The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-21
ENGINEERS SAW II
Guest Of William Donaldson & Co.
at an Engine Room Re-
ception.
A Plant Which Is Interesting to
sightseers and Engineers
Alike.

and electrical engineering departments of
the state university were given treat
IN the way of a reception in the engine
room of William Donaldson & Co.'S.
Glass block Saturday evening. The
plant was in full operation and the chief
engineer, F. M. Overholt and his assist
ants were present to show the visitors
the features Of this great plant.
The Glass block engine-room is, despite
popular notions of engine-rooms to the
contrary, most attractive place to hold
reception. The floor is of mosaic, the
wainscoting is of brown marble the great
engines and dynamos are surrounded by
brass ratings SO that careless visitor
may not get dangerously close, and every
thing Is so ''spick and span clean that
ballroom gown would be safe from spot
or solling in a visit of inspection. Being
such an attractive place to the casual Wis
ltor, 1t Of course appealed with unusual
force to men who are interested profess
slonally in the perfect machinery exhib-
tied there under glare Of light as bright
as that - monday.
Great Engines.
There are four engines and four electric
generators. First is the 200 horse power
pumping engine used for pumping water
for the hydraulic elevators. There are
eight elevators six for passengers and
two for freight.
The next is 300 Kilowatt genera tor
Quilt by the Electric Machinery company
OF Minneapolis. This is coupled direct
ly to 500 horse power Corliss engine
built by the Minneapolis Steel and Ma
chlnery company. There are also two Is
klloWatt generators. These are coupled
TO 10 horse power Ideal engines and the
combination is used when extra power
is called for. A $50 kilowatt generator
Dullt by the Electric Machinery company.
directly connected with a $50 horse power
Corllss engine, built by the MINNEAPOLIS
Steel and Machinery company, completes
the lighting battery
An additional engine is used for the
operation of the ice plant, one of the in
teresting features in connection with the
Glass block. The engine is what is
called 25-ton ice machine because ifs
power Is equal to the making of TWENTY
five tons of ice per day. ~ ..-- = ~
Inc Ice is made in the bakery, the tea,
room and the flour stock refrigerator
IN each OF these places tank is situated
III Wnlch the pipes, leading to the ice
piame III the basement are coiled in such
manner as to surround a small tank
nlled with water. The ammonia kent
utoer hlgh pressure, in the coils in the
basement, by the machinery is expanded
thru the coils surrounding the small tanks
OF water and the heat is absorbed from
the enclosed water, and it is thus turned
into ice. ..t- 1oN
Six boilers are located next to the on
slne room Instead of COAL shavings from
the planning mills are used for fuel. This
is 10 per cent cheaper than coal and much
easier to handle. III. - --~> -
". Deep Artesian Well.
An artesian we'll 772 feet deem sunn1ies
the water for the establishment. One
hundred gallons are pumped to a tank
on the top of the building every ten min
utes and from there it is distributed thru
the building for the different drinking
fountains, for the boilers for the Ice plant
and the tearoOm.
The main device in connection with the
vent1latlng and heating plant is a huge
ian twenty feet in diameter and six feet
wide. This fan is hung over a tunnel
Whlch connects with a shaft on the back
OF the building that opens into the open
air. Inc fan is turned at great speed by
a f5-horse power engine, and forces the
air thru the shafts constructed for the
purpose of heating and ventilating and
not or cold air is distributed evenly over
the building.
In the winter a 16,oOo-foot coil Of steam
pipes heat the air, which is driven thru
the building.
Work Done Under Difficulties
''The most interesting thing in connec-
ton with this engine said Chief
Engineer Overholt, sis not what YOU see
as 1t now stands. AS an engineering feat
the building of the plant is peculiarly in
terestlng. Some of the time last winter
we were compelled to run the engines in
the open air, and had great difficulty in
Keeping the rain off. The floor was torn
up several feet below the foundations of
the generators and the ceiling was omen
and the cables, containing the wires lead
ing to the switch board, were lying on the
ground where they were wheeled
over and thrown about while in service
The plant was never shut down more
than ten minutes during the building
operations. This shut down was caused
by the dropping of a large iron column
from the second floor, which fell close to
the engine and nearly toppled over into
the flyWheel The engine was shut down
not from damage but from fear of an
accident"
Mr.. Overholt has had charge, not only
over the equipment Of the engine-room,
but Of the construction Of the entire
mammoth addition to William Donaldson
& Co.'S store.
Check for OverhoIt
In evidence of the appreciation Of the
services rendered by Mr.. Overholt in con-
nection with the construction of the new
building, i. S. Donaldson a few days ago
presented his chief engineer with a per-
sonal check for $1,000.
Women, 1t is reported, are about to be admit
ted to graduate at Dublin university.
Such Shoe Values
Novar xpoxxn hafo Wa chou, ,,,oro