New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-23


James Croes. the writer OF very neat prize essay on
the Croon watershed moved that committee OF experts
be appointed 10 ascertain whether II Is practicable to
have the gaugings Of rivers accurately determined es
pcciay for estimates of water supply Mr. Croes told an
amusing story--without uames--of q community that
reused to dissatisfaction with the estimates Tor
watcrworks and q reservoir, by citizen who had been
STUDYING the weather reports and Prof lienrys esu-
mates Of avera &c rainfall Another engineer was en-
poycd TO revise The first estimates. which he did cbafg
ing heavy fee expert and reporting that they
were right in every particular
The subject of concetes and cencnts was the last dis
ou,sed Mr. shedd spoke Of the deslrabity OF uniform
system of tests employed with these materials ana
told of hq own experience lie had devised ana carrier
on, the follow Ing plan. large number OF specimens
from different makers subjected to testing appr-
tus - 800 specimens were examined, and the ""rk OF
different makers thus put on record Manufacturers
were originally asked TO furnish specimens OF cement
that would not break under 80 pounds to the square men
after Que DAYS immersion in wafer The manufacture
improved wAlc the tests were proceeding, until those
that would not stand GO pounds to the square men were
no longer thought worthy OF considerations Some spoei
mems stood tests much exceeding 200 pounds before
br.3l-ng down. When immersed 80 to - days. tLcre
were some that, with section of li9 inches, stool
crashing weight of AGO TO 49, pounds The cement
gained strength steadily shown by reducing results l"
q graphic curve. during moro than 100 days; pnt ia
periods exceeding a half year the improvement toward
tho last became doubtful Ihe cost OF testing wa Tor
accented barrels one cent each; rejected. three cents
Experiments cement and sand broken 81 days after
mixing showed strength of 1000 pounds to the square
inch
PENNSYLVANIA MANUFACTURES.
Much time Was devoted 10 the examinai On OF iron and
steel works; the convention being facilitated IN ms re-
spoct by the begtty of railroad companies ana oil the
manufacturers by whom a series OF excursions ITO"
Pittsburgh AMI In its vicinity deity planned ana
skfuly managed. The excursions were al carried out
nlp time in arPOr
80 that while intervening between some Of the sessions
they dill not at al interfere with tho projected business
of the meeting. To tell of all that was shown by the busy
manufacturers and TO explain the processes by which
ron is baked roasted, stewcd, melted, boiled puddicd
hammered banged, SHED, squeezed, nodded, sawed
paped trimmed polished and otherwise induced to ;akc
shape would require space than can here be gwen
Before examining hot metal the engineers beg ny
viewing process which sets at naught the caution OF
HGdibras respecting tho dangers that do environ the
man that NEEDLES with cold iron. AT the American
Iron Works Nossrs Jones Laughln produce codrolled
sl.ang only the hest iron will stand this process in
feIor metal would snap The iron has IL be Dipped In
acids till all scale is removed, then plunged III alhaes
to take UP the acid; then washed in pure wafer The
bars rode subjected to this process as exhibited were
of Q, to 6nch iron when after such cleaning they are
pas ed trOu n the rolls their thickness reduced lG o1
an inch Surely tie rolls that effect ths process must be
Of the hardest steel Just there is the mystery; they
are OF beautifully polished soft iron. This fact may lie
pn alongside OF another Witnessed by the engineers,
whore saw Of soft iron driven at high speed cut through
heavy II beams as they cheese. The process ci
cold rolling adds greatly to the streneth of the iron
making more Ike stcc for certain purposes tho gam
is very great This iron will not serve where metal Is
expected to stretch since it breaks short but for aXs
shifting, piston rods, &c, Il hignly recommended
Tie large number OF iron b. dge builders among the
members attending this meeting rendered these eXani-
nations something than more visits OF curios-
~
produced 10y Me;srs. Carnegie, Brothers d CO. were
among the largest masses o. hos iron exhibited la actual
passage through the rolling mills. These beams oi
perhaps 80 feet in length or 10 inches in hght, ana
complete with top and bottom Ranges. as they como out
from between the rolls throw the scale from their glow
ing surfaces with explosions like cannon hiring II Inc
above estimates of length an thickness are incorrect it
will he understood at not tho most enthusiastic
en- neer was tempted apply his foot rule to the beams
ia fact - approach much nearer to them IMAM Wlth
10 or fcct At Graf, Bennett Il Co.'S mill. the Gel.
brated Danls pudding machines are Ill constant and 1t
is said profitable operation This invention mas more
than once been described In TIE TBCNE; AT one time 1t
was expected take the place OF handpuddlin2 entirely
Many of machines have been set up but few are
running at present the mechanical difficulties and the
rapd destruction of the furnaces having rendered their
work of doubtful profit. nsish manufacturers offered
Mr. banks an enc for his invention and II
was generally that he would receive millions OF
dollars from but i-uck attended his negotiations,
and m present he is said to have returned his original
VOCATION Of preacher OF the gospel The success OF
the machines at Graf Bennett d Co.'s mill. where
haf-lozen of them revolving, and a 9O0pnund
bloom was turned from OF them during the VISIT
must be az tributed to with which little matters
of economy looked after and ingenuity is applied TO
saving expense in vaiious minor processes. Mr. Williams
the manager OF the works. credited with the renlrH:
We may not make cheaper iron by the banks furnace
but we shall at least benefit the workinnan there is
no labor demoralzing than tnat of hand pnddng
Among
duce ~ these works were sheets presented 10 me mem
beers o. the Society which were declared to DC so INN thaI
1860 OF them could DC piled up III the space OF one men
IL viii give the reader some notion OF such thinness To
m han 1d 1 np H ihe pb and Very & noipaper
may b. 900 10 the inch For iron sheet oi llvoO 10
has beaten into leaves OF less than the nhOnh O
an iucll IN thickness.
wHIrE-HOT CULTS OF FIRE.
Immediately after seeing such masses OF iron
handled, the operations Of Miller, Barr, & P,rkins,
manufacturers OF steel springs seemed slender by com
pason aud the visitors approached closely as the
red hot bat narrow ribbons of metal emerged from the
roJa The Senens gas furnace, which converts coal into
gIs before using it, burns its smoke. rather pro
near Pittsburgh As the va j. removed from one of these
furnaces hasty glance Is oil that can he gwen 10 me
dazzling white heat OF its II IL rather startling
to tie visitor shrinking from the heat to see workman
actually planting one foot on each side OF this yawmns
pit OF ire pOKing down long tOngs into II, ana pnhg
ont White hot cTncible filed with the molten metal
II this 30 OF 60 pounds Of LIQUID tire slip from the TONS
he win be fortunate il he ever able 20 DO days work
again. The men employed IN this labor are
Strongest Of tieni-none weighed less than 900
negro At tn, K.ystone Brigc works Some Of the iron
loops be used Tor the East River Bridge were under
rnctnre where some years ago $500 900 was Laid out
meyea and oyerhaued aud viii be ready for work before
Fail Another immense establishment, rapidly ap-
preaching completion. is the Edgar Thompson Bcssen
sesI WORKS These viii be in many respects ahead of
tnprs in his As