vi PREFA CE. 



discussed briefly, some space being given to the heats of for- 

 mation of the different kinds of gas, and the advantages gained 

 by their use. A short account of theoretical flame tempera- 

 tures is given, with the methods of calculating and applying 

 the same. 



The Report of the Committee on Boiler Tests, submitted 

 to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, in Decem- 

 ber, 1897, is published in full, as are also several of the appen- 

 dices to the report. This report revises the old method of 

 1885, and gives the most recent methods of testing boilers 

 and reporting the same. 



A set of tables of constants used in this and allied sub- 

 jects is given, and finally a collection of calorimetric and ana- 

 lytic data on all the kinds of fuel used. It is believed that these 

 tables are fuller and more complete than any previously pub- 

 lished in any language, and in collating them all available books 

 and periodicals have been freely used. In all instances where 

 the author was known, he has been credited with his results. 

 Of course in such a large amount some unreliable data may 

 have crept in, but all possible pains have been taken to exclude 

 any such. The list of periodicals, etc., consulted will be found 

 following the table of contents. 



For help in the work, and especially the tabular matter, the 

 author is under obligations to many. Prominent among them 

 are Profs. R. C. Carpenter, E. E. Slosson, W. O. Atwater, 

 and D. S. Jacobus; and Messrs. William Kent, R. S. Hale, 

 F. L. Slocum, W. B. Day, and C. E. Emery. The Astor 

 Library and the Libraries of the American Society of Civil 

 Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 

 were freely used, and much help obtained from the librarians. 

 Most of the cuts are from Scheurer-Kestner's book; a few 

 were taken from Lunge and Hurter's Alkali-Maker's Hand- 

 book ; some from Groves and Thorpe's work on Fuels ; a 

 few from the Reports of the American Society of Mechanical 

 Engineers; two from Dingler's Polytechnic Journal; one 



