1876.] ■^l' [Wootten. 



A looomdtive engine, using coal dirt exclusively for fuel, has recently 

 been engaged in hauling coal trains over the Philadelphia and Reading 

 Railroad, generating steam freely without the use of any portion of the 

 exhaust steam as a draught-promoting agent, the substitute being a con- 

 tinuous supply of air and vapor, introduced into a closed ash-pan as 

 above described, aided by very small jets of live steam in the chimney for 

 the purpose of facilitating the passage upwards of the products of combus- 

 tion. 



These results obtained from many boilers now using the apparatus de- 

 scribed, show that the hitherto neglected and apparently valueless material, 

 known as coal dirt, can be profitably used for generating steam, and that 

 hereafter it must be regarded as a fuel of great value. 



Stated Meeting, March 17, 1876. 



Present 16 members. 



Dr. Briclsres in the Chair. 



'&' 



A letter acknowledging Ihe receipt of Trans. V. and Proc. 

 94, was received from the Boston Society of ISTatural History. 



Donations for the Library were received from the Bureau 

 of Mines at Victoria, the Society of Physical Science at 

 Bordeaux, the Revue Politique, Canadian Naturalist, Boston 

 S. N. H., American Antiquarian Society, Bedford Library, 

 Astor Library, Franklin Institute, Medical News, Prison 

 Discipline Association, Geological Survey of Pennsylvania, 

 Geological Survey of Ohio, and President Allen. 



Prof. Houston communicated again his views respecting 

 the so-called new force, and in reference to certain strictures 

 which have appeared in print, since his former communica- 

 tion. He described the results of experiments proving a 

 polar condition of the force, and demonstrating the impossi- 

 bility of its being anything but electricity under stratical 

 tension. 



Mr. Eli K. Price continued the communication of his 

 views on the Glacial Epoch, so-called, arguing against a 

 general polar outspread of ice, and for the explanation of all 

 drift phenomena on the theory of iceberg distribution. 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XVI. 97. 2b 



