The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-01-18

"A Practical Manual of Steam and Hot
Water Heating" is the title of handsomely
printed and bound volume of 339 pages, just
Company of Chicago. The author is Edward
Richmond Pierce of this city. In brief and
modest preface the author says that foi about
quarter of century he "has been connect
ed with those who manufacture and sell boil
ers and radiators for steam and hot-water
heating" and that curing this long period it
has been his daily duty and privilege to answer
the questions of architects, engineers, steam
filters and house-owners in regard to every
phase of the house heating industry" This
required him to keep in t. uch with the remark
able development of the science of steam
heating through study and practical observa-
tion and demonstration, and he finally yielded
to the many requests to give some presenta-
ton of heating principles in book form. The
book is written primarily for the everyday
workman in the heating industry, and there
fore is without the usual formulas and scien-
tifc phrases, but will be found of interest to
the more technical as well.
The publishers preface says: "In ntroduc-
ing this book to those interested in the heat
ing industry, We have the satisfaction to know
that we are offering to them work unique in
its construction and invaluable in its compre-
hensiveness of treatment. The opportunity
of securing a man well fitted as Mr.. Pierce
to deal with the subject matter is extremely
rare He was equipped for the task by years
of acquaintance with all the ramifcations of
the industry and because he has seen its evo-
luton since its beginning" Then of his work
it is said:
For the past twenty-five years, Edward
Richmond Pierce has been prominently denti-
fed with the heating industry. He commenced
as manufacturer of heating boilers and rad
iators in Maine. He next became tue manager
of the eastern branch of the Michigan Radia-
tor Mfg. Co., Detroit, Mich, with headquar-
ters at Boston, Mass. Upon the formation of
the American Radiator Co. he was appointed
branch manager for NewEngland and the Mara
time Provinces. In a few years he was trans
ferred to the middle western territory, with
headquarters at Chicago. Later. this terri
tory was enlarged to include most of the
southern States east of the Mississippi river,
the seat of direction being Detroit With the
opening of the Cincinnati branch of the
American Radiator Co.. the management of this
was gwen " lul- iSICe, Will OluCeS III tudI
city. After resigning from this position he
spent some time the Pacific coast. In this
manner the reader will understand how great
have been his opportunities to study heating
conditions in varied climates and at various
attitudes, with many different fuels. In each
of the positions held by him he has been con-
suited constantly by the leading engineers and
architects of that territory.
Aside from its technical value many inter-
esting historical facts will be found in this
volume, as for example the fact that "there
was patent issued June IL, 1885. in this coun-
try for warming buildings by radiated and
steam heat to Robert Rogers of South Ber-
wick, Maine" who is believed to have been the
pioneer in this now great industry. The vol
ume is carefully indexed, has many illustra-
tions, both practical and humorous, and is a
work of which the author may well feel proud.