Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-09-08
800 HORSE POWER
ENGINE INSTALLED

l
| What Is undou btedly the largest and
most modern engine in Danville has
been installed at the Nemeloton Silk
Mills. owned by f. 9. Hartman. this
city. It was started up Tuesday morn
ing and since then has been running
without hitch Of any sort propelling
all the machinery of the enlarged and
now extensive plant.
The engine is ponderous affair.
larger. it is safe to affirm, than has
ever been seen by seven-tenths Of the
people of any community. It ia a %
and A by 4S stroke Gross Compound
Condensing Hamilton Oorliss engine.
Its dimensions will be better under
stood when it is explained that it is
an 800 power engine, installed to
meet not only the present needs Of the
plant but to provide for future ex-
pansion. In this connection to H.
lustrate the rapid growth of Mr.. Hart
mans plant it might be stated that
the present engine is the fourth that
has been installed since the plant WAS
started. The engine displaced. which
will be shipped to Berwick. installed
only few years ago, doubled on the
one preceding it, just as it in turn is
cast into the shade by the monster just
now installed.
To accommodate the big Corli5s
new power house has been erected on
the South side opposite the center Of
the mill. The engine, which is raised
sixteen feet above the ground line, Is
built on a solid concrete foundation
eleven feet deep. Between the power
house and the river. adjoining the
former is a big Evansville condenser.
using per hour $4,000 gallons of water
which is drawn from the river through
a seven inch pipe. By running con-
densinR" as the engine does at least
twenty five per cent. of power 10 saw
ed. The engine exhausts right into
the condenser aud there is no escape
of steam when the mills are in op-
Grafton. Yesterday the connection had
not been fully made with the con-
denser, but today or tomorrow it will
be completed.
The boiler feed water is pumped by
power pump run from tile main
drive. thus doing away with separate
steam pump and giving the Oorliss con-
densing steam efficiency.
The installation OF the new engine
has occupied pretty much all summer,
the work being in charge of F. o.
Cook, an expert connected with the
New York Office of the manufacturers,
the Hoovon. Owens, Rentsohler Com
pany. of Hamilton. Ohio. The trans.
far from the old engine to the new
was made on Labor Day. without any
break in time the mill was started up
at 6 AZ o'clock Tuesday morning The
ponderous engine started Off with its
heavy load as though it were mere
trifie and has since been keeping
things humming without the least sign
Of friction. The big engine is accom-
panied by little noise and there is a
peculiar fascination in the clock like
and rhythmical motion Of its various
parts that is apt to enohain the visit
or.
The monster pulley wheel, especial
ly, is a marvel; it is eighteen feet in |
diameter, fivs feet wide and weighs
90. 600 pounds. The belt required for
this wheel is likewise wonder. being
a double belt, forty eight iEohes wide
and approximating one hundred feet
in length. The main drive is on an
eight inch jack shaft. which drives the
two mills separately with two 2s-inoh
belts.
The growth of Mr.. Hartman's plant
has been quite phenomenal and is a
splendid attestation of his technical |
knowledge and skill as we'll as of his
enterprise and untiring energy. By
installing the big engine, which would |
suffice for plant nearly twice the |
size OF the present one. he has shown |
wise forethought quite in keeping |
with his policy of looking out for the |
future. Whether in the matter Of help, |
floor space or machinery Mr.. Hartman
has always so managed affairs that
when the time arrived for expansion
he was ready for it. 1t is gratifying
to know that he is still looking into
the future and that a still larger plant
with all that that implies is likely at
some day to materialize.