376 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



leum is to be employed as fuel, I suggest this as a good plan fo; 

 using it. 



Prof. Seely. — I would ask Mr. Fisher what he expects to gain by this 

 arrangement ? 



Mr. Fisher. — I expect to avoid the reduction of temperature which results 

 from the use of steam. I suppose the combustion of the smoke will be 

 quite as perfect, or perhaps more so, and that the heat will be greater. ' It 

 is known that the temperature in the boiler flues is much lower than in the 

 fire box. Experiments have shown that a foot of heating surface in the 

 flues is worth only about a third as much as the same surface in the fire 

 box. If a higher heat can be imparted to the gaseous products of combus- 

 tion before they enter the flues, a larger quantity of steam can be generated. 



Mr. Dibben. — I think that Mr. Fisher is right and that his explanation 

 might be made more full. If the temperature of combustible gases, how- 

 ever thoroughly they may be mixed with air or even with pure oxygen gas, 

 is reduced below the burning point, combustion ceases. It has accordingly 

 been found that the old plan of lining fire boxes with fire brick is better 

 than leaving the iron walls exposed. Whenever the gases come in con- 

 tact with the comparatively cold iron they cease to burn. Anything, there- 

 fore, which tends to reduce the temperature in the fire box, tends to pre- 

 vent a perfect combustion. 



The speaker then made a drawing on the blackboard and described 

 Siemens' gas furnace, the same that was explained so fully by Professor 

 ^arada3^ 



Mr. Dibben concluded by expressing an opinion of the very great value 

 of this invention, saying that Mr, Siemens deserved the highest credit for 

 pushing it through to practical success; and that it was satisfactory to 

 learn that this inventor is at least enjf)ying a reward for his inventions. 



Prof, Seely. — I indorse what Mr. Dibben has said in relation to the value 

 of Mr. Siemens' furnace, and I have no doubt that it will come into very 

 extensive use throughout the civilized world. I regard it as a very great 

 invention. 



The same subject was continued for the next Thursday evening, and the 

 Association adjourned. 



Enos Stevens, Secretary pro tern. 



American Institute Polytechnic Association, ) 



October 9, 1862. j 

 Dr. Warren Rowell in the chair. 



Fish's Lamp. 



One of the subjects presented during the half hour devoted to miscel- 

 laneous business was the heating attachment for kerosene lamps, invented 

 by W. L. Fish, of Newark. 



Prof. Seely. — Mr. Chairman, it gives me great pleasure to say that I 

 think this is one of the best things in a small way that we have had for 



