Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-06-21
THE ENGINEERS.
THEIR SECOND DAYS SESSION IN
THIS CITY YESTERDAY.

An Interesting Series of Papers on the
Science of Observation-Disclosures In
formation from Eminent Men in the
PrOfessiOn-The Programme for To-day.
Wednesdays meeting of the American
Society of Civil Engineers, in the hall Of
the house of representatives at the state
capitol, having been called to order by
Chairman Sheppard, the secretary, Mr..
Bogart, recited from the bundle of invita-
tions on hand the outside programme for
the remainder of the week. For Yesterday
afternoon and evening the programme was
a carriage ride about Minneapolis, with
visits to principal works of engineering,
and inspections of mills and other manu-
featuring establishments according to the
wishes of members, and moonlight ride
with their ladies around Lake Minnetonka
on Gen. Washburn's steamer, the City OF
st. Louis, with hospitable and social enter
tainment on board. To-day the visi-
tors are to be taken to Fort Smelling and
Minnehaha. For Friday a visit to Lake
Calhoun is proposed and for each day a
choice of routes is afforded by tender of all
sorts of transportation companies. For
Saturday an excursion by one of the gov
eminent river improvement boats is pro-
posed, to inspect the works between
Hastings and Prescott and on Lake st.
Croix, with entertainments by the most
happily hospitable people in the world,
who have made Saltwater their headquar-
nd ibo fril
& Duluth railroad via White Bear lake.
In regard to Saturdays programme there
was considerable hesitation, a number of
members of the society feeling that they
could not stay from home longer than
necessary, and some doubt being express
ed whether enough would remain over
Saturday to show the general appreciation
OF the inequalities rendered. 1t was final
ly Informally agreed to leave the cues
ton of accepting the Invitations
for Saturday and also the
tenders of conveyance homeward for q
canvass of members OF the society to be
made last evening, the results of which
are to be reported this morning. In an
attempt to obtain an expression as to
Saturdays programme twenty nine mem
bers present pledged themselves to go to
Saltwater, and twenty-eight would not
make the promise at that time. As
nearly half the members we're absent at
the time, the postponement of the matter
was for obtaining their expression.
STEAM POWER.
The discussions of the day were opened
by comments and criticisms upon the pa
Per of Charles E. Emory, submitted
Tuesday, on "The cost of steam power
James B. Francis, of Lowell, Mr.. Meier.
of st. Louis, Mr.. Holloway, of Cleveland,
and j. B. FriZzell made comments upon
the points of the paper to which Mr..
Emory responded. He acknowledged he
had perhaps in giving thirty years as the
life of steam plant made the period too
long, and would take twenty years, consid-
ering the waste of boilers, as fair
period although engines should last
much longer. But no charge
against steam power should be made for
renewal or removal of the plant for rea-
sons other than wearing out. Nor should
steam power be charged with the loss by
overworking engines. He would not con
cede that there had been many improve
ments in steam engines within the last
twenty or thirty years. Much of the so
called improvements are merely changes il
shape or plan. His estimates, as contained
in the paper submitted, we're for Fall River
Mass, and based on sworn evidence.
ST. ANTHONY FALLS.
The government works for the pro
lection of the water power at st
Anthony Falls was next considered, the
work since 1873 being sketched and ex
planned by Major Allen, the engineer il
charge since that time. In answer to
question from some member whose name
was not learned, Major Allen stated that ht
understood the theory on which govern
ment money was given for the preserva
ton of the falls was that their destruc-
ton would increase the rapid
and shoals above, thus destroying the navi
cation, to improve which the government
was then making annual appropriations
for removal of boulders from the channel
Mr.. Emory explained that he was mis-
understood yesterday in regard to the rela
tive cost of preserving the falls or substi
tuting steam power. He had sale
that on intermittent streams, wher
the water power was unreliable and i
used steam plant was also necessary, i
would be cheaper to rely on the steam
plant alone, but with the regular aud larg,
flow OF the Mississippi river there was NJ
question of relative cost. The water powe
is cheapest.
MINERAL WOOL.
DR.. 7. Eggleston presented paper re
lating to explosions at Columbia college o
steam pipes which were surrounded b.
blast furnace wool. This wool is non con.
Quoting mainly by reason of the air en-
closed by its flores. But moisture decom
poses or partly dissolves it, setting fire,
sulphuric acid which attacks the iro1
pipes. In series of experiments he had
demonstrated that the wool is decomposeC
by the weakest of organic acids and i!
partly soluble in water. Hence, he regard
ed it with its usual constituent of a free
sulphur, as dangerous material unless
thoroughly protected against the escape Of
steam or other forms of moisture.
Mr. Emory argued that the accidents
described would have occurred had the non.
conducting wrapping been of any other
fbrous material. They were to be at
tributed to the leaks of the pipes, not the
covering of the pipes, and the condition:
of moisture may have depended on the
pipes being alternately heated and colo
or dry and wet. The carbonic acid of the
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