The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-11-17
To Correspondents

II. h. STOKES, ESQ.,, Edfto7 Farmer ana
Planter, Columbia, S. CIV regret your
inability to call and see the Caloric Engine
q operation, as you passed through this
place. As the information you ask appears
TO DO of considerable Importance to others,
sso. we prefer to give it publicity through
ouF columns.
We have now had the Caloric Engine at
work altogether about q week, and are only
prepared to give our opinion of its perfof-
nances from our own experience during
mt time. On first putting it up, owing to
our desire to get it in operation before the
Fair teok place in this city, we we're not
prudent enough to consult the matter OF
proper draft for the Ere, and as it worked so
like charm while the wind continued in its
then position, we were rather taken aback
when the wind changed and gave us what
is technically termed "back draft which
is about as bad as no draft at all, or may DO
little worse. This taught us that the 1Ca-
Loric needs good draft to make it work
we'll, and as a few additional feet of vulcan
lied iron gave us a taller chimney than our
Beiqhbors, we are now working our Ca loric
beautifully.
In the first place, it takes about halt
hour to get up sufficient heat to start the
engine, and once started, it needs no atten
ton whatever during the day, except "hring
uDs' three or four times. We kindle the fire
with light dry wood, and then put on coke
or soft coal until the furnace is hot enough
60 burn hard coal, and once having got 1.-THE
hard coal we'll under way it only requires
rsplenishing three or four times day.
The Caloric Engine, SO far as we can
Judge, costs about 10 or IL cents a day for
fuel; and compared with the ordinary steam
engine, is 30 far preferable as scarcely to ad-
rsit Of comparison, from the fact, that it
uses no water whatever; is perfectly safe
20 safe in fact :as not to affect insurance
any more than cooking or parlor stove;
requires no engineer to attend to tits only
attention being to build fire, oil it, keep
it clean, start and stop it when necessary
sitogsther requiring not more than thirty
minutes a day, all of which can be done
py little "wooly head about as "big as
a lump of chalk" Then again, the expense
Of fuel is saved to you in the Caloric engine
by its exhaust of hot air, which conveyed
through pipes, will warm your whole build
ing. much more effectually than you can do
it by stoves or furnaces.
The Engine we have cost $3.50, and few
"extras," which brings it to about $500
slI expenses included; but this is more than
ssyed In one year in the difference between
mat snd steam. It is rated, we believe, as
I've horse engine, though that is doubtful to
some. However, we are running one OF
Hoes new superoyal large Cylinder Presses
at present with 1t, and have more than
enough power to run another of the same
sort, or we will have when things wear a
little smooth. Altogether, we consider the
Erriccsen Caloric Engine the best motor in
all respects that could be produced for our
purposes, and are so we'll pleased with it
chat if we could not replace it, ten times it,
cost would not get it from us.
MFR. j. B. Kitching, 1854 Duane street,
New York, will give you any further In
formation you may desire on the subject