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usual manner. These bailes accessible for examination and rep different working parts are of the construction, and very few in numbe formed that these boilers can be pr for work at a very moderate cost, ber other descriptions of tubulous gest the extremely effective character of t surface enables a very considerable a effected in the length and weight d and consequently also in the cost of

The lightness of each of the combined with their simple constrain ease with which they may be pa almost any situation, are imperant which render this boiler peculiarly e transportation and erection in it would be impossible to employ ordinary construction. Another pi of the Field safety boiler is, that it en readily enlarged by connecting adim of tubes in cases where it is desired the effective power of the boiler. T of tubulous boilers is now attracting attention, and the conviction is stand ground that it is the true system nomy and safety. The manifold embodied in the one we have beer de point to a success which we think i to achieve.

ROFESSOR TILMAN, on taking at a recent meeting of the p read a number of scientific item we learn that, according to Sir C have been found in the artesian vel Sahara. They were brought from 175ft., and had perfect eyes. Arip opinion offered by Mr. Balfour Sent lecture before the Royal Institution, L hspots on the sun's surface are produs dward currents of the surrounding

the depth of which had been estimaal of than 72,000 miles. A downward rat oatmosphere occasioned an exposure d hof the sun, and produced sa apas d dark spot; an upward rush of the eproduced the bright fecule that

dark spots, and are seen more on d the borders of the sun's dise. As dis said to be produced by animal r to be a vegetable organism, orig rapidity of the progress of the diseas Dr. Van der Weyde stated that of of opinion that the sun is a molten sp ing imperceptibly, and that the spot rin its side similar to those we se nmolten metal. He gave some interi

of observations which were made firm tat Washington under the direction de of Professor Bache, by which the ex of solar spots was drawn. By these d it was discovered that the spots are angular than they appear even thr scope. Referring to the statement is produced by animalcule, he believed possible that it might be so. He is diseases produced by insects, ris the microscope. He showed also th cule entirely distinct from vegetat sprung up with amazing rapidity, produced the so-called phosphores e which is, in reality, the effect of a discharge from these animals.

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Dr. Rowell, gave an account of the interior of China to a distante d

e performed entirely by water, whi the Celestial Empire, the most co of locomotion. In place of cl Chinese use mud slides, up which rdrawn by bamboo ropes.

Professor Tillman stated that strength of lead-encased block f o most satisfactory evidence was p strength. A conversation fullove very strong opinions were offered nbers as to the danger of drinking sby lead piping.

d

The receipts at the Exhibition d 8 of May have realised an averaged without reckoning the payments fr Numerous purchases for their re are being made by Prussia, Au nother countries, and many of the neful objects have bee

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after great successes, and ledge of the depressed m which made that forward only occasion, he says, port supersedes army' when the country conce possession of an army, Sebastopol; but even the supplies had to be conve by animal transport or of course animal transpor dispensable for a forwa could not have been avoi not evacuated Sebastop templated) from the Cr operations had been tra Georgia. No general in disputing with an enemy ing the amount of anima has the assistance, whic rail, any more than he also purely partial, of sea intendent of stores at W port. Captain H. W. G his evidence before the not send a 9-ton gun to though the railway come permanent way, he belie strong, and there is no t

THE important

again been quoted mons by Colonel Sykes, President of the Board of and what action had storm warnings, conseque of members of Parliament Board of Trade.

President of the Board o cated with General Sabin Meteorological Committe been written asking whe the committee could mee felt to have soms warning from storms, which had General Sabine expressed their desire as far as pra mittee had now under method of doing it. The Royal Society, at the r scientific gentlemen who ment, as most competent quiries. They gave th talents to the public grat responsible for the resul which was sanctioned by fore it must be for them be done and what could out the practical applica teorological science. W will lose no time in decidi warnings; the question h The anxiety expressed by are served by the signals is the best evidence of th the public wish should be

RAILWAYS IN TIME OF WAR. HE Army Transport Committee, over which Lord Strathnairn presided, had to consider the subject of railway transport, and in their report, dated in March last, they state the chief arrangements which should be made for the organisrtion of this branch of the service. They consider that the introduction of railway conveyance need not complicate the question of ordinary military transport. Railway transport, says the Times, requires an organisation of its own. While the railway affords facilities, it greatly adds to the casualties and risks attend. ing the supply of troops, not only from the chance HE mineral wealth of of interruption and damage to the permanent is represented at th way by the enemy, but also from the difficulty of specimens of ruby silv keeping up transport communication between black sulphurets, of gr the railway line and the forces to be supplied. value. The Mining Jou Lieutenant-Colonel Reilly, R.H.A., in a memo- the past year many ton randum on Prussian transport, remarks that it shipped from Ruby City requires little to stop a railway or disarrange Francisco, producing an the traffic if the enemy is enterprising and the cent. in bullion. Oro population hostile; in the late German cam District, Owyhee County paign the Landwehr had to supply strong guards silver ore, the most noted along the line and at the principal stations, and Morning Star, Rising S at each of the principal stations a staff officer which this ore was taken was in charge. With all their advantages the under the management commissariat did not succeed in feeding the New York, yielded in 180 soldiers as we should require it to. do, and sterling in bullion, and th Lieutenant-Colonel Reilly was informed by a Star are stated to have p surgeon that the men of his division were many amount. The official rep days without animal food, and from the day the United States Inspect before until the day after Koniggratz the whole for the ten months of Ja army was without rations; but this partial was for duties upon failure was owing to the parsimony of the Go- 1,073,256 78 dollars from vernment inducing the people to drive their tion has rapidly lessened herds into the woods. Lord Strathnairn ob- supplies; and many the serves that though the Prussian armies moved other labourers are no to within sight of Vienna mainly by railroad, Central Pacific Railroad, and without a great proportion of army trans- that a direct communicat port, it must be recollected that this was done will be effected within th

MESSRS. MAUDSLAY, SONS, AND FIELD'S IMPROVED STEAM ENGINE AND SUPERHEATER ALARM WHISTLE.
30 azalary Jogion guildmot a Q
FIG. 2.
FIG.3.

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Joap box edu vo cylinders. The piston F of each small cylinder space around it. After expanding in this annular is connected to the piston D of the correspond-space the steam passes into the other two cylin ing large cylinder by a rod G passing through a ders A and C, where the expansion is carried on to steam-tight joint H. a still greater extent. In this arrangement the steam may be expanded from 15 to 20 times according to its initial pressure. For the purpose of readily starting these engines, a passage is provided from the slide jacket G of the highpressure cylinder into the passages leading to the other cylinders A and C, and with shut-off and safety valves, so as to let steam direct into the two expanding cylinders.

Mr. Field's invention consists, in the second place, of an improved arrangement of three of Maudslay, Sons, and Field, of Lambeth, cylinder engines for working with a great amount engineers, has just patented some important of expansion. For this purpose three cylinders improvements in connection with steam engines. are placed side by side with a three-throw crank His invention consists, first, iu an improved shaft immediately in front of them, the crank method of adapting a high-pressure cylinder on throws being placed at an angle of 120 deg. with Woolf's system to the ordinary double piston rod each other. Steam is admitted direct from the or other arrangement of steam engine. In the boiler into only one of these cylinders-the cenimproved arrangements the small or high-pres- tral one-where it may be shut off at about half sure cylinder, instead of being placed altogether the stroke of the piston, or later if desired. After at the end of and outside the large or low-pres- expanding in this cylinder for the remainder of sure cylinder, as heretofore, is to a great extent the stroke, the steam passes through suitable recessed into it, only projecting outside of it valves or passages into the other two cylinders, sufficiently to enable its valve or valves to be where the expansion is carried on to a much readily got at. By this means a considerable greater extent. When desirable the high-pressure saving of space is effected. Mr. Field prefers to of central cylinder may have a shorter stroke recess the small cylinder into the front of the than the two other cylinders, so as to reduce its large one, or at the end next the crank shaft, so capacity and allow for a greater degree of exas to allow the covers of both cylinders to be pansion. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in readily removed, but when more desirable it may section, representing Mr. Field's arrangement be recessed into the back of the large cylinder. of three-cylinder engine; A B C are the three The piston and cylinder covers of the large cylinders, and D is a three-throw crank immecylinder will have corresponding recesses in diately in front of them, the crank throws being them; the piston of the small cylinder is con- placed at an angle of 120 deg. with each other. nected to the large piston by a rod passing The steam from the boiler is admitted directly through a steam-tight joint in the back of the into the middle cylinder B, where it is shut off at small cylinder in the ordinary way. For ordinary about half the stroke of the piston; after exworking Mr. Field prefers to shut off the steam panding in the cylinder B for the remainder of in the small cylinder at about half the stroke of the stroke the steam passes through valves and the piston. Fig. 1 of the accompanying engrav- passages E into the other two cylinders A C, ing is a plan partly in section of a steam in which the expansion is carried on to a still engine constructed according to the first part of greater extent. Mr. Field's invention. A A are the two large or In cases where steam of very high preslow-pressure cylinders of the engine with double sure is used (say from 80lb. to 150lb. per piston rods BB; CC are two high-pressure square inch), Mr. Field provides for a still cylinders on Woolf's system, which, instead of greater amountof expansion by making being placed at the end of and outside the the central cylinder what is generally cylinders AA, are, as seen in the engraving, denominated annular, with a small cylinder in its recessed into them at their front ends, only sufficient of the cylinders C C projecting as will enable the valves to be readily got at. The pistons D and covers E of the large cylinders A A are recessed as shown to receive the small

centre, as represented in fig. 3, in which F is a
small cylinder in the centre of the cylinder B.
In this arrangement the steam is admitted from
the boilers into the small central cylinder F, from
which it passes and expands into an annular

We now come to the third part of Mr. Field's invention, which consists of an apparatus for preventing the evil consequences which often arise where superheated steam is used in steam engines, when it becomes superheated to too high a degree. It frequently happens in conse quence of the gases taking fire in the chimney uptake in the neighbourhood of the superheater, that the steam becomes much too highly super. heated, and great damage is done to the valves, pistons, and cylinders of the engine, and this action takes place generally without the know. ledge of the engineer. To prevent this evil an alarm whistle or bell is placed in some convenient position on the steam pipe or near to the engine, which whistle or bell may be released and set in action by a pyrometer placed in the current of the steam as it comes to the engine, so that if the temperature of the steam should rise at any time too high (say above 340 deg.), the alarm whistle or bell will immediately give notice to the engineer. By the same means a throttle valve placed at the junction of the pipe leading from the superheater with the main steam pipe is actuated so as to shut off the superheated steam and open the communication direct from the boiler.

This part of Mr. Field's invention will be fully understood on reference to figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7. Figs. 4 and 5 show the simple form of apparatus as applied to an alarm whistle. A is a steam whistle of the ordinary construction mounted on a long hollow stem with a shut-off cock at B; this whistle is shown as placed on the top of the steam pipe, with which it communicates through the hollow stem and cock B; C is the lever of

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7

ND SUPERHEATER ALARM THE

B

.7.

FIG.3.

FIG.6.

FIC.A.

JUNE 14, 1867.

THE MECHANICS MAGAZINE.

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the cook, with a projecting pin fixed in its end
D D is a tumbling weight with lever attached,
fitting loosely on a pin on the end of the plug of
the cock B.. This lever and weight are kept in
position as shown by one arm of a bell crank
lever E, the other arm of which is actuated by
the pyrometer G placed within the steam pipe in
the full current of the steam as it passes to the
engines. This apparatus or pyrometer G consists
of a series of flat bars of copper and iron attached
together by brazing or other suitable means, as
shown in the enlarged view at fig. 6, in which a
represents the copper and b the iron. It will be
readily understood that when these bars become
heated they will, from the unequal expansion of
the metals of which they are composed, assume
a more curved form, and draw down the hori-
zontal arm of the bell crank lever E, so as to
cause the other arm, when the horizontal arm
has been drawn down a regulated distance to
release the tumbling lever and weights DD,
which falling on the pin in the cock lever C will
cause it to open the oock B, and thus allow the
steam to pass from the steam pipe to the whistle
A and give notice to the engineer that the steam
has become too highly superheated. The appa-
ratus should be so adjusted as to release the
tumbling weight when the steam arrives at the
temperature of about 340 deg. The same appa-
ratus may be equally well employed for releas.
ing a bell or spring alarum.

Fig. 7 shows another form of apparatus, which
may be employed where there is a long length!
of steam pipe available, and also shows how the
apparatus may be made to actuate a throttle
valve so as to shut off the communication with the
superheated steam and open the communication
with the common steam. A is the steam pipe
with two branch pipes B and C, the pipe B lead-
ing the steam direct from the boiler, and the
other C from the superheater; D is a bracket
fixed in the interior of the steam pipe, having the
ends of the two rods E and F attached to it. The
rod E is made of iron, which may be tinned or
galvanised so as to preserve it from the action of
the steam, and the rod F is made of copper; the
opposite ends of these rods carry a lever G, and
attached to the end of this lever is another iron
rod J returning to a bell crank lever H, which,
is also carried by the fixed bracket D. 'It will

373

SWITCH AND SIGNAL LOCKING GEAR.

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SWITCH AND SIGNAL LOCKING GEAR.
HE use of locking gear in the working of
THE
switches and signals at station yards and
junctions having recently been rendered com-
pulsory by the regulations of the Board of Trade,
it has become a necessity to railway companies
proposing to open new or alter existing lines to
procure apparatus fulfilling the conditions of
safety and efficiency required by the Board, and
at the same time protect their trains from acci-
dents arising from forgetfulness or errors of
judgment on the part of the switch and signal
men. The accompanying engraving shows the
switch and signal locking gear constructed by
be readily understood that when these rods E Messrs. Kennard Brothers, of the Viaduct Works,
and F become heated they will, by their Crumlin, and exhibited by Mr. C. D. Abel, at the
unequal expansion, cause the lever G to move in recent conversazione of the Institution of Civil
the direction of the dotted line, and by the con- engineers. The object of the arrangement is to
necting rod also cause the bell crank lever H to provide a cheap and efficient method of locking
move as shown by the dotted line and draw down in conjunction switches and signals, crossing.
the horizontal arm of the releasing lever, as before gates and signals, or other machinery required
described; I is a second releasing lever for the to be worked in connection with signals. It it
purpose of releasing the throttle valve shown specially intended for country districts of ordi-
by the dotted lines K; L is a lever on nary traffic, and does not attempt to rival the
the end of the spindle of the throttle costly and elaborate machinery suitable for
valve K; it will be seen that when the one crowded junctions. In this arrangement the
switch and signal levers work side by side in
cast-iron frames of a similar description to ordi-
nary switch-lever frames. The levers are pro-
vided with segmental tail-pieces of the same
curvature as the cast-iron frames, and the frames
have a slot at one end to allow the tails to pass
through. They are also slotted transversely,
and a sliding bolt works through the slots, and
is made capable of alternately locking the switch.
levers or the signal-lever. The tail-pieces prevent
the transverse movement of the locking bolt,
except when the levers are in the right position
for being locked, as the tails lie along the frames,
and cover the holes in which the transverse lock-
ing bolt works.

end

of the releasing lever I is drawn down by the action of the heat on the iron and copper rods, the other end will be raised so as to release the valve lever L and allow the throttle valve K to fall down so as to shut off the communication with the superheated steam, and open the communication with the common

steam.

space around it. After expanding in
space the steam passes into the other
ders A and C, where the expansion is tant
a still greater extent. In this arrange
team may be expanded from 15 to
For top
pressure.
ccording to its initial
of readily starting these engines,
provided from the slide jacket G of
pressure cylinder into the passages
The other cylinders A and C, and wi
nd safety valves, so as to let steam dist
he two expanding cylinders.
We now come to the third part of
vention, which consists of an appr
reventing the evil consequences van
ise where superheated steam is used a
ngines, when it becomes superhead
gh a degree. It frequently happens
ence of the gases taking fire in the
ptake in the neighbourhood of the s
at the steam becomes much too big
eated, and great damage is done to
Estons, and cylinders of the engine,
tion takes place generally without th
dge of the engineer. To prevent t
arm whistle or bellis placed in some co
osition on the steam pipe or near to the
hich whistle or bell may be released a
tion by a pyrometer placed in the
e steam as it comes to the engine, so d
mperature of the steam should resta
o high (say above 340 deg.), the siz
bell will immediately give m
gineer. By the same means a
aced at the junction of the pipe lead
e superheater with the main stan
tuated so as to shut off the superba
d open the communication diren ha
iler.

This part of Mr. Field's inventive w
derstood on reference to figs. 44
38. 4 and 5 show the simple form
applied to an alarm whiste.
Diste of the ordinary construction need
long hollow stem with a shut-of
s whistle is shown as placed on t
ith which it communic
R. Cis

ROUGHING HORSES.

NEW system of roughing for horseshoes
A
has been invented by Mr. F. Dominick, of
Berlin. This contrivance, which is shown in the
accompanying cut, consists of three separate

parts A B C, of which the parts A and B are
forced respectively against the inside of the toe
and across the heel of the shoe by means of the
screw bolt C screwing into A and pressing with
shoulder c against B. The entire strain is
thus brought upon the shoe and not in any way
upon the hoof. It may be very quickly fixed on
or removed by means of a spanner. The con-
trivance has been supplied to the whole of the
Prussian Cavalry, for which it has been manu-
factured of cast steel at a cost of eight silber
groschen, about 9 d.

FIG. 2.

works, preventing it from being moved, and effectually locking the switch-lever to the "allright" position, whilst the signal-levers remain "all right." To get the levers back into their former position, the movements are reversed, the signal-levers are first put to danger, the lockingbar is moved in front of the signal levers and locks them, leaving the switch free to move as before. By this it will be seen that it is impossible to move the switch-lever until the signallevers have been first locked to danger; neither can the signal-levers be moved until the switchprevents the possibility of any accident arising lever is locked to the all-right position. This from a mistake in working the signals. As will be seen this arrangement is possessed of great simplicity in the working parts, and requires no protection from the weather, therefore the special signal-box usually employed at junctions count of simplicity is found in fixing, as any may be dispensed with. An advantage on ac. ordinary platelayer or carpenter is quite capable, of fixing it, the cost of the arrangement being only slightly in excess of the ordinary levers and frames to cover the cost of the few additional parts required, these extra parts required, beyond those of an ordinary lever-frame, being a tail-piece to each lever, and one locking.bar

to the set of three levers.

IMPROVED SHEEP SHEARS.

T has hitherto been the practice to make Hopkinson, of Sheffield, scythe maker, however, has just patented an invention for manufacturing these shears in two halves, each half consisting of one blade, one shank or handle, and half the bow. By means of this improvement the shears have a better spring, and are less liable to be

I on

thrown out of cut than shears formed with an ordinary bow. It will be seen from the cut, that

In the position shown in the engraving the signals in connection with the signal levers are at danger, and locked by the locking-bolt, and the switch in connection with the switch lever is open. The locking bolt is prevented from being moved by the segmental tail-piece of the switch-lever, its tail-piece lying along the frame, and covering the locking-bolt hole, as we just stated. Thus the signals are locked to danger, whilst the switch is free to move as may be the new shears are formed in two pieces, each required, allowing shunting to be carried on piece consisting of one blade a, one shank or without interfering with the signals. If the handle b, and half or part c of the bow. The switch-lever with its tail-piece is now moved over, back end of the bow part c is turned in, the it will leave the slot in which the locking-bar turned in portion of the two parts c being conworks clear, and this can then be moved so as nected at d by rivets, This construction comto at the same time lock the switch lever, and bines the greatest strength with the greatest free the signal-levers. If the signal-levers are now elasticity. The shears are manufactured by speshifted into the position previously occupied by cial machinery, which secures the important the switch-lever, their segmental tail-pieces will advantage of working the steel at a lower heat, in their turn lie along the cast-iron frame, and and dispensing with the uncertain process of will cover the hole in which the locking-bar | welding.

D

SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENTS ON

PETROLEUM AS FUEL.

URING the last twenty years, as steamers have constantly increased in number, and have been steadily taking the place of sailing vessels on coastwise and other short voyages, and to a great extent for the transportation of passengers and freight to and from Europe, most earnest efforts have been made by engineers and other scientific men to discover the best method of economising fuel. For this purpose, propellers are superseding side-wheels steamers, and the merits of all kinds of boilers have been tested and discussed. To the present Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering in the United States Navy, B. F. Isherwood, the commercial world owes much for very valuable information on this point. Quick of apprehension, clear of thought, prompt to act, he has kept a watchful eye upon all matters affecting steam navigation, and has demonstrated by experiment the value or worthlessness of hundreds of claims. That he has made some mistakes, is true, but that he has developed more facts in engineering than almost any other man now living, is also true.

But all the researches of talent and experiment have failed to so reduce the amount of fuel required as to enable steamers to make long voyages without frequently coaling, or to make them at all to distant parts of the globe, without first transporting coal by sailing vessels, to various points along the route, where the steamer can call and take it; and thus all commerce around Cape Horn, and the Cape of Good Hope, is practically left to slow sailing vessels. The difficulty is not so much in the expense of coal, although its increasing scarcity and cost cause grave apprehension, as in the great bulk and tonage occupied. In fact, nearly one-half of the carrying capacity of European steamers, and more than that on longer voyages, is taken up by the fuel transported. The high price of all vegetable and animal oils, of course, prevented any efforts to introduce them into use. But soon after the discovery of large amounts of petroleum in this and other countries, attention was called to its great calorific power, and constant efforts have been made to utilise it as a heat generator in steam boilers. It is generally agreed that the heating power of petroleum is about four times as great as that of anthracite coal, of equal weight and bulk, if both could be wholly burned, and all the heat utilized. But experiments have shown that the coal, after deducting ashes, cinder, dust and the gasses lost in smoke, only about one-half of the heat therein can be practically used; so that if any expedient can be devised whereby all the heating power of petroleum could be saved, a gain of some eight or ten to one would be

effected.

With this view, experiments are now being made in the dockyards of England and France, also in the Navy Yard at New York, and by private individuals in various parts of this country. We have watched these experiments with great interest, but have refrained from expressing any opinion, because in all the reports of the trials, both in Europe and here, the results have been unsatisfactory. The fires have been imperfect, have smoked and been dangerous and difficult to manage. The difficulty which has so long troubled merchants and engineers, seems now in a fair way to be solved, and it has been demonstrated almost to a certainty, that another great discovery has been made, which will be of vast importance to the world, and create an entire revolution in the method of heating marine. and locomotive boilers-a discovery which amazed us by its simplicity of action, and the great advantages it possesses over all the methods now in use for safety, economy, volume of heat, and tractability.

Last fall, Col. Henry R. Foote, of Tennessee, who commanded a union regiment in the late war, patented an invention for burning petroleum in steam boilers, upon which he has been at work some two years, and on which he has spent

all the business arrangements of the concern.
He called the attention of the Navy Department
to the subject, and forwarded certificates from
Alban C. Stimers, of New York, a well known
engineer of high standing; of George B. N. Tower,
late chief engineer, U.S.N., and Chief of Marine
Engineering Staff at Charleston, and of unques.
tioned ability; of Captain Anderson, of the Cunard
steamer" Africa," and of Governor Andrew, Pro-
fessor Rogers, and several engineers who had
examined the fire on Chardon Street.

Mr. Isherwood at once ordered a board of
three chief engineers to examine the apparatus.
They did so, and reported most favourably, and
recommended that it be at once placed on board
some steamer in the Navy. An order was then
issued to fit up the iron steamer "Palos," a beauti-
ful little gunboat of the fourth class, at the Navy
Yard here, for full and complete experiments,
and Alexander Henderson, Chief Engineer of
this Navy Yard, an energetic, accomplished, and
skilful officer, was appointed President of a Board
for experiment, consisting of himself and Chief
Engineers Moore, Baker, and Kellogg, and eight
Assistant Engineers. Their experiments are now
in progress. Having heard very wonderful
accounts of the success of several preliminary
trials there, we made a visit to the yard a day or
two since, went on board the "Palos," and made a
personal examination of the whole apparatus and
all the machinery of the boat, which was in mo-
tion with a full bead of steam.

tender of a locomotive can carry a sufficient supply for three to five hundred miles.

There is another advantage of which we cannot now speak at length. On board the "Palos," during the trials with screened anthracite, the highest number of revolutions they were able to give the propeller, with all the coal they could “ burn, was less than forty, while on a preliminary trial with Col. Foote's apparatus, she easily gave over fifty revolutions for several hours, and fully held her steam, thus showing that, with this fire, a boat can run from two to four knots faster than she can with wood or coal, and as the heat is equally distributed along the crown sheet and through the flues, but little if any "foaming" is caused. This must shorten the distance to Europe about two days, and a steamer's time from St. Louis or Cinciunati, to New Orleans and back, from three to six days, and save all wooding up along the route. We predict that the first line on the Mississippi which adopts this fire, will do the largest business, and as oil can float down Oil Creek, the Alleghany, and the Ohio, it will be cheap in the West, and soon all steamers there

must use it.

Our first question on the "Palos" was, "Is it safe ?" But after examining the apparatus, we were fully convinced that, when properly managed, there is no more danger than from coal. The oil is to be carried in double iron tanks, the outer space of an inch or so filled with water, and stowed in separate iron com3 The apparatus is simple and inexpensive, con- partments in remote parts of the ship, and hav sisting of a small iron box or retort located in the ing small pipes carrying overboard any gases place of the grate bars, and having barners all which may rise, while the oil itself is carried to around it. Its bottom is kept hot by burners the fires by a half-inch pipe. It seems almost beneath. The oil is carried into it by a small impossible that an accident should occur except iron pipe and vaporises as soon as it enters. through gross carelessness. Mr. Stimers, who, "Colonel Steam is then introduced through a coil of iron in a written report to Mr. Allen, says, pipe filled with filings and located over the Foote's process is the most philosophically cor burners, where it is intensely heated and decom-rect one for burning any fuel I have ever known posed, and its gases enter the retort, into which to be tried in a steam boiler," adds "I can see air is at the same time forced, and the whole no difficulty in carrying petroleum safely in forms a gas which escapes from some nine steamers. The only thing to be done is to stow hundred burners, where it burns with a clear it properly. I cannot see that more care need intense blue flame, completely filling the furnace be employed for petroleum than for coal, but it and extending into or through the flues. The must be of a diffierent kind." heat is very great. It emits no smoke, can be The working of this invention has been exincreased or diminshed in a moment, or be amined by many eminent and practical men who entirely extinguished by turning a stop-cock. have endorsed it in the strongest manner: indeed, The apparatus is very simple, and any part of the whole operation is so remarkably simple and it, if broken, can be repaired or made anew by free from complication, as to require but little any mechanic. No alteration of boilers is re-explanation; and the spectacle which presents quired. It will burn wherever coal will, and the fire can be run by any man of ordinary in. telligence after an hour's instruction.

It dispenses with all coal-heavers and requires but one man to every two or three fires, to keep them in perfect order. It is clean and convenient, and saves the time and trouble of taking in coal and disposing of ashes, and, there being no sulphur in the oil, as there always is in coal, the boilers and flues will be more durable, notwithstanding the greater intensity of the fire. But the great value of this invention, in steamers is the gain in spaceiand tonnage. The amount of fuel required is only about one-seventh of the weight and bulk required of anthracite coal, and the inventor is satisfied that after perfecting his apparatus it will take less than one-tenth, leaving all the remaineder for freight or passage room. If this fire succeeds, as we believe it must, it will enable ships to steam from sixty to one hundred days, and to visit ports in all parts of the world from which they are now excluded, while the direct gain will be immense. For instance, the Cunard steamers take 1,200 tons of coal on every passage and burn about 1,000. Now, two hundred tons of petroleum, costing about the same as the coal, will do the work better, saving one thousand tons freight. This at eighteen dollars a ton would amount to thirtysix thousand dollars on each trip, and in the eight trips made in a year to nearly three hundred thousand dollars, to which must be added the extra expense of wages and food, of coal. heavers, wear of machinery and journals by coal dust, wharf room for coal, etc. The enormous

itself, of the great furnaces of a steam vessel in full blast, and driving the engines at their fall speed, with only two men sitting quietly on campstools in a clean fire-room, in comparative leisure, and increasing or diminishing heat by simply turning a faucet, with no coal, cinders, ashes, or rubbish about them, is such an unusual

one to those who have been accustomed to the

dust, noise, and confusion of coal passers and firemen, the continual opening of furnace doors, and consequent deadening of fires, the exhaustive labour and number of men employed, that one sees at once, in this invention, an enormous stride forward in steam navigation.

We understand that, after the wharf trials are concluded, a trial at sea is expected to be made, for the purpose of subjecting the invention to the severest test possible. We shall watch the whole experiment with great interest, and will advise our readers of whatever we learn, either for or against it. Should any of them desire to learn inore of the invention than the space of a newspaper article can give, we presume Mr. Allen will promptly answer all inquiries. Our thanks are due to him and to Col. Foote, and the naval officers and engineers on board the "Palos," for courtesies, enabling us to witness all the details of working the machinery, and of the invention, on that ship.-Boston Commercial Bulletin.

ANALYSIS OF A FOSSILIFEROUS LIME

STONE.*

BY J. WALLACE YOUNG.

many thousand dollars. Col. Foote associated saving which this method makes in freighting is daily gaining in importance, it may not

with him Mr. J. H. Winsor, of Pennsylvania, and they came to Boston, and set up a locomotive boiler in a little building on Chardon street, and for several months ran an engine with this new fire. During this time they made the acquaint. ance of Stillman B. Allen, Esq., of this city, who is well known as having energy and determination, which rarely fail to accomplish whatever he undertakes, and he became a joint owner with them in the invention, and has entire charge of

vessels is a consideration of first importance, and
must cause its immediate introduction into
nearly all steamers as soon as its utility becomes
generally known. It is equally applicable to
locomotives, important desideratum in localities
where wood and coal are scarce, as for illustra-
tion, upon the new Pacific Railroad, which,
when completed, would require fuel trains in
constant operation to keep wood and coal sta-
tions supplied; while, with this invention, the

S the study of the metamorphism of rocks be uninteresting at the present time to direct attention to an altered coraline limestone of carboniferous age, which was obtained from a quarry near Kircaldy, Fifeshire. The specimen was given me for examination by a geological friend, as he thought it contained something uncommon from the peculiar soapy feeling which it pos

* Communicated by the author to the Chemical Nows.

tender of a locomotive can carry tsupply for three to five hundred mi There is another advantage of not now speak at length. On board during the trials with screened attra highest number of revolutions they give the propeller, with all teet burn, was less than forty, we c trial with Col. Foote's apparatas, the over fifty revolutions for several hou held her steam, thus showing that, i fa boat can run from two to four asta fazer. she can with wood or coal, and art equally distributed along the crow through the flues, but little if any " caused. This must shorten the distri about two days, and a steamer's fine by Louis or Cincinnati, to New Orleans y from three to six days, and save a v falong the route. We predict that their on the Mississippi which adopts this fin the largest business, and as oil can fre Oil Creek, the Alleghany, and the Oth cheap in the West, and soon all must use it.

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Our first question on the “Palos” va “
safe?" But after examining the sa
were fully convinced that, whe
managed, there is no more danger
coal. The oil is to be carried in day
. tanks, the outer space of an irri
with water, and stowed in separate s
partments in remote parts of the s
ing small pipes carrying overboard
I which may rise, while the oil itself
the fires by a half-inch pipe. It seem to
impossible that an accident should
.through gross carelessness, Mr. Sinet
in a written report to Mr. Allen,
Foote's process is the most philosop
rect one for burning any fuel I have
to be tried in a steam boiler," a "
no difficulty in carrying petrole
steamers. The only thing to be doi
it properly. I cannot see that more ory
be employed for petroleum than fir ex?
must be of a different kind."

The working of this invention ha
amined by many eminent and practice
have endorsed it in the strongest mar
the whole operation is so remarish
free from complication, as to regi
explanation; and the spectacle ch
itself, of the great furnaces of a star
full blast, and driving the engines
speed, with only two men sitting qui
stools in a clean fire-room, it
or dim
leisure, and increasing
simply turning a faucet, with no c
ashes, or rubbish about them, is a
one to those who have been sections -
dust, noise, and confusion of coal p
firemen, the continual opening of farm
and consequent deadening of fires,
labour and number of men empre
sees at once, in this invention, an encrus
forward in steam navigation.

We understand that, after the mathi concluded, a trial at sea is expected abo for the purpose of subjecting the the severest test possible. We sh whole experiment with great ins advise our readers of whatever reas for or against it. Should any of th learn inore of the invention than newspaper article can give, e Allen will promptly answer a in thanks are due to him and to Cale naval officers and engineers on board for courtesies, enabling us to e details of working the machiney, invention, on that ship-B Bulletin.

ANALYSIS OF A FOSSILIFERIG
STONE

BY J. WALLACE TO

As the study of the metama be uninteresting at the present Day B

is daily gaining in imperans

attention to an altered coraline umesont boniferous age, which was obtained near Kircaldy, Fifeshire. The given me for examination by age as he thought it contained somet the peculiar soapy feling

JUNE 14, 1867.

THE MECHANICS' MAGAZINE,

PRINTING FABRICS IN RELIEF.

375

sessed. The limestone, if I may still so call it machines used in quartz mining were-99 crush-was he in the carriage than a faintness came over
is of a greyish colour, the imbedded corals-ing machines (having 5,119 stamp-heads), 231
which are the Lithodendron junceum of Fleming whims and pulleys, 56 water wheels, 15 derricks,
-being a little lighter than the surrounding 98 whips, and 10 quicksilver cradles.
matrix. The corals were more distinctly ob-
served when a few fragments were placed in
dilute hydrochloric acid, to remove the carbonate
of lime as much as possible; the structure, how-
ever, is hardly so well preserved as in the
unaltered portions of the same limestone. As
the powdered mineral was found to be only
partially decomposed by HCl, even after pro-
longed contact, it was fused with alkaline car.
bonate, and the analysis carried out in the usual
way for insoluble silicates. The water was
estimated by direct weighing. The composition

is as follows:

Silicic acid

1. 39.91

Magnesia....

22.05

Alumina and oxide of iron.

2.42

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99.95

2. 60.59 33.47 3.67 2.26

He

him, from which he recovered with much difficulty. His family yielded to his wish by taking him to the desired spot, where he arrived in the evening only to die on the following morning at seven. Since the sudden death of his excellent and distinguished wife he pined away, notwithstanding the affectionate attentions paid him by his son and three daughters. He was born at Valonges in the department of the Manche in 1807 and was, at his first outset of life, a simple laboratory student. He became successively Professor at the Polytechnic School, Professor of Sciences, Verifier of the Mint Assays, Member at the French College, Member of the Academy

that a practical chemist can aspire to. M. Pelouze died with resignation, and in the faith of a Christian. He was buried at Montmartre Ceme tery, in the family tomb, the corpse being followed by an immense cortege, composed of al ithe elite of society, the principal members of the Academy, six carriages of the Municipal Council, and the National Guard in full uniform. M. Fremy, the distinguished chemist of the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers, delivered the usual funeral ora

FRANCOIS PETITDIER, of No. 2, M. Rue St. Appoline, Paris, dyer, has recently invented an improved method of printing designs in relief and brilliancy to all kinds of fabrics. By means of a liquid compound he can apply to all fabrics by the printing processes already in use, designs or ornaments in relief, having the brilliancy of the pearl and jet. proceeds in the following manner :-First, he of the Municipal Council of Paris, Director of the St. Gobian Glass Works, and, lastly, President Specific gravity at 15'5 deg. Centigrade 2.670. employs a resinous material-say, copal. Second, of the Commission of the Mint, the highest post the solvents of this resinous material-say, linseed oil and essence of turpentine; the linseed oil is rendered siccative according to the known processes by means of treating it with oxides of lead, of zinc, or of manganese. Third, the colouring material, which necessarily varies with each shade-carbonate or sulphate of lead or oxide of zinc for white; vermillion for red; car. bonate of lead for the yellows; blue, ultamarine, Scheile green, green cobalt, and other colours, according to those desired to be obtained; for melted with great care; when this resinous black, ivory black. 61b. of hard copal are material is well melted, add to it 3lb. of linseed 318 deg. Fah., then add to it from 81b. to 101b. oil, which has been previously heated to about of essence of turpentine, which must be cold, and stir and mix it carefully in order to thoroughly incorporate the parts. The above proportions vary, with the different qualities of materials employed, and even according to the variations of the temperature at the time of manufacture. They are only given as an example, and each operation requires great attention to obtain a good result.

No. 1 is the mineral as a whole. No 2 is the
centesimal compositton after deducting the car.
bonate of lime; it will be observed that this
approaches closely to the composition of ordinary

steatite. Dilute acetic acid removed carbonate
of lime only; the residue did not effervesce with
concentrated HCl, and contained no lime: the
magnesia, therefore, existed entirely as silicate,
and the lime as carbonate. The metamorphism
which this limestone has undergone must of
course have taken place in the wet way. The
magnesian silicate which has thus displaced the
carbonate of lime may, perhaps, have been
derived from the decomposition of some of the
greenstone rocks, which are, I understand, found
in this locality; but I throw this out only as a
conjecture. Being favoured with some small
spebimens of the limestone from other parts of
the same quarry, I examined them for magnesia,
but only found very small quantities. Some
pieces were crystalline, and dark in colour from
the presence of organic matter, the corals being
almost quite white. On subjecting fragments
to the action of dilute HCl, small portions of the
corals were left undissolved, as delicate white
tubes, which were found to consist principally of
silicic acid and lime, with a little magnesia and
alumina. Other portions of the limestone simi-
larly treated with acid left 2 per cent. or 3 per
cent. of an insoluble residue, consisting of silicic
acid and alumina, with small quantities of lime
and magnesia. These pieces differed entirely
therefore from that first analysed.

SOME

short of that in 1864.

GOLD MINING IN VICTORIA.
OME interesting statistics relating to the gold
mining in Victoria show that the exports of
gold, the produce of this colony in 1865, amounted
to 1,543,149oz. This quantity was about 2,249oz.
The total quantity of
Victorian gold which passed through the Cus-
toms of this and the adjacent colonies since the
first opening of the goldfields amounted to
32,272,793oz., representing, at £4 per ounce, a
value of £129,091,172. In addition to this it is
estimated that 2,863,247 oz. have been taken out
of the colony by private hands, without passing
through the Customs, bringing up the total pro-
duce of the Victorian goldfields at the end of
1865 to 35,286,040oz., which, at £4 per ounce,
would represent a value of £141,144,160. Since
1853, when the export of gold 3,150,020oz., the
quantity has declined; 2,985,695 oz. were ex.
ported in 1856, 2,280,678oz. in 1959, and
1,658,241oz. in 1862. The estimated number of
gold miners at the end of 1865 was 79,457, of
whom 62,131 were engaged in alluvial, and
17,326 in quartz mining. This estimate shows
a reduction of 2,290 miners upon the numbers
enumerated in 1861. The machines used in gold
mining in 1865 numbered 6,337, representing an
approximate value of £1,773,271. The number
of steam engines working was 964, of which
473 were employed in alluvial and 491 in quartz
mining. The following machines were used in
alluvial mining:-3,228 puddling machines, 427
whims and pulleys, 115 whips, 78 horse
648 sluices and toms (having 4,428 sluice boxes),
196 waterwheels, 33 hydraulic hoses, 102 pumps,
8 derricks, 25 crushing machines (having 461
stamp-heads), and 4 boring machines. The

tion.

Meetings for the Week.

MON.-Royal United Service Institution.-"The Dress
and Equipment of the Army," by Captain A.
Walker, S.30.
WED.-Geological Society, S.
THURS.-Chemical Society, S.
FRI.-Architectural Association-Election of Officers-
"On Mosaics," by Professor T. H. Lewis, 7.30

Correspondence.

SUPPLY OF WATER TO LONDON.

The product described, being obtained, is filtered through a sieve made of cloth and brass; and then allowed to cool, and is enclosed in a jar well stoppered. When the material is TO THE EDITOR OF THE "MECHANICS' MAGAZINE.” parts of this varnish, add to it twenty-five parts Vartry Water Works, causing great damage and required to be used for printing, take seventy-five SIR,-The accident occurring at the source of the of ivory black, the proportions, however, varying expense, as well as a cessation of the water supply according to the different materials treated to the inhabitants of Dublin proves the necessity fabrics, felt, or paper. The whole is well mixed of not been dependent upon only one supply of Instead of so that the parts are thoroughly incorporated, water for a want of such magnitude. leaving no granular parts whatever. It is then tapping a Scotch, Cumberland, or Westmoreland or filtered again, and a product is obtained which Welsh lake, and carrying its contents to London, a gives a brilliant impression, chiefly intended to distance of a great many miles, through a diversity imitate the pearl and jet. give some relief to the impression, pour on a If it is desired to of hill and dale, and a numerous amount of proprietorships, all claiming large remuneration for colour frame sufficient material to be able to take method of great economy and utility, to sink a way leave and damaged property, I propose, as a from it sufficient to allow for what is expressed number of Artesian wells in suitable situations in and to produce an impression. If, on the the immediate vicinity of the several railways contrary, it is only wished to make it brilliant communicating with London, and on their level without caring for relief, pour only a very small road convey the water pipes from these several quantity of the material on the frame so as to Artesian wells, paying way leave to the railway be only able to take from it that which is companies over whose lines the aqueduct pipes are necessary to impress without giving relief. For laid. It would be a more simple and a cheaper the purpose of this invention Mr. Petitdier also plan to enter into an agreement for right of way employs gelatinous gums or glues already used leave for water pipes with these railway companies tban with the innumerable legion of landowners as varnishes for giving the brilliancy either on between the great lakes and London. It would be fabrics or paper. But to obtain the same results, profitable to the shareholders in these companies in care must be taken to regulate the printing proportionate payment for way leave. As the deboards so that the liquid which is expresed at mand for water increased more Artesian wèlis could the end of each part composing the design may be sunk. Any person who has acquired any inIn formation on the subject of sinking or boring for touch the fabrics without being flattened. order that the product may have sufficient consistence to give a good impression so as to well imitate the pearl, care must be taken to sufficiently concentrate it so that it may only become fluid at a certain degree of heat, and this constantly necessitates the frame containing the colour to be placed in a water bath. The impressions may be sprinkled with a metallic dust in order to give the appearance of gold, silver, steel, or other appearances considered desirable.

Obituary.

WE have to announce the death of one of the
best and most celebrated French chemists, M.
Pelouze, Master of the Mint in Paris, which
took place on the 31st ult., and whose name will
be familiar through his researches to all our
readers.
pumps,
The day previous to his death, the
Chemical News says that he had been attacked
by heart dropsy, and he expressed an urgent
desire once more to breathe the pure air of the
heights of Bellevue (near Meudon). No sooner

coal, must be aware that when the borer taps the different strata containing springs, that an enormous amount of water is liberated, and rushes to the surface in vast continuous quantity, creating in the endeavour to control it the greatest difficulty and expense in mining operations. It is from this immense supply of subterranean water in diverse localities that I propose to carry on railway level water to London.

In Essex Artesian wells have been bored with the greatest facility and at small expense at Braintree, Wallasea, Mersea, and in the district of Bullpharufen, 7 miles from Brentwood. These wells yield a large supply of water and have proved of the greatutility. Formerly in some seasons the ditches became dry, the cattle suffered and died; but by the aid of Artesian wells the ditches are now kept full of fresh sweet water all the year. An Artesian well is a well that is always overflowing, either from its natural source or from an artificial tube, and when the overflowing ceases it is no longer an Near Shiffnal, in Shropshire, an Artesian well. Artesian well, diminishing from 12in. to 7in. in diameter, and at a total depth of 260ft. yields a continuous supply of 210,000 gallons daily. At Greuelle (Paris) an Artesian well has, for many years, given out a jet of 3,000 cubic metros of water every hour, being a sufficient supply for that district of Paris.

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