The Locomotive - Lighthouse Survival Blog

1901.] THE LOCOMOTIVE. 137
the Minerva on the run home. This should have given the former a substantial increase
in speed, whereas there was a slight decrease. This extra indicated horse power must
have been absorbed either in the engines, or on the main shaft's bearings, or in the hull.
It is possible that the shape of the hull may have had something to do in the matter,
but former trials do not bear this out. For example, when the Highflyer (same class)
was tried against the Minerva last year, the former maintained a higher power and speed,
except at 10 knots, when she had to exert more indicated horse power to obtain the
speed.
The Controller of the Navy, in his conclusion, significantly remarks that this last
feature of the Belleville boilers requires investigation. Although these trials were not
conducted under the most satisfactory conditions, yet they conclusively established the
relative merits and disadvantages of the two types of boilers, and the cylindrical boiler
has issued from the ordeal with the greatest success. It has been proved to be far more
economical, in every respect, than the water-tube boiler. — Scientific American.
Shop Foremen.
Some years ago John Richards delivered a series of lectures before the students of
Leland Stanford Junior University, at Palo Alto, California, his subject being, "Works
Administration." These lectures contain much that is interesting and valuable to others
besides students; in fact, much that can be made better use of by shopmen than by students.
The following is what he had to say in one of these lectures on "Shop Foremen":
In the first lecture the ideal foreman was mentioned as a mythical person, and is so
if he be expected to perform the duties commonly ascribed to this position; but at this
day a good many of the duties once performed by a foreman have disajupeared. The
draftsmen have taken his place. I can remember very well when a foreman gave out all
kinds of instructions for the work in the smaller machine shops in this country. The
drawings, if any at all, for use in the machine shop consisted of general elevations in
two planes, abundantly tinted in colors, but with no dimensions marked. These were
supplied to the foreman, who laid out the work, and every little thing had to come under
his notice.
He was responsible for the work, for the performance of the workmen, and for the
proprietors also, because the supplies, discipline, and everything throughout were under
his charge. He alone was responsible in an executive sense, and the man on whom all
depended. He got the credit of success, and bore all the odium of mistakes and
failures.
With detail drawings came new conditions. The foreman interpreted the drawings
when they were obscure, but responsibility was shifted to the drafting room, and to
specifications; but the foreman found still quite enough to do in other ways, and remain-
ed an authority for many things that cannot enter into drawings; but under the present
system in machine works the general foreman's executive duties have gone over to a
manager and special foreman, or leading workmen set over departments.
I think useful suggestions may arise out of some personal experience in respect to
foremen. I had the misfortune to rise to this function at eighteen years of age; not
over a great charge, but one of some responsibility, and from then on for twenty years
or more I was associated with the methods of a general foreman, and could not help
noticing various " hitches " that arose in that system.
Then occurred some experience in Europe, where the methods of organization were
different, and not applicable, as I supposed, in this country; but in 1884, when a business