The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-09-22
OUR CENTENNIAL LETTER.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. IL, 1876

PHILADELPHIA, sept. II, 1910
The Boating Regatta, of which 1
spoke a short time since, has begun
and has attracted immense numbers of
people. The course on the river ex-
tends from the Schuvlkill Falls to
Peters Island, and Is all that can be
desired. The races thus far have been
very good, but they differ in no essen
tial degree from those which every
one has seen. The committee have
decided that those crews, which have
been maintained in training, and their
living and training expenses paid for
sometime prior to the races, are SHRED
crews, and therefore not eligible to the
amateur races.
The attendance to the exhibition is
gradually increased 40 as to average
about 81, 600 a day, but with the open
ing of the animal show, this number
will be very Largely increased. One
of the Philadelphia papers has esti-
mated that the exhibition will close
about 100000 in debt, and this is
not tar from correct.
On the south side of Machinery Hall
Is an annex for the exhibition of Hy-
draulic and Pneumatic machinery OF
all kinds, and in the center of the an
mex is q tank, or basin, that is 146 feet
long, 60 feet wide, 8 feet deep, and
which holds about soc, 900 gallons OF
water. All around this basin are
arranged pumps of every imaginable
kind, from the smallest hand pump,
mp to those run by steam, and which
raise nearly 10000 gallons a minute |;
blowers, for forcing great volumes of
air; hydraulic rams; water meters !;
and mining machinery. All of those
pumps which are driven by steam draw
the water up from the tank, and then
discharge 1t back again over the-edges,
ither allowing 1t to quietly fall FIR ON
considerable height, forcing 1t
through nozzles, which send the water
high in the nir, as from a fire engine.
The constant falling of thousands of
gallons of water creates q noise that
completely browns the roar of all the
machinery in the adjoining Hall.
When one Is hot and tired, a more
pleasant place than a seat by the side
OF this basin can scarcely be imagined,
rs the air is kept constantly in motion
by the blowers, and is always delight
fully cool. Among these pumps there
are two that deserve especial mention,
one for Its immense size and the fine
display it makes, and the other for its
intrinsic worth. The first is known as
the Niagara pump, and its name is fit
ly chosen. 1t consists of two immense
rotary pumps, which elevate about
$4,000 gallons a minute 80 feet high,
and then discharge 1t back into the
tank In one broad steady sheet about
30 feet wide, making as pretty a nina
ture waterfall as was ever seen.
These pumps require 100 horse power
TO run them, and are capable of empty
Ing the main basin OF Its 100000 gal
Ions In 10 minutes. The other pump,
and which in my opinion is quite q
wonderful invention, is known as the
Huffer Steam Vacuum pump. 1t con-
sIsts of two or more chambers, into
which the steam is alternately admit
ted 50 rs to form a vacuum, and into
these Vacums the water IS forced by
the pressure Of the atmosphere. Instead
of requiring live steam direct from the
boiler TO operate it, 1t is to be run en-
tirely by exhaust steam, that is, by
afaam that has already dona ifa v,nrL
in driving the main engine, and is then
allowed to escape into the air. A
pressure in the steam of q pound oil
two is as good as a pressure of many
pounds, so that person VINO runs al
engine, however small, can also run {
pump that win raise any desired guam.
tity ofwater without the expense OF {
single pound OF fuel extra. ALPHA. z