The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-11

BUFFALO, Feb. 81, 1861
The Steam Expansion experiments on the United STATE
&eom<r Mchgan-Tnpoytant Rcsiats Interesting 70 Ean-
neaS-d Better Coal than anthracite, dc.
The prolonged Investigations Of the Naval Board on the
United States steamer Michigan brought TO close
Monday last and the report forwarded 10 Washington
The Beard composed OF Chief Engineers r. Isher-
WOOD neooorc Zeller, Robert II. long and Absn C.
sinners They met at Erie the 10th OF November
last and their experiments the LIST OF
cember The object Of their invest cations to
mine the practical value Of the expansive principle In the
steam engine. In their report the Board that the
experiments have been made under the most favor
able conditions, not only for obtaining exact
comparative results, but for obtaining tho maxi
mum for the largest measures of expansion. Tho
boiler pressure sufficiently high the back aud fric
ton prcssures the minimum practice the organs OF the
engine were well proportioned and funconed properly;
the boilers furnished easily abundant supply OF
gave the slightest evidence Of foamng Every
circumstance combined TO render the results hyper
critically unexccptianahle Yet In ali respects and under
all possible change Of condition. they are conclusive
against the popular belief favor Of high measures OF
expansion for cutting OF steam at 40 OF the stroke
scarcely recognycdas working expansively.
Eighteen experiments, occupying seventy two hours
each, made Seven OF thee formed the lbssos for
the final calculatons and they alone enter into the
report In these experiments tho fractions OF the
when the steam cut OF follows;-ll-12 ITO
AZ $40. IL, 16 and 40 one u .he important deter
mutations reaCheu necessity o.
Of the stroke Thee who have engines cutting Off any
where u the stroke would not wei mako any
alteration IN Consequence of the results obtained by
Board that point Of cutting OF has proved be
most economical when considered With regard IL fuel
alone But thnee about build engines viii do well
make their calculations for cutting of at 10 81 the
stroke, for the reasons that the economy ia tho
matter 81 fuel within two per cont OF That
when cutting od at 4e--the saving In the
first coet Of the construction Of an engice is
too por cent and is TO be used in steamboat, or
wherever freight room valuable, the saving Ia tho
weight be carried and the space he occupied will
in an equal ratio In addition advantages there
nNthe greater simplicity OF the mechanism requiring
attention. due TO the fact that there 10 odepeudect
cut Of gear whatever, and all being smaller and more
easily repaired when arrangements II opposed
by most engineers that there decided Advantage Ia
using an adjustable cutoff for modifying the poser AZ
the engine not to be Obtained In the Of the throttle
valve Thereucrt OF the Board shows conciustvely that
there Is no difference In point a economy between the
two petbods. -
The Board also determined incidentally the value of tho
hydro carbon coal furnished them at Erie. When CON
pared win anth scite the universe. standard much TO
surprise tnoy found that tho consumption Of cue
pond Of evapofa;ed aeen per cent water ttac
the quantity anthracite In all the expert neau
hostsore tried 20 Ear publicity hss bceu given 20 them
the anth acc has proved superior 20 every variety o
ny dro cMh'n coal bu. evident rom these expert
meD that tho coal ueed the steamer Michigan By the
Naval BOARD e superior 70 auth ace and logically thc
beet coal known &c The world.