Volume 35 (1877) (426 pages)

An WWlustrated Journal of Mining, Popular Seience and General News. BY DEWEY & Co., Patent Svlicitors. VOLUME NAXXV. Wuniber 21. SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1877, Thanksgiving. Again tho yearly installment of New England's legacy to this country falls dne; again, hy recommendation of President and Governor, there will be formal rendering of thanks in all the churches and cessation from accustomed avocation in all the busy marts and manufactories; again,’devout hearts will fill with thanks to God for his loving kindness and tender mercicsIt will bo this year, as aforetime, a day of feast, ing and of praise; an occasion for family reunions in which silver locks will join hands with golden curls over the lapse of, perhaps, half a century, with eyes looking backward and forward along tho course of time. Thanksgiving day has often been distinguished as the home holiday, and truly, too, for such indeeditis. It isa priceless boon to Ameriean homes, for the impulso in this stirring quarter of the world lies rather in tangents to the home circle than in the quiet revolutions amid homo influences which quieter nations know. The making of new homes has heen the chief occupation of the American people for a eentury and will be for many years to eome. How precious, then, is an institution which calls many in person and all in thought, to the old home where early lives were moulded into sueh strength of manhood and womanhood that the founding of uew homes became possible. We are too apt to forget the old homes and the priccless training they hestowed. We too often pursue our courses with the idea that the vigor and enterprise, which mark our progress, are proud qualities which we have ourselves discovered and developed. Such vain thoughts are untrue and unwise. It is true that conditions have evoked vigorous thought and action among those who have transformed the western wastes into the western world but the conditions would have heen powerless had not those who enjoy them brought to the conquest quatities fitted for victory. We owe our advancement to the inheritance of the spirit, precept and exainple of the old freedom makers of the Atlantic coast. Nor did they altogether originate the quality of devotion to principle and energy ‘u industrial achievement. Its sources lie far back among the centuries and its springs may be found here and there across the continent of Europe, from the. rugged Highlands and the frozen fiords to the resolute Netherlands and the majestic Rbine, to sunny France and even tothe genial Mediterranean shores. It matters not whether these gifts of genius, of labor and of truth eaine to usthrough the generations which have come and gone upon our eastern shore, or whether they haye come fresh from noble homes ahroad, they are all now in truth American and entitled to enjoy with us the home-recalling features of our Thanksgiving Day. Thus perhaps our thanksgiving may he more catholic than that which prevails within New HEngland’s boundaries; and we believe that as it extends its scope and view it hecomes more beautiful and truly Americau. Thus it drops altogether its sectional character. As it leads us all to return in thought and thanks to the humes from which we came, it awakens a feeling of grateful remembrance to -all the nations which have joined to give the world America; the pride and hope of all who love liberty throughout the earth. With this thought, let every California home, no matter whence its founders came, make merry and give thanks on this, the American Thanksgiving ay. It is one of the privileges of observers of the National Thanksgiving to give thanks to the Divine ruler for the material benefits which He has bestowed duriug the year which is closing. There aré two ways hy which to measure pros.perity; one direct, by the good things in actual possession; another indirect, by the thought of evils from which, happily, Providence jas spared us, Both these methods will rightly enter into the mind of the Californian this year, end both will till the heart with thanksgiving. To mauy of our readers the year has been one of good return for labor; to others there has beeu little given save lifo and a measure of comfort. To those whoin good harvests and increascd price for produce have blessed, there is an easy task to give thanks. To those, who have looked out upon arid tields or have found no market for their labor, there still remains hope for the future aud thanks that their lives and streugth have been preserved for it. We are reminded that the year has been hard in California, that crops have heen of lessened amount and that the lahorer has been without his hire. We deplore it and lack no appreciation of the deprivation and selidenial which have heen undergone by brave hearts. But have we no thanks to render to God who has given us enough to maintain life and courage while thousands in India have been crushed beneath the heel of relentfig I, 4 Hi SNYDER'S IMPROVED “LITTLE less famine? It is true also, that never in our history as a State, have we experienced such a lack of employment for labor and all its atteudant evils. It is true that our laboring men have heen urged by their want upon the verge of disturbauce, and the impulses of misguided humanity have arisen intheir minds. But does not the present peace and quiet call for thanksgiving when we think of the 70,000 Russians who have thus far fallen, and of the thousands of Turkish honies which have heen pillaged and. laid waste? Indeed, when one looks aright upon the measure of discomfort and reflect that no small part of it is owing directly to our unwise action and untrue policies, there seems no cause to restrain full-hearted thauksgivinys for manifold hlessings, hut rather to rejoice and resolve that the lessons of the year shall not go unheeded by. Asis‘our happy privilege, we extend to all homes to which our words shall come, our sincerest good wishes for the joy of their Thanksgiving merry makings and reunions. Nor would we forget to remind them all, that the quality of giving, like mercy, is twice blessed, and if they would enjoy their own plenty to the utmost, they must not forget those homes . lining, 15 15, to a point below the grate. The which laok, and into which they can bring light and comfort by their thoughtful bounties, Let all see to it, that no home within their knowledge fails of material to make November 29th indeed a Thanksgiving Day. The Little Giant Engine and Boiler. We illustrate herewith one of the improved “Little Giant” horizontal engines and vertical boilers, manufactured by Snyder Bros., 94 Fulton street, New York. This engine is of the new design and has many radical improvements over the old oue of the same name, Fig. 1 shows the boiler and engin: with the necessary pipe connections, etc., aud Fig, 2 section of the hoiler. In the boiler all the joints are screwed together, while the large ceutral tube B, as well asthe smaller side tubes 6 6, are lap-welded. The strength of ordinary riveted joints are estiGIANT” ENGINE AND BOILER. mated at 44% less than the boiler plate, but lap-welding makes the shell virtually a continuous piece of metal of uniform strength. The stay rod, 2,as well as the side tubes, 6 6, are connected to the main shell of the boiler B by meaus of an ingenious device known as a “douhletapered bushing.” This system of construction avoids all the weakening caused by riveted seams, and avoids the injuries so common to caulkiug. is a vertical . Amoug the improvements in the boiler is the substitution of the smoke-bonnett, A, for the elbow at the side, formerly used for conducting . the smoke to the chimney or stack. This arrangement allows the heat and gases to circulate uniformly among the small tuhes which constitute a large part of -the evaporating surface and materially improves the natural draft. The Little Giant boiler, as originally made, was open to the objection common to all of the external fire-hox type, viz., that as the furuace is not surrounded by water space, a considerable amount of heat is lost by radiation. To obviate thie difficulty, second or inner casing, 8 8, is introduced, which extends from the top downwards and behind the fire-brick furnace outer or maiu casing is perforated with a row of holes near the top, which may be opened or closed at will by’ means of a band similarly perforated. When both the furnaco and ash-pan doors are closed and the damper baud is in such ® position as to uncover the holes, the air enters and passing downward, as indicated by the arrows, absorbs the heat radiated througb the inner casing and returns it to the fire. With tho damper band closed and the usual draft through the ash-pan door, the boiler is as effective as an ordinary stove for heating the room, Of the important changes made in the engine we notice the substitution of a circular slide valve, with an auxiliary steam port, for the ordinary rectangular or D valve ; the sfeam and exhaust ports on the face of the cylinder being also curved in such a manner as to correspond suitahly with the form of the valve. It is held in proper position by a circular yoke attached to the valve stem in which it is perfectly free to revolve. A novel as well as important feature in its action is that the area of port openiug increases in proportion to the increased speed of the piston from the commencement of the stroke, thus maintaining nuiform pressure in the cylinder until the point of cut off is reached. The use of an elemental governor in place of the ordinary ball governor secures a more uniform speed than is possible with the latter kind unless under varying loads. A feed water heater under the engine, through which the exhaust steam is conducted in small pipes, heats the feed water up to the hoiling point before reaching the boiler. The heater is so constructed and placed in such a position that it does not increase tbe space oceupied by the engine. The steam and water spaces are easily opened for inspection or cleaning without disturhing any pipe connections. Messrs. Snyder Bros. also manufacture a variety of engines adapted to different uses, among which are single and coupled engines with cranks at right augles, with or without link motion and reversing levers, suitable for yachts, hoisting purposes, ete. Tue Paris Exposirion.—Tbe House of Representatives yesterday (Tuesday) passed a hill appropriating $150,000 to defray the expeuse of representing the United States at the coming French Exposition. The bill provides for the appointment of a Commissioner-General and 20 additional Commissioners; provided that no two of said Commissioners shall be appointed from one State. Three of said Commissioners shall be practical artisans, three shall be skilled representatives of commerce and manufactures, four shall be practical agriculturists, and nine shall be scientific expert, The 20 additioual Commissioners will be assigned to report upon the nine groups into which the Exposition will, under official regulations, he divided, the Commissioner-General to report upou the exhibition at large and the geueral resulta thereof. The allowance to said CommissionerGeneral for salary and personal expenscs shall not exceed $5,000 for bis term of office, aud the allowance of the 20 additional Commissioners for salary and personal expenses shall not exceed $1,000 each, The President may appoint two Honorary Commissioners from each of the several States, and the President may appoint 24 additional Honorary Commissioners, among whom there shall be at least one resident of each of the Territories, which said Honorary Commissiouers may report on special subjects, hut shall not he entitled to either pay or compensation out of the money appropriated. The money appropriated shall be expended uuder the direction of the Secretary of State, and the Commissioner of Agriculture shall collect and prepare suitahle specimens of the agricultural products of the several States and Territories for the exhibition, Kars has heen captured hy the Russians,

An WWlustrated Journal of Mining, Popular Seience and General News. BY DEWEY & Co., Patent Svlicitors. VOLUME NAXXV. Wuniber 21. SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1877, Thanksgiving. Again tho yearly installment of New England's legacy to this country falls dne; again, hy recommendation of President and Governor, there will be formal rendering of thanks in all the churches and cessation from accustomed avocation in all the busy marts and manufactories; again,’devout hearts will fill with thanks to God for his loving kindness and tender mercicsIt will bo this year, as aforetime, a day of feast, ing and of praise; an occasion for family reunions in which silver locks will join hands with golden curls over the lapse of, perhaps, half a century, with eyes looking backward and forward along tho course of time. Thanksgiving day has often been distinguished as the home holiday, and truly, too, for such indeeditis. It isa priceless boon to Ameriean homes, for the impulso in this stirring quarter of the world lies rather in tangents to the home circle than in the quiet revolutions amid homo influences which quieter nations know. The making of new homes has heen the chief occupation of the American people for a eentury and will be for many years to eome. How precious, then, is an institution which calls many in person and all in thought, to the old home where early lives were moulded into sueh strength of manhood and womanhood that the founding of uew homes became possible. We are too apt to forget the old homes and the priccless training they hestowed. We too often pursue our courses with the idea that the vigor and enterprise, which mark our progress, are proud qualities which we have ourselves discovered and developed. Such vain thoughts are untrue and unwise. It is true that conditions have evoked vigorous thought and action among those who have transformed the western wastes into the western world but the conditions would have heen powerless had not those who enjoy them brought to the conquest quatities fitted for victory. We owe our advancement to the inheritance of the spirit, precept and exainple of the old freedom makers of the Atlantic coast. Nor did they altogether originate the quality of devotion to principle and energy ‘u industrial achievement. Its sources lie far back among the centuries and its springs may be found here and there across the continent of Europe, from the. rugged Highlands and the frozen fiords to the resolute Netherlands and the majestic Rbine, to sunny France and even tothe genial Mediterranean shores. It matters not whether these gifts of genius, of labor and of truth eaine to usthrough the generations which have come and gone upon our eastern shore, or whether they haye come fresh from noble homes ahroad, they are all now in truth American and entitled to enjoy with us the home-recalling features of our Thanksgiving Day. Thus perhaps our thanksgiving may he more catholic than that which prevails within New HEngland’s boundaries; and we believe that as it extends its scope and view it hecomes more beautiful and truly Americau. Thus it drops altogether its sectional character. As it leads us all to return in thought and thanks to the humes from which we came, it awakens a feeling of grateful remembrance to -all the nations which have joined to give the world America; the pride and hope of all who love liberty throughout the earth. With this thought, let every California home, no matter whence its founders came, make merry and give thanks on this, the American Thanksgiving ay. It is one of the privileges of observers of the National Thanksgiving to give thanks to the Divine ruler for the material benefits which He has bestowed duriug the year which is closing. There aré two ways hy which to measure pros.perity; one direct, by the good things in actual possession; another indirect, by the thought of evils from which, happily, Providence jas spared us, Both these methods will rightly enter into the mind of the Californian this year, end both will till the heart with thanksgiving. To mauy of our readers the year has been one of good return for labor; to others there has beeu little given save lifo and a measure of comfort. To those whoin good harvests and increascd price for produce have blessed, there is an easy task to give thanks. To those, who have looked out upon arid tields or have found no market for their labor, there still remains hope for the future aud thanks that their lives and streugth have been preserved for it. We are reminded that the year has been hard in California, that crops have heen of lessened amount and that the lahorer has been without his hire. We deplore it and lack no appreciation of the deprivation and selidenial which have heen undergone by brave hearts. But have we no thanks to render to God who has given us enough to maintain life and courage while thousands in India have been crushed beneath the heel of relentfig I, 4 Hi SNYDER'S IMPROVED “LITTLE less famine? It is true also, that never in our history as a State, have we experienced such a lack of employment for labor and all its atteudant evils. It is true that our laboring men have heen urged by their want upon the verge of disturbauce, and the impulses of misguided humanity have arisen intheir minds. But does not the present peace and quiet call for thanksgiving when we think of the 70,000 Russians who have thus far fallen, and of the thousands of Turkish honies which have heen pillaged and. laid waste? Indeed, when one looks aright upon the measure of discomfort and reflect that no small part of it is owing directly to our unwise action and untrue policies, there seems no cause to restrain full-hearted thauksgivinys for manifold hlessings, hut rather to rejoice and resolve that the lessons of the year shall not go unheeded by. Asis‘our happy privilege, we extend to all

homes to which our words shall come, our sincerest good wishes for the joy of their Thanksgiving merry makings and reunions. Nor would we forget to remind them all, that the quality of giving, like mercy, is twice blessed, and if they would enjoy their own plenty to the utmost, they must not forget those homes . lining, 15 15, to a point below the grate. The which laok, and into which they can bring light and comfort by their thoughtful bounties, Let all see to it, that no home within their knowledge fails of material to make November 29th indeed a Thanksgiving Day. The Little Giant Engine and Boiler. We illustrate herewith one of the improved “Little Giant” horizontal engines and vertical boilers, manufactured by Snyder Bros., 94 Fulton street, New York. This engine is of the new design and has many radical improvements over the old oue of the same name, Fig. 1 shows the boiler and engin: with the necessary pipe connections, etc., aud Fig, 2 section of the hoiler. In the boiler all the joints are screwed together, while the large ceutral tube B, as well asthe smaller side tubes 6 6, are lap-welded. The strength of ordinary riveted joints are estiGIANT” ENGINE AND BOILER. mated at 44% less than the boiler plate, but lap-welding makes the shell virtually a continuous piece of metal of uniform strength. The stay rod, 2,as well as the side tubes, 6 6, are connected to the main shell of the boiler B by meaus of an ingenious device known as a “douhletapered bushing.” This system of construction avoids all the weakening caused by riveted seams, and avoids the injuries so common to caulkiug. is a vertical . Amoug the improvements in the boiler is the substitution of the smoke-bonnett, A, for the elbow at the side, formerly used for conducting . the smoke to the chimney or stack. This arrangement allows the heat and gases to circulate uniformly among the small tuhes which constitute a large part of -the evaporating surface and materially improves the natural draft. The Little Giant boiler, as originally made, was open to the objection common to all of the external fire-hox type, viz., that as the furuace is not surrounded by water space, a considerable amount of heat is lost by radiation. To obviate thie difficulty, second or inner casing, 8 8, is introduced, which extends from the top downwards and behind the fire-brick furnace outer or maiu casing is perforated with a row of holes near the top, which may be opened or closed at will by’ means of a band similarly perforated. When both the furnaco and ash-pan doors are closed and the damper baud is in such ® position as to uncover the holes, the air enters and passing downward, as indicated by the arrows, absorbs the heat radiated througb the inner casing and returns it to the fire. With tho damper band closed and the usual draft through the ash-pan door, the boiler is as effective as an ordinary stove for heating the room, Of the important changes made in the engine we notice the substitution of a circular slide valve, with an auxiliary steam port, for the ordinary rectangular or D valve ; the sfeam and exhaust ports on the face of the cylinder being also curved in such a manner as to correspond suitahly with the form of the valve. It is held in proper position by a circular yoke attached to the valve stem in which it is perfectly free to revolve. A novel as well as important feature in its action is that the area of port openiug increases in proportion to the increased speed of the piston from the commencement of the stroke, thus maintaining nuiform pressure in the cylinder until the point of cut off is reached. The use of an elemental governor in place of the ordinary ball governor secures a more uniform speed than is possible with the latter kind unless under varying loads. A feed water heater under the engine, through which the exhaust steam is conducted in small pipes, heats the feed water up to the hoiling point before reaching the boiler. The heater is so constructed and placed in such a position that it does not increase tbe space oceupied by the engine. The steam and water spaces are easily opened for inspection or cleaning without disturhing any pipe connections. Messrs. Snyder Bros. also manufacture a variety of engines adapted to different uses, among which are single and coupled engines with cranks at right augles, with or without link motion and reversing levers, suitable for yachts, hoisting purposes, ete. Tue Paris Exposirion.—Tbe House of Representatives yesterday (Tuesday) passed a hill appropriating $150,000 to defray the expeuse of representing the United States at the coming French Exposition. The bill provides for the appointment of a Commissioner-General and 20 additional Commissioners; provided that no two of said Commissioners shall be appointed from one State. Three of said Commissioners shall be practical artisans, three shall be skilled representatives of commerce and manufactures, four shall be practical agriculturists, and nine shall be scientific expert, The 20 additioual Commissioners will be assigned to report upon the nine groups into which the Exposition will, under official regulations, he divided, the Commissioner-General to report upou the exhibition at large and the geueral resulta thereof. The allowance to said CommissionerGeneral for salary and personal expenscs shall not exceed $5,000 for bis term of office, aud the allowance of the 20 additional Commissioners for salary and personal expenses shall not exceed $1,000 each, The President may appoint two Honorary Commissioners from each of the several States, and the President may appoint 24 additional Honorary Commissioners, among whom there shall be at least one resident of each of the Territories, which said Honorary Commissiouers may report on special subjects, hut shall not he entitled to either pay or compensation out of the money appropriated. The money appropriated shall be expended uuder the direction of the Secretary of State, and the Commissioner of Agriculture shall collect and prepare suitahle specimens of the agricultural products of the several States and Territories for the exhibition, Kars has heen captured hy the Russians,