The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-08-28

scale on the inside of the boilers. In
localities where good water cannot be
obtained, soda is put in to prevent
harmful effects.
Little trouble is experienced with
the manufacturers of cement over re-
fusals to accept their product, because
the tests are open to them and they
can always be shown the reasons for
non-acceptance.
Thirty-five thousand, eight hundred
and seventy-two samples of various
materials were examined in the chemi-
cal laboratories in 1910. and 1890
determinations made. Among the spe-
cial subjects investigated were drink
ing water, disinfectant, paint and var
nish removers, steel wheels, rails, etc,
with studies on smoke-preventing de-
vices.
In the physical laboratories is
room where electric lights used in
cars are tested. The life of a lamp
that is supposed to last 1000 hours is
tested in about four hours by increas-
ing the load fifty per cent. There is
another apparatus to test the endur-
ance of the lamps under vibration,
such as they would be subjected to on
moving train.
In the laboratory for testing iron and
steel are powerful testing machines
for determining the elastic limit. the
point where the steel begins to
stretch; the ultimate strength or
breaking point; and the elongation be-
tween the elastic limit and the break
| ing point.
The physical laboratories tested 81
! 1892 pounds of bar iron last year,
accepting 93,752.923 pounds, and re-
jecting 4,O07,049 pounds; S40,750 pieces
of air brake hose, accepting 732,450
and rejecting 10000 pieces; 5000, 4S0
pounds of cotton waste, accepting L.
992,205 pounds, and rejecting 1,00S.275
pounds, but these are only few items
picked out at random. Forty-eight
thousand, one hundred and ninety
three routine tests were made during
the year.
| theoretically every bolt and rivet,
every piece of wood or steel that goes
out on the Pennsylvania railroad is
competent to do the work allotted to
it, with a store of reserve strength for
any extraordinary strain.
| If the theory on which the Test De-
partment works could. be carried out
perfectly in practice there would be
no breakage. But, naturally, this is
impossible where the work is done by
men who are bound to make mistakes
sometimes. Broken parts are always
sent to the laboratories, and large
part of the business consists OF in
vestigating the causes of such break
age in order to prevent repetition. Al
most incalculable loss is avoided in
this way. If the break is due to a
miscalculation the department can lay
it's finger on every other piece of equip
ment that could have been affected
before the damage is done. Or, If 1t
is due simply to wear from age, it Of
fers a clue for the investigation of
similar parts that were put in use at
the same time.
| The most unique feature of the test
work at Altoona is the Locomotive
Testing Plant. BY the arrangement Of
the apparatus here installed the larg-
est engines can be run at top speed
without travelling an inch, so that con-
slant results are obtainable and can be
measured and tabulated with far
greater exactness than is possible in
road trials. The amount of fuel con-
sumed, the water evaporated, the
weight of the sparks and cinders part
of which are lost up the smoke-stack,
the friction of the various parts
these are only a few of the elements
of locomotive performance that are as
certained.
A locomitve undergoing a test rests
on supporting wheels. The drawbar
is attached to stationary dynamo
meter with scales that weigh the pull.
The supporting wheel axles extend SO
as to receive absorption brakes and
the work done consists in overcoming
the resistance of the wheels and
brakes, the force exerted by the draw.
bar being measured by the dynamo
meter. Pens attached to the scale
levers make permanent record of the
performance in diagram form.
Since the plant was installed in 1906,
1889 tests have been made. Inven.
tions are given a trial and men are
constantly at work perfecting the 10
connective. At present an automatic
fstoker is being tried out. OF course
road tests are also conducted by the
department, and men trained in the
plant are sent out along the lines as
inspectors to show how to profit by
what is learned.
The Pennsylvania railroad began the
testing of materials in 1875. The es
Itablishment of the laboratory took
place in 1879, with force of only four
men, two on chemical and two on ply
steal tests. From that time the his
tory of the department has been one
of rapid growth in size and import
ance, until today it is one of the vital
parts of the great railroad system. II
is sort of bureau of scientific man
agement where problems arising daily
are studied out, and where infinite
time and pains are expended in work
ing towards the perfection that means
the least waste and the highest eff
foSa