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Winter 1-1902 Volume 11 - Issue 4 - January, 1902 Rose Technic Staff Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

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"Poly Beanery," to suspend operations. The THE TECHNIC. serious nature of the undertaking was perhaps not fully realized by the managers when the BOARD OF EDITORS scheme was under consideration, and it lately be- Editor in Chief, came evident that they could not meet their W. A. PEDDLE. only increase their margin .4ssociale Editors, obligations and must R. C. WARREN, Assistant Editor of loss by keeping up the club. C. Housum, Reviews CLAUDE E. Cox Alumni The payment of board by delinquent members I. J. Cox, Athletics would help the managers considerably in H. BLAIR PETTIT, Local J. Dow SANDHAM, straightening up their accounts. ALFRED N. AUSTIN, Artist Executive Department. CHESTER L. POST, Business Manager liSPITE the fact that the work of the Fall Assistant Business Manager D term in all the classes was slightly in- TERMS: creased over that of last year, a fewer number One Year, $1.00. Single Copy, 15 cents. of failures are recorded at the Christmas exam- Issued Monthly at the Rose Polytechnic Institute. inations. Entered at the Post Office, Terre Haute, Indiana, as second-class mail matter. heading "Electrical Engineers of HE TECHNIC takes pleasure in making the NDER the Electrical World& Engineer announcement that our professor of Chem- U the Day," the T following sketch of the career istry, Dr. W. A. Noyes, has lately been honored of Jan. 4, gives the alumni who, it will be remembered, by the American Chemical Society in being of one of our meters at the Institute elected editor of its journal. Dr. Noyes has been delivered a lecture on for some time a counsellor and is also a member last year: of the committee on the publication of papers. ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS OF THE DAY—XXVII.

He succeeds Edward Hart, Ph. D., of Lafayette BRANK P. Cox. University who tendered his resignation at the Frank P. Cox was born Dec. 31, 1866, at Terre Haute, meeting held in Philadelphia last month. Ind. After completing the curriculum in the common ..... schools of his native city he took a two years' preparatory HE TECHNIC appears this month without course and entered the Rose Polytechnic Institute, whence he was graduated as a mechanical engineer in an Alumni article. The one T expected failed 1887. A post-graduate course in electrical subjects was to materialize and it is with much regret that we afterward taken at John Hopkins University, of Balti- are obliged to present this number incomplete. more, and in the latter part of 1888 Mr. Cox entered the Jtosi employ of the Kester Electric Company in his native city. He remained there one year, during which time E sincrely regret the force of circumstances he was engaged in the design and manufacture of small W which has compelled the management motors. of the eating club, commonly known as the In October, 1889, Mr. Cox entered the testing depart- 82 THE ROSE TECHNIC. ment of the Thomson Electric Welding Company, where Aside from the general factory supervision over the de- he remained until June, 1890. About this time the Thom- signing, manufacturing and testing of motors and instru- son recording wattmeter, which heretofore had enjoyed ments, Mr. Cox devotes a large amount of time in a semi- only a rather limited sale, begun to be fully appreciated commercial and advisory capacity, in connection with by central station managers, and orders commenced to the installation of large instruments and meter groups in flow in for them at a rapid rate. About 1000 had been central power and lighting stations. built at this period, and the weekly production was from Although Mr. Cox has contributed a few articles to the 50 to 75. technical journals, and written one book on direct-cur- With the advent of increased business, the Thomson- rent dynamos and motors, he has found little time in the Houston Company found it necessary to extend its facili- press of his routine duties, to contribute much of that ties materially, and reorganized its meter manufacturing which he is so well qualified to write upon to the use of department. In July, 1890, Mr. Cox was employed to electrical readers. He has been obliged to undertake take charge of the meter-testing department of the many extensive studies in the solution of intricate prob- Thoinson-Houston Company. He continued to have lems which have confronted the General Electric Com- charge of this department until the formation of the Gen- pan's engineers in the design and improvement of in- eral Electric Company. and until 1894, when the business struments and meters, one of the most notable being the had grown to such an extent that another re-organization investigation of the manufacture of 'permanent magnets was necessitated on much broader lines. As a result of on a commercial scale. changes then made, Mr. Cox was appointed engineer of One of the fundamental necessities of the manufacture the meter department, and assumed, in a great measure, of the Thomson recording wattmeter is the maintenance responsibility for the mechanical as well as for the elec- of permanent and uniform damping magnets. To accomp- trical and magnetic features. lish a means of attaining this end on a commercial scale A few years later the manufacture of instruments was required a vast amount of research, study and experi- begun by the General Electric Company, and a large por- mentation, all of which was successfully done, as is evi- tion of the engineering work in connection with this was denced by nearly 500,0(X) meters now in use. Mr. Cox placed in Mr. Cox's hands. Mr. Cox has surrounded has been allowed a number of paten's relating to various himself with a corps of efficient assistants, nearly all of phases of meter and instrument design, and has intro- whoni have had their practical education under his duced a great many methods of manufacture and manipu- training, and at the present time the details of the engi- lations, which for obvious reasons, are unpatented. neering work are largely in the hands of these assistants, Mr. Cox is married, has one daughter, and lives in thereby leaving Mr. Cox free to take a more active part Lynn, Mass. Although of a rather retiring disposition, in commercial engineering than he has heretofore been Mr. Cox has a very wide circle of friends and acquaint- able to do. His position is a rather unique one, as such ances. position so, in that he has largely made it for himself and Jeati to suit himself. fit THE ROSE TECHNIC. 83

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By R. L. McCORMICK. -

HE inspection of material of various kinds is count of his lack of experience. I knew one in- T of great importance, and the demand for spector who rejected 60 car wheels, and the com- competent men to do this inspecting has led to pany sent for his superior, who accepted 58 of the formation of companies who can furnish in- them. There was more than one mistake in this spectors for any kind of material at the place of case. The inspector made a few and his superior manufacture. made another one in not standing by him or else If the output is small, then a man may have discharging him on the spot. He may have done several kinds of material to inspect. This be- so afterwards, but I do not think he did. comes a serious objection to this method, as it is There is nothing to be gained by being too par- hardly possible for a man to be competent to do ticular, as there are too many tricks, especially in all kinds of inspecting, but any kind of an in- the cast-iron wheel trade. A sand hole or a chill spector is better than none at all. crack filled with lead and covered with a little The most essential element in the make-up of dirt deftly applied are defects hard to find. It is an inspector is honesty. He must have common a question, at present, whether the car wheel has sense in no small quantity, the ability to say no, been increased sufficiently in strength to meet the with certain reservations, and to stick to it. He requirements of the greater loads to which it is must be a good mixer, and it is hardly necessary now subjected, and also, whether the percentage to add that he must know a good thing when he of old wheels used in making new ones is not sees it. The first thing which he learns, if his more than is conducive to good results. modesty and perception are sufficient, is that the It has not been my intention to convey the idea' man with the article to sell, thinks him imcompe- that the manufacturer and the inspector are ene- tent. Sometimes he is told, in language more mies, because a man with a good article to sell is forcible than polite, that he is. After a little not afraid to have it inspected. The main ob- more experience he begins to think his first ject in having an inspector is the moral effect impressions are probably correct, and he may which is produced. A man will not run the risk become discouraged. When he considers that of having a lot of rejected stuff on his hands, so the manufacturer has spent the greater part of he makes a good product. The most pernicious his life studying that business in all its phases, inspection is found on public works, such as he may think there is some hope for him yet. sewers, paving, county bridges, etc. This is I fancy some one may say he has no right to be where "An honest man is the noblest work of an inspector unless he understands his business. God," and probably where he is least frequently True enough, but when he gets to that point, found. The man with a political pull, as a rule, he is too valuable a man to work for the salary gets the job, and he may have never seen a brick that is usually paid. In general such men laid, any concrete mixed, a wooden block creo- are paid more than they are worth, but a good soted, or a rivet driven. He draws a small sal- inspector is worth more than he is paid if we ary, augmented very often by tips, and the result consider what he may save to his employers. He is that the contractor becomes rich very rapidly. may earn his salary for '20 years in three minutes I recall a case in which a farmer was appointed by the rejection of a car wheel or coupler; on inspector for some county bridges. He was an he other hand, he may be too exacting on ac- holiest old man, much too honest to deal with 84 THE ROSE TECHNIC. the bridge contractor, and they filled the cylinder test, but before failing stands a sufficient number of a second coupler shall piers with hard-pan, while the chief conspirator blows to make a retest admissible, be taken from the same lot from which the first coupler or so across the country to took the farmer a mile was taken. If it stands the test, that lot of couplers will look at another bridge. It was gratifying to be accepted as far as test 1 is concerned. Otherwise, that know that the plot failed, as the engineer arrived lot will be rejected and another lot substituted and tested unexpectedly. in the same way. by test 1, five com- Criticisms without suggestions are usually From each 1,000 couplers accepted plete couplers shall be selected by the inspector, one of which I would suggest worthless. The remedy which shall be subjected to test 2, two to test 3, and two may not meet the approval of the politicians, but to test 4, hereafter specified. some medicines are not palatable, especially those If any coupler, or pair, fails to stand the prescribed for chronic cases. The only way to cure this evil test, but before failing stands a sufficient number of blows coupler, or pair, is to get an honest and capable man, pay him what to make a retest admissible, a second shall be taken from the same lot from which the first the work is worth, back him up in what he does, five were taken. If it (or they) stand the test, that lot and the result will be all that could be desired. of couplers will be accepted. Otherwise that lot will be The idea prevails among a great many people rejected and another lot of 1,000 couplers substituted. that anyone is competent to inspect sewers, Any part of any coupler which has been subjected to bridges, etc., forgetting that it takes more study test is condemned foi retest and for service. List of tests to which couplers shall be subjected: to be an average engineer than an average law- I. Striking test on closed knuckle of complete coup- yer. What I have said concerning the inspection ler, covering lots of 100 each. of public work may be new to the reader, and I 2. Guard arm test, covering lots of 1,000 each. hope it may help. somewhat to place before the 3. Jerk test, covering lots of 1,000 each. public a knowledge of the conditions which exist 4. Pulling test, covering lots of 1,000 each. at present, in a great many instances, to such an Test 1.—Striking Test on Closed Knuckle of Com- plete Coupler.—As a preliminary, coupler is to be extent as to be not far short of robbery. It marked on bottom with a center-punched line parallel would not be necessary to go outside of this city to axis of shank, the line being extended to inner to get evidence of work which is not an honest face of knuckle (see Fig. 1); coupler is then rigidly held return for the money paid for it. in a vertical position in machine with steel fillers and The original intention of this article was to de- wedges, the latter sledged down tight and this sledging operation repeated after each blow, with its axis in center scribe the methods of testing automatic couplers, line of drop, pivot-pin hole parallel to line through cen- but the temptation to sermonize was more than I ters of legs of machine and butt resting solidly on anvil. could resist. The following is the part of the Blows to strike directly on knuckle. specifications relating to the tests of the couplers, Three blows of 1,640 pounds, falling 5 feet. proposed by the Master Car Builders' Association Three blows of 1,640 pounds, falling 10 feet. The coupler will be considered as having failed to stand in 1901, and I am indebted to their proceedings this test if it is broken before it has received all the blows for this copy, and also for the figures showing the above specified, or if any cracks appear more than 1 inch methods of measurements in the tests: long, or open more than 1-16 inch, or when center- "The representative of the railroad company, having in- punched line is distorted more than 1 inch, or when spected the couplers offered, shall proceed to test from knuckle is found to have closed more than 3‘ inch from such as he accepts, selecting for test as follows: One its original position when pulled out against lock by of complete coupler shall be taken at random by him from hand, after receiving three blows at 5 feet (for method each lot of one hundred couplers accepted, or from each measuring axial distortion and knuckle closure see Figs. accepted heat of steel cast (for malleable iron, from each 1 and 2), or if knuckle will not open and locking devices annealing heat), it being optional with the manufacturer operate after test. Should the coupler before failing which method is pursued. stand three blows at 5 feet, and two blows at 10 feet, The coupler shall be subjected to test No. 1 hereafter another complete coupler shall be provided and tested, specified. If the coupler fails to stand the prescribed as per clause governing retest. THE ROSE TECHNIC. s5

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3 ,_IGl1.r•sc. 2 via. bit • Olitt, ...creme AP'T T Method of measuring deflection in Test i. Method of measuring deflection in 7;::::t1 "2 "-*.r. C'111 measures axial dt flection and must not exceed i" A'B' measures axial deflection and must not exceed Aft—A'13' measures knuckle closure and must not exceed y4". C'D'—CD measures guard arm distortion and must not exceed N".

Test 2.—Guard Arm Test of Coupler.—As a prelim- directly on equalizer, midway between the two couplers. inary, pivot-pin, knuckle and locking device having Three blows of 1,640 pounds, falling 5 feet. been removed, coupler is to be marked on bottom with a Three blows of 1,640 pounds, falling 10 feet. center-punched line, parallel to axis of shank, and ex- A coupler will be considered as having failed to stand tending from coupling face or contour to back end of this test if it is broken before it has received all the blows shank ; a center-punch mark must also be placed at tip above specified, or if cracks appear more than 1 inch of guard arm and on lug (see Fig. 3). long or open more than 1-16 inch, or if equalizer will not Coupler is then held rigidly in a vertical position in stay in place when struck, or if knuckle will not open machine, with steel fillers and wedges (the latter sledged and locking devices operate after test. Should either or down tight and this sledging repeated after each blow), both couplers fail to stand the prescribed test, but both butt resting solidly on anvil and blocked to prevent stand three blows at 5 feet and two blows at 10 feet, lateral motion, edge of guard arm in line connecting cen- another complete coupler, or pair of couplers, shall be ters of legs of machine. Blows to strike directly on provided and tested, as per clause governing retest. guard arm. Test 1.—Pulling Test of Complete Couplers. —Cogplers 3 feet. Three blows of 1,640 pounds, falling to stand a steady pull of 120,000 pounds. A coupler will 5 feet. Four blows of 1,640 pounds, falling be considered as having failed to stand this test if it is to A coupler will be considered as having failed stand broken before it has been pulled the prescribed number all this test when it is broken before it has received the of pounds, or if any cracks appear more than 1 inch long, appear blows above specified, or when any cracks more or open more than 1-16 inch, or if couplers pull past each or when than 1 inch long, or open more than 1-16 inch, other in machine, or if knuckle will not open and lock- 1 or center-punched line is distorted more than inches, ing devices operate after test. Should either or both when distance between punch marks on bottom of head couplers fail to stand the prescribed test, but both stand has widened more than Yit of an inch. (For method of 90,000 pounds, another complete coupler, or pair of coup- measuring axial and guard arm flexure, see Figs. 3 and lers, shall be provided as per clause governing retest. bar, 4.) Should the before failing, stand three blows at In case of the failure of any part of the complete coup- 5 3 feet, and two blows at feet, another coupler shall be ler under tests 1, 3 and 4, only such parts of the lot of provided and tested, as per clause governing retest. couplers represented by the test coupler, shall be con- MO.—Jerk Test of Complete Coupler.—The couplers demned as correspond to the part which failed under the will be placed in yoke forgings of machine, and equalizer test, but the balance of the parts may be submitted for placed in position in closed knuckles. Blows to strike future test." s(; THE ROSE TECHNIC.

must not exceed 'A inch according to the note appended to Figs. 5 and 6, but it is not stated in the specifications for 1901 as it was in those of 1899. If the pivot pins are easily bent, they con- tribute largely to the cause of failure. I found one pin which deflected flg of an inch and another bent enough to break off one of the lugs of the coupler. The manufacturers admitted afterwards that their chemical tests of that lot of pins showed a less percentage of carbon than was required by their specifications. The couplers passed the test in a very satisfactory manner when good pins were substituted. The pulling test has not been changed and as the pull which the coupler receives in service very seldom exceeds 25000 lbs., the factor of safe- ty appears to be amply sufficient. Flo. 3 P10. G. merowt Twav 4hr...cm The separate knuckle test has been discarded. Method of measuring deflection in Tests 3 and 4. meosures knuckle opening and must not exceed or This test was more for material than for a service allow equalizer to fall out or couplers to pull past each other. test. The writer made some tests of couplers during The knuckle is conceded to be the weakest the summer of 1901 according to the specifica- portion of the coupler and there has been a great tions of 1899, which were in force at that time. deal of discussion regarding means to strengthen There have been some important changes made it. Almost every one favors doing away with and I will call attention to these taking up the the pin hole and link slot, or at least reducing tests in order. The striking test in 1899 covered the size of the slot, but there are some places, lots of 1000 each. The distortion was measured such as sharp curves or where cars are to be at the point F in Fig. 2 which is 21/11. inches pulled on or off floats, where a link coupling is from the end of the coupler, making the test necessary. There is one type of coupler which easier than at present. No comments on the provides for this by having a projection on top importance of this test are necessary and it is over which a link may be placed when needed. only a question if it is severe enough. Any one According to a reliable authority the abolishment who has seen the way in which cars are thrown of the pin hole and link slot would increase the around in some yards will agree to that test be- wearing surfaces 28 per cent. and at the same ing severe enough. The full effect is obtained time effect a saving of about $250,000 annually, when both knuckles are closed, as otherwise the even with the increased cost of the knuckle due cars couple, and part of the blow is transmitted to the increase of material. to the body of the coupler through the guard The center line of the coupler is 3434 inches arm, which accounts for test 2. This test, ac- above the rail on an unloaded car and the minimum cording to the old specifications, was made for height is 31 34 inches for a loaded car. The ver- each 100 couplers, and the allowable distortion tical dimension of the knuckle is 9 inches with a was 1 inch, measured at the point F in Fig. 4, 2 inch slot in the center for coupling with link which would not be as severe a test as the present and pin so that in the most unfavorable case, one. The guard arm flexure was not measured. viz: a loaded car coupled to an unloaded one, the The jerk test is the hardest test to which the surface in contact would be only about 60 per couplers are subjected. The knuckle opening cent, of the total. THE ROSE TECHNIC. 87

It is customary to stencil on the car the kind are properly made and fitted and if the couplers of coupler with which it is equipped, partly to are free from shrinkage cracks, cold shot, blow protect the owner, as it is charged that at some holes, etc. The knuckle must be made so that repair shops good couplers have been replaced by there is not over inch vertical play between those of inferior quality under the guise of mak- knuckle and bar. This is a change from the ing necessary repairs. There are nearly 80 dif- preceding specifications where no definite amount ferent makes of couplers and over 90 different was specified. I have seen as much as :y8' inch knuckles, so that a repair shop is required to keep vertical play. The knuckles must unlock easily on hand a large quantity of dead material. These and lock when pushed in by hand and must be different makes have very nearly the same con- made according to gauge so as to conform to the tour lines, SO that one will couple with another, standard contour line, when fitted in the coupler but the knuckles of one do not always fit head. an Dt The holes for pivot pin must be drilled or, if One of the most important changes in the cored, must be drifted out so as to be not more than specifications is the clause concerning retest. inches in diameter. This is Ye- inch more This as stated in 1899 was as follows: than the diameter of the pivot pin, but a great "If any coupler should fail to stand the pre- many couplers are made and accepted in which scribed test, another coupler or pair of couplers these holes are only cored and it may be any- will be taken from the same lot from which the where from TIA to inch larger than the pivot first test couplers were taken, and if it stands the pin. test and at the same time the first tested has at- After the surface inspection the couplers are tained an average of 75 per cent. on the basis of tested by the contour gauge and all knuckles 100 per cent, as meeting the full requirements are opened and closed by hand. The latter is a then the lot will be accepted." skillful operation, and with practice, it is pos- What "75 per cent." meant was not very well sible to make the specifications concerning it understood and there was more or less trouble to quite elastic. make a decision satisfactory to all parties. This The object of this paper has been to present has been changed now to something more definite the subject to a class of readers, who are intend- which will prevent many inspectors from getting ing to be engineers, as something probably new into trouble. I have mentioned this change in to them, and I freely admit that nearly every- order to warn any one who contemplates for the thing I have said regarding couplers has been first time the writing of specifications, that, said before in a much better way. The subject even with experience, it is difficult to make them was very interesting to me and I would refer so that they \Vili not admit of more than one those who wish to follow it up to the report in meaning. the M. C. B. proceedings for 1899, or an article In addition to the tests, couplers are subject in the Engineering News of June 22, 1899. to surface inspection to determine if the parts 88 THE ROSE TECHNIC.

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I.,¶1 4 t 7r 4 *. 't ,c„vot. .1* Paint as a Preservative for Iron and Steel Structures.

By J. T. DICKERSON, '02. AINT appeals to the ordinary mortal solely ideal. There are very few existing ferric struct- p as a means of making ill-looking objects take ures, that have been exposed to the elements for on a more pleasing appearance. And for such any length of time, which upon examination will people paint is made in large quantities, in all not show signs of corossion. This applies to the colors, and of all qualities. many bridges, viaducts and buildings through- But aside from its wsthetic value, paint plays out the world. This protection of ferric struct- an important part in the protection of engineer- ures is a very important question, and one upon ing structures. As regards almost all structures which depends the security of thousands of lives of iron, paint is well-nigh an indispensable ad- and thousands of millions of dollars worth of junct. With this class of structures, the best property. and most economical methods of painting are Recently, while in the employ of a western fairly well known. railway, the writer was assigned the task of But late years have worked a revolution as re- measuring up nearly all of the bridges on one of gards the materials commonly used in engineer- the divisions of the road. Confusion in the re- ing work. L refer to the change from wooden cords necessitated this, and as the bridges meas- structures to that of iron and steel. At present ured were of various types, considerable in num- the difference in cost between a structure of wood ber, and were strung out over nearly sixteen and a similar one of iron or steel is not great, hundred miles of track, the opportunities afford- practically speaking. With our rapidly decreas- ed for witnessing the effects of corossion under ing forests, and timber supplies, this difference varying conditions were excellent. in cost bids fair to become nil. Of course there Nearly all of the structures showed failure in are a great many structures built of iron and properly protecting them from elemental destruc- steel, which it would be entirely impossible to tion. All were marked in greater or less degree reproduce in wood. by corossion. Undoubtedly the same state of But with all our acquired knowledge and affairs exists on all, or nearly all, of the railways methods of construction, we have failed to find in the country. satisfactory methods for the preservation of our A great many of these bridges have since been metalic structures. Our methods for the preven- replaced by new structures of greater capacity. tion of corossion are without question far from The old bridges were not removed, however, THE ROSE TECHNIC. 89

because of the ravages of rust, but because a will work havoc with the efficacy of certain change was made necessary by the use of heavier paints. These paints, however, answer very well engines and trains at higher speed than the old in highway spans or other structures. structures had been designed to carry. This and As much care and thought should be used in similar instances probably account for the seem- applying a paint as are used in selecting a paint. ing inactivity of the many railways and corpora- Laxity in this respect can neutralize nearly all of tions owning iron and steel structures, as regards the good points of a thoroughly good paint. the paint question. Corrosion and the demands Of late years a great many different pigments of modern progress, as it were, have been run- have been used in this class of work. Probably ning a race to see which would be first in knock- the most common are iron oxide pigments in ing out usefulness of our ferric structures. So their natural conditions, as ground red or brown far, generally speaking, modern progress has had hematite iron ores. These pigments are also the best of it. As the locomotives in use became frequently compounded with other substances. heavier and heavier, and approach, as is prob- However, paints of this character are valueless able, the maximum possible single motor for as a protective coating for any iron or steel railroad service, and as our buildings approach structure, and few, if any, reputable up-to-date more nearly an economic maximum as regards engineers will countenance their use. These size, the ravages of rust will then be recognized iron oxide pigments contain acids, which, when as the greatest destroyer of the usefulness of our in contact with oil set up a chemical action, that ferric structures. Then, no doubt, the paint is exceedingly detrimental to the efficacy of the question, or, speaking broadly, the question of pigment as a protective. protective coatings will receive the attention that Oxide of lead coatings should not be used it merits. where there is any possibility of their being sub- All of the structures referred to before, had jected to the action of the gases of combustion. been covered with a protective coating of paint. These gases contain hydricsulphide, and this The corrosion of the iron can be ascribed to sulphide will change the oxide of lead to a sul- either one or both of the following causes: phide of.lead, whose volume is 33% greater than I. Composition of the paint used on the struc- the oxide from which it was formed. Such a tures. change in volume taking place in the dried paint 2. Improper application of the paint used on menstrum, can only destroy its usefulness. For the structures. structures unaffected by fuel gases or cinders, The composition of a paint is of the utmost however, pure red lead mixed with pure raw importance where the paint is to be used as a linseed oil gives a paint secondary in preservative protective for iron or steel. Some paints are of qualities to none. Red lead and linseed oil form no use whatever for this purpose. Some paints a hard elastic coating that clings with great are good when used under certain conditions. tenacity to the metal. Red lead does not scale The chemical composition and the cost of the or blister, and hence, when a new coating is ap- pigment are paramount in determining its prac- plied, it is not necessary to scrape and remove tical utility as a protective for iron or steel the old material. Red lead has been adopted for structures. With the slightest defect in the pro- use on the hulls of all Government vessels. tective coating, moisture will enter by capillary The use of graphite for a pigment for the pro- force and concealed corrosion will grow apace. tection of iron from corrosion has become quite In some structures local conditions will often general of late years. This is especially true as preclude the use of a paint that would answer regards railway bridges. For reasons stated be- very well for a like structure in another locality. fore, lead oxide pigments are not to be recom- For instance the waste products of the locomotive mended for use on railway bridges. The natural 90 THE ROSE TECHNIC. amorphous graphite pigments are just about as dirt, mill scale, rust, etc. Paint should not be indestructible as any pigment can be. These applied when the iron is wet, or the weather pigments have been tried on many important foggy or cold. structures and have been found to be thoroughly The painting of iron already rusted should not reliable. be allowed, as it not only prevents the contact of One great difficulty in obtaining a good paint, the paint with the iron, but induces a chemical is encountered in the dishonest men who deal in action which may go on with its corroding work paints. The opportunities for adulterating paint under the applied paints. pigments and the oils used in paints are numer- The engineering profession seems to be at sea ous, and many dealers seem to be unable to with- as regards the paint question. A very few of stand the temptation to adulterate. By rigid in- the leading railways have employed experts to spection only, is it possible to secure uniformly look into the matter, but these are only isolated pure paint pigments and oils. cases, and however progressive these few com- In painting structural work the labor costs panies may be in themselves, they are not by any more than the material. Moreover, it costs just means the sole consumers of structural steel and as much to spread a poor paint as it does a good iron. The engineering profession at large has paint. Under similar conditions the good paint politely and with as little disturbance as possible, will far outlast the poor paint. It requires there- ignored the question. fore no profound logic to demonstrate the supe- To one interested in the protection of ferric rior economy of a good durable paint with its structures, a series of valuable papers entitled higher first cost, but its accompanying infrequent "Rustless Coatings for Iron and Steel," by M. renewals owr that of an inferior paint with its P. Wood, will be found in Vols. XV, XVI and low first cost but with the frequent renewals re- XVII, Transactions A. S. M. E. sulting from the use thereof. Besides the pro- cess of repainting a structure is sometimes a very ALUMNI NOTES. one,—more so than the first painting. expensive Farrington '96 and Loafbouron '00 visited the the old paint has to be removed by In many cases Institute just after the holidays. scraping, and in all cases, all rust should be re- with his moved before repainting. To sand blast struct- Richardson '00 spent the holidays ural work costs much more than it does to paint relatives in the city. it, and paint it properly. Robinson '95 has left the employ of the South- In applying a paint to metal, the surface that ern Railway and has gone to Honolulu in the in- is to receive it should be free from all grease, terest of a mining company. THE ROSE TECHNIC. 91

MEETING OF THE I. I. A. A. Kimmel of I. S. N., Vice President. The meeting of the association was called to Esteeline of Purdue, Secretary. order by the president, Mr. A. R. Van Nuys of Jumper of Rose, Treasurer. Wabash, at the Denison House, Indianapolis, December 14, 1901. The Athletic Directors met Jan. 9. The meet- The reading of the minutes of the previous ing was called to order by President Dickerson. meeting was dispensed with, as the former secre- The roll was called and all but one of the Direc- tary had lost them. tors were present. The first business to come be- Delegates were present from Purdue, Indiana fore the meeting was the question of a gymnas- University, Wabash, Earlham, Hanover, Frank- ium instructor. From among several available lin, Notre Dame, University of Indianapolis, persons Mr. Geo. Perves was chosen. Mr. Indiana State Normal and Rose. Perves is highly recommended and has had ex- A petition from De.Pauw University asking for perience it foot ball, base ball and basket, as well re-instatement in the association was presented. as in gymnasium work. After a general discussion it was decided to re- Bills were allowed to the extent of $S5.00, and instate her on payment of all back dues. R's were voted the following members of the Notre Dame Oen asked for the state field meet foot ball team : Von Borries, Post, Williams, to be held at South Bend, and the State Normal McDonald and N. H. Cox. asked for it to be held at Terre Haute. A vote The election of a manager for next season was was taken which resulted in favor of the latter then taken up and Mr. Brent. C. Jacob, '03 was school. chosen for the position. After a general discussion, it was suggested The report of Mr. Chas. Jumper, Rose's dele- by the association that the constitution be gate to the meeting of the meeting of the Indiana amended in regard to the rules governing the Intercollegiate Athletic Association was read field meet. Also that the bicycle races should and accepted. * be taken out and the two mile run substituted. The State Intercollegiate Field Meet will be The officers of the association for the ensuing held in Terre Haute under the auspices of the year will be : Normal. Rose should be well represented in the Horn of I. U., President. contest. 9') THE ROSE TECHNIC.

Juniors are impressed by the serious turn Levi—" We will all have to get a Kent." which affairs have taken in the recitation room Chamberlain—" I Kent (can't) do it." at the left of the library entrance. Liberties equa- heretofore winked at are no longer tolerated and Davies' note book contains the following the genial professor of mathematics is becoming tion: " Wotk=II-1." a strict desciplinarian. Mr. R. J. Koffend, formerly of the class of now a student at the Moody Bible In- M. B. Mill (in German class)—"And the ter- 1903. but was visiting in the city recently rible giant cried out: 'I can't translate this.' " stitute, Chicago, and addressed a meeting of the Rose Y. M. C. A. Professor Hathaway—"You want to cultivate There was a letter addressed to Mr. Isaac the faculty of seeing things." • Cohn on the letter hoard. Has Cohn changed his name? 'Arry, out at the foundry, has been showing the sophomores some specimens of brass sul- Housum was overheard telling about the phate." amount of heat necessary to evaporate so many pounds of coal. Ross, '04, was told by Dr. Patterson to pass some H2 S through a certain solution. This, it (Dr. Johonnott to Seniors whom he has the is said, he did by introducing some of the acid next hour.) "Have you a class next period ?" from the H2 S generator, instead of the gas itself. Flory was seen vigorously screwing a stop-cock Professor Hathaway (to Schroeder)—" How in order to clamp a tube to a ring stand. many problems have you?" Schroeder—" Eighteen." Wicky, giving rules for punctuation.—" If it is Prof.—" How many ?" necessary, put a comma there, if it isn't, don't. S.—" I said fourteen." have no Prof.—"A little louder, please." Prof. Hathaway :—" Now we will S.—" Six." irreverent remarks." Vermont. The cold weather brought out the skaters. S. F. Arnold is teaching school in Aguillera was seen cutting strange figures at the class to Kennedy's. (Prof. Wickersham, addressing whom he is trying to explain a point in the con- After the holidays a large toasting fork ap- jugation of a French verb:) "I really believe peared upon the bulletin board with the follow- you don!t know what I am talking about." ing attached: "Use this to roast the faculty." Burt—"Well, I should say we don't." THE ROSE TECHNIC. 93

HE American Machinist of December 26 chine used and of the wheels used will be found T contains a very interesting article by Chas. on pages 1421-22-23-24 of the afore mentioned H. Benjamin, on "The Bursting of Small Cast- number of the American Machinist. Iron Fly Wheels." The experiments were made in the laboratories of the Case school. The N the Railway Master Mechanic of January, method of bursting the wheels was by increasing I Mr. J. F. Wallace of Minneapolis advances a the number of revolutions until the explosion new theory for the cause of flat wheels on loco- occurred. In order to acquire the speed a steam motives. Some claim it is due too much lap and turbine was used and a belted tachometer regis- too little lead given to valve, and still others tered the number of revolutions. The common claim it is caused by too much counterbalance. cast fly wheel, rim, spokes and hub cast in one Mr. Wallace advances his theory on the follow- piece, broke at 3,850 R. P. M., or a rim speed ing grounds: About twenty-five years ago the 403 ft. per second, corresponding to a centrifugal speed of freight trains was twelve to twenty miles tension of about 16,240 pounds per square in. an hour, of passenger trains twenty to thirty The machine for testing consists of a heavy miles an hour.. As soon as the speeds of trains cast-iron ring lined with blocks of Norway pine, were increased the flat wheel came into notice. to take up the shock of the explosion, and after He reasons, therefore, that the speed must be an each test the blocks were renewed. The entire important factor in the cause of flat wheels. He machine was surrounded by 3-inch oak planking 'further reasons that in designing high speed sta- to prevent the pieces from flying out and hurting tionary engines that the method of obtaining a the experimenters. smooth running engine is not by placing a single Sixteen wheels r were . tested, 10 of which weight opposite the crank, but by using a heavy bursted at a centrifugal tension of from 2,700 to flywheel. He suggest4 as a remedy the leaving 6,600 pounds per square inch, the other six from off of the counterbalance and making the drive 14,980 to 17,970 pounds per square inch. wheel with a heavy rim, so as to act in the same Several special designs were made, but the fly manner as a flywheel on a stationary engine. wheel with rim, spokes and hub cast in one piece The cause of the flat wheel, according to his ar- seemed to stand the test about as well as any. gument, is the centrifugal force of the counter- Illustrations showing the design of the ma- balance, the maximum effort of on the piston and 94 THE ROSE TECHNIC. the downward motion of tht connecting rod tend tions from students who are about to graduate and want to produce a hammer blow and a slip of the wheel to know about this particular opportunity is, however, on the rail. encouraging. There is no greater menace to the success- ful career of a young engineer than the feeling that lie is N article of interest to those who are about wanted for an important position, 16:1 that lie can step into one immediately after graduating At that critical to graduate, A from the January American period it is usually positively dangerous for him to feel Engineer and Railroad Journal that he has the choice among a number of good positions. The fact that a leading Western road applied to the We would like to see educators and others urge boys to editor of this journal for special apprentices was announced seek opportunities to learn and to prepare for the good in these columns last month, and the responses are sug- things later, because of thorough preparation in low posi- gestive and interesting. A well-known professor in a tions. They should be led to forget the matter of salary technical school was one of the first to reply. He be- until they have something that is legally worth a good lieves that the railroads deprive themselves of the best salary. We have in our editorial ioonis a long list of material for successful mechanical officers by the low names of disappointed, discontented technical school wages offered to apprentices, and while firmly believing graduates to prove that a good start as to salary often in the spirit of willingness to accept low salaries while means a long arid unsatisfactory pause in progress a little learning one's work, he finds it difficult to induce gradu- later on. Those who ignore the compensation and forget ates to refuse positions paying from $60 to $70 per month that their education is expected to accelerate their ad- in order to take apprenticeships. The deluge of applica- vancement are the ones who reach the higher places.