New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-07

WILLIAMSBURG Brooklyn, Fort Hamilton, Slater
leland, jersey City, and thence by Elizabethtown
Doyestown and Norristown to Philadelphia. The new
line will be opened about the middle Of the present
month and will be worked under the Hughes patent
which il believed TO possess extraordinary advantage
ever all other Geographic inyentOns-printing the
message uneTingly correct and in plain Roman Capt.
tals and capable of transmitting Intelligence at the
rate Of about 1000 words per hour over one wire or
1880 words from each end and of the same instant OF
time.
PRIzr TRIAL OF STEAM FIRE EsGISRs Two fall.
sized and two smaller specimens of steam fire engines
were officially entered in the competition for prizes Of
800 and $500 IN the Park yesterday. The weather
was fine and large number of spectators were pre.-
cn, among whom were the Engineers connected with
several Of the large mschne-shops whose advice was
sought by the Committee. Although two small en-
gines were entered simply attached to Of
tie large ones, and three distinct engines only APP
pearod.
The fires lighted in the three furnaces at l0l
O'Clock. Tie competing machines were ss follows
First: small model by James Smith, fra engine
builder. The boiler upright tubular the engine and
pump directly, reced, and throwing the valve by
lever.
Second. A full-sized machine by W. c. & j. S.
Burnham. Boiler also upright tubular, with two en-
gnts each connected directly to ore Of their much
approved patent pumps and also to crauked shaft.
Valves worked by excentrics. The carriage of this
machine was Of sufficient size to carry wood for fuel
Third: A full-sized machine by Wellington Lee and
j. G. l.. Larned boiler Larneds patent upright
double tubes with fire both inside and OUT two os.
clating engines Reeds patent, connected to one 70.
tary pump Gays patent
Fourh: small cylinder and pump attached to
the last, and working by the aid of steam from the
same boiler.
In Fix minutes from the Lighting of the fires Burn
hams boiler was warm, Smiths warmer and could
barely be borne by the hand. Larneds had fifteen
pounds Of steam on and was commencing to work its
small engine. In eight minutes Larneds engineer
raised his safety valve ard gave short, loud snort
which was answered, but little fanter, by Smiths
showing steam up In eleven minutes both Lar
neds and Smiths were throwing good streams. Burn
hams came into the race after about twenty minutes
from the lighting of the fires.
All the machines were made in this city; all Op-
Grated with wood fuel the steam in all followed the
piston throughout the full stroke and all worked with
out serious difficulty for about an hour, after which
Smiths broke at point and the fire was drawn.
Smiths played through 20 feet Of hose and threw
quarter inch stream about G5 feet; Burnhams played
through 20 feet hose and threw three. quarter inch
stream about 1870 feet Larncds played through so
feet Of hose and threw an inch and quarter stream
about 1875 feet For long time this engine threw two
streams, inch and one sixteenth and the other
inch in diameter, directing the latter back into the
Cisten to economize the water, which was not sup
piled fast enough by hose from three hydrants Dur
ing short period both streams Were played into the
air. each exhibiting nearly all the force observed when
played alone. The double stream, although necessa-
lilly taxing the steam power to high degree,
induced sensible lowering of the pressure in the
boiler our reporter having carefully watched the
gage to test this point. When at later period sim
gle stream was directed almost perpendicularly up
ward and the stream let on to it's fullest extent the
pressure from cause, declined from lis to l05
pounds in few seconds This is ascrbed to neglect
TO change the blast pipe oiifce which is adjustable to
meet such emergencies.
Mr. Smiths boiler is "a inches in diameter and 3 feet
high His ste cam cylinder is p feet and his pump
inches in diameter, double acting The stroke Is Il
inches. The number of double strokes per minute
averaged nearly 200. AT one time the number OF
single strokes reached 440 per minute.
MessIs BuInham's boiler is 80 inches by feet g.
The steam cylinders are and the pumps inches in
T,
lutons or double strokes averaged about 80 per
minute
Messrs Lee & Larneds boiler is p feet square and
; feet inches high, with the addition of round
steam drum feet 10 inches in diameter and 2 inches
high The two cylinders are inches diameter by u
inches stroke, and the rotary pump s OF such dimen
sons as TO throw about three gallons to each revolt
ticn We neglected to note the dimensions or per-
Torrance of the small engine and pump attached,
which, though designed a model only, was con-
stantly in operation.
Smiths engine has too much boiler in proportion,
and Burnhams too little The latter, in short, has
too large cylinder for either the pump or boiler.
But these are matters Of detail. Steam hre engines
can oct up steam in from ten to twenty minutes, and
can keep it up steadily This is proved. We have
before shown in detail the construction of LarnedS
machine. We prefer Larneds boiler FOR its ishtness
and the little time it requires to become excited and
the Cary pump for its continuous and smooth action.
Bumhams machine is superior in its economy OF space
by attaching the engines and pumps to the side OF the
boiler, and the operators consequently able to
cary wood in the same carriage. Lee Il Larned s
machine complete weighs 5000 lbs, Burnham 5
weighs 1000. Smiths was never weighed. The
committee to award the prizes is the Standing Com
mittee Of the Board of Councilmeu fire department
They have not yet reported the result of their deb-
erati0Ds.
CoxsPIRAcY AND HEAVY BLAcK.MAIL OPERATION.
Another Of those infamous conspiracies and black
mail operations which occasionally saItle the commu-
nifty has recently come to lght-the victim in the case
being gentleman who formerly held very high Of
fetal station in this city, and the con;prato and black
= ~ tha ntlr no