The morning call., 1892-05-18
MARE ISLAND VISITED.
Yesterdays Outing of the Society
of Mechanical Engineers.
Inspecting the Pacific Coast Naval Plant
The Visiting Ladies Object to Californian
Practical Jokes Evening Session.

The American Society of Mechanical
Engineers yesterday put in a day Of in
struction and enjoyment ON San Francisco
Bay and tributary channels. The new tug
boat Fearless carried the visitors TO the
Maynard on Mare Island. Before that
point was reached the Fearless had taken
the party out through the Golden Gate to
the seal rocks and had steamed past all the
islands and other points of interest. The
ladies among the guests had been cautioned
to take with them warm wraps for the bay
trip. Acting under this adm0nition, the
cherished wives and sisters from the East
nestled their sweet selves In furs and eloaks
of warm textures, as though they had pre-
pared themselves for a New England sleigh
ride
THE SUPERFLUoUs WRAPS.
When they began to swelteT at the Wash
ington-streeI wharf they declared they were
the victims OF a Californian practical JOKE.
The mercury rose in the thermometer. The
sun blaZed on the hOt-loOking sheds, and its
heat seemed TO be dancing from the water.
Parasols and fans, not sahles, became the
THU IS most needful OF came the wraps,
and the ladies' sighed for their muslin sum-
mer robes.
AT MARE ISLAND.
The Fearless arrived mt the Mare Island
Nayy-yard about II O'clock, where Admiral
Irwin, Chief Engineer Moore and the other
officers stationed at the yard gave all
sailors hearty welcome The EoSt kindly
attentions were shown the visitors Officers
were detailed to conduct the visitors through
all the construction departments, and the
plant was closely scrutlniZed b. expert eyes.
The verdict of the mechanical engineers
was that the equipment at Mare Island for
good work was in every regard first class
After passing two hours ashore the party
returned TO the Fearless, when her head
was pointed for the city.
THE EVENING SESSION
In the evening the second session of the
American Society OF Mechanical Engineers
was held in the Academy OF Sciences Hall
Vice-President George l. Alden occupied
the air.
There was a large attendance not only Of
members but of residents interested in the
group Of professional topics under review.
The Density of Water at Different Tenn
peTatures" WAS the subject o. the first paper
The author is A. f. Nagle Of Chicago. Ii
was read by Secretary Hutton. Attention
was called 10 the lack OF unanlmity among
authors as 10 the density of waller at any
temperature. Even at its maximum density
and at the boiling point there Is not perfect
agreement Mr.. Nagle in his paper sub
mitted tables showing q new comparative
volume of water at different temperatures
and new table OF comparative volume and
weights Of water at different temperatures
OBJECTIONS TO AN OLD FORMULA
The next professional paper was on the
Economy aud Efficiency OF the Steam
engine" by c. II. Peabody of Boston. This
was also read by Secretary Hutton. The
matter was highly technical throughout.
''Some Tests of Portable Boiler" were
discussed in paper prepared by William
o. Weber Of Erie, Pa, and read by the
Secretary. Accompanying was series of
tests made upon new form Of portable
boiler in which improvements have been re-
Gently made, ana 1t was undertaken TO
demonstrate, first, the desirablity of the
changes since made. which have reference TO
the loss by radiation OF heat from the back
end or combustion chamber, Of the boiler;
secondly, the effect OF loss by radiation from
the uncovered heating surface OF the boiler;
and lastly the proper size OF injector and
safety-yalve required per square foot Of
heating surface and per square foot of CRATE
surface for boilers of the different sizes in
order 10 obtain the greatest possible
evaporation during given period. the re-
suits OF the tests were given In tabulated
form.
TIDAL MOTORS.
An elaborate paper by Albert w. Stahl
Of the United States navy. read by that
gentleman, closed the evenings work. 1t
treated OF the interesting subject of the
Utilization Of the Power of Ocean Waves"
The paper set forth the modern aud gener-
ally accepted theory of wave motion, its
geometry and mechanics. Deductions were
made showing the logical and most eff
cient method Of utilizing the power OF the
waves. Attention was called to the fact that
the depth of water dimnlSnes in proper
tion TO the length of a wave The principal
methods for utilizing the power Of the
waves were considered at great length, as
well as the causes Of any inefficiency that
has been found to exist The conclusion
was reached that what is known as the mo-
ton of the distorted verticals seemed to be
the one most likely to give efficient results
To-DAY's PROGRAMME.
To-day the members of the society will
visit the Crystal Springs reservoir at the in
Vitation of the Spring Valley Water Com
pany. AT San Mate0 the party will be con-
veyed by carriages to the great dam and
reservoir, where luncheon will be served
and papers of the third session of tie society
will be submitted. In the evening the fourth
session will be held in the Academy OF
Sciences Hall.
Tomorrow the excursionists will be the
guests Of Adolph Sutro The ladies will re-
turn in time to take the ! o'clock boat for
Berkeley, where they will be entertained
bv Mrs. James Spiers, after which they will
be driven through Berkeley, Oakland and
surroundings At the same time the gen.
tlemen Of the party viii take tug at the
foot OF Washington street and visit the
Union Iron Works and Pacific Rolling mills.
In the evening there will be given a lantern
slide exhibition al the Academy of Sciences
Hall, Illustrating special mach inery Oh the
Pacific Coast