proceedings of the polytechnic association. 447 



Improved Gas Burner. 



The Chairman. — T saw at the Fair a very useful and simple invention, 

 exhibited by Mr. Burgers, which consisted of a little tube about an inch 

 and a half in leng-th, made to fit over the ordinary gas burner. The upper 

 part of the tube is swelled, and contains a little wool, through which the 

 gas must pass ; repeated experiments prove this plan adds to the illumina- 

 ting power without increasing the consumption of gas. 



Prof. Vanderweyde. — There is a slight rarefaction of the gas in this 

 burner, which causes it to consume more oxygen, which gives the increased 

 flame. When little oxygen is consumed the flame smokes, but to produce 

 a good light the flame should be on the point of smoking, and very much 

 approaching a yellow light. The value of the Bunsen burner, used in the 

 laboratory, is that the oxygen is mixed with the gas before burning, the 

 hydrogen gives the most heat, and serves to keep the carbon hot, but it 

 may be heated so that it will not burn at all. 



Dr. Rowell. — At the Academy of Music, they diminish the size of their 

 burners, according to the height at which they are placed ; on the first tier 

 they have six feet burners, on the 2d, four feet, and on the 3d tier, two feet. 



The Chairman. — In connection with the subject of lights, I may state, 

 that in the xsimple operation of lighting a friction match, it is estimated 

 that one out of every five is lost. The proper way, is, after the match is 

 rubbed and ignited, to revolve it between the thumb and finger until the 

 wood of the match is on fire. The effect of the turning is to heat the 

 oxygen of the air around it, and bring it more rapidly in contact therewith, 

 also to throw the flame beneath the stick. This knack, if generally known, 

 would in the aggregate save thousands of dollars. 



The subject of " Novelties at the Fair'" was continued for the next 

 meeting. Adjourned. 



American Institute Polytechnic Association, ) 



September 24, 1863. ( 



Chairman, S. D. Tillman, Esq.; Secretary, Mr. J. Bull. 



Traction Engine. 



Mr. J. K. Fisher read the following extracts from the London Review, on 

 a traction engine in operation. 



The English have no sleeping-cars on their railroads; they lock passen- 

 gers in at the risk of their lives; and in many other respects they are 

 behind us. But they have beaten us in perfecting a traction engine, 

 which is now in successful operation in one of the great English dock- 

 yards. The London Remew gives the following lively description of this 

 very ingenious and useful machine, which we recommend to the attention 

 of our engineers and machinists: 



"Perhaps the oddest, among the many very odd creatures found in Austral in, 

 is the animal called the oruithorhynchus, which appears to be a niixtiiii; (it 

 the duck, the beaver and the "mole; and the traction engine, constriicu-d 

 according to the order of the dockyard authorities, and now at work there, 



