The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-07-17
THE FAT TURTLE SIMPLY GALLoPED OVER THE COURSE

to keep the zinc mine at Friedensville,
near Allentown, this State, free from the
rivers of water that were continually
driving out the miners. And for years,
until one Of the great beams was cracked
through the carelessness of an engineer
the great engine performed its duty day
in and day out, throwing out water from
a depth of 300 feet, at a rate of 12,0O0 gal
Ions per minute, 1t performed a task
which dozen smaller engines could not
overcome; in fact the suction power Of
the President as the underground water
ways was so great that for five miles
around the mine, the rivers, streams
creeks and springs were drained dry.
1t took from 1853 TO 1871 for a Philadel-
phia firm to construct the engine, the
pump, and the boilers. It's parts were so
heavy that all the bridges on the line Of
the North Penn Railroad from Philadel-
phia to Center Valley had to be strength
ened 20 insure against accident in ship
ment. From Center Valley the various
parts had to be hauled over land in spe-
cially constructed wagons.
The engine was erected after two years
work in a shaft of the mine on solid rock
ia feet below the surface. The bob wall
of masonry was nine feet thick and the
foundation for the engine was thirty-two
feet below the bed plate.
Here the monster performed its duty
without cessation until 1880, when IT be-
came disabled, and again the mine be-
came flooded. Not until over a year had
passed was repairs effected. and then the
mine was made fit for working once more
Some time later. however. the accident
occurred which has resulted in the reie-
CATION Of the President TO the scrap heap.
The second engineer forgot to prime the
second cylinder when he started up the
engine, and as a consequence all the
steam force was felt at one time instead
of gradually. Result: The great beam on
the left side of the engine was cracked
beyond repair. At least the company
could find no one who would guarantee
TO effect a cure.
Since that time until the present day the
engine has stood idle its old enemy, the
water. has flooded the mine, and hidden
from view the larger portion of the Presi-
dent.
And now the wonder of thirty years
ago visited and inspected by laymen and
expert engineers from all sections of the
world, has been sold for $500. and soon
the last portion of il will be thrown in the
scrap heap. 1t IS expected that nearly
three times the purchase price will be re-
allied in dispOsing of the material.
At present a force of sixty men are
working its destruction, while daily many
of the curious watch the operations.
Three years in building, four months will
see the last pound of the giant engine
from its shaft And this. too. in spite Of
the fact that 300 feet, or One-quarter of
the engine, is under water, thus necessi-
tating the service of a corps of divers.
The total weight of the President was
II 600 tons.
It's two flywheels weighed 107 tons each
and were 1 feet in diameter and were Gi-
vided in four parts each.
The two walking beams weighed forty
four tons apiece FOTty-fOur mules pulled
them over The mountains when the engine
was erected.
The connecting rods were II feet long
and had q combined weight of sixteen
tons.
The nut that secured the cross head 10
brass. had Z coarse thread and weighed
100 pounds IL was The largest nut eve-
constructed.
The wrench that frightened the nut
weighed ton and a half and took six
men to handle il.
There were twenty-siX other pieces that
weighed over seven tons apiece
twenty-five boilers were required 10
supply steam for the President IL had
500 horse power. and when in working
order was capable of raising Il coo gallons
of water per minute from depth of 30
feet
Every day people visit Friedensville to
watch the breaking up OF the engine. They