498 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



next meeting' to give the results of my present experiments. I am about 

 applying this principle of using sand for heating water for warming 

 schools. If my theory is riglit I sliould be able to boil water much quicker 

 than with the ordinary method. For the last nine months, all the water 

 of which my tea and coffee is made, is heated with sand. The sand is not 

 onl}'^ in the kettle, but in the coffee and tea pot, and I find that by placing 

 the sand in the tea and coffee pot, the water keeps hot much longer. If 

 two vessels filled with water, in one of which sand is placed, and both 

 exposed to the sun on a warm summer's day, the vessel in which the sand 

 is placed will be much the coolest. I find that sand in boiling water is at 

 a higher temperature than 212 degrees, and ebullition takes place quicker. 

 For this reason it is essential that the sand should be placed nearest to 

 the fire. Water with sand in it, after being heated, takes longer to cool. 

 At the Delavan House, at Albany, where I live, vegetables and meats are 

 cooked much quicker by my process. In using sand in locomotive and 

 stationary boilers, I have never fciund the sand to be carried over into the 

 cylinder or other parts of the engine. On the Troy and Saratoga railroad 

 I have sand in the boiler of one of the locomotives. It is placed upon the 

 crown sheet, in forty-nine boxes covered with wire gauze, and I have evi- 

 dence of its entire success. The Central railroad has authorized me to test 

 it on their locomotives. In a very few days I will have it tested in warm- 

 ing buildings. My object in coining to this club is to get further informa- 

 tion; and I desire a thorougli investigation, and if I am in error I will 

 freel}^ acknowledge it, and feel indebted for any light that may be thrown 

 upon it. The talent displayed at the last meeting in discussing the sub- 

 ject of " Petroleum," convinces me that my discovery is in able hands. 



Mr. Parmelee. — The best mode of generating steam is one that has occu- 

 pied inventors to a very large extent; every possible form of boiler has 

 been experimented on, and it appears to me that the subject, in this 

 direction, is well nigh exhausted. I believe any further improvement 

 will be found in a better sj'stem of insulation, on the principle that 

 you cannot get more from a cat than her skin. I cannot see how any more 

 than a certain quantity of steam can be got from a stated amount of heat, 

 but we can prevent much of that heat being lost by radiation; and here, I 

 believe, is the point to look for improvement in steam boilers. 



Mr. Bartlett. — Some of the arguments advanced here impress us as being 

 absurd at first sight. Sand cannot give out more heat than it receives, 

 and it appears that the experiments of Mr. Pepper do not confirm his 

 theory. Sand has very little capacity for heat — less than water; it will 

 therefore be first to give off heat to the water, but it cannot give more 

 than it receives. There are a great many elements to be observed in these 

 experiments. If there is the least difference in the heating surface of one 

 boiler from another, or any smoke, or other non-conductor, either on the 

 roof of the fire box or in the crown sheet in the boiler, there will be a very 

 perceptible difference in the generation of steam. 



Mr. Joseph Dixon. — I did not hear the commencement of Mr. Pepper's 

 remarks, but what I have heard would lead me to inquire, if by using sand 

 the same quantity of fuel will evaporate more water than without the 

 sand ? 



