336 ECONOMY OF FUEL FOE STEAM MACHINERY. 



Hooked dagger 8.66 



Fragment 8.58 



Native copper 8.92 



Pure copper 8.78 8.96 



The small differences between these numbers would lead to the 

 conclusion that the implements were made of pure copper. 



The fragment was completely dissolved by nitric acid ; and the 

 solution, on being tested for silver by hydrochloric acid, gave a scarcely 

 perceptible opacity, indicating the presence of an exceedingly minute 

 trace of silver. The copper having been separated by hydro-sul- 

 phuric acid, the residual liquid was tested for other metals. A 

 very minute trace of iron was detected. 



The native copper from Lake Superior was tested in the same 

 manner, and was found to contain no trace of silver, but a minute 

 trace of iron, the quantity being apparently about the same as in the 

 fragment. 



From this, it appears that the implements are composed of copper 

 almost pure, differing in no material respect from the native copper 

 of Lake Superior, and not of an alloy of that metal, with any other 

 substance. 



It is not by any means probable, from the conclusions resulting 

 from the experiments detailed above, that these implements could have 

 been hardened by any mechanical means ; and no process is known at 

 present by which copper can be rendered harder, although its density 

 may of course be increased to a small extent by pressure and hammer- 

 ing. 



ECONOMY OF FUEL FOR STEAM MACHINERY. 



BY ALFEED BEUNEL, C. E. 



Head before the Canadian Institute, March 29th, 1856. 



Few questions attract so much attention among practical men at 

 the present moment as that of economising fuel in Steam Machinery 

 especially as relates to the motive power of Railways, — it is indeed a 

 question of vital importance to many of the older Roads in the United 

 States, and though wood for fuel can at preseut be obtained on the 

 Canadian Railways at rates which do not render it an item of the first 

 importance in the working expenses, yet it is one of sufficient 



