Report of the Committee on Steam Boilers. 33 



Conclusion. 



The Committee would finally remark : 



1st. That the results of this trial indicate that, in steam boilers as 

 now built by the best manufacturers, the differences in most respects 

 are exceedingly small, and a purchaser can hardly fail to be well 

 served if he go to a really intelligent and reliable builder. 



2d. That the introduction of boilers having exceptionally large pro- 

 portion of heating surface, and with large feed water heaters, and 

 depending upon a mechanical draft, will, when properly designed and 

 constructed, be attended with a marked economy, which, the Com- 

 mittee judge, should more than compensate for the increased troubte 

 and expense involved if large boiler power is required. 



3d. That the steaming capacity of a boiler depends largely upon 

 its form, as well as upon the method of working its fires. 



4th. That they are very greatly pleased with the result of this first 

 trial of the method adopted of determining the economical perform- 

 ance of steam boilers and their capacity for making steam. 



They earnestly desire to impress upon the Board of Managers the 

 importance to the country, and to manufacturers of boilers, of having 

 a standard set of apparatus, such as your Committee have used, con- 

 stantly available for such trials of steam boilers. 



They would also urge a consideration of the advantage to the 

 American Institute of such tests as are above described, whicn, being 

 publicly conducted, with the best apparatus available, and witn all of 

 the accuracy and reliability, which by this method is easily attainable, 

 place the decisions of the Judges and the awards of the Board of 

 Managers beyond dispute. 



"With the experience now obtained, the results of such tests can be 

 readily worked up. 



They would earnestly recommend to the Board of Managers that 

 provision be made for the erection of a well built condenser, with 

 meters carefully and specially constructed for the work, and with 

 thermometers of the greatest possible accuracy and delicacy, every 

 possible provision being made for obtaining the most reliable results, 

 and steam boiler trials by this apparatus, when comjDleted, be made 

 one of the regular features of the annual exhibitions of the Institute. 



The members of this Committee will gladly give all needful instruc- 

 tions for the building of such an apparatus, and have no doubt that, 

 a moderate charge being made for the privilege of its use by unfor- 

 tunate competitors of former occasions and by builders of new forms 



