The evening times., 1900-07-30
A MILLIONAIRE INVENTOR.
Cornelius Vanderbilt'S New 'Ffrebox
n Great Success.

CSAAA al EoldN-Du EIl4dy NLDLl a UAELltoo
trip to Philadelphia The young million
aire inventor was flushed with success His
patent frebox, which experts declare is
one OF the greatest improvements possible
10 add TO the modern locomotive. had been
tested at the Baldwin Locomotive Works
and found 10 work perfectly.
The result is that the Vanderbilt fire.
Do1 mas veen adopted by the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company for its rev
locomotives The new engines OF the IN
ion Pacific and Of the New York Central
will also be equipped with this improve
ment.
Mr- Vanderbilt expects that there viii
be few locomotives built in this country
in the future without his patent hrebOx-
he will receive large royalties. The il
yention accomplishes a great saving in fuel
and ~-ater. When the friends OF the young
inventor congratulated him yesterday he
said: I have accomplished all / set oct
TO do"
He would say nothing further A conf
dant Of the young millionaire told a re-
porter the story OF his success:
We all remember the message he sent
his father when his invention was first
tested. years ago Young Cornelius had
studied and labored for two years over the
model and patent He had engine No.
7S7 equipped with his corrugated iron fire.
box. The test was made on the Albany
division. Young Vanderbilt acted as en-
gineer- \ train Of ffty freight cars was
made up and he ran il thirty miles an
hour with great economy of coal and va
ter After the test he wired his father az
NewDCrt. It works Experts then began
to see that the young man who had spent
two years over a drawing board in the
construction department had really in
vented great contribution to the modern
locomotive
The success OF the Vanderbilt EreSox
on the New York Central attracted the
attention Of the Baldwin Locomotive
Company several months ago They had
experts visit New York. and consultations
were held with the millionaire iEveL or as
TO having all locomotives turned out at the
Baldwin works equipped with his patent.
Mr. Vanderbilt was pleased with the
plaudits OF the men who have spent their
lives in building locomotives They asked
for the privilege CT equipping an engine al
the Baldwin Works with the patent con-
trivznce. so tests could be made
Yes" replied Mr.. Vanderbilt. and
when you equip the engine viii 90 down
and run II myself
Thursday was selected as the test DAY.
Wednesday Mr.. Vanderbilt went 10 Phil
adelphia and stopped at the Bellevue HO-
tel He SLEPT in room No. 13. He laughed
when Superintendent Van Claim called his
attention 10 the supposed hOodOO-
I never give such silly things a
thought" he said - hundred times at
college have sat in parties o. thirteen,
but a suEgez tiOn OF bad luck never en-
tered my mind, and 7 do =oJ think the eX-
perience has ever brought me misfortune"
In the morning when Mr.. Van Claim
ard Mr.. Vanderbilt started 70 make the
test the rain was falling in torrents. Mr.
Vanderbilt drove IL q cab 10 the Ofice Of
the Baldwin Works There we're many de-
votees Of fashion in the corps OF high
officials there. and they. received rude
shock when the young millionaire arrived
He was dressed in blue serge suit OF OBJ
solete design and marred by many creas-
es- HIS straw hat was stOrm-beatPn and
showed signs Of hard wear. He had on a
negIigee shirt Of purple hue with a black
four-in-hand scarf
The engine to which the Vanderbilt fire
box had been fitted was waiting on a sid
ing OF the Reading tracks. Through the
rain Superintendent Van Claim and the
young inventor walked. Mr. Vanderbilt
climbed into the cab. followed BY Superin-
tenders Van CLAIM. In a few minutes Mr.
Vanderbilt was at the throttle and the test
was begun
For an hour the engine was run up ana
down the road. Superintendent Van CLAIM
made yariC%s tests Is 10 speed and use Of
coal and water All this time Mr. Wander
bilt was at the engineers post Superin-
tenent Van Claim became enthusiastic as
the test progressed. He complimented the
millionaire on his skill in handling an en-
gine and on his ability as an inventor.
When he stepped down from the cab Mr..
Vanderbilt said with a laugh
My freDox worked all right. so I am
satisfied no evil influence was associated
with my stay in room No Is last night 90
Superintendent Van CLAIM was enthusias-
tic He said the new Baldwin engines
would be equipped with the Vanderbilt
patent.
The imDrovement which the Wander
bilt firebON makes 10 the locomotive is
important in addition TO the saving Of
fuel and water The frebcx is built Of
heavy corrugated iron plates sud there
By increasing the heating surface When
the frebox OF the old type gets out Of
order 1 .5CG bolts have TO be uuscrewed be
fore repairs can be made This takes much
time. In the case % the Vanderbilt FIRE
box the mechanics have only 10 kuack on
the heads Of a few rivets and repairs can
be made at once
The new frebOx requires thicker metal
plates. and therefore it takes longer TO
generate heat in the surrounding water.
but this defect is Offset by its other quail
ties. II is Of such simple construction that
the cost OF repairs Is reduced 10 q mini
num-
The invention was conceived by Mr. Van
derbilt after studying under William Bu-
chanan. superintendent Of motive power
and construction Of the New York Central
road for many years Mr.. Vanderbilt de-
cided. while he was still on good terms
with his father TO make himself competent
TO handle the great railroads Of the Van
derbilt system in a perfect manner. He
started TO study every department OF the
business thoroughly. His taste for ne
ehanics was developed early in life. He
started as a common workman and had TO
spend from eight to ten hours day in
the shops and at his d-awing board for S100
4 month salary.
Afterward he devoted all his time to
studying the locomotive. He saw no i'm
prOvement could be made by him in the
driving gea- Then he gave his attention
for months u the generation of steam in
locomotives The improvements in the
frebox came to his mind and the models
were perfected after two years Of work
Mr. Vanderbilt is now devOting his time
TO departments of the railroad business
other than construction When in New
York he spends several hours every day
at his desk in the comptrOller's Office. He
is going into every detail of this work Mr.
Vanderbilt went TO Newport yesterday to
sail his 1O-foOter, the Rainbow. in the
yacht races This is his only recreation
outside of an occasional drive in Central
Park when in New York.
CURRENT HUMOR.