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$4 Y 2 RY NU auxiliaries is perhaps not much considered, but investigation will disclose what a surprisingly large proportion of the boiler power is absorbed in driving the auxiliary machinery. "Electric power in some cases has been made use of for driving quick moving auxiliary machinery, such as blower and ventilating fans, centrifugal pumps, etc., and that there is a wide field for electric power in this direction is undoubted, for although the first. cost of the electric installation is greater, the up-keep and losses are much less. There is at present a certain amount of distrust in the minds of many engineers against electric motors taking the place of the steam engine when a positive action is demanded. 'That there is considerable force in this objection will be realized in the event of the motor attached to the circulating pump breaking down when leaving the dock, and bringing the engines up from lack of vacuum, and there is this further danger, that, as circulators are carried low down, an excess of water in the engine room might very easily put the motor out of action altogether. Notwithstanding the objections against the use of the motor, I firmly believe that their use will become general where continuous running is required, and if the motors are properly cared for and not overloaded, satisfactory results will be obtained. Cross-connections are always arranged for to provide against such contingencies as the breakdown of the circulator, but unless electricians can produce a motor, proof against the effects of oil and salt water, circulators should not be electrically equipped. "Small steam turbines for which a fair economy is now claimed, seem well adapted for high speed continuous run- ning, their action is positive, and the tear and wear is prac- tically nil. The whole question of the adaptability and loca- tion of auxiliary machinery is now receiving very much better attention than hitherto, and rightly so, as a bad arrangement of this very important factor is a serious drawback; the up- keep is excessive, breakdowns are continuous, and are most harrassing to the whole engineering staff, as it means con- tinual toil from port to port, and all from causes that experi- ence might well have prevented. "The question as to the best steam pressure, in point of economy and efficiency for operating auxiliaries, is of de- cided. interest. It does seem an anomaly to raise steam up to the high pressure in use at present, about 210 lbs. and then wire-draw it through a reducing valve down to 100 lbs. to make use of it. "Few auxiliaries are well adapted or kept. in such me- chanical efficiency to profitably use steam of the higher pres- sures, as the losses from radiation and condensation and other leakages are considerable, and as auxiliaries are not an afterthought, it would undoubtedly seem to be a better ar- rangement for a certain proportion of the boiler power to be designed for the lower pressure. The first cost would be decidedly less, as the price of boiler power and all the neces- sary fittings for the 100 lbs. steam pressure is very much lower than it would be for 210 lbs. Some vessels have been arranged along these lines and the results have been very satisfactory indeed. GENERAL, "There are many other points that might have been incor- porated in this paper, such as feed heating, use of evaporators, filters, etc., etc., but enough has been dealt with to show that the efficient maintenance of machinery at the present day is a living complex reality, and demands from those who have to take up the responsibility a high order of intelligence and unremitting care. "The later developments have unquestionably demonstrated that rule of thumb methods are no longer admissable, and where such valuable property is at stake the best in design, material, workmanship and supervision is demanded, and only the best should be accepted." TRADE NOTES . The Atlantic Works, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa. has received an order from the American Car & Foundry Co. for one of their B-17 adjustable bevel band saw machines for use in the Jackson & Sharp plant at Wilmington, Del. The Lane & DeGroot Co., Long Island City, manufacturers of boats, launches, etc., recently completed two large con- tracts which were in the nature of rush orders. One of them comprised eight cars of life boats and life rafts for the Fall River steamer Providence. The other included seventeen 28-ft. life boats, one 28-ft. life boat launch and six 20-ft. Barstow life rafts for the steamship Dakota. The company is now at work upon an order for eight 22-ft. wooden life boats for the Peninsular & Occidental Steamship Co. The Fort Wayne Electric Works, Fort Wayne, Ind., have just put out bulletin No. 1,060 on the subject of portable wattmeter calibrators. The Type K portable wattmeter cali- brator has been designed for use in calibrating meters with- out removing them from service and without expending more than a few minutes time in calibrating each meter. By its use one man can calibrate a large number of meters in a day with- out increasing the labor or equipment at the station. The Type K calibrator has been developed in two forms, one known as the ringing calibrator and the other as the register- ing calibrator. The Carbolineum Wood Preserving Co., Milwaukee, Wis., has just put out a bulletin concerning their product. They say that Avenarius Carbolineum will prevent most efficiently the rot, dryrot and decay of woodwork in any situation and is guaranteed to double its life if properly used. It will prevent the checking and warping of woodwork and will expel and repel dampness from wood and make it waterproof. It will prevent crumbling of brick, stone walls and tiling and will make them waterproof and inpervious to dampness. It con- tains no carbolic acid, is antisceptic and free from all porous ingredients. The substance is applied with a brush like paint or by immersion of timber. The company says anyone who buys a barrel of Avenarius Carbolineum will become convinced of its merits. The circular contains testimonials from the C. H. Starke Dredge & Dock Co., Milwaukee, Wis.; the C. Reiss Coal Co., Sheboygan, Wis.; and from various others including Mr. Benjamin Douglass, bridge engineer of the Michigan Central railroad, Detroit, Mich. The company says that the government is a constant buyer of Avenarius Carbo- lineum and that government engineers specify and use it regu- larly wherever a wood preserver is needed. Anyone inter- ested in this subject would do well to write to the company for its interesting literature. The H. W. Johns-Manville Co., New York, have just placed on the market two additions to their already very complete line of asbestos packings. These are known as Kearsarge spiral high pressure piston and valve rod packing, and in- ternational hot water pump packing. The Kearsarge spiral packing is an old friend in new guise. It is the Kearsarge asbestos and rubber wound' cloth coil packing, so well and favorably known to the trade, put up in spiral form to meet the growing demand for that type of packing. It has proved its merits as an efficient and durable packing on piston and valve rods, against high pressure, high temperature, and hign speed. The International is a specially prepared and treated packing for use on pumps handling water at high temperatures and on piston and valve rods of engines against wet steam. This material has been tested under actual working conditions for over a year and has been found to be satisfactory in every respect for the service mentioned. The manufacturers have prepared attractive literature descriptive of these two packings which they will be glad to send to anyone interested. SEE ST OE ee ms