The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-04
Rev. DR PARkMAS
Reformers and Inventors.

A writer in the last number OF the Westminster Re-
view treating of railway reform, alludes TO the extreme
difficulty of mpressing the boards oil the old railway
companies with the value OF obvious and unquesoDaole
He accounts for II naturally enough 0ut
way that does but little credit to human nature, or 10
scientific human nature. The fact OF an Improvement
compromises extent the reputation OF the probes
sional scientific advisers BY wOm these boards are
governed
every official from the highest 10 the humbest, con-
demned tue plan as wild, visionary and inpracicable
So the English railway reformer, Mr. Adams, who has
demonstrated, with great strength and ceaness that the
present working expenses OF railways might he dunn
shel one halfy and the traffic increased, by substituting
ireqdenl and light trains, drawn by light engines for
few and heavy trains, drawn by powerful and heavy en-
pnes, not only assistance from the probes
siola advisers of the railway in the introduction OF his
SYSTEM but finds the Steversons, Brunels Lockes, and
their assistant enginee all shaking their heads and
unanimously assuring their respective boards that Mr.
Adamss notions will not answer, and that the heaviest
engines that can be constructed have not more than
strength enough Meanwhile public opinion operates
on stockholders, and through them on the managing
boards and the improvements OF Mr. Adams nd accept
and gain ground IN spite OF the interests and peJu
dces and vanity OF retained professional advisers.
In view of these difficulties with which relormers and
inventors compelled TO struggle, we are disposed
whenever any really valuable Improvement is brought 10
notice, to speak OF as we think It deserves, and
10 claim for il the patronage TO which II is entitled we
have eye such an Improvement, TO which our
attention has been recently called by articles in the north
en papers, and by particularly in The Boston Daily
ton that entities his statements and opinions to the
highest confidence. The Improvement TO WHICH we al
lude the boiler furnace, patented by Henry r.
Baker, OF Boston.
This invention has been very thoroughly tested IN
numerous private establishments, where the most salts
factory results have been attained II has also been sus-
mted to close scientific investigation aud uHy win
similar results Mr. Thomas Wicssead, OF London,
long and most elaborate and careful experiment,
reported gain by the of this under Cor
nlsh boilers, of eleven and eghi-lenths per cent and
states that he has doubt that saving large as
thlfty-seven per cent IN the fuel might be elected
by It's use in numberess instances in Great Britain
committee OF the Boston Society OF Civil Engineers,
after most Careful experiment, have recently reported
that furnace with the Improvement Produces under ex-
acy similar circumstances, twealy five three enhs more
of available heat than the furnace without The I'M
provemenL TIE committee composed OF three dis
ting usned civil englneefs-Messrs Simeon BowdeD,
William p PaTott, aud Samuel Mott The proofs, in
deed before the public establish conciusvey that the in
PRODUCTION OF Bakers Improvement upon the common
furnace produces increase OF upwards OF twenty tive
per cent available heat from gwen quantity OF fuel
Indeed ii OF the most important features of This
Improvement that capable OF being applied to existing
works with very uncomfortable aleraion and withou
much expense.
take pleasure 10 giving currency 10 these facts and
in directing public attention 10 what is considered, IN
economical view, OF the most important improve.
inents of the day. We have personal acquaintance
with the inventor, and write, therefore, without the
bias that personal regard may sometimes TO the opn-
ION OF those who most desire to be impartial
We have, therefore, hesitation in saying that the
evidence that has passed under examination is
elusive OF the fact that the addition OF Bakers improve
ment TO steam boiler furnace would effect saving in
The consumption OF fuel OF upwards OF twenty-five per
cent.