69^!





RECORD  AND  GCIDE





October i6, igog





Thatcher    Heating    Surface    Enlarged.

Attention is invited by the Thatcher
Furnace Co. to its "Progress" Boiler, in
which, through slight changes in forma¬
tion, the already large heating surface
has been materially increased- The re¬
sult of a careful and scientiflc test shows,
in the 3G different sizes, conservative
ratings in direct heating power of from
523 to 15,000 sq- ft- in steam and from
SoO to 24,000 in hot water. Special at¬
tention Is called to its "D" series, rang¬
ing In capacity from 6,000 to 24,000 sq.
ft., which may be used as a single boiler
or by simply closing the proper cut-off
valve operated as two separate boilers,
each independently of the other. This is
a new and economical feature in large
boiler construction, and full Information
will be cheerfully furnislied to archi¬
tects, heating engineers and steam fitters
by writing the manufacturers. The
Thatcher Frunace Co., 110-116 Beekman
st. New York, or 154 Lake st, Chicago,





How  Couci'ete Witiistoocl  a  Hurricane.

When the daily papers reported the big
West Indian hurricane this week railroad
men at once Inquired what effect the big
storm had had upon the concrete spans
carrying the Florida East Coast Railway
Company's trains from the mainland out
to the Keys, Quite as anxious were the
officials of that railroad to know how the
concrete structure had withstood the bat¬
tering of the waves and the ramming of
wreckage against the structure practically
along Its entire length; Engineers' re¬
ports received by local officials of the
road stated that the structure Itself was
undamaged although the waves swept
over it higher than the roofs of the cars.

The great viadu..Tts. built, by the way,
with Alsen's American and German Port¬
land cement, upon coral reefs, stood un¬
scathed, while the storm leveled almost
every structure in the little town of Key
West. There was some loss of life among
laborers extending the viaduct over the
final stretch to Key West, but the only
property loss reported -was a tug boat. Re¬
ports received by the local officials are still
meagre. This Is the second severe storm
that the structure had withstood. While
the     viaduct     was     only     half        built

a storm swept over the Gulf and killed
1.^8 men at work on the moulds and de¬
stroyed all equipment, but the structure
Itself stood fast.

This company is also supplying its ce¬
ment for the W^allkill syphon that will
bring w-ater from the Ashokan dam under
the Hudson River to this city. More than
100,000 barrels of Alsens' have been used
so far in the work, some idea of which
may be gained by the statement that the
duct is 17 ft. in circumference and built
entire of concrete. Alsens' has more hy¬
draulic work on hand now than any other
kind. Its product is known to -have ex¬
ceptional  water  resisting qualities.

Alpha Cement Purchases  Verified.

. Positive, verification was obtained this
week, of the purchase recently by the
Alpha Portland Cement Company of the
plant of the Catskill Portland Cement Co.,
at Catskill-on-the-Hudson. This places
the Alpha In line with the Atlas and
Alsen (American) Portland cement
companies, which have Important prop¬
erties up the river. There are one or
two other companies that have acquired
property of late along the tidewater route,
but as they are situated some distance
from the river itself it is not considered
probable that they will build at once.

It was stated that the Catskill plant will
continue as heretofore, only under the con¬
trol of the Alpha Company, which will also
continue to operate its Lehigh Valley mills.
The   movement   was   said   to   have   been





prompted by the general awakening of the
Portland cement companies to the de¬
sirability of the Hudson valley as a ce¬
ment-producing district. While tlie cost
of coal will be a little more than from the
mines to tlie Lehigh mills, the saving in
freight on the finished product to this
market will overbalance that objection.

Another Incentive for the general rush
into the New York State field is that pub¬
lic works are taking large quantities of
Portland cement, which has been supplied
almost exclusively heretofore by compa¬
nies comparatively near the operations,
such as the Alsen and the Glens Palls
companles-

'Are not the subsidiary companies of the
North American Portland Cement Com¬
pany preparing to, develop their export
business?" was the question asked a gen¬
tleman well posted In cement affairs this
week- The fact was suggested that per¬
haps it had been found desirable to find
an outlet for the overproduction at certain
mills- It was also asked if perhaps the
big companies were preparing to take ad¬
vantage of the South American and Ori¬
ental trade tliat might be opened up to
the American Portland cement companies
upon the completion of the Panama Canal
five years hence.

"It Is possible," was the guarded re¬
ply, "but not probable. Home consump¬
tion under normal conditions can take care
of the output of the American mills, but
until recently conditions have not been
normal. As lor developing the export
business, it may come later, but not at
present. There is room enough for de¬
velopment here. The advertising being
done by various companies indicates that
that fact is generally recognized.

"In the Orient the Japanese cement can
beat the American product In an open
market- In competition with the highest
grade of German cement. It holds a lead
in quality and price, the latter because of
cheaper labor- Some of it Is fighting for
a foothold on the Pacific slope of our own
country to-day, and is giving satisfaction.
It Is therefore improbable that an outlet
for future overproduction in American
mills can be found in China or Japan."

In connection with the sale of the Cat-
skill plant, a local cement authority has
received a letter from J. W. Kittrell, secre¬
tary and treasurer of the retiring concern,
which is characteristic of the Annapolis
engineer and builder of the big works.
Part of the missive follows:

"I shall not butt into the cement busi¬
ness again. I am looking about for some¬
thing easier that will take a iot of heavy
standing around, I hope to have time to
visit you once in a while so as to give you
an opportunity of singing your song of
woe, as I will enjoy It very much here¬
after on account of its being a solo and
not a duet."

Mr. Kittrell has been a familiar flgure
and highly respected by every one in
cement circles for years because of his
quiet, retiring manner and keen humor,
yet aggressive in business affairs. He
has many friends in this city.





Guarding Against Ice  Lawsuits,

The recent cold snap has forcibly
brought to property owners' attention the
desirability of looking to vestibule ap¬
proaches, steps exposed to the weather
and Incline passageways, to guard against
lawsuits arising from pedestrians falling
and injuring themselves when the Ice and
snow comes. The Murray and Jacobs
Manufacturing Co., of 141 West 36th st, is
out with an Improved stair tread, made of
gray iron in the surface of which is cast
a fine grade of corundum, or "Alundum,"
as it is known In the trade. It has greater
strength. It is said, than carborundum,
but is equally hard, enabling it to with¬
stand the constant wear of scraping shoes.

It  is  said  that  alundum  surfaced  cast





iron is ideal for stair tread use, railway
coach door sills, car steps, platforms, run¬
ning boards for moving machinery and
elevator door approaches and. In fact, any
place where non-slipping surfaces are de¬
sirable. The Murray & Jacobs device Is
known as the "Perfection" tread. It is
distinctive in that the non-sHpping fea¬
ture is flush with the nosing of the step,
thus insuring against slipping while ■de¬
scending. This company also makes re¬
movable 'Alundum" surfaced buttons for
use between the glass discs of vault lights.





Activity of the Perlman Iron Works

The Perlman Iron Works (Inc.), manu¬
facturers and designers of high-grade
architectural iron doors, windows, cagings,
elevator doors and decorative shafts, etc,
has been having a remarkably busy Fall
and contracts now in hand are sufflcient
to warrant expectations of a busy Winter
and Spring. Some of the recently com¬
pleted contracts that have been turned out
at the shop at 1357 West Farms road,
follow:

The 13-sty flreproof elevator apartment
house on the northwest corner of 113th st
and Riverside Drive, Bing & Bing, owners,
and Sch-(\'artz & Gross, architects. The
O-sty fireproof elevator apartment, north¬
west corner lolst st and Broadway, B.
Crystal & Son, ow-ners, Gaeton Ajelio,
architects. And a private residence at 22
West SOth st, S- Pridel, owner; L- Kantor
& Co., general contractors, and H. A,
Jacobs, architect,

I'hose that It has now on hand are two
12-sty flreproof elevator apartments on
the north side of llOth st, between
Broadway and Amsterdam av, Bing &
Bing, owners, and Schwartz & Gross,
architects. The 8-sty fireproof elevator
apartment house, north side of lllth st,
between Broadway and Riverside Drive,
Harvard Realty Construction Co., owners,
and William L, Rouse, architect- The 8-
sty flreproof elevator apartment house on
the north side of 112th st, between Broad¬
way and Arasterdam av, Hennessey
Realty Co., owners; Schwartz & Gross,
architects. The 8-sty flreproof elevator
apartment house on the north side of 115th
st, between Riverside Drive and Broad¬
way, the Alcazar Realty Co., owners, and
Williani L. Rouse, architect. And the 9-
sty elevator apartment house, Riverside
Drive, north of 116th st, B. Crystal & Son,
owners;  Gaeton Ajelio, architect.





Inspects   A^'ater  Meters   and   Saves
Money.

The Water Supervision Co., o? 3 Park
Row. has a proposition to offer owners of
buildings, whether they are large or small,
that means money in their pocket. It
stops leakages and sees that the meter Is
doing what it should do. The company
is in Its third year, and the thousands of
letters in Its files from satisfied customers
is proof positive that it does what it agrees
to do—save owners money. Only experts
are employed, and they keep track of the
building's entire water service.





Presei'viiig Blyeprints.

In order to preserve blueprints, which
are apt to fade when brought into the
sunlight, or even in a strong light, without
being in the direct sunlight, the following
remedy is recommended by the American
Machinist: E.xpose the prints until badly
burned and then wash in clear water
until all emulsion is removed- While
still wet lay prints, with the blue side up,
on a smooth surface, and by means of a
paint brush cover the print smoothly
with peroxide of hydrogen. This will
bring out the background very blue and
the lines perfectly white, and make a
print that will not fade to any extent in
the sunshine.