The Iron Age 1903-06-25: Vol 71 Iss 26

~~ ' & Ft — ODN et PANE oe = THE quoi A reer uve qs ae wt WETUOSTILUS A Review of the Hardware, Iron, Machinery and Metal Trades. Published every Thursday Morning by David Williams Co., Vol. 71: No. 26. Alphabetical index to Advertisers ** 171 Classified List of Advertisers..... ** 163 aoe and nna aca Rates “ THE BRISTOL COMPANY, Waterbury, Conn. Bristol’s Recording i Instruments. / For Preseare Temperature and Electricity. Silver Medal, Paris Exposition. All Ranges, Low Prices, and Guar anteed. Send for Circulars. Also chusetts and Phenix rands of Sash Cord, SAMSON CORDAGE WORKS, Boston, Mass. TU aa Branch Office, 11 aR New York. Cleveland City Forge and ironCo., - Cleveland, O. TURN BUCELES. =e Brooklyn, E.D..NY. BESSEMER PIG PILLING & CRAN Girard Building, Phila, Farmers’ Bank, Pitisburg kmpire Bldg, New York § Board of Trade, Boston. SHEET IRON AND STEEL Wehavetwentydifferent Works, and make all varieties of sheets. There is but one Apollo; but one Patent Planished; one Wellsville Polished. Quick service. Return a whole sheet for an inch of fault. American Sheet Steel Company Battery Park New York New York Thursday Reading Matter Contents.........page 64). 232-238 William St., New York. $38.00 a Year, including Postage Single Copies, Ten Cents. . June 25, 190}. Smokeless Powder Shot Shells are being continually improved to meet changing conditions. Dealers should carry a stock of the best loads of U. M. C. NITRO CLUBand ARROW shells to meet the increasing demand. U. M. C. products are half sold before they are offered by the retailer, This is due to their long standing reputation and the thorough advertising behind them. The Union Metallic Cartridge Co., BRIDGEPORT, CONN. Agency, 313 Broadway, New York City, N. Y. REGULAR PATTERN. : CAPEWELL HORSE NAILS NEW YORK, Branches : PORTLAND, ORE., PHILADELPHIA, BUFFALO, CHICAGO, DETROIT, BALTIMORE, ST. LOUIS, CINCINNATI, NEW ORLEANS, BOSTON, SAN FRANCISCO, DENVER. THE CAPEWELL HORSE NAIL COMPANY HARTFORD, CONN. PLATE PATTER N¥saiivd aBsivonuyoro Pr REGULAR PATTER®S®. JENKINS BROTHERS’ VALVES Perfectly tight under all pressures of steam, oils, or acids. Warranted to give satisfaction under the worst conditions. Received the Gold Meda At the Pan-Amer- Highest Award ican Exposition, Insist on having the genuine stamped with Trade-Mark. JENKINS BROTHERS, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Ghicago. THE AMERICAN TUBE & STAMPING 60, HOT AND COLD ROLLED Successer to 93 STRIP STEEL. The WILMOT & HOBBS MF6. CO. racE MAGNOLIA METAL. Best Anti-Friction Metal for all Machinery Bearings. Fac-Simile of Bar. Beware of imitations. > WAGNOLIA METAL CO., Ownersand Sole Manufacturers, 61|-513 West [3th St., Chicago, Fisher Bldg. NEW YORK, a a ass 2 THE IRON AGE, oa | _ NSONIA RASS pvsonaibuce BRASS. "™, BRASS AND COPPER |(‘()PPFQ SHEET Seamless Tubes, Sheets, Rods and Wire. tm sou marovacronane GERMAN ( SHEET ROD SILVER wire LOW BRASS. SHEET BRONZE. SEAMLESS BRASS AND COPPER TUBING. BRAZED BRASS AND BRONZE TUBING. ::::::: :| WATERBURY BRASS CO., WATERBURY, CONN. ‘Tobin Bronze (TRADE-MaRK REGISTERED.) Condenser Piates,Pump Linings, Round, Square and Hexagon Bars, for Pump Piston Rods and Bolt Forgings. Seamless Tubes for Boilers and Condensers. 99 John Street, . oe New York. Randolph-Clowes Co., Main Office and Mill, WATERBURY, CONN. MANUFACTURERS OF 130 Centre St., New York. Providence, R. I. SHEET BRASS & COPPER. RAR BRAZED BRASS & COPPER @|“© GENUINE No. 1 BABBITT. TUBES. san an ete tna matical SEAMLESS BRASS 7 4 4 no shrink in it. ver tried ; Saves in every way—Tim y & COPPER TUBES g TO 36 IN. DIAM. 3 7) Money and Paltence. New York Office, 253 Broadway, Postal Telegraph Bldg., Room 715, Chicago Office, 602 Fisher Bldg, Bridgeport Deoxidized Bronze and Metal Company, ; PRPC AAAAAA GREATEST DURABILITY. @weeeeore Bridgeport. Conn. ccNetc Ne Nake Nake Neb Nek eer eke ake eee ake eae Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Co., LA SALLE, ILLINOIS. SMELTERS OF SPELTER AND MANUFACTURERS OF SHEET ZINC AND SULPHURIC ACID. Special Sizes uf Zinc cut to order. Rolled Battery Plates. Selected Plates for Etchers’ and Lithographers’ use. Selected Sheets for Paper and Card Makers’ use. Stove and Washboard Blanks. ZINCS FOR LECLANCHE BATTERY. UU NN nen eM Ea DLA 88°74 West Monroe St., Chicago. Best Bronze, Babbitt Metals: Brassand Alaminum CASTINGS BRASS, BRONZE and ALUMINUM CASTINGS, Founders, Finishers, W. G. ROWELL & CO., BRIDGEPORT, CONN, HENDRICKS BROTHERS Belleville Copper Rolling Mills, MANUFACTURERS 0 Brazxicrs’ Bolt ama BSheathing COPPER, COPrPrvER WIRE AND RIV=ETS. Smporters and Dealers in Ingot Copper, Block Tin, Spelter, Lead, Antimony, etc. 49 CLIFF ST., NEW YORK. BESSEMER STEEL, GRASS AND OIL. TEMPERED SPRINGS. THE PLUME & Atwood MFG. Co MANUFACTURERS JF Sheet and Roll Brass —AND— WIRE PRINTERS’ BRASS, JEWELERS’ METAL, GERMAN SILVER AND GILDING METAL, COPPER RIVETS AND BURRS. Pins, Brass Butt Hinges, Jack Chain, Kere. sene Burners, Lamps, Lamp Trimmings, &c. 29 MURRAY ST., NEW YORK. 144 HIGH ST., BOSTON. 199 LAKE ST., CHICAGO, ROLLING MILL : THOMASTON, CONN. — SCOVILL MFG. CO., Manufacturers of BRASS, GERMAN SILVER Sheets, Rolis, Wire, FACTORIES : WATERBURY, CONN. Rods, Bolts and Tubes, Brass Shelis, Cups, Hinges, Buttons, Lamp Coods. SPECIAL BRASS GOUDS TO ORDER Factories, eer CONN. POTS: CHICAGO, NEW YORK, BOSTON. JOHN DAVOL & SONS, AGENTS FOR Brooklyn Brass & Copper 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, Alaminum, 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. THE BRIDGEPORT BRASS 6O., BRIDGEPORT, CONN. 19 Murray St., New York. 85-87 Pearl St., Boston. 17 N. 7th St., Philadelphia MANUFACTURERS OF Brass {| SHEET AND TUBING Copper | WIRE. Lamp Goods of all Kinds. BRASS AND COPPER GOODS In Great Varieties. No better countes made. : Guaran le R. A. HART, BATTLE CREEK, MICH. JAR TS er, er, er- nd nd be. G2 a HE IRON AGE The Dreses New 48-Inch Radial Drill. We here illustrate in its principal parts the new 4S inch radial drill built by the Dreses Machine Tool Com pany of Cincinnati, Ohio. Referring to Figs. 5 and 4, the vertical shaft a, which is driven by the lower cone shaft, transmits motion to the short shaft }. On this shaft is tixed the pinion ¢, and running loosely on it are the gears d.,e. The double friction clutch f is operated by the le vers 9g, y,and connecting rod h, and engages d and e alter nately to the shaft b. The gear wheels i and j run loose lv on the shaft k and are clutched alternately to the shaft 25, 1903 equal to the proportion of the gears ¢, 7 and ¢ whir s about 5 to 1. If a small difference for light tapping is wanted the clutch 7 is engaged with and the clutch engaged with the gear ¢ tor forward motion and wit! the gear e for backing out rhe difference here is equa only to the difference in gears g and d. The brake powe1 of the clutch J in the gear i can be regulated by the knurled nut s on the stud r, which protrudes through th lever m, so that in case the tap strikes the bottom of the hole or any other obstruction the spindle will stop rhe double friction clutches consist of a double taper cone encircled by two split rings straight on the outside aS a. “9 a a - F Eo y a \ S U : e Cc Ly rHE DRESES NEW 48-INCH RADIAL DRILL by thedouble friction clutch 1, which is operated by the lever m by means of the rod » working in the hollow shaft A. If the wheel d is clutched to the shaft } the latter trans mits motion directly to the shaft k, either through the wheel i or j, whichever is clutched to the shaft. The dif ference in the size of the gearing increases the speed of what is ordinarily called back gearing. With the wheels ¢ and j runs an idler, 0, which, however, does not come in contact with wheel b, which is made smaller in diameter for this purpose. To reverse the motion of the shaft kand consequently the drill spindle, the clutch f is engaged with the gear wheel e, and the motion of the shaft / is transmitted indirectly through the idler o and wheel The difference in the forward and backward speed is and fitting into suitable recesses in the gear wheels This makes the brake surface straight and avoids wear ing of grooves, which very often happens to taper clutches The rings on the cones are held in place by a key, so that there is only a sliding friction in expanding them. The feed of the spindle is semigeared and the four changes are made by shifting the knob p on the worm rod. The quick return has four levers, either of which engages or disengages the feed instantly and is kept dis engaged by the automatic locking plug when used for tapping. The head is moved on the arm by the well known rack and spiral pinion. The hand wheel is put on the left hand side of the head, so that the operator, hay ing his left hand on this wheel and his right hand on the 2 THE IRON AGE. handle on the end of the arm, can perform a compound movement to find the center of the next hole. The feed is engaged and disengaged by tapping the knob q up or down and a depth gauge and automatic stop predeter awe \. / \, | rae , 4, ines * a tg f re I cael > /, agen | } é | | | \s Tus Laon AGE Fig. 2.—Elevatien. June 235, 19038 boiling or puddling furnace. The lining of the furnace is ordinarily made from fix ore, and in such cases the boiling is paid for at the straight price named for boiling. In some cases the lining for the furnace is made from } THE TRON AGE Fig. 3.—Sectionat Elevation. mines the depth of the holes being drilled. The column rests on an antifriction bearing, consisting of rollers al- ternately large and a little smaller in diameter to prevent friction between them. In arresting the swinging move- ment of the column and arm the common practice of clamping the two surfaces between the antifriction roll- * ers or balls, and so injuring the track, is avoided by clutching the outer shell of column and the inner cy- lindrical part together. ke ieee salient Definition of «« Fomented Swarth.’”’ The attention of our readers has doubtless been di rected to the use of the words “ fomented swarth” as ap- plied to certain materials used in the process of puddling or boiling in rolling mills. The term is found in the scale of wages adopted by the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers, as published in our columns on June 4. Believing that the trade would be interested in a correct definition of this term, we have secured from James H. Nutt of the Republic Iron & Steel Com- pany, Youngstown, Ohio, the following explanation of the words thus used. Mr. Nutt says: “ Clause No. 12 in the boiling scale reads: ‘ Fifty cents per ton extra for all metal boiled, also for fomented swarth or turnings worked on clay or hot cinder fix.’ Swarth as here used is a technical term applied in the mill to cast iron borings and turnings. Cast turnings are the refuse or turnings from iron castings. In the trade this material is known as cast borings and turnings, but in the mill it is always called swarth. This material is usually worked up in a Fig. 4 Sectional Plan. THE DRESES NEW 48-INCH RADIAL DRILI tire clay, which has to be renewed frequently, and there- fore the men ask 50 cents extra per ton. Sometimes this material is thrown into a furnace, and as it becomes heated it is rolled around the furnace until a ball is se- cured of sufficient size from which to make a bar, when ne 8 ee i OS Rl SO ence a ae June 25, 1903 it is taken out of the furnace and is squeezed into a bloom. At other times the boiler is required to heaf this material to a point at which the cinder is taken from it. This is calied ‘fomenting.’ or, in other words, boiling. It requires considerably more work, and when a man is required to line a furnace with clay or hot cinder fix it is agreed to pay the additional price.” SS ae Some Facts About Meters and Transformers. It is well known to managers that the poor financial condition of their lighting and power companies is often due to the excessive losses arising from the use of old types of meters and transformers. Such meters run slow after being in use for some time, on account of increased friction in the moving parts, which can usually be traced to heavy moving elements, rough commutators and very often to the dust which, sifting through poorly sealed cases, lodges in the movements. The source of these losses has been recognized and has resulted in many cases in the old apparatus being replaced by that of modern char acteristics. The experience of a station which has made such a change may be recited. The central station referred to is operated by steam power furnishing current for lighting residences and business places, principally the former. During the year 1899 the plant was operated during the night hours only, and there were in service on its circuits 353 transformers and 406 meters, all of old types. The customers were metered. Being satisfied that the distributing system was very inefficient, the superintendent decided to demonstrate this to the management. There being no primary wattmeters on the switchboard for measuring the total output of the station, no comparison could be made with the amount of current paid for, and he was compelled to arrive at this comparison by a different method. After considering the merits of the various wattmeters on the market he purchased a 10 ampere, 100-volt Westinghouse round pattern wattmeter, which was installed in a residence in series with a 5 ampere meter of the type then commonly in use on the circuits. Before making the test the old type meter was completely overhauled and cleaned. At the end of ten days the old meter indicated a con- sumption of 24 kw. hours and the Westinghouse watt meter 29.1 kw. hours, a difference of 5.1 kw. hour, or 21.25 per cent. This, at the average rate charged for cur- rent at the time, resulted in a loss of 9.16 cents per night on this customer. It should be noted that the old meter had the advantage of being larger and had been thorough- ly cleaned just before the test was made. The above test resulted in the purchase and installation of Westinghouse primary wattmeters. During the year 1899, when the old meters and transformers were in use, the station output was as follows: January. July. Year. Kilowatt hours generated......36,483 22,376 379,112 Kilowatt hours’ sold........... 13,945 5,888 118,992 i, ee ON eee eee ee 36.8 26.3 31.4 Kilowatt hours generated and 1 il, ee WG bas went as codes 2.5 3.89 3.19 The above indicates that for the year 1899 3.09 kw. hours were generated for every 1 kw. hour paid for, or, in other. words, only 31.4 per cent. of the generated current was paid for, the remainder being lost by the old trans- formers and inaccurate meters. A revenue of $21,375 was received for the 118,992 kw. hours sold during this year, making an average price of 17.97 cents per kilowatt hour. The operating expenses of the generating station dur- ing the same year, including all labor and material, inter- est on bonds, taxes, cost of collections, insurance, free lamp renewals, advertising and general expenses were $14,406.25, making an average cost of approximately 3.8 cents per kilowatt hour generated, or 12.15 cents per kilowatt hour sold, leaving an average profit per kilowatt hour sold of 5.82 cents. It was decided to substitute a few large transformers having the same aggregate capacity as the 353 smaller ones, and to use short secondary distributing systems. By this means current was furnished to a greater number of customers, and the core loss in the transformers was THE IRON AGE. 3 reduced by 22,500 kw. In other words, the capacity of the generating station was increased by an amount equal to the installation of a 224% kw. generator without any additional expense whatever for generating plant. The old meters were replaced by Westinghouse round pattern wattmeters during the months of April, May and June, 1900. <A test of the new meters and transformers was made in July, 1900, to compare with the test made on old meters and transformers in July, 1899. The following is the result: July, 1890 July. 1900. Kilowatt hours generated. . 22,376 19,015 Kilowatt hours sold ‘ . .-- 5,888 S589 In July, 1900, a 24-hour service was furnished in place of the 12-hour service of the previous year, but notwith- standing this and the fact that additional customers had been secured during the year, the station output decreased for July by 3361 hours. With the new meters and trans formers the company gave 24 hours’ service during July, 1900, with «a generated amount of 3361 kw. hours (15 per cent. less than with the old meters and transformers), and at the same time received payment on 2701 kw. hours., or 46 per cent. more than with the old meters and transformers with a 12-hour service. This resulted in a decreased cost in coal for the month of $53.77, with an increased revenue of $465.19, or a net gain for the month of $518.96. Below is given a comparative statement of the results obtained for the years 1899 and 1901 1899 1901 Total kilowatt hours generated 379,112 H5SO5TO Total kilowatt hours sold : ‘ 118,992 27.567 Kilowatt hours generated to 1 kw. hour sold 3.19 1.52 Per cent. of generated current sold 31.6 65.7 Total cost of current generated $14,406 $27,610 Cost per kilowatt hour generated, cents. 3.8 4.24 Cost per kilowatt hour sold, cents 6.49 Received for current generated $58 534 Number of customers S02 Average price received per kilowatt hour, cents 5 5 17.97 13.69 Average profit received per kilowatt hour, cents . >.82 7.20 The increased cost per kilowatt hour for generating current in 1901 was due to an increase in the cost of coal and supplies. The changes in meters and transformers increased the per cent. in 1901 and reduced the cost of the current sold from 12.15 cents per kilowatt hour in 1899, to 6.49 cents in 1901. The average net profit per kilowatt hour sold increased from 5.82 cents in 1899 to 7.2 cents in 1901, al- though the average price charged to customers had been reduced from 17.97 cents in 1899 to 13.69 cents per kilowatt hour in 1901. ! Customers were pleased with the reduced price and the accuracy of the meters, and their number increased from 406 in 1899 to 803 in 1901. This additional business necessitated an increase in generating capacity from 275 to 400 kw. In 1902 (28 months after installation) 50 of the new round pattern watt meters were tested to ascertain their accuracy. Out of the 50 meters tested it was found that 49 had not deviated from the original calibration— that is, 2 per cent. plus or minus from 2 per cent. of full load to 50 per cent. overload. The other meter was found to run 4 per cent. fast. All meters operated on the baby filament by a hylo lamps and none of them crept. It is a curious fact that in purchasing boilers, steam engines and dynamos great weight is laid on the matter of efficiency (which can vary but a few per cent. in the most efficient and inefficient dynamos), nevertheless meters and transformers are purchased almost entirely on price, without regard to their efficiency. It is authoritatively stated that October 1 is the date now fixed by the Lackawanna Steel Company for the inauguration of steel rail making at their new plant at Buffalo. The company have 7000 men at work on their great plant, and are rushing it to completion. The headquarters for the United Iron & Chemical Company, manufacturers of spelter and of sulphuric acid, have been changed from Kansas City to Argentine Kan., Where one of the works is located, the zinc works being at Iola, Kan. bi deat as Ta Seapine entice aet 2 * * S. 2 SEs, ES = THE IRON Expert Evidence. BY EGRERT P. WATSON. An expert in any class of technical evidence is “ be- tween the devil and the deep sea,” the former impolite personage being represented by the litigants and the deep sea by the exponents of the law. He is sworn to tell .the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but his eftorts to do so are “ cabined, cribbed and confined” by the opposi- tion to his evidence and often overruled by judges from their inability to strike a true balance of the purport of the expert’s statements, as between the legal points in- volved and the technical importance of it. Categorical answers are demanded of him, when, from the character of the counsel’s questions, and the fact that several con- ditions are grouped together in one question a categorical answer is impossible. His failure to answer positively one way or another discredits his testimony and throws doubt upon his ability, when if the query had been properly inade the reply would have been lucid and convincing. For example, suit was brought to recover for bad work- manship on a boiler; the expert witness being on the stand was handed a rivet and asked to say whether it was good or bad workmanship in its present condition. This rivet was bent anddistorted and only the head end and three-fourths of.its length remained. The answer of the witness was that it was impossible to say from the ex- hibit itself; it depended upon the conditions in the case. Counsel then asked the expert whether he knew good work from bad (the intention being to irritate him so that he would make a damaging admission), and the expert replied, imperturbably, that he did; when counsel then demanded that he state positively whether the ex- hibit showed good or bad workmanship. The expert re- plied that it was bad, when if he had been allowed to say why it might be either good or bad, according to the con- ditions under which the exhibit was obtained, the op- position might have elicited an answer that would have been favorable to his side for these reasons: Rivets driven into holes that are blind, as it is called, show un- mistakably when taken out whether the holes were fair or not, by an offset in their bodies; again, rivets may be bent by careless driving out when the rivet holes were perfectly true. The manner of their removal has every- thing to do with this,and the object of removing them has also a bearing upon the condition of the rivet. If a boiler is to be wrecked (that is, cut up for old iron), the rivet heads are knocked off in the quickest way, usually, by a set hammer on the head end, but if they are taken out for the purpose of repairing any part, the riveted ends are cut off carefully with a flogging chisel. Now to mere- ly give a witness a bent rivet and require him to say upon oath that it showed good or bad workmanship proves nothing, for he can testify either way and yet save his face, as the Chinese say. No witness would be allowed to state his reasons for his opinion at length; objections would be raised promptly by one side or the other, and iedious arguments with references would be brought for- ward by both sides to discredit the expert’s assertions. In one case three-quarters of a day was taken to exclude a written deposition of an expert, as to its admissibility as evidence, but certain portions of it—the vital points— were read and argued before the jury; although the docu- ment was finally ruled out by the court the jury had paid full attention, were in possession of its purport, and it undoubtedly influenced their decision. Palpably the object in engaging experts to testify is for the purpose of getting all the facts from an engineer’s point of view, and it would seem to be the better part of valor to consider them asestablishing such portions asare inquired into. The fallibility of human evidence is undoubtedly a point to be argued by counsel, that is not objected to here, but it would seem to be stretching a privilege to assert, as is frequently the case, that an expert’s testimony is value- less because it does not coincide with other testimony trom persons who have no experience whatever, and who ure, consequently, unable to form an opinion from that fact alone. Another point is that experts do not reply to questions from a legal aspect but wholly from a professional one. he first may conflict with the last, but this does not dis AGE. June 25, 1903 qualify the expert in any way; it is for the attorneys to show the relation between the value of the evidence technically, and its value legally, but this is seldom done, for the simple reason that the lawyer does not compre- hend the technical aspect of the testimony he has elicited. During a trial of a boiler case, a few weeks ago, the guestion of the amount of expansion and contraction certain tubes were subjected to came up. An expert was asked how much heat some of the tubes were exposed to; he replied, “to the direct heat of the fire whatever that might be.” He was then asked what the probable heat of a fire was and he answered that it would vary from 1000 degrees in poor condition to 2400 degrees in the best condition. The counsel then assumed that the fire was 2400 degrees, and asked if the tube was not of the same temperature, and he answered “No.” The ex- pert was then asked to tell why it was not when he said that the tube was full of water, which carried off the heat, or absorbed it as fast as it was renewed from the fire; so long as water remained in the tube it could not be heated to anything like 2400 degrees. The counsel then demanded to know why not, and the expert an- swered that it was because it would be at nearly a white heat, close to the melting point of the metal. This would appear to have closed this particular point in the testimony, but the advocate did not think so, for, like a boy with a bouncing bail, he pursued it up and down at much length for some time, ending without making any point of importance. To know when to stop questioning an expert and avoid the danger points of Scylla and Charybdis is a valuable faculty to a lawyer; if he has established, or at least testi- fied to, certain things which favor the catechist and help his case materially, something has been gained. To con- tinue the examination further in the hope of getting still more damaging evidence from the expert is dangerous, because he may testify in such way as to give an oppor- tunity to the other side to cross examine and elicit a set of facts which will nullify if not destroy all the advance made. In the same case above cited, an inspector gave damaging testimony to the plaintiff, and might have caused a great deal of trouble later. It was essential that his testimony be discredited and the force of it upon the jury materially modified if not rendered wholly in- ocuous. He was of the cock-sure type of witness, and when cross examined by the prosecution a toboggan slide was prepared for him to glide swiftly to oblivion. The inspector was asked several apparently trivial questions as to his duties, to all of which he answered almost be- fore the prosecutor had ceased speaking; he was then asked some crucial questions not at all related to his re- sponsibility in the premises and gave evasive answers: he began to get rattled and finally, when confronted with the inquiry if he had inspected every single detail of the boiler, and had answered “ No,” squarely, the prosecutor rejoined: “Then you only partly inspected the boiler, Mr. Inspector! That will do,” and waived him off the stand crestfallen. Aside from the legal value of the evi- dence an expert may give he is confronted with another duty, which is to explain to the jury and the counsel the why and wherefore of certain operations in the particular machine or process being tried. It is a comparatively simple task to ‘testify as to details and workmanship, for there are but few persons who cannot detect flagrantly bad work when it is placed before them, but the expert’s task is much increased when it comes to demonstrating to unmechanical minds the re- lations of one part to another, and the sequences of operations in machines or apparatus; not all experts are capable in this direction. What is a matter of course to him and clear as the sun at noon, is an impassable technical morass to the judge and jury, yet these are the very persons who must be given a clear idea of cause and effect if they are to act impartially in the discussion of damages or tresspasses of any kind. In the trial of a suit for damages for malconstruction of a steam boiler the expert was called upon to explain the construction of it, which he did by the aid of a model; after pointing out the several parts (which were detachable) and explain- ing that the furnace was surrounded by water constant- ly, he was somewhat surprised to be asked how the ashes were kept out of the water! To an engineer this is an absurd question, but the inquirer was not an engineer A i tsa Aer be ie coer ret i st» June 25, 1903 and he had to be told that the furnace in this case was the same as that in a cooking stove, a solid portion of the boiler with a grate in the bottom of it, the ashes falling through the grate into the ash pit beneath, and having 10 connection with the water in the boiler or access to it. Such information must be wholly free from any tinge ol sarcasm or cynicism, imparted as a matter of fact indis pensable to the success of the suit. There are occasions in the course of trials when the opposition will endeavor te confuse an expert, particularly a dangerous one (law- vers are swift to detect such an expert) in order to de- stroy the effect of his evidence upon the jury, so he must be alert to possess his soul in patience against surprises of this kind. It is here asserted that experts in technical cases are absolutely indispensable; in no other way can trade facts be brought out. Generally speaking, their word is law, and, if they are experts in fact, their evi- cence is unimpeachable, in most cases accepted by intelli- gent juries; they contribute materially to winning a case. As to losing it, that depends upon how their testimony has been used by counsel. It is not uncommon for law- yers to get confused upon evidence that has been given by an expert and, unwittingly, wholly destroy the force ot his testimony. The expert is not responsible for that, but he not unnaturally wonders what a lawyer would do to bim under similar circumstances, Marine Boiler Regulations. Supervising Inspectors to Recommend Important Legislation. WasHINGTON, D. C., June 23, 1903.—The Board of Supervising Inspectors of the Steamboat Inspection Service has decided to recommend to the Secretary of the Treasury a radical change in the scope of the laws and regulations. It is proposed to repeal a large part of the laws governing the Steamboat Inspection Service, eliminating all details concerning boilers, and to enact a provision clothing the Board of Supervising Inspectors, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, with power to embody such details in the code of regulations, which can then be changed from year to year to meet improvements in practice. This plan practically ignores the proposition of the boiler manufacturers for the ap- pointment of an expert commission to revise the boiler regulations and is likely to develop a sharp controversy before the questions at issue are disposed of. The chief consideration with reference to the con- struction and inspection of boilers that has induced the board to recommend the repeal of existing statutes is the fact that numerous provisions of the laws are now obsolete, but being set out in detail, they are neverthe- less binding upon the board and upon the Treasury De- partment and cannot be amended by modifications in the regulations. Improvements in construction are being made from year to year, but the members of the board are not at liberty to recognize these advances when called upon to inspect steel plates or finished boilers, and this unsatisfactory condition is likely to be emphasized in the future, as the difficulty of obtaining special legislation at the hands of Congress undoubtedly increases every year. Flaws in the Statutes. An important case in point has been brought to the attention of the board by several of the leading boiler manufacturers of the country. Section 5 of Rule 2, re- lating to boilers and attachments, provides that “ where flat surfaces exist the inspector must satisfy himself that the space and distance apart of the bracing and all other parts of the boiler are so aranged that all will be of not less strength than the shell, and he must, after applying the hydrostatic test, thoroughly examine every part of the boiler.” Under this rule it is stated that many boil- ers have been rejected for the sole reason that the shells are in excess of the requirements which are fully met by the bracing, &c. In the case of a boiler designed to resist a pressure of 100 pounds and with adequate bracing for such pressure, if the shell is found to exceed 100 pounds the capacity of its resistance the law is construed to THE IRON AGE. prohibit acceptance, although there can be no doubt ot the full efticiency of the boiler. Another frequent cause of complaint on the part of boiler manufacturers, as shown by the communications received by the board, is based upon the literal inter pretation of Section 4433 R. S., which provides that, ‘the working steam pressure allowable on boilers con structed of plates inspected as required by this title, When single riveted, shall not produce a strain to ex« ceed one-sixth of the tensile strength of the iron or steel }lates of which such boilers are constructed; but where the longitudinal laps of the cylindrical parts of sucb boilers are double riveted, and the rivet holes for such boilers have been fairly drilled instead of punched, an addition of 20 per cent. to the working pressure pro- vided for single riveting may be allowed: Provided, that all other parts of such boilers shall correspond in strength to the additional allowances so made, and no split calking shall in any case be permitted.” Manufac turers point out that the only joint recognized in the above provision is the single or double riveted joint, Whereas double butt strap triple or quadruple riveted joints are now in common use, adding greatly to the strength of the boilers. Under existing law no joint is recognized as having a strength in excess of 70 per cent. of that of a solid plate, whereas the best modern practice recognizes joints showing 90 per cent. of the strength of the plate. The two illustrations given of the difficulty of prop-’ erly enforcing the present law are referred to in the sreat majority of communications received by the board, but neither the board nor the Secretary of the Treasury can furnish the desired relief, because of the fact that these requirements are provisions of the law and not of the regulations. It is therefore proposed to repeal all statutes dealing in detail with boiler construction and inspection and to re-enact Section 4405 R. S., which provides that “the board shall establish all necessary regulations required to carry out in the most effective manner the provisions of this title and such regulations when approved by the Secretary of the Treasury shall have the force of law.” Only general principles will be set out in the revised law to be recommended to Con- gress. and the whole code will therefore be subjegt to annual revision by the board. It is recognized by the board that it may not be a simple matter to secure the desired legislation from Congress, and it has therefore been decided to revise the present regulations in accordance with the recom mendations of the boiler manufacturers wherever the changes can be made without infringing the letter of the statute. In this respect the revision will be the most important which the board has ever made, but it will nevertheless be regarded as a makeshift intended only to stand until Congress furnishes the necessary authority to make much more important and more generally de sired changes. The Expert Commission Plan. It will be seen that the board takes no account of the movement on foot among boiler manufacturers, as laid before it by representatives of the American Boiler Man ufacturers’ Association last week, to secure the passage of a bill authorizing the appointment of an expert com mission to revise the laws with respect to the inspec tion and construction of boilers. On this point the views of the manufacturers and inspectors are decidedly at variance. The manufacturers desire that the laws shall be revised in detail and then re-enacted, while the in spectors wish all the details to be treated as matters of regulation only, in order that annual revisions may be had without the necessity of appealing to Congress. This important difference will probably be brought to a sharp issue when the board’s report is laid before the Secretary of the Treasury. His indorsement will be necessary to the presentation to Congress of the text of the law as framed by the inspectors, and the American Boiler Man ufacturers’ Association will.also seek to have the Secre tary again indorse the plan for an expert commission The Secretary may be able to suggest a compromise of me kind, but unless a satisfactory arangement is made the hoiler nufacturers will probably demand to be \ § # % | = a oe G THE IRON AGE. June 25, 1903 heard by the appropriate Congressional committees upon tue recommendations of the inspectors and will urge the commission bill as a substitute measure. W.-2. 6. ——_————— American Blower Company's New Office Building. Heating and Ventilating System. The accompanying engravings show the new office building of the American Blower Company of Detroit, Mich. The business of this company has increased so rapidly during the last two years that the old offices, which occupied valuable space in one of the factory buildings, became entirely inadequate to accommodate the increased office force. The building is faced with standard size paving brick in various shades of brown, laid in dark mortar and with Flemish bond. The trimmings are of buff Bedford lime- stone, producing a very pleasing and effective combina- tion. The windows are of plate glass and have been arranged to give the best possible lighting effect, especial- lv in the drafting department. The first floor, Fig. 1, is pering coil are just sufficient in number and length to heat the volume of entering air to a temperature of 65 or 70 degrees F. The fresh air is then drawn into the fan and forced over another heater, D. This is the main heater and is designed to heat the air to about 140 de- grees. Beyond the heater is located a large brick cham- ber, G, called the plenum chamber. This serves as a reservoir for the heated air, and from this chamber the air is conveyed by galvanized iron pipes, H, to the vari- ous offices. Under the main heater D is a passage or vy-pass, which permits a part of the air from the fan to pass under the main heater coil and into the plenum chamber. This passes into the lower section of the plenum chamber, which is separated from the upper part. Thus the plenum chamber is divided into two parts, as shown by Fig. 3, the upper chamber contain- ing hot air at approximately 140 degrees and the lower section tempered air at 70 degrees. As shown by this drawing, each individual pipe leading off to the offices above has two connections to this plenum chamber, one branch to the upper section and another to the lower. In each main where the pipe divides inte these two sec- tions there is located a set of double swinging dampers — 2 V j ; ‘ GZ , y Py L WA ia aaa 'Z v ; = Sr" 3 SUP CERINTENDENT MENS 9 womens ie TOILET TOILET a =U a STENOQGRAPHERS y es t A Z \ Y A t#—_—_—t._1 SENSCRAL OFFICE VERANDAH 1 eT | OV pec ae Zs (4a “Uae eM yy SHAT r BZ SSS} a MANAQER LIBRARY AND CONSULTATION ROOM Cnicer ENOCINECER \ LOBBY ROOM ADVERTISING pom Room i ves lobia \~ | A WU! mm th ttVe Plan of First Floor. : AMERICAN BLOWER COMPANY’S NEW OFFICE BUILDING. mccupied entirely by the different commercial depart- ments, while the second floor is used by the engineering and drafting departments. The basement is used for the storage of catalogues, letter files, &c. A small build- ing on the roof is the blue print and dark room, being ‘located in that position to secure the best light for sun }printing. The interior finish of the building is of rich design and pleasing effect. The first story is finished in Flem- ish oak with natural oak floor. The second story is fin- ished in stained Louisiana cypress with maple floor. The decoration of the library and consultation room ‘on the first floor is quite elaborate, although in keeping with the general design of the building. It is finished in Kiemish oak, the floor being of dark polished oak. The 6foot paneled wainscoting, decorative frieze and wood cornice give a very rich and attractive finish to the room. The furniture is of dark oak. The main interest in the equipment of this building is in the mechanical system of heating and ventilating. As the manufacture of heating and ventilating apparatus forms a large part of the company’s business, this part of the office equipment naturally received due attention. ‘The apparatus is located at one side of the basement, as shown on the accompanying plan. ‘The fresh air enters the building through the basement window F and by means of the fan A is drawn over a coil of pipes, E, ‘tlled the tempering coil. The steam pipe§ in this tem- or mixing dampers. Each set of these dampers is con- trolled automatically by a diaphragm valve, shown on the outside of the pipe. These automatic valves are part of a system of automatic heat control, which was fur- nished by the Johnson Electric Service Company of Mil- waukee, Wis. These valves are operated by compressed air, which is supplied by a small air compressor located in the basement. This compressor works by city water pressure and delivers air at about 15 pounds pressure. The system of temperature regulation is as perfect in operation as it is simple in principle. In each office is located a thermostat which can be set to control the room temperature at any desired point. These ther- mostats work upon the principle of the unequal expan- sion and contraction of brass and steel. They are all connected by head pipes, of about %-inch bore, with their respective diaphragm valves. On the expansion or contraction of the parts of the thermostat, air pres- sure is admitted or cut off from the diaphragm valve and the mixing dampers are swung one way or the other, as the case may be. It will be noted that these mixing dampers in swinging do not cut off the flow of air. -but simply vary the proportion of hot and tempered air as controlled by the thermostat to maintain a constant tem- perature in the room. Thus a constant flow of pure air of the proper temperature is maintained at all times. Under the tempering coil there is also a by-pass similar to the one under the main heater. This by-pass is fitted ee inne 2 he a le NEE tte Lin inal June 25, 1903 THE IRO with a swinging damper, which is controlled by a thermostat placed in the upper part of the plenum cham ber Thus if the air in the plenum chamber becomes too hot the thermostat opens the damper under the temper ing coil and allows the entering air to pass under the tempering coil, instead of through it. ‘The air is ad- Ss WICC" Y — Y ZY ay SY MD S SSS + ASS > SS VAULT > |/ Uy) Y % W lie SSS Z S SS MSS MSS VL imc, 77; Wl am A. Plenum far. » Heater coil. G kk. Exhaust fan. Engine to "at Fresh air Inlet. I ). Tempering coil. H. N AGE. 7 vitiated air out of the building. Thus while one faa is discharging pure warm air into the building the othe fan on the same shaft is drawing out the impure air This is the main feature of mechanical ventilation which has brought it into such general favor during the last few years for use in public buildings. In each office on Plenum chamber. J. Exhaust inlet duct Warm air distributing pipes. K. Vent fine. Exhaust discharge duct. Warm air flue Fig. 2 Basement Plan AMERICAN BLOWER COMPANY’ mitted to each room at a point about 8 feet above the floor. As shown in the cut, the fan is operated by a direct connected vertical engine. This engine is also the company’s own make and is specially designed for this class of work. Another unique feature of this plant is the exhaust fan, which is direct coupled to the same engine which runs the heating fan, and which draws the impure or in Basement S NEW OFFICE BUILDING the first floor is located an ornamental register face at the floor line, opening into the corridor which extends through the center of the office. The air is thence drawn down through the large register in the floor at the rear of the corridor and after passing through the exhaust fan is forced outside the building. The air from the drawing room and second-story offices is drawn down through the flue at side of vault. — aa : 7 f a 4 iy meee sg Se eee eaepae ed See ae ae Only one thing remains to be mentioned, and that is the economy of this system. As the heating coils” utilize the exhaust steam from the factory engine, which is brought into the basement through an underground conduit, and as the fan engine exhaust is also turned into the heater coil, the cost of operating the system is practically nothing, as only steam that would other- wise be wasted is used, and without back pressure. The condensation from the heating apparatus is re turned to a Webster feed water heater located in the engine room of the factory, by means of the Webster vacuum system, which was furnished by the American Engineering Specialty Company of Chicago. This same system handles all the condensation from two other heating plants located in the factory. The advantage ot this vacuum system is that it eliminates the back pres sure from the factory engine, when using exhaust steam for heating, and also removes the air from the heating coils and connecting pipes as fast as it accumulates. thus making the heating surface far more effective than it otherwise would be. The Continuous Operation of the Iron Foundry.* BY JOHN C. KNOEPPEL, OSWEGO, N. Y. The writer desires to be understood as not being an- tagonistic to the continuous operations of our foundries, recognizing as he does: the general progress of the trade in this country, as well as the inventions brought out to develop and cope with the demands for castings to meet the requirements of our customers. The fact cannot be contradicted that the foundries in this country are enter- ing into an era of improvements and facilities gigantic in their proportions. All of this naturally suggests to the advanced founder that the most economical ways and means to secure the best results are to operate the foun- dry continuously. In giving my views on this important subject I write from the standpoint of a practical mold- er and foundryman of over 30 years’ experience in all lines of castings, and will at the outset make mention of several features that we as foundry managers should give careful and thoughtful consideration. 4 1. Do the present conditions of the foundry business warrant the operation of the foundry on the continuous plan? 2. Would this be to the best interest to the foun- drymen in general from the point of view as a paying in- vestment? 3. Would the expenditures necessary for the continuous operation of the foundry give adequate re- turns? 4. Would the output be of a better quality? 5. Would not the continuous working of the foundry tend to increase the wear and tear of machinery, tools and main- tenance? 6. Would the continuous operation of our foun- dries be beneficial and healthful to the workman and his family? 7. Would it not become monotonous and tend to retard general progress, rather than to increase it by the environments, being a sameness from day to day, and have a tendency to decrease the capacity and ability of the molder and mechanic? 8. Would it not have the ef- fect to decrease the qualifications and skill of the in- adlividual man and molder by this continuous work and constant humdrum of foundry life, and thereby lessen the ambition of the young man who enters the foundry as an apprentice with the view of becoming a molder and a mechanic? 9. With the present supply of help, both molders and general laborers, can the foundry be oper- ated on a continuous basis successfully when we con- sider the scarcity of all classes of labor, the rate of pay, and the demand and supply of work, all of which govern ‘tthe successful operation of a foundry? When we consider the present times and the general progress the foundry has made during the past 10 or 15 years it is no wonder that many are inclined to the idea of operating a foundry on a continuous plan as being the most econemical as well as profitable way of obtaining the best results and greatest returns. This subject is a very natural one and timely when we consider the enor- mous trend of business and the close competition in our * Paper read before the American Foundrymen’'s Association, Milwaukee, Wis.. June 9 to 11, 1905. ‘ THE [RON AGE. June 25, 19038 products, taking ittte account costs, together with the pos- sibility of a shorter working day and the desire of the molder to curtail his output. Under these conditions would the continuous operation of the foumdry be profit- able? As managers of foundries we are asked to pay an honest day’s wages and in return we expect to obtain an honest equivalent of work per day. Do we obtain this and can we as foundrymen get it at all times? Are we not handicapped in many localities and forced by circum- stances to hire men who are not capable and in this way increase the cost of our product and output? As fore- men and managers our mission is to operate the works under our control so that we may give to our employers u fair interest on the money they have invested. Present Conditions Do Not Warrant It. Under some conditions as they e