, 1870-09-19
RAILROAD MASTER-MECHANICS,
The Railway Mastet-Mechauicst Association
met at Philadelphia September II, H. N. Brit
ton, OF Cincinnati in Tho char


The Railway Master Mechanics Association
met at Philadelphia September II, H. N. Brit
ton, Of CINCINNATI. in tho chair.
BOILERS AND BOILER MATERIAL.
me report of the Committee on Boilers and
Boiler Material. (Messrs- Hayes, Andrews, and
Jauriett), Was read by the Secretary.
The report contains many yaluablo surces-
tlons IN regard 10 the construction OF 1ecomo-
tive boilers. 1t spkaks OF tho superior ra2idity
gained III evaporation Of water BY the con-
sumption Of the smoke, gases, etc, evolved
by coal burners. Agreat point in the speedy
raising OF steam Was gaino1 Ly the use Of as
few seams as possible in the surface Of the
boiler touched By the water, az it had been
demonstrated that the boiler always wears
most Mt the seams, and near tie rivet heads.
Bituminoua coal was destined ehor,1y 10 be-
como, the standard fuel in use in this
country for tractile purposes. A COM
Ind English engines, which demonstrated
that, as motive power, the -American loco-
motire had no superior; the English could
compete with them in no respect. Tho Eug-
sisll engine would be as nothing we're it ro-
moved from the perfect road-beds of the
United Kingdom, The English locomotive
stood uron four Leg, requiring perfectly
level read on which to exert its power. while
the American had hut three, and easily &C.
connodated itself to inequalities OF the road
bed. No increase is recommended in the
length Of the tubes in American boilers, as it
could only result in an incssase Of weight
without corresponding benefit. Great stress
vas laid upon the Importance Of attention
being eiven to the area OF the CRATE sur
face, and the area betIeen the
tubes, which depended upon the ns-
ture Of the fuel. 4 free burning coal
might be included betveen eighteen and
thirty-six lpches. Engineers used different
depths Ut coal in the grate-a subject which
called for investigation as to what Was the
minimum that would produce sufficient heat.
| Steel plates were recommended for locomotive
furnaces. The superiority Of homogeneous
| 1natetia{ had been fairly demonstrated, and
,s labor costs much. metal Of the best quality
I should be used as a measure Of economy
| Steel plates had been in use for ten years,
| and found to be good, while it VAS proved te
the cost Of railway companies, that cope!
! ard 1ron would not last The bGstesing oi
boiler plates was referred to as ffuitfu
manufacturers had furnished plates, which
| though promised 10 be good, hAd cracked
but now no defective plates were known
The steel made by cr1cible had been sul1.
tested, While that by the Bessemer process
was yet on trial; but the fact was patent thai
II 1lad been stated to the committee BY Al
eminent France engineer that in Austria
France, and Belgium steel boilers had been
perfect success, the kind used being Englisl
and Wcstphalia, 49-100tha Of an icch il
thickness. The plates must be made Of stee
that will harden, while the rirets should b
nado Of that which will not harden. The bes
steel in Europe was that Of Sheffield. A
Austrian engine Of twontr-one tous was ful
uished with steel plates four inches thica
uhiclrhad been used five years without pei
ceptiblo wear, All continental steel 1ocomt
i've boilers we're now made thicker than bt
fore. and the demand for them wss increasing
|. The committo suggested further investigate
Of this Important subject.
The report was received and the committt
discharged
Mr. Hayes, Of the Illinois Central. sid Il
! couclnsion Of the report was quoted from