370 TRAKSACTIONS OF THE 



and circulate in. It was very wasteful of fuel, but the waste was avoided 

 lay the introductiou of a platform above the bottom and near the boiler. 



Mr. Pell had observed the same kind of effect in ice houses. 



Mr. Godwin had known great beneficial results in ice houses, from the 

 introduction of non-conducting material at the base. 



Mr. Stetson explained the Aldridge Hot Blast Furnace for steam boilers, 

 illustrating on the blackboard by diagrams. 



Mr. Fisher claimed for the Baker Furnace the credit of using the Hot 

 Blast as long ago as 1854. 



Mr. proposed that Aldrid e's would be better if fed with fresh 



air warmed in a pipe in the chimney 



Mr. Stillman gave some interesting facts concerning the utilizing of heat 

 on North river steamboats. 



Mr. Godwin advocated Ci'oss Flue Boilers. He illustrated on the black- 

 board the setting of domestic boilers. 



The question for the next meeting was announced to be '' The setting of 

 steam boilers." 



Adjourned. T. D. STETSON, Sec'y pro tern. 



May 26, 1858. 



A meeting of the Mechanics' Club was held this Wednesday, May 26, 

 1858, at 8 o'clock P. M. 



Present — Messrs. Leonard, Stetson, Johnson, Seeley, Amory, Hedrick, 

 and others. 



Mr. Wm. B. Leonard in the chair. The Secretary, Mr. Meigs, being 

 absent, on motion of Mr. Stetson, Mr. John W. Chambers was appointed 

 Secretary pro tern. 



The following extracts, by Mr. Meigs, in relation to the Traction Engine, 

 were read : 



[London Artisan, April, 1858.] 



A new Traction Steam Engine, on Boydell's plan, has just been made 

 at Lincoln (England), by Messrs. Clayton & Shuttleworth, who are about 

 to send it to Odessa. It has been tried, and its action was perfectly satis- 

 factory. It is constructed on Boydell's principle, but is different in several 

 parts — as for instance, it moves on three instead of five wheels. The 

 weight of the boiler resting on two wheels of immense strength ; the third 

 wheel being a steering or guiding one, placed in front, something after the 

 fashion of a perambulator. Behind this wheel is a box for the steersman, 

 who, by a very simple apparatus, is enabled to turn the proderous vehicle 

 in any direction, and with the utmost facility. The average speed along 

 good roads is stated at the rate of three miles per hour, though it can go 

 four miles per hour. 



A new patent Ti-action Engine for the farm, by William Bray, chief 

 engineer of the steamer Lord Warden, South-Eastcrn Railroad Company. 



For particulars I refer to the Artisan, but note its action. With two 

 hours' supply of fuel (coal) and water on board, it weighs about j^ije to7is. 



