EFFORTS OF MASTER MECHANICS TO SECURE GOOD WATER.
The paramount importance of the quality of water used in locomotive boilers, has been long recognized by nearly all master mechanics; for the effect of bad water is brought to their attention in an unmistakable manner. The subject has been frequently before the Master Mechanics’ Association for investigation. A report of a committee appointed at an early meeting to investigate the subject, declares that “Master mechanics have had the conviction forced home, that impure water is the bane of good boilers;” and, even then, a vigorous effort was being made to eliminate the injurious ingredients from the water; and the work was carried on in a hopeful and confident spirit, which was indicated by the words of a subsequent report, which asserted that “Different waters differ widely in the component parts of the impurities they contain, and each requires separate study and treatment;” but the committee were satisfied that the engineering and mechanical skill of railway men could readily devise a suitable appliance for each particular case. In those days, railroad men thought that they could, by mechanical and chemical means, purify bad water, and render it suitable for boiler use. Purifying bad water proved about as difficult an undertaking as reforming the average bad man is recognized to be; and few railroad men can now be found who believe a purifying process can be successfully performed on the large quantity of water needed for locomotive boiler feeding.