Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-10-17
SCIENCE NOTES.


1t is proposed to remove the engines
and driving wheels to the tender, re-
placing the present locomotive frame
by low frame or platform, designed
simply for carrying boiler of the full
diameter allowable by the present
loading gauge. By this separation of
engine and boiler it would be practi-
cable to produce an express locomo-
tive from two and one-half to three
times the capacity of the most power
full express locomotive existing today.
The boiler platform could be carried
on two low six-wheel trucks, says the
Literary Digest, and by utilizing its
full 10 feet of width to carry water
tube boiler of the Yarrow or some
other first class torpedo boat type and
installing the necessary apparatus for
forced draft it would be possible to
provide three times as much heating
surface as is found in the boilers of
our largest express locomotives. AS
to the utilization of this great steam
capacity, the tender might contain two
independent sets of engines, arranged
on the Atlantic type system, with the
cylinders carried over four-wheel
trucks at either end and two independ-
ent sets of four-coupled driving wheels
between them.
Mining Accidents"
Much has been done by science to
diminish the risk of explosion in coal
but one danger persists
against which it seems impossible to
guard-the recklessness of the miner.
Inquiry into the recent disaster in
South Wales, where over 80 lives were
lost, has brought to light some almost
incredible revelations. The Engineer
says: There is the story of a Cwma-
man miner who leaped into an under
ground tram and in leaping trod upon
a box of matches which someone else
had carried down below. There is the
verified account of filled pipe being
under a piece of fall in
one heading in another pit in the
Aberdare Valley. There is the ac-
on the part OF the col
liery managers in the Merthyr and
Aberdare Valleys that the workman is
permitted, even under the pit bylaws,
to take loose tobacco with him to his
working place, because he wants to
chew it, Since the beginning of the
year host of men have been brought
before the magistrates in the colliery
valleys for carrying matches or pipes
with them to their working stalls
And still accidents will happen,
Fires on Shpboard.
why water is not always used in
extinguishing fire in a ships hold is
clear" says Fire and Water. while
it can be used to great advantage in
the csc of fires in the open air, if it
should be used to put out big fire in
the hold of a vessel the sudden burst
Of steam so formed would be the par
ent of disastrous results. NJ Diobs,
a French maritime engineer, has re-
Gently suggested a new method of dis
covering and extinguishing fire on
especially that arising from
spontaneous combustion in the cargo.
To give warning of fire, or of a rise
Of temperature that may lead to it, he
would distribute through the cargo
vertical metallic tubes. Into these
tubes, from time to time thermome-
-ers could be lowered to ascertain the
temperature. His next step would be
10 place in the midst of the cargo a
arge cask containing lime and COM
by a small tube with the
bridge. In case of fire in the hull sui
phuric acid is poured into the tube
and violent production of carbonic
acid gas takes place, which smothers
Ill combustion
Calcium Carbide as Reducing Agent.
Commercial calcium carbide is not
yet 10 years old. 1t is manufactured
n more than half a hundred works.
he problems of its production have
been solved, and if we
)nly knew what to do with it it might
still be regarded as a most promising
;hild. But it remains practically sim
ply the parent of acetylene. Research
IS demonstrate that calcium car
'ide can undoubtedly afford a very
help to the chemist and as
aver; and also to the metallurgist in
efining operations. But it's direct
netallurgical value has not vet been
established.