The Iron Age 1904-03-24: Vol 73 Iss 12

THE IRQN.. AGE Ce fi A Review of the Hardware, Iron, al ed Metal Trades. Published every Thursday Morning by David WitTaust0.,°2o4.-203 William St.. New York, Vol. 733 No. 72. New York, Thursday, March 24, 1904. Sitie Cd in cama ae Single Copies, 15 Cents. Reading Matter Contents ....... page 64], Alphabetioal Index to Advertisers ‘‘ 163], Classified List of Advertisers... ‘‘ 155)) Advertising and Subscription Rates ‘‘ 162] NEW PRODUCTS. A ay. AUTOMATIC COLT ae Tone eas The .382 Automatic Colt Pistol Cartridge ts toaded with a special high power smokeless powder, giving bigh velocity and operating freely through the mechanism of the Automatic Colt Pistol (pocket model). Those with the soft point bullet wiil be —— desirable for sporting purposes, and those with metal case for military and target use. RIM FIRE CARTRIDGES. The U. M. C. .22 automatic rifle (Winchester model 1908) cartridge is now ready for the market. New .22 short ungreased, .22 long ungreased, and .22 Winchester inside lubricated are inexpensive rim fire cartridges loaded with the best grade of smokeless powder. Boys are calling for these cartridges as they can be carried loose in the pocket without the old inconvenjence of the greased cartridge. They will not lead the gun. U. M. C. Ammunition shoots well in any gun. THE UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO. iistol’s Patent Steel Belt Lacing. SAVES Time, Belts, BRIDGEPORT, CONN. Money. Agency: 313-16 Broadway, New York City Depot : 86-88 First St., San Francisco, Gal. GreatestStrength READY TO APPLY FiMisMEDJomY With Least Me Send for Circulars and Free Samples. THE BRISTOL CO., Waterbury, Conn. Sesame CAHALL BOILERS =" Alse Linen and Italian Hemp Sash Cord, SAMSON CORDAGE WORKS, Boston, Mass. PLAIN PATTERN = HEAD. 0 TURNBUCKLES,. : lg GN 2 2 ia S| |: Capewell Horse Nails : Cleveland City Forge and Iron Co., = Cleveland. O, - > > |= NEW york, Branches: PORTLAND, ORE., 7 J 2 = )} a #£$=PHILADELPHIA, BUFFALO, + xZ ggz- 1 y CHIcaGo, DETROIT, BALTIMORE, f fe nicz } 87. LouIs, CINCINNATT, NEW ORLEANS, : win $°e < BOSTON, SAN FRANCISCO, DENVER. » © im FE IRo 2 THE GAPEWELL HORSE NAIL GO,, Hartford, Conn. in} gine Pu Hh PILLING & CRANE Formpert Peaks pavers PLAIN eae REGULAR HEAD. 9 Board of Trade, Boston. =) ([~——— —— * e A Jenkins Bros. Valves. e The metal and workmanship are the best. All parts are interchange- P A G E able. Need no regrinding, as they are more effectively repaired by re- 25 newing the disc, which can be easily and quickly done without removing valve from the pipe, and costs but a trifle, Insist on having the genuine, the which always bear our Trade-Mark. American JENKINS BROS., New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago. London. Sheet & Tin Plate Co. /“Swmpgon” GOld ROlLGA Steet cere Drawing = Olam publishes an enumeration THE AMERICAN TUBE & STAMPING COMPANY SEE ' (Water and Rail Delivery) Brrperport, Conn, PAGE which are produced at its several works. MAGNOLIA METAL C0., of the various kinds of Beware of Owners and Sole Manufacturers, —_ 113-115 Bank Street, $87 Se Juss, Now aoe oe we Iron and Steel Sheets and . mM AG WN oO L I A mM ETA hw - Tin an d Terne Plate s Best Anti-Friction Metal for all Machinery Bearings. Imitations. > Chicago, Fisher Bidg. NEW York, ;igburg and Philadelphia. | "We manatictare ai 2 THE IRON AGE. = ag NSONIA . ro Scrat B R AS S ” We = BRASS AND COPPER |COPPER GERMAN [see SILVER WIRE LOW BRASS. SHEET BRONZE. SEAMLESS BRASS AND COPPER TUBING. BRAZED BRASS AND New York. . BRONZE TUBING. :::::::: {Randolpi-Clowes Co, WATERBURY BRASS CO., WATERBURY, CON N. WATERBURY, CONN. MANUFACTURERS OF 130 Centre St., New York. Providence, R. I. SHEET BRASS & COPPER. BRAZED BRASS & COPPER : Metal Co., GOLE MANUFACTURERS Tobin “a (TRADE-MaRK REGISTERED.) Condenser Plates,Pump Linings. Hound, Square and Hexagon Bars, for Pump Piston Rods and Bolt Forgings. Seamless Tubes tor Boilers and Condensers. 99 Joh John Street, _ - 7UBES. BRIDGEPORT, GONN. SEAMLESS BRASS 3 & COPPEK VUBES $ | Automobile Castings a Specialty. High Tensile Strength. «0 56 IN. DIAM. Bronze and Aluminum Alloys. Write Us. ¢ Matthiessen & 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. Selected Sheets for Paper and Card Makers’ use. Stove and Washboard Blanks. ZINCS FOR LECLANCHE BATTERY. New York Office, 258 Broadway, Postal Telegraph Building, Room 715. Chicago Office, 602 Fisher Bldg. 100 John Street, - 256 Broadway, THE PLUME & ATWOOD MrF6. Co, MANUFACTURERS OF 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, Kero. sene Burners, Lamps, Lamp Trimmings, &c. 29 MURRAY ST., NEW YORE. 144 HIGH ST., BOSTON. 199 LAKE ST., CHICAGO, BOLLING MILL : | FACTORIES : THOMASTON, CONN. WATERBURY, CONN, SCOVILL MFG. CO., BRASS, GERMAN SILVER Sheets, Rolis, Wire Reds, Bolts and Tubes, Brass Shelis, Cups, Hinges, Buttons, Lamp Goods. SPECIAL BRASS GOODS TO ORDER Factories, WATERBURY, CONN. DEPOTS: NEW YORK, CHICAGO, BOSTON. JOHN DAVOL & SONS, AGENTS FOR Brooklyn Brass & Copper Co. DEALERS IN COPPER, TIN, SPELTER, LEAD, ANTIMONY. New York, Arthur T. Rutter SUCCESSOR TO WILLIAM S. FEARING 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. See-°74 West nroe shicag Best Bronze, Babbitt aap: wor ed iad con I il 99 ss bensnans CASTINGS fl ® Aluminum 2 FOUNDERS - FINISHERS. Ww. G. ROWELL & CO., Bridgeport, Conn. HENDRICKS BROTHERS Belleville Copper Rolling Mills, MANUFACTURERS OF Brasicrs’ Bolt and Sheathing CoPwrPprvrsBR, COPPER WIRE AND RIVDBTMS. | The Gas Engine. A treatise on the interns! Importers and Dealers in eee Se tae den Ingot Copper, Block Tin, Spelter, Lead, Antimony, etc. 49 CLIFF ST., NEW YORK. OIL and GAS Bicycle Lantems. Send fer Circulars and Electretypes. THE BRIDGEPORT BRASS COC., Bridgeport, Cena. 19 Murray 5. z 17 No. 7th 8t., Philadelphia 87 Peari 8t., Boston. Fer sale by David Wiltiams Co., 232 William St.,N. . eer | ‘THE IRON AGE THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1904. The “Sorts” Caster. A Type Casting Machine for Printers. While all of the arts have made wonderful progress within the past 100 years, few, if any, have excelled that made in printing, particularly when the product, ma- chinery, appliances and the various methods involved to produce perfect work in the least possible time are con- sidered. In the pressroom gradual and steady improve- ment has been made from the old Franklin hand press to the present perfecting power press, but in the com- posing room the advancement was less noticeable until the introduction of the Linotype machine, which brought about a radical change from former methods by pro- ducing new and perfect type for each issue of the injecting operation are features which will probably be of special interest to those familiar with the vacuum system now used for the perfect casting of small articles. The three main parts of the machine are a self ad- justing mechanism, which places and clamps the mold ready for casting; an automatic regulating mechanism, which injects into the mold the exact quantity of metal at the proper density for the cast required, and a self adjusting mechanism, which finishes and ejects the type. The body size of the type is determined by interchange- able mold parts, which are inserted in a stationary mold part permanently secured to the frame. The insert mold parts are merely laid in the machine in their proper position, and are automatically clamped in correct re lation to the stationary mold parts without occasioning the operator to use his discretion. To provide the proper Fig. 1.—The Mold Parts Clamped and the Machine Ready to Use. periodical. This machine, however, is adapted only to the setting of solid matter, and the printer has still had to purchase material, such as display type, characters, ornaments, spaces and quads, for the balance of his com- position, usually representing about two-thirds of the required material, and also endure the annoyance and disadvantage of being out of “sorts” and the anxiety as to whether the case contained sufficient type to pro- duce the work in hand. The advent of the sorts caster, recently put on the market by the National Compositype Company, Baltimore, Md., has placed at the command of the printer a machine which will enable him to produce in his office all the above type, and when necessary body type, without engaging skilled labor for the work. The machine is an exceeding simple one, occupies a floor space 27 x 45 inches, weighs about 800 pounds, and will produce accurate and uniform type of standard dimen- sions from 6 to 36 point. The actual casting or injecting of the molten metal into the mold is done under a pressure of 200 pounds to the square inch, giving perfect type with sharp, clearly defined corners. The method of producing and holding the parts of the mold and the Fig. 2.—Machirne Open for the Insertion of the Interchangeable Parts for a New Character. width of type, graduate liners stamped with the size to which they correspond are used. These are placed in the frame and limit the travel of a sliding ejector which forms one vertical side of the mold. As an illustration, if the operator wants an 18-point face 3 points wide, he selects the 18 point insert mold parts, adds the matrix for the required character and places it with the 3-point liners in the machine, after which no further attention is needed. The arm H, Fig. 4, when turned down and clamped to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, covers the mold parts and forms bearings for the wedges D and B, which clamp the insert molds E in casting position. Referring to Fig. 4, when the plunger carrying these parts of the mold advances or moves toward the right, the beveled portion D passes under the arm H and locks the top and bottom parts of the mold in position. The same move- ment brings the tapered arm B into action, clamping the sides so as to produce the correct width of type. It will be seen, then, that the stationary mold provides for two sides of the type, the ejector one side, while the remaining three sides are formed by the insert mold parts, including ie Saag sey fm Pi ry ie LV ar BERRA EN! meme Sab oe Pes ee See ees Ss P. et Si ee ee rs Same pe a hae és . es Daath ed y OT me mn ma nae ee ey cs a cD idles oo Hi Y ene eee enn ees 2 the face, which is produced by interchangeable matrices. The latter are secured in the mold by a conical screw working in a countercone concentric with the line of acti of the screw, by which the matrix is drawn against two of its sides, insuring perfect alignment of the type face in both directions. The insert molds are termed self adjusting, inasmuch as the operator has but to place them in the carrying shoe, THE -IRON AGE. terchangeable insert molds and corresponding ejectors are changed for each hight of type required, but in changing March 24, 1904 from one width to another it is only necessary to substi- tute a different liner. Any change within the range of the machine can be accomplished in one or two minutes. The next important element in the machine is that which ejects the molten metal. This consists of the nip- ple F, Fig. 4, from which the metal flows from the melting Fig. 4.—Perspective Showing the Parts Which Have to Do With the Actual Casting. which, being moved by the plunger, clamps them together. The wedges previously referred too then lock the mold in three directions—namely, against the foot or base of the type, the top of the type and one of its sides, and these being plural and compensating in their action, posi- tively force the mold to its correct casting position, insur- ing parallel type. The liners are placed between a but- ting block and a projection on the type ejector which, as already stated, forms one side of the type body. ‘The in- pot J to the mold, a horizontal choker which governs the opening, and a vertical pivoted lever which actuates the choker. The latter is made to compensate for expansion and wear of the parts and insures the firm seating of the choker in the nipple valve. It is pivoted at the upper end while its lower end engages a slot in the choker, and is defiected horizontally by contact with a follower on the hand lever, Fig. 6, as the latter is raised and lowered. The hand lever simultaneously operates the pump plun- THE March 24, 1904 ger and depends for its movement upon the reciprocating rod which grips it near the handle. The reciprocating rod is raised by a rocking lever, and being tripped de- scends by its own weight, a dash pot at the bottom cush- Fig. 5.—Three-Quarter Rear View, Showing Melting Pot. ioning the fall. In the column, seen in Figs. 6 and 7. there is a weight of about 40 pounds hung on the rod, which, by the two to one arms of the lever and the area of the pump plunger, is sufficient to exert a pressure in Fig. 6.—Rear View, Showing the Mechanism Actuating the Pump and Choker. the neighborhood of 200 pounds per square inch on the metal. During the downward movement of the weight the horizontal lever is disengaged at the right instant to cut off the supply of the metal from the mold, when it is at the proper density. This action is varying throughout [RON AGE. the range of the casts, depending upon the cavity formed in the mold, and insures perfect type irrespective of the size. After each cast is made the gate is struck off by a cut- ter, actuated by the lever A, which is tripped by the trig- ger C, as the plunger carrying the mold parts recedes. Simultaneously the mold parts separate, and the type is ejected by the lateral movement of the ejector, which is driven by an oscillating shaft. As the pieces of finished type accumulate, the action of the ejector on the suecceed- ing pieces causes them to be forced out of the machine along the slide, where their rough ends are trimmed as they pass a set of stationary cutters. The fundamental actuating member of the machine is the horizontal ram, which carries the mold and is recipro- cated by a crank on the cone pulley shaft. From this ram all of the movements are communicated; those on the mold directly and those for the pump plunger, choker and ejector, as already described, through an arm con- Side Opposite to that Shown in Fig. 1. necting the ram with the horizontal oscillating rod on the side of the machine seen in Fig. 7. No measurements of any kind are required in the use of the machine, the parts being so arranged that all ex- pansion and contraction are automatically provided for and no after labor is necessary for producing type of standard dimensions and quality. The matrices for the faces used in these machines are made by a special electro deposition process in use at the company’s factory, by which the cost of production has been greatly reduced from that attending the making of matrices for any of th« ordinary foundry type-casting machines. The price of a set of matrices is said to be practically that of an or- dinary case of type, and from it the owner may produce as much or as little of the particular face as he may want, without any appreciable additional cost except that for metal. >>? A dispatch by Canadian Associated Press from Lon- don, England, that Austin Chamberlain, British Chancellor of the Exchequer, replying in Parliament to a question as to protection against iron imports into Britain from Canada, stated that the imports of Canadian pig iron rose to over 50,000 tons in 1901, but fell in 1903 to under 4000 The abolition or modification of the a subject for consideration when 3ritain and Canada came up Savs tons. Canadian bounty was the fiscal relations between for settlement. ae a id Be icte Pen Been cee. , Por ee ae. ones Veneer) arene The Waste of Water. Result of the Boston Investigation. The Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board, which has in charge the water and sewage system of the met- ropolitan district made up of Boston, Mass., and 17 other cities and towns in the immediate vicinity has made its report on a careful and systematic investigation of the consumption of water in the district, during which all water entering the mains was metered for a period of about six months. The results are startling, in that the waste of water is proved to be enormous, being at least equal to and probably greater than the water legitimately and normally used. The deductions drawn by the en- gineers of the Water Board, as it is generally called, are of vital interest to municipalities everywhere in the civilized world, for the question of water supply is one that is ever becoming more serious. In addition many manufacturers may read a lesson to their financial profit, especially where a plant is large, with spacious yards and corresponding great lengths of water mains, for water waste appears to be going on pretty much everywhere through the carelessness of employees in the case of man- ufacturing plants, and through underground leaks, which count up into huge totals when the total loss from these sources is figured in gallons. The report goes into the question of water waste with considerable elaboration. Much of it is strictly local in its application, but, on the other hand, there is much of general interest. The purpose of the investigation, pro- vision for which was made by act of Legislature, was pri- marily to get statistics upon which to base the apportior- ment of the cost of water among the cities and towns of the district, and a number of plans are submitted for a division on a different basis than that now existing. But more general interest will attach to that part of the investigation which was directed toward discovering how ~ much water is being wasted, either by imperfections in the system or because of improper and extravagant uses. It is these latter results that will be considered in this article, Here are some of the deductions: That fully one-half of the more than 100,000,000 gallons which are daily sent into the service mains of the metropolitan district is wasted; that 60 gallons per consumer is an ample al- lowance, and that it is practicable to save at least 40 gal- lons of the 120 gallons now furnished per capita; this allows 20 gallons as an unavoidable loss through leakage ; that where water is metered to the consumer, the con- sumption per consumer is generally less than one-half of what it is where water is not metered, this being true after making due allowance for the character of the tak- ers; that the cost for new water works not already under construction for the metropolitan district within the next 25 years will be $32,000,000, unless measures are taken to put a stop to the waste, and, in addition, millions of dollars must be spent for additional sewage facilities to take care of the water after it has been delivered to the consumer. What applies to this district also applies to many other large cities where water is not metered and where other wastes, due to insufficient and unintelligent inspection, are permitted to continue. Comparison ot Metered and Non-Metered Cities. The effect of metering water to consumers is well il- lustrated in the following table, showing two groups of cities, the first where most of the water is metered, the second where only a small part of it is metered: Group 1. Consump- Per cent. tion Number of (Gallons per of services y per City or town. consumers. metered. consumer). Milwaukee. Wis.............. i 80.0 81.0 ENS SS or 198,400 84.5 £8.0 EE «i 5 SH06s «dk koe ec Oe 119,330 94.5 68.0 PO.» i Week nk oda we awe’ 107,850 96.0 41.0 DLE bas wpe kage sake cau eo 100,000 65.0 57.0 ES xine 60 ocean bare 65,000 83.0 53.0 SEL" Sh o.%'n on. v's cbiSe Few s 37,800 90.0 36.0 A he ch aia a 35,400 86.0 54.0 ree 34,474 96.0 29.0 te ts ben wah Sah eos dcnw ss och 6 100.0 44.0 Ee Wii s on wain ab areck 5,147 100.0 49.0 MEE DUAGWSssbb'cwdbennee 4, 100.0 33.0 1,023,276 61.7 THE IRON AGE. March 24, 1904 Group 2 ee ee Ce 360,000 2.0 824.0 Indianapolis, Ind............ 169,100 6.0 79.0 New Haven, Conn........... 108,900 2.6 150.0 ee aera 61,000 18.0 104.0 Somber Ree Cam GM NTS 94,150 15.0 85.0 PEE Wevee vcs ivsarede’ ,200 10.0 95.0 re err 74,000 25.0 63.0 in uk Gis ao Bale om 24,550 6.0 99.0 OS re ee nr 36,250 3.0 79.0 DIOEROD oon cnviw cenasseese 6,150 2.0 73.0 BPOGMIATD. 2 ccsccceenosevveces 7,500 2.0 83.0 DERISION. 66s 8.60 demmbive dca we 5,980 1.0 91.0 993,880 ee 178.5 Where a water system is valued in the tens of millions of dollars, where one reservoir alone is building at a cost estimated between $20,000,000 and $30,000,000, where to increase a supply will always cost proportionately more because of the greater distance of the supply from the point of distribution, all of which is true of the metropoli- tan system, then to permit a waste of one-half of the water supply, to distribute 100,000,000 gallons where 50,- 600,000 or 60,000,000 is an ample allowance, is a very serious matter. And what is true in the case of Boston and its suburbs is also true of other cities, large and small, all over the United States. The Largest Meter Installation in the World. The Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board has the largest meter installation in the world, consisting of 49 Venturi meters, furnished by the Builders Iron Foundry, Providence, R. I. They range in size from 8 to 48 inches. With them all water entering each of the cities and towns of the district was measured day and night during the six months of the investigation, which included all varia- tions of temperature, from the hottest days of last sum- mer to the protracted cold spells of the present winter. Careful estimates were made of the amount of water furnished for public purposes, the results, measured in gallons per capita per day, being as follows: Public build- ings, 3.78; drinking and ornamental fountains, 1; street sprinkling, 2.13, and flushing water pipes and sewers and extinguishing fires, 0.20. Extended investigations lead the engineers of the commission to place the total quan- tity of water actually required for legitimate use in the district at 60 gallons per inhabitant per day, allowing for domestic use 25 gallons, and for manufacturing, mechani- -cal and trade uses, 7 gallons. Causes of Waste. Going into the causes of waste, an important item is from leaks in street pipes and mains. The report says: “The tests which have been made in the several munici- palities of the metropolitan water district tend to show that the leakage from the street mains and services is very large, and that from 10,000 to 15,000 gallons per mile of street main escape each day into the ground or into some underground channel. If this estimate is cor- rect, the total leakage from the mains and service is from 15,000,000 to 22,500,000 gallons per day—equiva- lent to from 16.5 to 25 gallons per inhabitant.” As most such leaks are in the joints where the sec- tions of pipe come together, and as there are 750,000 leaded joints in the 1451 miles of pipes, the conjecture is naturally raised, though not by the commission, that some better system of making the pipe unions might be found, a system more durable and better able to stand the various influences which work against the joint underground. Probably electrolysis has some bear- ing on this question in a section so covered with electric street railway systems. The report pays considerable attention to the waste from pipes and fixtures on the premises of water takers, which must be of interest to the manufacturers of plumb- ing goods and to the plumbing trade in general. It states: “ Waste from pipes or fixtures on premises of water takers is due either to defective plumbing or to permitting the water to run from open fixtures, either negligently or willfully. Where the amount paid for water is not dependent upon the quantity of water used, the average water taker pays little attendion to the con- dition of the plumbing on his premises; and so long as the leaking fixtures cause no damage to his property they are seldom repaired, unles8 discovered by inspec- tors from the Water Department. For this reason the amount of waste from defective fixtures in cities where THE March 24, 1904 meters are not used depends largely upon the thorough- ness with which the house to house inspection is done by the local authorities. The greatest source of negligent waste from defective fixtures is undoubtedly the ball cock, which controls the flow of water into tanks sup- plying water closets and other fixtures. The ball cock seldom remains tight more than a few months, and when defective allows a constant stream of water, often of considerable size, to flow unseen, though not always unheard, to the sewer. Although the ball cock is more liable than any other plumbing fixture to be the cause of waste, its inspection is more difficult than that of other fixtures, the tanks being generally placed in in- accessible places in buildings. Unless the inspection is very thoroughly performed, the greatest source of this kind of waste is therefore apt to be overlooked. Never- theless, more tank fixtures are reported defective than any other class.” The following figures, taken from the annual reports of the Boston Water Department, show the results of in- spections made during the past five years: : 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. 1903. Number of fixtures in OOD 00-4 02's teas S 644,468 653,189 689,973 698,803 ...... Total fixtures leaking. 10,539 6,035 4,624 6,160 10,888 Faucets leaking...... 7,995 2,634 1,963 3,282 5,086 Water closets leaking.. 4,887 1,091 199 223 294 —_ ee ENS 1,179 362 249 268 426 Wilful waste......... 113 42 22 67 5 The differences between the number of leaks re- ported in different years are probably due to differences in the thoroughness of the inspection rather than to the condition of the plumbing. The results of inspections in several other cities and towns are given as follows: Taps, sinks, bowls, baths and wash trays. Water closets and tanks. Number Number Number found Number found City or town. in use. leaking. in use. leaking. GE cw acvanee 23,232 1,00 8,813 1,87 + OUNNES. okie des ,680 548 6,368 1,138 OD 0s. oan kh im 8,104 126 2,642 579 Somerville ...... vinta 757 ane 1,404 Winthrop ...cs<- 6,803 69 2,296 101 Another great source of waste occurs during the win- ter, when large quantities of water are run through the pipes by water takers for the purpose of preventing the freezing of water in the house piping. To prove this statement, while the legitimate use of water in the win- ter is no greater than in the months of November and April, the actual use is much larger in the winter months. In November and April, 1902-1903, the daily average was 105,000,000 gallons, while in December, January, February and March the average was 122,000,- 000, these being round numbers. The same relative dif- ference existed in the two years previous. This is taking the metropolitan district as a whole. In the cities where meters are in general use waste of this character does not occur to any material extent, as each property owner is pecuniarily interested so to arrange the plumbing in his buildings that it does not become necessary to permit the water to run in order to prevent freezing. The Use of Meters is the Remedy. The use of meters is the panacea for this evil, accord- ing to the Water Board. An example of this follows: “During the past two years the Water Department in the city of Cleveland has been engaged in placing meters upon service pipes. At the end of the year 1902, 11,099 meters were in use on 56,816 services, and the daily average consumption for the year was 69,964,740 gal- lons. At the close of the year 1903 the number of meters had been increased to 25,193, and the daily average consumption for the year was 62,012,000 gallons. As a result of this work the daily average consumption for the year 1903 was about 8,000,000 gallons per day less than in 1902, and the greater part of this reduction was no doubt due to the meters set during the previous year.” The report is valuable in the character of the men who supervised the investigation, and also in the charac- ter of the territory covered by the metropolitan system. The nearly 900,000 inhabitants whom the water system serves reside or do business in cities and towns of widely different character of population, covering an area of nearly 143 square miles. The question has been studied IRON AGE. from all sides, with the earnest purpose of making this, the first complete investigation of the kind, one that will have a serious and beneficial influence in reducing the enormous costs for water supply. Every water taker has an interest in the saving of water, because the less expense the municipality goes to for water supply the less the cost per 1000 gallons to the consumer. The municipality is not in the water busi- ness to make money, but to meet expenses. The water bill is a tax, apportioned according to the amount of benefit received by the taxpayer. It is fair to presume that the individual resident of the metropolitan district in Massachusetts would be paying much less for his water if 60,000,000 or 70,000,000 gallons were going into the mains each day, instead of more than 100,000,000, and what is true in this respect to-day will become much more evident as the years go by. “D-H ___—— “‘Lycodin,” a Substitute for Lycopodium.—It is a well established fact that lycopodium, which is used in large quantities as a facing powder by founders, has not until recently had a perfect substitute. The excellent qualifi- cations of lycopodium as a facing material and the con- siderable difficulty by which it is obtained have always kept the price quite high. Lycopodium is from a genus of evergreen plant. It is a very mobile pale yellow fine powder, consisting of the sporules or seeds of the club moss. It is odorless, tasteless, floats on water, which does not wet it, and burns quickly when thrown on a flame. These last two characteristics are very essential in its use as a facing powder. It is used in large quanti- ties in ‘foundries as a facing powder. The surfaces of the molds are moistened so as to cause the facing powder to adhere, thereby producing such a perfectly smooth sur- face that the resultant casting will not adhere to the sand. It likewise prevents the appearance of sand holes, and also permits the metal to reach the fine and more minute impressions of the mold. The fact that lycopo- dium floats on water and that the inability of lycopodium to incorporate itself with water are very characteristic. The following experiment is quite interesting: Into a glass of water pour upon the surface a quantity of lyco- podium and dip the finger well into the glass. Upon with- drawing the finger you will notice a fine and delicate coating remains, which to the touch is perfectly dry. Now with the finger perfectly dry introduce the same into the dry powder, and upon withdrawing it you will notice that no coating remains, excepting some in the finer folds of the skin. These simple tests are used by the buyer of lycopodium, which on account of its high price is frequently adulterated by unscrupulous dealers with pine-pollen, starch, sand, &c. A disadvantage in using lycopodium as a facing powder is that the patterns at times must be carefully and entirely moistened so as to cause an adherence of the lycopodium over the entire sur- face. This continual moistening of the pattern, if it be of wood or plaster, is in time very detrimental. An old saying of the molder is, use enough water to only mois- ten the sand in the flask. This rule is often broken and with the result that many castings are ruined and unfit for use, entailing quite a loss to both the founder and the manufacturer. We have had the opportunity to observe the introduction lately of an ideal substitute for lycodo- dium as a facing powder. This new facing powder is called “ lycodin” (patented in Germany and in the United States, where the representatives are the United States Lycodin Company of Cincinnati, Ohio), and deserves great recognition by the various firms of founders. We have tested this new preparation and compared it with lycopo- dium, and can give an unprejudiced opinion regarding the same. It makes a parting in each and every instance equal to that of lycopodium. Two characteristics distin- guish “lycodin” from lycopodium. Lycodin is of lighter color, being more grayish, and decidedly cheaper in price. In testing Lycodin with water as before mentioned it ex- hibits the same phenomena as lycopodium. Lycodin has a still greater advantage in that it can be applied without moisture in all instances to the dry surface of a highly or otherwise polished pattern. Lycodin also covers one- third more surface than lycopodium.—Der Metallarbeiter. The Report of An Expert. Views of E. C. Shankland of Chicago Concern- ing Steel Structures in the Baltimore Fire. Of the many reports compiled by prominent engineers and architects as a result of their investigations of the fire proofed steel structures within the fire zone of Bal- timore’s recent conflagration, one which has been most eagerly awaited is that prepared by E. C. Shankland of Chicago. We have just received a copy of it and are permitted to give it its first publicity. While Mr. Shank- land’s deductions from the scientific data furnished by the fire were accompanied by photographs, &c., we are only reproducing herewith such as show features of in- terest, in addition to the reproductions presented in our own description printed in The Iron Age under date of February 25. The notes which we have interpolated re- fer to the illustrations contained in this description. In summarizing his conclusions Mr. Shackland says: It seems to me the most important lesson this fire THE IRON AGE. March 24, 1904 to do away with the necessity of cutting and mutilating the fire proofing by the electricians, plumbers and others. This is very important, as there is always more or less cutting of the fire proofing, and in some cases the dam- age is considerable. Cast iron and steel mullions should be discarded, but brick mullions of sufficient size to allow them to be prop- erly backed up with brick should be used. This will reduce the size of the windows, but in most cases this can be done without serious damage to the building. Granite and other stone will continue to be used for lower stories, but should not be put in any stories above the second or third. Ornamental terra cotta has shown itself to be much inferior to brick, and the latter should be used as far as possible. Where enameled or press brick is used for facing it should be bonded into the brick backing _ by using headers, and not depending on the metal clips. When terra cotta is called for it should be solidly backed up with concrete, and all hollow spaces completely filled with same. It has been said a great many times since this fire ® Aurst Building, where fire Cont etal ruse Builaing 2? Maryland Trust Building 3 felverte Buslaing + Leuiteble Building. 5 Baltimore & Ohie RR. Genera! Offices 6 Union Trust Building ? Herald Butlding 8 United Railway's Pratt St Power Station 9 Commered ond Farmers National Bank Builang ALT : @ Bank of Comerce Butlaing 4 US Fidelity and Ovaranty Building 2 Ales, Brown and Sens Bark Biuslaing re (ON ACE Fig. 1.—Map of the Burned Area of the Baltimore Conflagration, showing the location of the fire proofed steel structures which proved to be the only buildings to survive the fire structurally intact. teaches is the necessity for better workmanship, aud more improved methods on the lines already laid down. A few years ago it was common practice to put only a l-inch thick plate of hollow tile on the bottom of the floor, and this plate, on account of its thinness, had to be fastened to the beams with metal clips. Within the last four or five years, however, the best practice has inereased this thickness to 2 inches. The superiority of the latter is shown in the Continental as compared with some of the older buildings where the thin soffit covering was used. Then, in order to reduce the dead weight, the architects have insisted on, and the manu- facturers have furnished, tile having the minimum weight per square foot. This necessitated ribs which are too thin and which easily break at the fillets. The ribs should be made thicker and fillets made stronger. More care should be used in setting the tile. The webs and flanges of all beams should be first plastered before tile is set in place. Above all, the steel columns should be fire proofed first, and all pipes, tubes for wires, &c., should be placed outside of the fire proofing. [See Figs. 26 and 27, The Iron Age, February 25.] Means should also be devised to so run pipes, &c., as that the use of all wood, including the floors, should be discontinued. It is certain that wire glass and metal sash in smaller frames than are now in buildings should be used, and wood trim avoided or made as small as can be done. As to wood floors, architects have tried many times to put mosaic or concrete floors in the offices, but the ten- ants will not have it, and the architect has had to aban- don the scheme in every case I know of. It may be urged that in this fire metal frames would have melted, and so have been no better than wood. This may or may not be true, but a fire like this only occurs at long intervals, and in all other cases, even if we ex- cept this, the wire glass and metal frame will be of great value. A very hot fire occurred recently in the fifth story of the Masonic Temple, Chicago, in the southwest corner. The room was used for packing X-ray tubes, and a large quantity of excelsior was stored there. The fire broke the outside windows and the flames enveloped the Randolph street exterior clear to the cornice. The build- ing seemed to be doomed, but the damage to the building from the fire was slight. It would have been much less if the windows had been made of wire glass with metal March 24, 1904 THE frames, as in that case the fire would have been confined in the room, and would have burned itself out quickly. That the fire proof buildings acted as a fire stop to a greater or less extent is shown on the St. Paul street front of the Court Couse. ruary 25.] Opposite the Herald Building the front is all right, but north of that, opposite a brick building on the corner of St. Paul and Lexington streets, which was entirely [See Fig. 5, The Iron Age, Feb- [RON AGE. 7 face brick with no headers, the brick being fastened to the backing by metal binders. The fire proofing is flat hollow tile arches and hollow tile partitions, the tile being semiporous. The fire seemed to hit this building on three sides, first striking the west face, then going north, then east, and getting into the court on the east side. The flames seemed to be most severe in from eighth to eleventh floors. [See Fig. 1, The Iron Age, The steel frame in this building is in February 25.] Fig. 2.—The Rear of the Continental Trust Building, showing the brick wall which was so seriously damaged that it will have to be taken down. destroyed, the cornice and upper part of the Court House are badly cracked and spalled. Overhead wires are a menace and should not be al- lowed in a district like this. It was a live wire that cost Baltimore the services of its fire chief at the very beginning of the fire, and overhead wires have proved a serious obstacle to fighting fire in many cases. In describing the buildings individually, they are numbered so as to correspond with the numbers given them in the diagram, Fig. 1. 1. Continental Trust Building, Southeast corner of Calvert and Baltimore streets. This is a 16-story building of skeleton construction. Exterior walls are granite in the two lower stories, and brick with terra cotta mullions above. The court has The cause of the injury was the method of construction; metal ties being used for bonding the bricks. perfect shape, as good as when first erected. I saw one or more columns on every floor from second to sixteenth, where the column covering had gone, leaving column exposed from floor to ceiling, showing column and floor beam, connections and column splices. Where the col- umn fire proofing failed it was in almost every case on the corridor side. One column had a piece of wood wedged in between the angles to fasten pipes or electric wires to. I cut it with a knife and found it was not even scorched. However, every column that was so ex- posed had pipes and wire conduits running alongside the column inside the fire proofing. This will be re- ferred to later in the summing up. The upper floors of this building are now practically lofts, all the partitions being gone. Every bit of wood in this building above % # et 8 the two or three lower floors is gone. The floor strips imbedded in the concrete to which is nailed the wood in floor, the nailing strips in the joints of the brick and tile for fastening the trim, are all completely destroyed; not even a piece of charred wood can be found. The tile floors are in very good shape for the most part, al- though in some cases the tile covering the lower soffits of the floor beams has fallen, exposing the beams, The contents of the book tile vaults throughout the building were in many cases entirely destroyed. The safety vault in the basement, however, was uninjured, and this is true of all safety deposit vaults in the burned district. The exterior grante is badly cracked and will have to be replaced. The brick above is in good shape, but the terra cotta is in many instances badly warped and cracked ; this is noticeably true of the north face. The exterior of the court is destroyed and will have to be replaced. The face brick has fallen off in large areas, due to lack of headers. [See Fig. 2.] The cast span- drels are twisted all out of shape and have forced the spandrels away from the steel frame as much as a foot in some cases. The result as far as this building is concerned is that all the exterior granite, a great deal of the terra cotta, and all the court walls will have to be taken down and rebuilt. The steel frame is intact. A large percentage of the floor and column fire proofing is also apparently uninjured, although it will require an exhaustive examination of all the fire proofing to determine how much of it can be allowed to remain in place. This applies to the fire proofing of all the build- ings examined. The balance of the interior is entirely destroyed. 2. Maryland Trust Building, Northwest corner of German and Calvert streets. Ten stories, self supporting outside walls on street sides. Granite first two stories; above, large brick cor- ner piers, between which is ornamental terra cotta with brick pilasters. The ornamental terra cotta in this building suffered severely and a large percentage of it will have to be taken down. The brick stood remarkably well as compared with the terra cotta, although at one place the face of the brick has flaked off. The stone is the lower stories is in much better condition than the granite in other buildings, but much worse than the terra cotta above. [See Fig. 3, The Iron Age, February 25.] The steel work of the building is in good condition, ex- cept in the upper story. Here some of the roof beams are warped and twisted, and one roof column is badly bent. However, the damage to the steel frame is slight and can be easily repaired. The hollow tile fire proofing is more or less damaged; in many cases the underside of the beam is exposed, otherwise the floors are apparently in good shape. 3. Calvert Building, Southeast corner St. Paul and Fayette streets. Thirteen stories, skeleton construction. Exterior walls are granite first two stories, above brick and terra cotta. Hard burned tile was used for floor arches, col- umn covering and corridor partitions. Interior parti- tions for the most part were mackolite. The stone, espe- cially on the west face, is badly cracked, and the terra cotta in the court is so spalled off and cracked that much of it will have to be replaced. Had terra cotta been omitted from the court walls the first cost would have been less, and the court would have been intact to-day. [See Fig. 4, The Iron Age, February 25.] A column in the eighth story of this building buckled on all four sides about half way from floor to ceiling. The column is made of two channels and two plates. The plates buckled about 4% inches, and the channels about one- half as much. This floor was used by the auditor of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and it was said the old tissue paper copies had been piled around the column. Fine paper ashes are in some places 2 feet deep on this floor. [See Fig. 26, The Iron Age, February 25.] The buckling of this column has settled all the floors above, but, aside from this, the whole steel frame is in perfect condition. Where the buckling took place the fire proof- ing of the column was defective, perhaps from being cut when electric wires or plumbing and gas pipes were put in place. In this building, as in the Continental, one THE IRON AGE. March 24, 1904 or more columns in every story were exposed, allowing a careful examination of the steel work and the con- nections to be made. The tile floors are in fair condi- tion, although the tile did not stand as well as in the Continental, and the bottom of the beams is exposed in many cases. The corridor partitions are mostly down and the mackolite partitions completely destroyed. In the basement there was a pile of these mackolite blocks which had been water soaked, and a stick could with ease be pushed several feet into the mass. 4. Equitable Building, Southwest corner Fayette and Calvert streets. Nine stories. Outside walls are of granite, brick and terra cotta, and are self supporting; on court side col- umns are placed next the walls to carry the floors. Cast iron columns and iron beams are used. The floors are 6-inch segmental hollow tile arches, 8 feet span, with 4inch rise. There is no cinder or other filling on top of these arches, but wood strips were placed on the beams and the floor nailed to them. There was thus an open space between the tops of the arches and the floor, which became a regular flue in the fire. [See Figs. 28, 29 and 30, The Iron Age, Feb- ruary 25.] It was the burning of these strips and floor that allowed so many safes to fall through the floor arches and down into the basement. The exterior walis are in fairly good condition, except the granite, which is badly cracked, especially on the west face. The bot- toms of most of the beams are badly twisted and bellied and will have to be replaced. The columns are in better condition, although their covering is off in most cases. This column covering was, I am informed, made of lime and cinders, a composition called “ Limeateal.” The con- crete block partitions are destroyed. This building is in much worse condition as regards the frame and floors than any other of the fire proof buildings. The floor beams and girders are very light, and, judging from the way the beams are deflected and twisted, the iron work must have been cut to the last pound when it was de- signed. [See Fig. 2, The Iron Age, February 25.] 5. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad General Offices, Northwest corner Baltimore and Calvert streets. Six stories. Exterior granite first floor, brick and stone above, with stone lintels. This building had solid outside walls and brick dividing walls, and hard tile floor arches. The floors are in fairly good condition, but both street fronts are badly cracked, not only the granite, but the stone lintels. [See Fig. 12, The Iron Age, February 25.] 6. Union Trust Building, Northeast corner Fayette and Calvert streets. Ten stories, exterior walls stone and terra cotta; hard burned hollow tile was used for floor arches, col- umn covering and partitions. [See Fig. 6, The Iron Age, February 25.] Both street fronts are very badly cracked and will have to be almost entirely replaced. The steel frame is in good condition, but the partitions are gone, and the bottoms of tile arches have fallen off to a greater extent than in any other of the buildings. It was said that the building diagonally opposite was dynamited during the fire, and that this accounts for the bad condition of the floor arches. 7. Herald Building, Northwest corner Fayette and St. Paul streets. Six stories, solid walls, first story granite, above brick and terra cotta. Floors are made of steel beams with hollow tile arches. This building is in good con- dition. The outside walls, aside from the cracking of are granite, are practically uninjured. The floors. beams and columns are uninjured, and most of the arches are in good condition. Partitions are practically destroyed. 8. United Railways Pratt Street Power Station. There are two buildings. The north one had a wooden roof covered with slate and supported on iron trusses. Windows were clear glass. The roof evidently took fire first and then the trusses fell. [See Fig. 32, The Iron Age, February 25; also page 26, The Iron Age, March 10.] The south building had fire proof roof made of book tile, and the windows are wire glass. While March 24, 1904 some of the stone on front is spalled and cracked, and a telegraph pole in front is burned to a stump, yet this building does not seem to have received the severe fire to which the north building was exposed. It should be said, however, that the fire came across Long Dock from the building between Long Dock and Jones Falls, and from the looks of these ruins the fire east of Long Dock must have been as severe opposite the south as the north building. 9. Commercial and Farmers’ Na