Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-13
ECONOMY IN sfEAM POWER.
A Step Forward.

The consumption and cost Of fuel for steam
power is one OF the great. and, we may add,
difficult, financial problems of the present
age. England is already anIiou ly calcu-
lating the time when her coal mines will be
exhausted, at the present rate OF consump-
ton. In the United States, according to the
Census Reporter of 1880, it appears that our
merchant steam craft consumed nearly four
million tons for that year. while the fuel for
our locomotives cost $32,s36,47O. We have
not been able to obtain the statistics OF fuel
used in manufactures for that year, but ind
the number of engines employed to have been
56,4s3, with . horsepower of 2,ls54
The coal used in these establishments in 1870
was 2s,327,2l3 tons, and, with the known
increase, could not have been less in 1880
than thirty million tons
OF the enormous amounts of fuel con-
sumed in the marine department, two illustrs-
tions may be given. The steamer Oregon
burns 337 tons Of coal per day. Her
average time for crossing the Atlantic
is seven days: 33717-2,359 tons
The same being required for
the return passage, gives 2,35sx2-4,7ls
tons consumed each trip. The Steamer
Rome, 3o4 tons per day, gives 3O417-2,l2s:
2.l2sI2-4,256 tons each trip.
These facts are astounding. Yet as our
country grows, manufactures multiply New
railroads will be built, and traffic constantly
increased. Hence will arise a vastly in
creased demand for steam power. Can the
increased cost be afforded? Engineers,
manufactures and railroad officials have
been, and are, looking at this problem. 1t is
believed thar solution can and will he OBJ
tanned. 1t now seems that this solution is at
hand. The Triple Thermic Motor, invented
by Mr.. W. S. Colwell, Of Pittsburg, Pa, is
An apparatus by which IS to 81 per cent of
fuel is saved. 1t has been thoroughly tested
in practical work during a period Of nearly
two years. The inventor and the man.
ayers of the enterprise have pur-
posely refrained from advertising
it. So many experiments in that line have
been announced only to prove failures, that
they have preferred to carry the invention
out of the feld Of experiment and demon
strate beyond doubt its utility and value,
before calling the attention of the public to it.
This has been done in the most thorough
manner.
A company has recently been incorporated
under the laws OF the State of New York, To-
Gated at No. sol Fifth avenue, New York
City. They are setting up engines in some
of the Eastern States, and receiving orders
from other sections. Some of their engines
will soon be in operation in Ohio.
This new motor does not necessitate any
change in the machinery of the engines now
in common use, except in the cylinder The
invention pertains to the boiler and appara-
tus connected Herewith. Evidently We are
on the eve of q revolution in the use
OF steam power. From the
annual report of the engineer of the City
Water Works. made last April, it will be seen
that 1852 tons of coal were consumed by the
engines during the year, at a cost of $l,955.
The Triple Thermic Motor would save three
fourths of this cost, or $l,466. The same is
true of every mandatory in this city, SO that
it will be seen that it means a saving of
thousands annually to our manufacturers.
The use of this new motor in New England
signifies a saving of over 81 I 7,OOO, 900 every
year in the use of stationary engines only.
These statements are marvellous, we admit;
but, as the railroad has, during the present
century, revolutionized the mode of travel and
transportation, SO the Triple Thermic Motor
10 destined to revolutionize the use OF steam
power. Mr. r. L. Colwell, OF Lowell. Mass,
is in the city, at the Arcade Hotel, represent
ing this enterprise