The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-22

SILVER cord and silver plate in rofuson This arm has
They also show box Of small pieces Of wood, colored
ana vanished IN every known shade
BIGGEST ESGISE
A noteworthy fact In connection with the Exhibition
have thus lar escaped the observation Of the
keen-eyed and industrious letter writers. Among the
thirty eight nations OF the world who meet here In
irendv struggle for supremacy, and OF the thirty
eight states OF the Union the smallest OF them all
Rhode lsiand-has the place OF honor. In the grand
space the centre OF tho main buiding. where the
four greatest and most advanced nations IN the world
France, 6ermany Groat Britain and the United
States-stand face face bearing their richest treas
urcs, their most costly and beautiful objects, tho
Unied States has chosen its representative tor this
responsible position the Gorham Manufacturing Com
pany, OF Rhode Island, who, In conjunction with TIN
any, Bailey and Starr 4 Marcus, make display Of
silvcrware and art work In fine metals such as even
the world famous ESingions, whose stand oppo
site in the English section, can scarcely rival
DLusIISG noNoRs THICK rroN HER.
But still more conspicuous hone< - accorded
"Little khody' in the Machinery Hail. The monster
Corlss engine, the largest ever built in tho world
cmanates IRON the smallest State In the Union. The
iron monster stands like awful giant the middle of
the structure and furnishes power TO move fourteen
of machinery II rs capable OF exerting force
equal to 2,500-horse power. Little Rhody has taken
iron that eighteen months ago was sleeping at the
bottom OF some Pennsylvania NINE and built tho greatest
motor in the world Thus Rhode Island moves the
machinery OF the universe, from the monster blast fur
mace Pennsylvania. which stands by, to the
delicate silk looms OF England and France.
This great engine has been described in the HERALD
and elsewhere IN a general way, but IN view OF It's im
portance wonderful illustration OF mechanical skill
and power have taken the pains 10 get the story OF
the monster somewhat in detail
TO BE BUILT IN RHODE ISLAND.
About two years ago, when the Exhibition was
assuming shape in the plans ofthe Commissioners and
the Board OF Finance Mr. George h. Corliss, OF Prov
dencc, X. l., United States Centennial Commissioner
from his State, offered 10 furnish the power necessary
TO run all the machinery which !. was inougn,
the need at 1400 horsepower The com
mission was inclined to accept the oner, but
In Philadelphia, which IL OF the greatest iron
manufacturing cities IN the country opposition was
manifested because she naturally thought that her en-
CINE builders should have chance IL objected
that il would not be lair establishment have
the honor OF furnishing all the power TO tho exclusion
OF other States and in the larger manufacturing States
IL thought rather presumptuous In Little khody 10
take such responsibility and honor upon herself
Mr. Corss then withdrew his offer In order TO give all
a chance. The commission then formally advertised
for proposals for furnishing power for the whole Of the
eight lines OF shaniug ia Machinery Hail. or for
single line, ms 10 divide the work among as many
different engine builders there lines CT shang.
The Commissioners did not deem II safe TO count upon
tho exhibitors furnishing any power and determined
have power enough under their own control, indie
pendent OF any which might aferward come in the
way OF steam engines placed ON exhibition.
When the proposals came in 1t was
discovered that there not enough power offered TO
their needs that none OF the bidders could, or
would agree to furnish all that none were willing TO
furnish boilers connecting pipes, and that tho
total cost according 10 the Inadequate bids they re-
cewed Was more than what Mr.. Corlss had offered TO
do the work Tor Time began TO grow short and moth.
ing was done. At length, IN June last, tho annual
meeting OF the commission, Mr. Corss, by a unani-
nous vote. formally invited to renew his offer. He
did so and carly in June he signed the contract 10
bu lid an engine capable Of doing the work needed
BUILDING THE ENGINE
The work Of building the monster was begun on tho
14ih Of June and finished at cost greater, II
is said than $40 000 which the Board Of Finance
paid for IT, Mr. Corss himself gave his personal at
tcnon to the work. AID. wnen its parts were complete
stood by III Machinery Hall to assist In putting them
together
THE PLAN OF MR.. coRLIss
for furnishing this power by double engine con
sistng OF beam engines OF 700 horse power eacn,
central position IN Machinery Hail. and distribut
ing the power IRON this point throughout the building
These engines have the ty-whecl "a gear) between
them, and the cranks OF botn connect with the same
crank shaft, that properly speaking 1t should be
called engine instead of Two, or double engine
Machinery Hall IS 400 feet long by 500 ect vide with
additions OF which is continuation Of the tran
sept giving width OF about 000 feet IN the middle of
the building The engine is placed IN the transcpt in
the centre or The whole hall directly facing the main
side entrance The building here is 10 feet from
floor the top of the venator, thus giving ample
height for The working OF the engine. The gear n.y.
wheel connects underneath the floor with the mann
shaft which 252 fec, long and runs crosswise of the
building. At the ends OF this SHAFT and at
two intermediate points, connected with 1t
by nests of bevellcd gear six feet In diameter, arc
shafts Jos feet long, running at right angles
with the main shaft and parallel with thcsmnn build
ing 10 points directly under the ends OF tie separate
lines overhead shaitng. At each end OF these four
connecting shafts are the main pullcys. eight In all,
seven OF them being eight and one nine feet IN dame
ter, and each thirtywo inches across the face. BY
this arrangement each pulley directly under cni
OF n distinct main shaft overhead in the hall, with
which is connected by double bolt, thirty inches
wide and seventy feet long, an aggregate OF twenty
width OF double betting being required to trans
init the whole power OF the engine aud each Is in
position 10 drive straight line of
sHAFTIyG SIX HUNDRED AND FIfTy-FivE FEET LONG,
what may be called separate section of machinery
each section being the whole length and one fourth OF
the width OF wing OF the hall This main shaft
tends underneath the floor OF tho transcp hundred
feet or more furnish power for machinery that
Thus there ,S4 iect OF main shaftng four or
beveed gear three IN nest and each gear SIX iect
diametor and the large gear connecting with The gear
ny-whecl underneath the noor and completely out of
sight, while the man pueys extend above the floors
less than half their diameter.
Tho nam belts instead of being eycsorc, az is too
often the case pass through the hall OF way
places and are encascd IN glass apartments eight by
SIX feet in size as to make proper exhibit OF the
belts.
short distance IRON the ansept and thirtysix feet
IRON the main building In this there are twenty OF
connecting with the engine by means Of pipes under
meath the oor so feet long and eighteen inches
diameter, OF wrought iron and double rveted. Tho
boiler house is handsome red brick structure with
two ckimneys tornamented) ninety feet IN height
THIS house Is arranged with balconies for the con
venencc of those who wish witness the working Of
the apparatus IN the boiler house
arc what is known ms beam engines OF the Corliss pat
tern, with all tho latest improvements, and normally
OF 700 horse cach 400 horsepower IN both,
though this Increased to = 500 power
should occasion redaire. The cylinders arc forty
inches In diameter with ten feet stroke. Tho engines
are provided with air pumps and condensing appara-
tus, and arc intended to work with from twenty-five 10
eighty pounds of steam, according to the requirements
OF the Exhibition The engine made by hr. Covliss for
the wamsutta Mills, New Bedford, which world
famed has larger cylinder, but is not heavy an
engine, will not stand high pressure, and,
qucntly will not DO much work. II Tor they, you
choose, for It Is really two in one is set upon polished
iron pates-an iron carpet, as II were-paced upon
platform ftylve feet in diameter raised three and
half ect above the floor OF the hall.
INTERESTING
The gear ny wheel rs thirty feet In diameter, two
feet It's face and weighs nftysix tons And
looks II it is easy TO believe that II IS the
heaviest cut wheel made, indeed 1t 1t has
2l6 teeth and these finished with such degree OF
accuracy. such perfection OF nicely, that though tho
wheel makes thirty-sx revolutions per minute
absolutely noIsecssy.
In piece Of work OF the magnitude OF this Wheel
where one would naturally suppose workmanship OF
ordinary care would answer just well. It may
strange TO learn that tho nish OF these teeth line
workmanship Is necessary sowing machine
In the works of watch, but that Is literary The
microscope Is brought into liberal use, and what would
appear to be the small matter Of the hundrcth part OF
inch Is matter 10 be carefully looked after For
the information OF the curious II be stated that the
velocity oi the periphery OF this Wheel the number
OF revolutions mentioned will be 3s4 feet per minute