworth, Railway Speed Recorder Company, Ohio. C. Reiser, Reiser Machine Shop, Lake Charles, La. J. Hy. Pepper, The Brass Founder and Finisher, Philadelphia. Wm. Eanson, Pennsylvania Iron Works Company, Philadelphia, Jno. P. Bland, M.E., Philadelphia P. Scott Thomas, J. W. Paxson Company, Philadelphia. A. A. Miller, The Iron Age, Philadelphia. H. O. Evans, Thos. Devlin & Co., Philadelphia, J. H. Julian, J. W. Paxson Company, Philadelphia. Howard Bougher, J. W. Paxson Company, Philadelphia. H. J. Bougher, J. W. Paxson Company, Philadelphia. John Fleming, S. J. Creswell Iron Works, Philadelphia. Howard Evans, J. W. Paxson Company, Philadelphia. The meeting was culled to order at the usual hour, the minutes of the previous meeting being dispensed with in the usual manner. The Executive Committee on the matter of incorpora- tion of the association reproted, through P. D. Wanner, favorable progress and recommended the adoption of cer- tain changes and additions to the constitution and by- laws of the association, so that they would conform to the requirements necessary for incorporation. These recommendations were formally placed before the asso- ciation and will be acted upon at the next regular meet- ing. The application of M. J. Drummond & Co., 192 Cor- bin Building, New York City, for membership in the as- sociation was received, and after favorable action of committee they were duly elected members. The paper of the evening was on the subject, “‘ The Charlier Rolling, Oil Melting, Brass, Iron or Steel Fur- naces,” illustrated and described in The Iron Age, Feb- ruary 13, 1902. Howard Evans of the J. W. Paxson Company, who are the representatives of the patentee, described, with the aid of a number of lantern slides, the construction and various points of the new furnace. Ad- ditional information to that already published in The Tron Age was given in the fact that in practical opera- tion the percentage of loss by oxidation in melting brass was found to be from 1.75 to 2 per cent., comparing fa- vorably with the stated loss of 3.5 to 4 per cent. by oxi- dation when crucibles were used. It was also said by comparison of fuel consumption that on an average monthly run the cost for fuel used in the Charlier fur- nace, with a maximum production of 5000 pounds of metal per day, was $83, while six furnaces using cruct- bles, with coal as fuel and a maximum production of 2700 pounds of metal, cost $152 per month for the fuel item. In reply to the question as to the durability of the lining of the furnace, it was said that the average life would be four months. After adjournment the usua! luncheon was served to- Kent, 4 THE the members and guests on the roof garden of the club; Howard Evans, acting as toastmaster, called on a num- ber of those present for speeches, after which the social session of the evening came to a close. —— ee The Metric System and the Mechan- ical Engineers. WASHINGTON, D. C., March 11, 1902.—The House Com- mittee on Coinage, Weights and Measures has set Thurs- day, March 13, upon which to take a vote on the pend- ing metric system bill. The hearings closed on the 6th inst., and there is little doubt the bill will be ordered favorably reported, possibly without a dissenting vote. Chairman Southard, whose attention has been drawn to the action of a special committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, whose report concern- ing the metric system, adopted under date of February 19, was published in the last issue of The Iron Age, as- serts with considerable emphasis that the purpose of the bill and its effect upon private manufacturers is wholly misrepresented by the special committee referred to. With regard to the facts in the case, Mr. Southard makes the following statement: “I was much surprised upon reading in The Iron Age the report of this committee, which is based upon a complete misapprehension of the scope of the pending measure. This report states that if the pending bill is passed ‘it will make what we are now using to such good advantage illegal,’ and the attention of the mem- bers of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers ‘is therefore called to the purpose of the legislation, and it is earnestly urged by the committee that all the mem- bers should address their respective representatives in Congress protesting against the passage of H. R. 2054 and 123, expressing in the strongest terms their oppo- sition to a measure involving changes that will incon- venience and hinder trade and manufacturing and re- quire expenditure of time and money that cannot be expressed in figures, sweeping away as it does the ad- vantages accruing from the numerous established stand- ards now recognized and universally adopted through- out the country.’ “T observe that George M. Bond is a member of the special committee which has adopted this report, and I am, therefore, more surprised at the statements made therein, for Mr. Bond appeared before our committee and, in reply to questions put to him, stated that he did not understand the scope of the bill, and gave us all the impression that he-had come to Washington in search of information. An effort was made to impress him with the fact that it was not the purpose of the bill to make the system compulsory upon any private concern or in- dividual, and the committee has never for a moment contemplated restricting the use of the present system by the general public should any one desire to continue its use. I regret that the American Society of Mechan- ical Engineers did not see fit in this connection to refer the question of the desirability of the adoption of the wetric system to a committee having no preconceived views on the subject. The attitude of the Messrs. Sellers has long been well known, and Mr. Bond’s own opposi- tion was voiced before our committee some weeks ago, so that three of the five members of the society’s special committee might have been counted upon to oppose the system. An Opinion from the Attorney-General. “The question as to the scope of our bill, however, is a very important one, concerning which, perhaps, the views of any one member of our committee cannot be regarded as conclusive, and we have therefore submitted it to the Attorney-General of the United States, who has supplied us with the following formal opinion: “*T have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of February 18, 1902, inclosing copies of two bills pending in the House, each providing for the adoption of the metric system of weights and measurements, and asking my opinion as to the effect of such legislation, if en- acted, upon contracts expressed, as to weights or meas- IRON AGE. March 13, 1902 ures, in terms other than those of the metric system, and specifically, in substance, whether such legislation would invalidate contracts made after it took effect, in which the weight or measure provided for should be expressed in terms other than those of the metric sys- tem, “* While I am not authorized to render an official opinion except in cases provided by statute, yet I may express my views of the matter of which you inquire, and cheerfully do so at the request of your committee and yourself. “* With reference to each of these bills I, have no hesitation in answering the specific question in the nega- tive. “*«The purpose and effect of each of these bills is to establish the metric system as the legal standard of weights and measures in the United States, and to re- quire all Government departments to use only that sys- tem, except in completing the survey of the public lands. This comes far short of attempting to compel the people to use only that system, or prohibiting to them the use of any other, or making invalid contracts expressed in other terms. Indeed, as each bill prohibits to the de- partments the use of any other system, by a familiar rule of construction, this will be taken as the only pro- hibition intended, and it will end there. “*But a negative answer to your question does not depend upon a mere rule of interpretation, but is based upon much broader grounds. The result referred to— the making contracts illegal for this cause—can be ac- complished, if at all, only by clear provision to that ef- fect, and there is nothing of that kind in either of these bills, which, as to this, merely declare that a system different from that now in common use should be the legal standard. This by no means declares that no other system shall be legal or be used. It is both elementary and fundamental that a thing which is legal and inno- cent in itself is not made otherwise by making some- thing else, even its opposite, legal, unless, indeed, there be such incompatability that they cannot coexist. Our present system has been always and is just as much the legal standard of weights and measures as if it had been so declared by statutes in the very language of these bills; and yet there has never been a time when a con- tract expressed, as to weight or measure, in the terms of the metric or other system, would not have been just as valid as if expressed in the terms in common use. And so it would be under either of these bills—just as the parties may express themselves in any language they choose, so may they designate weight and measure in any language or by any system that expresses their meaning. “<The terms, figures and characters in common and almost universal use in our system of weights and meas- ures are just as much part of the English language as is any other portion of that language, and to forbid the people their use would require as clear an expression of the legislative will as it would to forbid the use of that language in other matters, even if that would be effective. It may well be doubted if it would be within the competency of Congress to forbid to the people, for this or any other legitimate purpose, the use of this or any other portion of the language in which our Con- stitution, our laws and our literature are written, and in which we orally express our thoughts and feelings. But, however this may be, it is certain that nothing of this kind is done by the adoption as the legal standard of a system of weights and measures different from that now in vogue, and which, so far as the people are concerned, merely adopts the metric system as the legal standard, and launches it under Government auspices and recommendation, without any attempt to compel its use by the public at large. And specifically replying to your general question, I am of the opinion that neither of the bills referred to, if enacted into law, would at all affect the legality or validity of any contract thereafter made, because expressing its stipulations as to weight or measure in terms other than those of the metric system.’ “I trust the Attorney-General’s statement will re- move all doubt that may now be entertained in any March 13, 1902 THE quarter as to the compulsory features of the pending bill. There is no intention on the part of any one to make the measure apply to private transactions or oper ations of any kind.” Director Stratton on Installing the Metric System. In compliance with the request of the Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures, Director Stratton of the National Bureau of Standards, who is a mechanical engineer as well as a graduate of the machine shop, presented to the committee on the 6th inst. a brief state- ment concerning the method that would be pursued by manufacturers, especially of iron and steel products, in installing the metric system in their plants whenever they desired to do so. He said: “IT am sorry to say that there seems to be a disposi- tion in certain quarters to grossly exaggerate the ex- pense involved in changing to the metric system, and perhaps a few words on the practical side of the ques- tion would not be out of place. For this purpose manu- facturers may be divided into two classes, those who manufacture a product in the form of material and sup- plies, such as metal rods, plates, sheets, tubing, wire, cloth, paper and many other articles, and those who construct machines for doing a certain thing or turning out a certain product. Now in the shop of the first kind, as, for example, a rolling mill, all that would practically be required is that its product be made to metric dimen- sions when desired. This is not even required by the purpose of the law, but the adoption of the metric sys- tem by the people using such products will depend very largely upon whether they can obtain them in metric dimensions. The drawing of wires and tubes, and the rolling of bars, plates and other forms of steel, require some modifications as to the dies, gauges, &c., but this is done at the present time whenever manufacturers are called upon to do so. “ As to the second class—namely, the manufacturers of machines—they need only alter those machines in such a manner that their products may be turned out in metric dimensions. Whether the manufacturer uses the metric system in the construction of the component parts of the machine is a matter to be left entirely to the manufacturer’s convenience, and changes would only be made as rapidly as new machinery is designed and as it would be found advantageous to introduce the new system. Even in the case of a machine shop in the Government service, the most rigid interpretation of this measure would be that the shop should turn out its product in the metric system. Now this does not in- volve any changes except in the measuring instruments, gauges, templets, taps, dies, drills, arbors and reamers. These are known as the small tools of the shop, and should this bill become a law no shop could afford to dispense with the small tools now on hand, even if they were to be replaced free of charge. They will be needed during the transition stage, and even for a longer period, for the purpose of making #epairs. It simply amounts to the addition of such new small tools as are necessary to enable the output of the shop to be given in metric dimensions. The number of old tools would greatly decrease and the new ones would correspond- ingly increase. “As to the large machine tools of the shop, such as lathes, planers, shapers, milling machines, boring ma- chines, drill presses, bolt and nut machines, steam ham- mers, forges, hydraulic presses and other machines which represent by far the greater investment in any shop, not the slightest change is necessary except in “ase the system of screw threads is changed. In that ease the engine lathe requires but the addition of two gear wheels to énable it to cut threads in either system with equal facility. In fact, all lathes are furnished with these gears when desired. New taps and dies would be necessary for bolt and screw machines. How- ever, this legislation does not involve the introduction of metric screw threads. This is a matter that should be left to the manufacturers for decision. “The adoption of the system of screw threads now in use was brought about by manufacturers agreeing among themselves as to a uniform system. This was IRON AGE. 5 certainly a great step in advance, and I give here the words of Coleman Sellers relative to this change. He said: ‘It was adopted at considerable expense, because it was believed to be an improvement on existing prac- tice. We have still to keep our taps and dies for repair work, but no mechanic has deemed the expenditure in- volved in the change other than judicious.’ Does not this argument apply with still greater force in connec- tion with a universal system of screw threads, which this measure does not contemplate, but which is greatly to be desired; and a change to the metric system of weights and measures would undoubtedly bring about in time a change in our system of screw threads—but only at the suggestion and convenience of manufactur- ers and engineers as heretofore. “TIT have here the catalogue of the Pratt & Whitney Company, and you will find described on pages 4 and 5 six systems of screw threads now in use, one of which is described as the international or metric standard. “The same is true of wire and sheet metal gauges, and, in fact, in almost every branch of manufacturing different gauges have been handed down from the time when communities dealt with and means of transportation were meager. I beg to submit a table of wire gauges in which 13 or more wire gauges are given. Here again the selection and adoption of a suit- able and universal wire gauge will be left to concerted action on the part of manufacturers—but the time and necessity for such action will be made apparent by the adoption of the metric system of weights and measures.” W. L. C. themselves ~~ Oil Fuel for Heating Bars and Rivets. The Railroad Gazette reports that the Indiana Bridge Company, Muncie, Ind., formerly used natural gas for rivet and bar heating furnaces, the sizes of iron ranging from % to 244 inches in diameter, But the gas pressure weakened so much in that part of Indiana that it was necessary to substitute some other fuel. Coal could not be used‘satisfactorily for the purpose and fuel oil was available at wells within 3 or 4 miles of the bridge works. A satisfactory mixer and burner was found and the company are now using two furnaces, fired by an air jet oil spray. C. M. Kimbrough, president and gen- eral manager of the company, says that the metal is much more evenly heated and less scale forms on it when heated with oil fuel than when natural gas is used. His estimate of comparative cost is that when the apparatus is finally adjusted and facilities some- what improved the cost of operation, with oil at from $1 to $1.25 per barrel, will not be greater than the cost with natural gas at 10 or 12 cents per 1000 cubic feet. << Fuel Oil on Southern Pacific Railroad. A dispatch Southern from Memphis, Tenn., that the *acific Railroad is making elaborate prep- arations for the use of oil as fuel through that sys- tem. The company intend to establish 72 steel tanks of 50,000 barrels average capacity along their lines, and have let the contract for this work. These tanks will have a capacity of 3,600,000 barrels, and these, to- gether with the 13 already constructed by the com- pany, will give a total capacity of 4,425,000 barrels. Julius Kruttschnitt, first assistant to the president of the Southern Pacific Company, is authority for the statement that the company intend to use oil for gen- erating power on the locomotives from one end of the line to the other and eventually to substitute oil for coal fuel on their engines, ferryboats and steamboats. Already the company have converted 210 of their loco- motives into oil burners and have on hand material at the Houston shops for converting 120 more. says wenaliaiindicbanali A Steel Rail Record.—The Illinois Steel Company’s rail mill at their South Chicago works made a new rec- ord for itself week before last. The day turn on Satur- day rolled 1469 tons of steel rails, while the product for the week was 16,323 tons, both being record breakers for the plant. 6 THE An electric power station, notable even in these days when tremendous powers ure placed under one roof, has been erected by the Manhattan Railway Company, at Seventy-fourth and Seventy-tifth streets and the East River, New York. Early in 1898 it became evident to the company that the time had arrived for the equipment of the elevated system with electric power, and in Feb- ruary, 1899, it was voted to issue $18,000,000 additional stock to pay for the improvement. The first step was to secure the services of those who had had experience in installations of this character. Negotiations resulted in securing the services as elec- trical engineer and general superintendent of W. E. Baker, who had recently completed the construction and AVA IRON AGE. The Power Station of the Manhattan Railway, New York. March 13, 1902 Bulldings. The main buildings of the power plant consist of the generating station already mentioned and seven sub- stations containing the transforming machinery. All of the latter except one are upon the lines of the elevated road. The location of the main power station is at that point nearest to the cénter of gravity of the trains to be moved, where a single power station could be placed when ali the elements of the problem were considered. This site insures a plentiful supply of water for con- densing purposes and the ready removal of the warm discharged water. It also provides for the convenient landing of coal and supplies and the removal of ashes in large beats. The present station is designed for a Fig. 1.—Cross Section of Power Station. POWER STATION equipment of the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Rail- road of Chicago. Previous to that time Mr. Baker had built the intramural electric railway at the World’s Fair, Chicago, the first third-rail electric elevated railway ‘in the world, and had acquired a long experience in elec- tric railroading in connection with the early work of the West End Railway Company of Boston. The company also engaged as consulting electrical engineer, with spe- cial reference to the use of large, high potential units, L. B. Stillwell, at that time electrical director of the Ni- agara Falls Power Company, and who had achieved the highest reputation in this department of electrical work in connection with the new problems presented at Ni- agara. E. D. Leavitt of Cambridgeport, Mass., the well- known steam expert, was engaged as consulting mechan- ical engineer, while George H. Pegram, chief engineer of the company, was placedin charge of the general engineer- ing work, and A. F. Nagle, mechanical engineer, of the mechanical details. Plans for the electrical equipment were then developed by this board of engineers and were approved by the company. MANHATTAN RAILWAY. maximum capacity of 100,090 horse-power, but the ground secured will admit of a future extension of 50 per cent. The condensing tunnels have been built for this ultimate capacity, as their enlargement would be im- practicable in the future. The building has a granite base, in which there are no windows and only three doorways. Above this rise arched windows 14 feet wide by 45 feet high and spaced about 35 feet between centers, with cast iron framing and pivoted sash set in brick walls. The building is square on the west end, with a length of 395 feet on Seventy-fourth street and 413 on Seventy-fifth street, the difference being due to the skew of Exterior street, and an outside width of 204 feet. It is divided by a longitudinal wall into an engine house 93% feet wide on the south and a boiler house 104 feet wide on the north. A vault 18 feet wide extends across the west end, di- vided into two rooms, one for an oil house and the other for storage batteries. The boiler house contains a base- ment, two boiler floors and the coal pockets located im- mediately under the roof, Fig. 1. The hight from the AVMTIVY NVLLVHNVA NOILVIS HAMOd u011nD1is 4anod Jo upid 2 ta PTW os Si = ar h\¢ i pai t=) by — Leip ~<a} | | | | top eet rages) (OOD main FR th Boas s sail rept weg Ph ho reererenrre SSeS | > x . aa 3 ee iF i Mareh 13 1902 8 THE IRON AGE. March 13, 1902 basement to the top of the monitor is 128 feet. The base- ‘The coal pockets have a capacity of 15,000 tons. Four ment is divided into three rooms by two longitudinal stacks, arranged in two pairs, divide the coal pockets walls for the protection of the pumps, located in the into three independent lengths. middle, from the ashes handled by cars on either side. Details of the stacks are presented in Fig. 5. —Roiler Room and Coal Tower, Showing Coal and Ash Conveyors. ngumgumgleamgem SOI PSFISI SSIS —> PPP Teg oe — =S=— ere Gin’ tt tt ttt tt 7 sas Te WD aro Wars es : ak Pe a pp Fig. 4.—Section of Unloading Tower on Pier, Showing Ash Storage and Distributing System. Coal Orusher and Weighers at the Left. POWER STATION MANHATTAN RAILWAY. The floors are built of 6-inch terra cotta three-rib arches, The basement of the engine room is 21 feet 6 inches with a span of 6 feet and rise of 10 inches, leveled up _high, thence to the skylight the engine room is 107 feet with 2 inches of cinder concrete and 2 inches of cement high. Along the north side of the engine room the finish. switchboard galleries, baving three floors above the en- ‘ +165 a ‘ a 16-5— - 16-5 St. Buildi 75th March 13, 1902 RON AGB! -Details of Stacks. THE IRON AGE. 9 gine room floor, extend the entire length of the building. > nel. Extending across the engine room is a 50-ton electric NOD x crane, traversing its entire length. The engine room floor r ‘ consists of double rowlock brick arches leveled up with stone concrete and paved with absolutely nonabsorbent vitrified tile. The roof trusses have arched lower chords and peaked upper chords, surmounted by a monitor 36 feet wide, covered with wire-ribbed rolled glass set in copper with copper wire underneath, and having pivoted sash sides, copper finished. The roof of the boiler house is of simi