New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-10-03
THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE - APPLIED
SCIENCE.

The Polytechnic branch of the American Institute
met on Thursday evening September a. Professor D. TILL
MAN the Chairman said the usual order Of business was first to
examine
NEW INVENTIONS AND DISCOVERIES.
MrHF wALlryG exhibited a new Pedometcr invented by
gentleman residing in Massachusetts, who had read descp
ton of Sir William Lognns method Of estimating distances
during his geological excursions and thought the process could
rccy count the number Of steps taken by the pedestrian
Mr. IT, M,YNARD remarked that this device for counting
was similar that for denoHg the number OF revolutions made
by a steameIgine used on steamships 49,
Novel Car was exhibited in model which carries
ts nilway beneath it, The wheels are attached 70
metallic band extending around the lengtwse Below each
Wheel u ,on MiSn S U ' ms Re ne road rough
or muddy, the car Is still moying on rail-
PETROLEUM.
Dr. J. r. RicH read very interesting communication di,
Girard College Philadelphia "On the Action Of Insurance
Companies regarding Petroleum." the purport Of which was
petroleum the class and nsared all kinds OF factories
and sorchouscs without sufficient discrimination lie aso
tnguishug petroleum when on ire II Ia an tanks pouring
on water viii do good but in fact viii increase the danger
the being heavier sinks TO the bottom Of the
tank and causes the petroleum TO overflow and carry stream
e1nguse 81 covering the tank II that cannot be done let
NJ IEscu chemist ala not accept the conclusions Of Mr.
Vandridc that petroleum would not cause spontaneous com
bustion lie thought the experiments must have 4cen On 700
Iydrocaons after standing two three years turn very
daIk by the absorption Of oxygen
sULPuATE OF RARYTA.
beautiful specimen Of this mineral from vein near South
ingion Conn., exhibited The hew mes 10 which the MN
oru applied the arts have given additional interest
Dr FfcTwANGEa said large vein 81 Cheshire IN the same
State hi been worked To the depth Of several hundred ct
and Yields than oretwelith the amount for
merry pFoiced lie had lately visited vein IN New Brunswick
which proves TO be very valuable me principal use made .,
Birytc Heavy spar 10 edlte.te the Carbonate Oh
LOCAL ASEsrHEsrA.
The CniRN,v remarked that discussion Petroleum
had rrmnda him that gifts poductsPctrocum Naphiha
had hem recommended By Dr. Bg!Ow Of the Massachusetts
mel ert. 81 Inc by as re TO be sueieI TO the ku the
surrroa. DR. Richardson OF London lad e ether for thus pur
ago lie Polytechnic by which the temperature be re-
daccd 10 - r. below zero Dr. BFlow, however by using
very simple apparatus napaiha which bos 10 10 Fthe
ghtcst Of all known iqus-s enabled 20 produce tenpc'
tue from l5o to lg below zero me TfnIa9 81 'o pam n
point 10 below that Of ether Its exact seche gravity Is
holly reamtnabe hydro carbon hy the RgoIns ffon
tho GIeck (rtyos) meaning extreme cold
DRAFTS, VENTILATION AND RESPIRATION.
These subjects intended TO embrace al questions relating TO
pure air had bcca discussed a Two previous meetings.
aud various methods had been described for carry on the ar
tainted WIN Wilt dIoUG u and sppyinS fresh air Without
causing strong currents In some parts OF the room 10 DC
ventilated But ttlenew was elected on these points IN 'he
diversity opinion was expressed to the number Of
cubic fee, " air required for Il SLED ping room. 49,,
Mir C. OyR0S gave humorous account Of his visit TO
the oil regions during tie Creates ush OF specuaorso tat
Dr. spoke the Of carbonc acid found
al the bottom wells mines and m consequence OF us
sre" den n',S more ir o ~ del Tane into which this
gus flows filling 1t to the depth Of two three feet 50 that
may enter safely but dog carried into anu placed Oh
Afcr some further discussion on ventilation the CHAIRMAN
submitted the following brief
ON TIE DRAFT OF cHIsNEYs.
The draft OF a chimney nuc depends mainly the DIFF
ference between the temperature within and without iii,
IL tall chimney will Increase the DRAFT because u limits
straight continuous column and protecting them nom the
cooling effects OF the surrounding Or.
Ill tall chimney viii diminish the DRAFT because me
ascending column meded by greater friction against the
the chimney and Il cooled 10 greater extent by T1a
ney short will absorb the heat In the smoke mus les
" The higher the heat Of the smoke the greater will be the
difference the temperature outside and in and the
greater viii be The draft Tt certain ,.n, tho do b
cause although the velocity OF the column may be greatly IN
onsn The actual quantity Of air entering bottom will
E. cssoned The limit TO which the ascending column may be
heated about 500 Fahrenheit Any additional heat beyond
this point tend diminish tho draft Thus nature inter
poses law prevent too great waste OF heat =, ,c
because the amount friction OF the ascending column pro
VII Too large a nue dmnishes the draft because the
smoke moving at slower rate longer exposed to gear
chimney aud dgs with 1t more cold air drawn IN
VIII certain quantity Of air is necessary for combustion
dues were connected herewith the air would down one
due to supply the fire and the smoke would ass UP Ic
y.
the FIRE coos the ascending column checks combustion anu
lessons the draft -.
X. chimney gradually increasing in capacity from the bot
tom upward tends 10 increase the draft ,
chimney hue gradually increased IN size nom INC top
downward for short distance viii lessen te eneet OF uoNh
ward currents produced by gusts OF wind %
XII Wind blowing horizontally generally increases the draft
because any current lowing right line tends TO Gerry Win
il another like current moving perpcndculnrly 20 ~
Kill Wind will reta the draft provided there are open
windows In the from which the draft is supplied wmch
arc parallel with the OF the wind for in that case the So
called suclionorce OF the wind viii be greater below than
above.
XIV The best draft and economical fire Is secured by
closing airtght the lower portion OF the chimney ana every
part the heating apparatus excepting the daper when reg
utes the fire and which produce perfect combustion should
admit thirds the air under the tire and one third abo'e
EFFECT CURRENTS.
In the course Of the evening DR. HowRL performed simple
bt interesting experiment 10 Illustrate The drawing force OF
currents Two blocks Of wood each inch thick and about
foot long pnccd the table parallel with each other ana
two inches apart Ills space aud the blocks was d
paper OF length On applying haad bellows to one
e Of this passage and blowing straight through H. many sup
posed tie paper would be blown or just the opposite was the
eject. The paper was drawn IN toward the current
Amer selecting Disniccans the subject for Tue next
rpgu the CHAhAN announced that tie monthly
rrartrr of tie American Institute win DE held on Ihnny
rr.rg next which Horace Greeley viii preside aad nc'
Jl.r aacf Us udIounnclL the POLYTECHNIC VIII commche'
Is session.