406 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



heavy, its steering apparatus, which I govern by a screw, is perfectly 

 capable of controlling it. It is practicable to make one as light as a hand 

 engine. 



Mr. Manning said the noise alarmed cattle and horses very ranch, and 

 that in its noise and speed it would be dangerous in such a street as Broad- 

 way and very difficult to work in our narrow streets. Its noise must be 

 smothered in some way. I have ridden on Dudgeon's engine — it was very 

 manageable in Broadway among omnibuses, carts and carriages. 



Mr. Fisher,— It weighs .3,000 lbs. 



Mr. Leonard. — I rode through the city on Dudgeon's engine — occasion- 

 ally at a speed of eighteen iniles an hour. Horses were much alarmed by 

 its noise, as they usually arc by engines, until used to it on our railways. 

 It was easy to start, to turn and to stop. 



The Chairman. — Good steam fire engines are now made in considerable 

 numbers at the Seneca Falls factories — cost $.5,000 each — to be drawn by 

 two horses. The steam is got up in them in five minutes. 



Mr. Edgerly. — We have no buildings over one hundred feet high ! Our 

 hand engines always get to a fire before you hear a fire bell toll the dis- 

 trict ! More harm is often done to goods by water instead of fire. The 

 most powerful* steam fire engine could only deaden a heavy fire. 



The Chairman. — Cincinnati has tried them and now has a corps paid, with 

 their steam fire engines. 



Mr. Manning. — The city of St. Louis also. 



Mr. Fisher. — On a smooth McAdamized road the engines can run forty 

 miles an hour. 



Mr. Seeley mentioned expansion and contraction of metal as a source of 

 motive power. 



Mr. Stetson. — Berdan availed himself of it in heating the ovens of his 

 Automatic bakery, by using brass rods connected with the cast iron valves, 

 so as to open or close them as the heat increased or diminished. How 

 many steam fire engines have been made ? 



Mr. Manning. — One was burned in its house in Boston, 



Mr, Fisher, — Denied by the mayor of that city. It was one of Latta's. 



Subject for next meeting: "The form and style of a suitable building 

 for the American Institute." 



The Club meets every Wednesday, at 7 o'clock P. M. 



Adjourned. H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



January 10, 1858. 



Present — Messrs. Stetson, Sewall, Cohen, Dr. Treadwell, Mr. Tread- 

 well, Veeder, Brower, Haskell, Bruce, Rev, Dr. Adamson, Sherry, Seeley, 

 Sykes, Chambers, and others — 29 members in all. 



John P. Veeder in the chiir. Henry Meigs, Secretary. 



The Secretary read the following extract: 



