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steadily from the )iej2;inuiii.n'. Besides serving in tlie instruction of Imn- 

 dreds of students, it lias suitplied the means for conducting a nuinher of 

 important researches, the results of which have been duly published and 

 important problems are now in process of solution under the patronage 

 of the Carnegie Institution. This, Avhile in terms too brief to be entirely 

 complete, gives a fair picture of the present status of locomotive testing 

 from a laboratory point of view. 



Just at this time, all who are interested in locomotive design or per- 

 formance have their faces turned to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. 

 Engineers have always looked upon a great exposition as serving in many 

 ways to advance the practice of their profession. It has often happened 

 that in addition to the far-reaching influence of their general exhibit, such 

 expositions have given occasion for a considerable amount of highly 

 scientific work. At the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, in 1S7G, 

 a system of steam-boiler testing was developed. The Columbian Exposi- 

 tion at Chicago in 1893 had its engineering congi-ess, and it is of interest 

 to know that the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at Pt. Louis is to bo em- 

 phasized b.v tlie working out of extensive plans for locomotive testing. 



It has been announced that the Pennsylvania Railroad Comijany is to- 

 make a locomotive testing plant the central features of its exhibit at 

 St. Louis, and is to conduct tests upon locomotives througliout the perio:! 

 of the Exposition. To this end. it is now installing in the Transportation 

 Building at the Expo-ition, an ela1)orate and most beautifully designed 

 testing plant. The undertaking is being directed by Mr. F. D. Casanave. 

 acting as special agent in charge of the company's exhibit, with whom the 

 various technical departments of the railroad are co-operating. That the 

 work of testing locomotives may be free from all taint of selfishness, and 

 that it may serve as large a purpose as possible, the company has in- 

 vited the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American 

 Railway Master Mechanics' Association to have a part in giving direction 

 to its work. Each of these organizations, in accepting the invitation has 

 appointed a committee of three to represent it, which committees, acting- 

 together, constitute what is now known as the Advisory Committee of 

 the Pennsylvania Company for Locomotive Tes^tiug. The writer's connec- 

 tion with the work is that of a member of the Advisory Committee. 



It has been planned to test twelve locomotives, a number of which 

 will be of foreign manufacture. One is to be a de Glehn balanced com- 

 pound, which has been ordered by the Pennsylvania Company and will 



