474 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



THE MAGAZINE TANKS 



Are of copper, with capacity for one hundred pounds of powder. They are 

 water-tight and can be put overboard from the launch and towed by a line 

 astern, to prevent explosion whenever the launch is under fire. 



A REGIMENT OF MARINE ARTILLERY 



Consists of from four to six hundred men, divided for duty into gun's crew, 

 launch crew and horsemen. 



Adjourned. Thomas. D. Stetson, Secretary. 



American Institute Polytechnic Association, ) 

 February 19, 1863. j 



The Chairman, S. D. Tillman, Esq., presiding. 



Mr. Fisher directed the attention of the meeting to the practicability of 

 using steam traction engines upon city railroads, and described the dummy 

 engines used on the Hudson River railroad, also the steam cars of Grigg 

 & Long, now used upon the railroad leading from Jersey City to Bergen 

 Point. The driving engines are placed on the forward platform of the car, 

 and occupy but little space; the exhaust steam makes very little noise. 

 While passing through the city a span of horses are attached to the car, 

 and thus do not 'frighten any animals on the road. A number of these 

 steam cars are now in use, and if they are successful on this road their 

 great economy will lead to their introduction on other roads as fast as per- 

 mission to move on city roads can be ob-ained. 



Mr. Rowell read a description of the trial trip of an ocean steamer, using 

 the Sickles' cut oflf, published in a morning paper, and took occasion to con- 

 demn the sweeping statements with regard to the speed of the steamer 

 and the working of the cut off. 



Mr. Stetson also made some remarks on the absurdity of the statement 

 read, especially in regard to the amount of coal used, and the speed of the 

 ship. 



Mr. Dibben followed in the same strain, 



Mr. Rowell then took up the subject of the cut off, and denied that there 

 was any saving in using steam expansively. In the course of his remarks 

 he referred to the experiments made at the Hecker mills in this city, and 

 those made on a lake steamer by the government, and cited the opinions 

 of chief engineer Isherwood, who has taken substantially the same ground, 



Mr. Fisher took the opposite ground, and showed, by reference to the 

 published experiments made with locomotives in England, there was 

 a large saving by using the steam expansively in the high pressure engine. 



Mr. Stetson followed upon the use of the expansive power of steam in 

 low pressure engines. He showed, at some length, the effects of alternate 

 heating and cooling of the cylinder, and described the manner in which 

 the Corlies' engines (noted for their saving of coal) were arranged. On 

 motion the question was continued to the next meeting. 



C. W, Smith, Secretary pro tern. 



