on any other. People who pretend to know the ropes' cannot explain the simplest form of a steam-engine, even with a model. Of mechanics and chemistry, I intend to get the most thorough knowledge, if I have the opportunity (and, in fact, I intend to get it any way), both practically and theoretically. These are the studies I have always liked, and I am bound to investigate and become master of them." One other characteristic deserves special mention-his talent for debate and literary composition, and his consequent love of them. Let it be said here that his was not an instance of dropsical precocity. His early efforts were not mature, or even surprisingly early. At fourteen he joined, I believe, his first debating society. I have found, in his handwriting, a constitution and by-laws of the Societas Literarum (symbolized by a Greek Sigma), which bear date about this time, and in their simplicity and brevity are worthy of imitation. The constitution runs thus: "1. It shall be the duty of each member to try to sustain the society. 2. Each member shall pledge his word of honor to keep all the proceedings a secret. "3. The business of the society shall be debating and composition reading. "4. This society shall support a semi-monthly paper, called the [Name omitted.] And the following are the by-laws: "1. The officers of the society shall be a secretary and president. 2. There shall be as many as eight members in the society. "3. It shall be unlawful to use vulgar or profane language." It was not long, however, before, in this congenial sphere, he developed extraordinary activity. I cannot forbear to introduce, at this point, the letter which appeared in the American Machinist of March 18th, 1882, from Mr. Canning: "The universal sorrow in the inventive and mechanical world over the recent decease of A. L. Holley prompts me to jot down a few particulars of his earlier school experiences, which go to prove the truth of the proverb, The boy is father of the man.' * "Mr. Holley entered Williams Academy at Stockbridge, Mass., in the fall of 1848, then under my charge. He is still remembered as a fair, fresh-cheeked, blue-eyed, wide-awake boy of sixteen, who pursued studies preparatory to a college course. His geniality, generosity and overflowing good humor made him popular with his schoolmates, and soon gave him the lead, both in and out of school. He excelled in every branch of study; but his chief interest centered in Natural Philosophy and Mechanics. He was a prominent member of a literary society of the institution called the Philologian,' in which he mani * Mr. Canning forgets his first sojourn at the school. He was certainly there in 1846 also. described. The pressure of this spring is sufficient to move the cylinder on the table until its sides are tangent to the plane surfaces on the plunger and fixed stop; by moving the cylinder back and forth it can be tested for parallelism, and by turning it, the plunger being in each case released and brought into contact again, it can be tested for rotundity, the whole operation requiring but a few moments. The personal error in reading by microscope-that is, the variations different individuals would make in reading the intersection of the lines by the micrometer-is eliminated by the process of measuring, the microscope being in each case set to the zero on the ruled bar when the caliper faces are in contact, and also to the proper line when the object to be measured is between the jaws of the caliper; and hence any individual difference there may be in setting will be the same for the readings at each point, i. e., at zero and at the position due to the length of the measured piece; and the difference between these two readings gives the length of the piece in terms of the standard bar. As the standard bar used by the Pratt & Whitney Co. for all measurements of four inches and under is of the same material as the end-measure pieces and plug gauges, no correction for temperature is required, the only precaution being that the piece to be measured shall be at the same temperature as the standard bar, which is readily accomplished by keeping them together for a few hours before measuring. CONCLUSION. The completion of the Rogers-Bond comparator marks a long stride in advance over any method hitherto in use for comparison and subdivision of line-measure standards, combining, as it does, all the approved methods of former observers with others original with the designers. Comparisons can thus be checked thoroughly by different systems, so that the final results of the series may be relied on as being much nearer absolute accuracy than any hitherto produced. The calipering attachment to the comparator deserves special commendation, being simple in the extreme, and solving completely the problem of end measurements within the limit of accuracy attainable in line reading, by means of the microscope with the micrometer eye-piece. The standard to which the end measurements are referred is not touched, and each measurement is referred back to the same zero, so that error from end wear does not enter into the problem. This attachment is in advance of all hitherto known methods of comparing end measures, either with other end measures or with line standards, both as to rapidity of manipulation and accuracy of its readings. The strong point in its construction being that it refers all end measures to a carefully divided and investigated standard bar, which is not touched during its use, and cannot be in the slightest degree injured by this service, thus giving convincing assurance that the measures and gauges produced by its use will be accurate and interchangeable. In the opinion of this committee, the degree of accuracy already attained is such that no future improvements can occasion changes sufficiently great to affect the practical usefulness of the magnitudes here determined, or the interchangeability of structures based upon them with those involving further refinements. Professor W. A. Rogers and Mr. George M. Bond are unquestionably entitled to great credit for the admirable manner in which they have solved the problem of exact and uniform measurement, while the enterprise of the Pratt & Whitney Co., in bringing the whole matter into practical shape, is deserving of the thanks of the engineering community. J. SELLERS BANCROFT, Secretary of the Committee. HENRY MORTON, President. S. W. ROBINSON. OBERLIN SMITH. E. H. PARKS. AMBROSE SWASEY. CHAS. T. PORTER. ALFRED BETTS. GEORGE R. STETSON. The President.-Is there any discussion on this report? Mr. Miller.-I move that the report be accepted with thanks, and ordered to be printed. Agreed to. The report of the Committee on Tests of Iron, Steel, and other Metals, was read by Professor Egleston, as follows: "The Committee on Tests of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers beg respectfully to report that they printed and sent out 3,750 copies of the memorial which was adopted at the Philadelphia meeting, to the colleges and technical schools of the United States, to the iron and steel manufacturers, to the members of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and to the mill insurance companies of the New England States. "Up to June 1st, 1,500 signatures, with the profession and addresses of the signers attached, had been received to the memorial. Copies of all of them were sent to the Hon. J. M. Campbell, Chairman of the Committee on Manufactures of the House of Representatives. The originals it was thought best to retain for future use, and they are now in the possession of your committee. It is believed that many signatures to the memorial were sent independently, and of these no copies have been sent to the committee. At the request of the Committee on Manufactures, every member of both Houses of Congress was furnished with a copy of the discussion on tests at the Philadelphia meeting. "Your committee also issued two circulars, which were sent with the memorials. One was sent to colleges and technical schools, asking their Faculties to send to the Hon. J. M. Campbell, at Wash ington, resolutions indorsing this memorial. The other requested those to whom it was sent personally to urge the support of the bill upon the Representatives from their district, and Senators from their State. A copy of each of these circulars is appended to this report. "The committee had several interviews with Hon. J. M. Campbell, and with a number of other members of the House and Senate, and received from them the assurance that if the bill H. R. 4,726 did not pass Congress at the session of last spring, they would do their utmost to have it pass during the coming session. "Your committee believes that the vigorous efforts made by the Society had a great deal to do with the passage of the appropriation of $10,000 for the use of the testing machine at Watertown. "In the judgment of this committee, it seems worth while that the efforts of the Society in this direction should be continued during the coming year." Appended are copies of the circulars issued by the committee: AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS. GENTLEMEN : COMMITTEE ON TESTS. NEW YORK, May 22, 1882. A bill proposed by the American Society of Civil Engineers, in conjunction with members of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, for the appointment of a commission to test metals and materials used in construction, and numbered II. R., 4,726, has been introduced into the House of Representatives, and unanimously reported to the House for passage by the Committee on Manufactures, of which Hon. J. M. Campbell, of Pennsylvania, is Chairman. We are informed that, in order to have this bill become a law, interest in it must be shown, and it must be made evident that those interested in education, men of science, engineers, and others feel the need of such a commission. We therefore beg to ask you that the Faculty of your Institution will pass resolutions in favor of such a measure and forward the same to the Chairman of this Committee, to be sent to Washington with the least possible delay. Also, that you will use what influence you are able to command to induce Members of Congress to favor the creation of the commission. In view of the magnificent industrial development of this country in the past, as well as its present prosperity, so much of which is due to the scientific knowledge and practical skill of our constructive engineers, the working capacity of whom can be so greatly angmented by a knowledge of facts, obtainable in the manher above mentioned, at a much less cost than by imperfect individual research, the committee request your assistance in this matter. T. EGLESTON, Chairman, School of Mines, E. 49th Street, N. Y. Miller, Metcalf & Parkin, Pittsburg, Pa. 13 Devonshire Street, Boston, Mass. |