New-York tribune., 1875-05-12
MASTER MECHANICS IN CONVENTION

c.usvs ov p.uwAy BANKRUPTCY MATERIALS AND
CONSTRUCTION OF LOCOMOTIVE BOILERS.
The eighth annual Convention OF the Amer
loan Railway Master Mechanics Association was peS"h
Yesterday nj the Cooper Union Tho sessions VIII con-
tinue to-day and tomorrow. H. NJ Brtton fresT
dent OF tho Afsociaton congratulated the Association
upon the large gathering present He referred 10 inc
gross errors end cxravagances which had taken SO
strong hold upon the railway economy OF the country!
resulting in widespread railway bankruptcy The op-
iect Of the Convention to show how the equipment
OF railways could be so reformed as 10 a'o
in restoring SO great an industry to solvent
condition. lie called attention to the iact
that where the narrow gauge railways hai
been adopted the effect has been 10 reduce mateay 'no
weight of the rolling stock Might not rc'hc"S w "P
piled 10 reduce the cost Of railroads OF oruih"S s""s
Inv reducing the weight Of the rolling sockf The weight oi
The rolling stock on such railways has increased from 'o
20 100 nor cent within the last 20 years and the sai Load
for eight car has increased 80 per cent The STRUCTURE
of tbcss railroads has not changed; consequently uc
same bridges and Iron have 10 support an enormous IN
crcase in the weight This has had material lnhiehee
in producing railroad bankruptcy 1t is the duty OF the
Association do all in its power to correct tms great
evil 1t is for them TO show that change OF gauge Is
not what is re1ed in the railways, but change In the
weight of the rolling stock
The main subject Of discussion was " Tic Best Ma
teria Constructions Operation, and Management of Lo
comove Boilers" A Committee had been appointed at
the ast Convention 10 report on thS supject' IL c"H
sisted of j. NJ Boone, j. A. Jactman, and G. W. Cushing
The Committee reported that the materials In general use
for locomotive boilers and freboXcs steel aud iron
The Committee had statements concerning 200 boilers
of which the outside and waist we're STEEL All VINO Sea
them reported that defects had been found III them
after service of ak years Favorable reports hal been
made of 900 boilers the outside sheets OF which are iron
Steel and iron are being used for fire boxes Steel fire.
boxes with fuel giving general satisfaction
With bitumnous coal they are not 50 satisfactory 'ne
sIde sTGo sheets pos efsA tWS % and three years
These cracks are invariably in the side sheets stcc
re-bOX with iron crown sheet aud trcboNes WIN copper
side sheets are well spoken Of The iron frcOOX Is com
paincd OF for cracking and bsteiing The Committee
recommends good homogeneous steel that VIII not
harden ls the material for boilers ana re-boXes
steel has tensile strength OF nearly ~ per fch o
than iron aud the Committee believe that ~ a shrcs o
bo of inch in thickness can be safely nSei III oos o
A. inches diameter ana mndcT where e-hcn IRON IRON rneutI
would have Ia be used. THIS difference ln wciSht Won
make the cost Of the two materials nearly equal WIN
the advantage in the case OF steel 0f eccd Wcsnt vi
the engine. II is believed that the steel VIII so wear
better than iron There was no sign of coro+on In INC
inside of steel boiler after three years service Sce
and iron are used for woodburning tire
boxes, with result in favor of steel Ill COR
sequence Of the lighter sheets and the metal
moi blistering In using btumnous coal Tor fuel. copper
STEEL ana iron are used copper VIII not cr,ck, pu,
away easily. and is easily reduced Ia tinncts
that dangerous copper trebOX lasts from hrce 10
five years The objection 10 IRON hIeD0Nes Is NAV t
iron blistors becomes "burnt ont very brittle. anu
cracks. Three years is about the average Ie o' an IRON
TchoX. INC only objection TO steel is tat u CRACKS
The Committee lad the record OF III steel ic-Doxcs
about first put in in This country; the aveTlSe o the
h,2ncst years and mOnths, OF tie lowest, !
wears and / months; OF the Al, wears and months.
OF steel frbDXcS. the old st was Sye1ra OLD sitcs
| Cf the whole number have cracked The Committee
complained that The manufacturers OF boiler steel DO not
| produce uniform metal .
In consequence of the lateneas OF the hour TIE discus
siou on this subject postponed till to day The report
of the Committee the InIiicallOn Oi fccd water N",
| read and the COny cntOn adjourned.