60 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



The boiler is of course the most important element in the combination. 

 This is the invention of Mr. Larned alone, and consists almost entirely of 

 tubes through and around which the flame is carried in such a manner as to 

 generate steam in the most rapid manner possible. It is common to employ 

 tubes to a great extent in steam boilers, the same serving in some instances, 

 as in the common locomotive, to carry the flame through the water ; and in 

 others, as in some ocean steamships, to carry the water through the flame. 

 Either plan presents great heating surface, and when, as in the barrel of a 

 locomotive boiler, the space is nearly filled with tubes, and the quantity of 

 water is consequently small, steam is generated very quickly, and supplied 

 very efficiently. There is an additional advantage, however, growing out of 

 the use of tubes in the other form containing the water inside ; this is the 

 diminished danger in case of explosion. The rupture of a small tube is of 

 little moment, so far as danger to the surroundings is concerned, and it is for 

 this reason that Mr. Fisher, the great modern advocate of steam carriages, 

 makes his boiler a mere cage of tubes with the fire in the inclosed space. 

 The boiler now under notice is a compound of both. A wall of upright tubes, 

 tightly packed together, surrounds the fire, while above the furnace the flame 

 acts both on the inside and outside of a double tube. By a double tube is 

 meant, in this case, a large tube inclosing a small one ; the annular space 

 between being filled with water, and the whole provided with every facility 

 for rapid circulation by receiving water freely, laterally, and from below. 

 A strong water bottom, liberally punctured with short tubes to supply air to 

 the fire, and a large chamber above to separate and dry the steam, completes 

 the description of this boiler, which is probably the most powerfully efficient, 

 for its size and weight, in the world. Economy of fuel, the great point aimed 

 at in most steam apparatus, has been entirely set aside in this construction, 

 and although from its arrangement the amount consumed is not probably 

 excessive, the whole end and aim is attained in a boiler, light, strong, and 

 durable, which will generate dry steam at a high pressure with the greatest 

 possible rapidity. The time elapsing between the lighting of the fire and the 

 starting of a vigorous stream has varied from ten to twelve minutes, so that 

 steam would probably be raised while the machine was being hauled a mile. 



A steam fire engine must embrace three distinct parts, the boiler, the 

 engine or engines, and the pump or pumps. The machine under notice 

 emplo}^ two of Reed's patent oscillating engines, one of the simplest forms 

 known, both connected at right angles to the same crank. The shaft requires 

 no balance-wheel, but is keyed directly to a large and strong rotary pump, 

 Carey's patent, the effect of which is to force a continuous stream of water 

 through the hose without racking the machine or exhibiting violent action of 

 any kind. "With dry pine fuel, little smoke or other annoyance is experienced ; 

 and as a means of subduing extensive fires, or all such as cause a signal of 

 general alarm, the steam machine may be considered as having to a great 

 extent established its reputation. 



THE DRAINAGE OF THE LAKE OF HAARLEM. 



M. D'Endegeest, President of the Commission for the Drainage of the 



