A WEEKLY JOURNAL OF PRACTICAL INFORMATION, ART, SCIENCE, MECHANICS, CHEMISTRY, AND MANUFACTURES. Vol.XXXV.-No • .,. per Annum. [NEW SERIES.] ] NEW YORK, AUGUST 12, 1876. [$3.20[POSTAGE PREPAID. Fig. 1. Fig. 2. THE IMPROVED HARRIS-CORLISS STEAM ENGINE. NEW IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HARRIS-CORLISS STEAM are no long passages at each end of the cylinder to become The general arrangement of the governing mechanism ENGINE. filled with live steam. The exhaust valve is correspondingly is such that the quick opening and closing of the valves at The Harris-Corliss steam engine has achieved so wide a located beneath the cylinder, has similar advantages, and exactly the proper time is secured by positive devices. Of celebrity, and has been brought so prominently into public through its situation frees the cylinder of water in a tho­ these last, the prominent feature is the combination of notice of late years, through the trials which it has success- rough manner eccentric and wrist plate, the latter affording an increasing fully undergone in several fairs, that we deem it unneces- The form of the valves will readily be understood from speed at the end of the throw of the eccentric to compensate sary, in the present connection, to review in any detail the Fig. 3 (see page 98), in which a valve is shown in section for its slow motion, at that period, in opening the steam general construction of the machine. From the engravings, at A. The valves are circular slides, motion being imparted valve. At the same time, the steam valve at tke opposite Figs. 1 and 2, herewith, showing both the crank and the to them by levers keyed to valve stems. These stems have end of the cylinder commences to lap its port, also by the valve gear sides, it will be perceived that the mechanism a fiat blad!,)of the length of the valve in the steam chest, and motion of the eccentric, but by a reverse or subtraction of which moves the valves is outside the steam chest, hence the valves oscillate on centers or fixed bearings in the front speed, produced by the same wrist plate, which speed is susceptible to constant supervision and easy access. The or back bonnets. In their adjustment, an important im­ constantly decreasing till the throw of the eccentric is com­ valve gearing is mainly a simple eccentric. The same valve provement has been made, to which we shall allude further pleted. The rapid opening and slow closing of the exhaust admits and cuts off steam, and its location is such that there on Continued on page 98. © 1876 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC. J,itutifi, �tutti,au. [AUGUST 12, 1876. MODERN ROWING RACES. The Rev. Dr. Hepworth, of this city, an enthusiastic yachtsman, has, since the above was written, published a �mttitalt. Our aquatic sports seem to be assuming an artificial na· work in which our yachting is mercilessly criticized. He says ture which is rendering them more and more unlike those of the yachts: "They have generally very graceful lines, �titlttifitESTABLIS:I::I:.ED 1846. of an earlier and less "advanced" period. Rowing races great breadth of beam, which makes them roomy and com­ certainly have become reduced to competitions in which the fortable under deck, but are often so overloaded with spars conditions imposed by Nature, which give zest to the exer­ MUNN & CO., Editors and Proprietors. and canvas that they are unfit for rough outside work. Our cise and, through their very variety, constantly call forth topmasts run up to such an incredible hight that,when the boat PUBLISlIED WEEKLY AT fresh skill, are carefully eliminated. There is no sport more begins to roll in a seaway, it seems as though she would NO. 87 PARK ROW, NEW YORK. exhilarating, more healthful, or more reliable in results than never stop until she had jerked out her spars. this, when genuinely followed; but as it is now practised BEACH. " The crowning defect. and one which we are beginning O. D.MDNN. A. E. it is scarcely possible to place it on a level with the sports of to acknowledge, is the shape of the bows. 'I'hey are so the turf. It is an undeniable fact that horse racing has TERMS FOR THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN. sharp that they not only cut through the water when it is . $3 20 resulted in vast improvements in the breed of horses, and One copy, one year, postage Included .... .. .. .... .............. ... smooth, but they also cut into it and under it when there is One copy, six months, postage Included......................... ...... 1 60 thus a genuine good is gained, which at least neutralizes the Club Rat es . any seaway on. The only thing that holds the head of a evils attending the practice. But we doubt if any corre· Ten caples, one year, each $2 70, postage included . ................ .$27 00 yacht up in rough weather is its preposterous bowsprit and sponding advantage can be shown in favor of modern strug­ Over ten copies, same rate each, postage included.................... 2 70 jib-boom. We crawl along inshore and run for a harbor iT The postage Is payable In advance by the publishers, and the sub­ gles at the oar. when the wind blows a reefingbreeze. The play of a coast­ crlber then receives the paper free of charge. We have learned to build boats so light and fragile that er or lumberman is the agony of a yacht." NOTE.-Persollssubscribing will please to give their full names, and Post almost the rope dancer's skill is required to maintain one's Office and State address, plainly written. In case of changing residence In this country, where a large standing navy no less than equilibrium in them. They are utterly useless save in water state former address, as well as give the new one. No changes caa be made an army is deemed ullnecessary, it follows that not only the unless the former address Is given. as smooth as glass. The oarsmen are educated to so fine a military but the marine service must in time of need be de Scientific American Snpplement. pitch of physical culture that exhausted Nature too often ­ rived from the people. Our geographical position moreover A distinct paper from the SCIENTIFIO AMERICAN, but of the same size, passes the dividing line, and the superb athlete breaks down and published slmultaneouslv with the regular edition. renders it likely that a war between ourselves and a foreign and becomes a life-long invalid. In fine, boat, water, oars, TERMS. power would mainly be waged afloat. An advantage to the ..... ................ ........ .......... ................ ..$5 00 training, conditions of wind and weather, everything attend­ One year by mall community therefore primarily exists in fostering aquatic SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN and SuPPLEMENT, to one address.............. 7' 00 ing the sport,are all subservient to the single aim of disposing skill, while there are other advantages, sufficientlyindicated Single Caples........ • . .................................................. 10 mertso �bat by muscular work they can accomplish a cer­ The safest way to remit. is by draft, postal order, or registered letter. above, which also might be secured. In this view the pres­ tain distance in a certain time. So far as boat and water Address MUNN & Co., 37 Park Row, N. Y. ent condition of our aquatic sports is plainly one which iT Subscriptions received and single caples of clther paper sold by all play any part, a result equally useful would be reached did might greatly be modified to the general benefit. the news agents. the crews, instead of risking their lives under a torrid sun, seat themselves comfortably in a gymnasium and pull in ...�" .. VOLUME No.7. NEW SERIES.] 1'hirty-jir8t Year. XXXV., [ concert against machines which would register the mechan­ THE VENTILATION OF RAILWAY CARS. Scarcely less important than the long-vexed and almost NEW YORK, SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 1876. ical effect of their efforts in foot pounds, the crew with the largest registered number to be declared the winners. hopelessly unsolved problem of securing good air in public Contents. 'I'he reports of the recent regatta at Saratoga tell us that assembly rooms is the proper ventilation of public convey­ (I1lustr�Ald articles are mark;ed with an asterisk.) the Cornell men won by sheer force of strength. They ances. Under no other conuitions are we packed so numer­ Aerolite in Kentucky .. ........... 98 Ladder, step and extension*..... 102 showed no technical excellence in their rowing ; their ap­ ously in limited spaces ; and as a rule our journeys are of Aerotherapv . ..... ....... .... ... 101 Leather, vegetable................ 99 (11) ... ... Answers to' corrcspondents. ..... 107 Light througl,la pertures 107 pearance was not especially graceful; they lacked what is longer duration than the times we spend in places of public Arched work, building (22) . ..... 107 Mildew in bmldlngs (S) ............ 107 Bces and theIr institutions X' " .103, 104 Naval items ........................ 100 technically called form; but they lifted thei: boat, as it were, amusement, instruction, or worship. Bird, a �igantlc ... ......... .. 102 New books and publieations...... 105 Birds WIth teeth .................... 102,Occultations, stellar (7) ............ 107 by main strength, and pushed it forward with the power The problem, so far as it relates to railway cars, was dis­ Boilers, cracks in ... .. .... .... lOS'Paper, mml-stalned (39)........... 108 k (34) r n and endurance of giants. cussed at considerable length at the recent convention of �f,ig�:�g�'i��t irv��:��::::::::::: l��:�:I��ts���f�;n :�� f�rei;£n::: i� Business and personal .............. 107 Patents. offiCIalhst of. ... t ••••••••• 108 vVe do not think that such work is entitled to the name the Master Car Builder's Association. Neither the commit­ Calf heads (15) ....