THE FEED WATER 17 



in order to slosh the water over the crown-sheet. When 

 you have the front end of the engine up, if water shows 

 in the glass, start the injector and let it run until the boiler 

 is filled to its normal level. If you are unable to get the 

 engine in such a position that the water shows in the glass, 

 cover the fire with a layer of ashes or earth three or four 

 inches thick. Do not attempt to pull it out, as stirring it 

 up creates intense heat. Having banked the fire, leave the 

 engine alone until the steam goes down. By doing this, 

 you have probably prevented the fusible plug from melt- 

 ing, or, what is vastly more serious, burning the crown- 

 sheet. A crown-sheet that has been burnt is greatly 

 weakened, probably "bagged" or warped, and the stay- 

 bolts so strained at their threads that it is impossible to 

 keep them from leaking. The majority of explosions of 

 boilers of the locomotive type are caused by low water 

 and the consequent burning of the crown-sheet. One ex- 

 perience with low water should be a sufficient lesson for 

 all time. 



Since so much depends upon having sufficient water in 

 the boiler, the gage-cocks and water-glass, which indicate 

 the amount of water, should be kept in first-class order. 



The Gage-Cocks. These cocks are a more reliable 

 means of indicating the amount of water in the boiler than 

 the water-glass, although not so convenient. The gage- 

 cocks, or "try-cocks," as they are sometimes called, should 

 be used often enough to prevent them from becoming filled 



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