12 



IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FACTORY. 



The making of the necessary changes and improvements in tl 

 experimental sirup factory at Way cross, Ga., for the season of 19( 

 was begun on October 1. The changes and additions made were 

 follows: 



(1) An additional high-pressure evaporator like the one already in use, except that it 

 copper coils and stuffing boxes. 



(2) Copper coils for the evaporator with stuffing boxes like those on the low-pressu| 

 evaporator. 



(3) A large steam trap for each of the high-pressure evaporators and for the high-pr 

 sure coil of the low-pressure evaporator. 



(4) Two of the traps displaced by the changes named above to be used on the clarifiei 

 giving each clarifier its own trap. 



(5) The sewer relaid, using 6-inch pipe from the junction of the two 4-inch lines to 

 street sewer. 



(6) The fire-brick lining of the front of the fire box of the old boiler taken out, relaid, ai 

 secured so as to be permanent. 



(7) A centrifugal oiler applied to the engine crank, to prevent its heating as it 

 with the oil cup in use. 



(8) A hood built over the feed-water tank, and an opening made in the side of the builj 

 ing to permit the escape of steam from the heated water, so that it would not rise in the ml 

 shed, rusting the shafting and pulleys and making the belts slippery. 



(9) The light galvanized-iron pipes leading from the clarifiers to the settling and 

 tanks replaced by standard 3-inch galvanized-iron pipes. 



(10) Two leaks in the low-pressure evaporator stopped. 



(11) A leak in the lining of the same evaporator stopped. 



(12) An awning crank, ratchet, and hangers for raising the roof of the ventilator. 



(13) The mechanical strainer, materials for which were on hand, put in and coi 

 with both rotary and steam pumps. 



(14) The engines and pumps put in order to begin work. 



In addition to these changes, which had been recommended at 

 close of the work of the preceding year, two other improvements we 

 made: (1) The 1 J-inch reducing valve on the steam pipe leading fi 

 the main steam pipe to the low-pressure receiver was removed and 

 2J-inch valve substituted, the remainder of the line being enlar^ 

 accordingly; (2) the back pressure valve on the receiver, which hi 

 always given trouble, was replaced with a superior valve. Some 

 the changes recommended in the report of the previous year w( 

 not made, as the expense entailed did not seem to be warranted for 

 conduct of the last year of the experimental work. 



The new evaporator was installed on the third floor of the factoi 

 where space had been provided the year before, the only change in 

 essary being the moving of the pipe-room door to the opposite side 

 the room. The new stuffing boxes and coils were placed in the 

 high-pressure evaporator and both high-pressure evaporators 

 excellent service throughout the season. As the new evaporator 

 much larger than the old OIK-, it was possible to keep pace with tl 

 mills, except when time was lost by the necessity of boiling off the coils 



