Report of the Committee on Steam Boilers. (3Q 



has prevented the earlier adoption of the plan, notwithstanding the 

 fact that its importance has long been recognized. The intelligent 

 liberality of the Board of Managers, who promptly acquiesced in the 

 proposal of the Committee, and directed the committee of the board, 

 to whom was assigned Department Y, to assist in the prosecution of 

 the work, has enabled the American Institute to practically inaugu- 

 rate this method of testing steam boilers. The apparatus required in 

 conducting the proposed tests was prepared by direction of the chair- 

 man of the committee, under the immediate supervision of Mr. J. W. 

 Blake, the Superintendent of Machinery. To the competing manufac- 

 turers, as well as to the superintendent, the Committee are indebted 

 for valuable suggestions. 



A large wooden tank was prepared, in which was built a surface 

 condenser having an area of about eleven hundred (1,100) square feet 

 of cooling surface. This latter was made by connecting up the requi- 

 site number of tubes, obtained from the Root Steam Engine Company, 

 the peculiar method of connection adopted in the Boot boiler afford- 

 ing excellent facilities for so doing. The Committee are greatly 

 indebted to Mr. J. B. Boot for assistance kindly tendered in this mat- 

 ter. Water from the hydrants was led through Worthington meters 

 into the lower part of the ta.nk, and, rising among the tubes of the 

 condenser, overflowed at the top. 



The steam from the boiler on trial entered the tubes at the top of 

 the condenser, and the water of condensation flowed out at the lowest 

 point. The currents of steam and of condensing water thus moved in 

 opposite directions and the steam was condensed completely with the 

 least possible quantity of condensing water. 



Thermometers were carefully made for the occasion by Gr. Taglia- 

 bue, and were placed as follows : One having a scale ranging from 

 30 degrees to 101 degrees Fahrenheit was placed at the inlet of the 

 injection water, and its reading indicated the temperature of both feed 

 and injection ; one ranging from 100 degrees to 175 degrees Fahren- 

 heit was placed at the mouth of the overflow pipe, and exhibited the 

 temperature of the condensing water when discharged from the tank ; 

 one thermometer with a range of from 45 degrees to 175 degrees 

 Fahrenheit was so placed as to indicate the temperature of the water 

 of condensation when leaving the condenser. 



Another thermometer was placed in the steam space of the boiler. 



The pressure of the steam was indicated by two recording gauges, 

 furnished by their respective patentees, M. B. Edson, and D. P. 

 Davis, and both gave satisfactory evidence of efficiency. The indica- 



