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1900.) MARINE REVIEW. 19 CHICAGO SAND RAMMER. The accompanying illustrations give a succinct idea of the Chicago sand rammer recently placed upon the market by the Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co. This is another innovation in the application of compressed air, for which this company is responsible. It is simply an adaptation of the principle of some of their other pneumati€ tools to this purpose. The rammer is, of course, made in varying sizes; 'but the standard size is Butt end in ramming. known as No. 4, being the one best adapted to the general requirements of the trade. The weight of the No. 4 rammer, with counter-balance, as shown in the illustration, is 290 lbs., of which the counter-balance weighs 130 lbs., leaving the weight of the rammer proper 160 lbs. When operated under an air pressure of 40 lbs. per sq. in., which pressure is found to give the best results, the rammer strikes about 300 blows per Pein end ramming at side of box. minute. The maximum stroke is 7 in., but the valve motion is such as to make it a variable stroke machine; that is, the further down the cylinder is pressed when the machine is in operation, the shorter the stroke becomes with a consequent increase in the number of blows per minute, and the further away the cylinder is held from the work, but, within the maximum stroke of the piston, the longer the stroke is with a consequent less number of but more forcible blows per minute. These results are accomplished in the Chicago rammer by the em- ployment of an auxiliary valve so arranged as to time the movements of the main valve, so that the piston will complete its full stroke before the main valve reverses to admit the fluid into the cylinder for the return stroke of the piston. The auxiliary valve is controlled by the piston by means of ports so located in the cylinder that the valve will be operated when the piston is at its shortest stroke, which is in the middle of the cylinder, where a groove in the piston will reciprocate across grooves in the cylinder on any desired stroke, from scarcely more than a vibration of the piston to a full stroke. After the groove in the piston crosses the lower groove in the cylinder, an interval of time is required for the piston to complete its full stroke and the auxiliary valve is so regulated as to occupy the same length of time in completing its stroke in order to re- verse the main valve, which moves very quickly, and immediately after blow being struck on drill bit, admitting the fluid for return stroke of piston. In the return stroke the auxiliary valve is regulated to throw the main valve in time to admit the fluid into the top end of cylinder to cush- ion or check the piston from striking the top cylinder head. The machine works under the pressure stated, with absolutely no vibration, and is easily handled. The air consumption when operated under a pressure of from 40 to 50 Ibs. per sq. in., is 20 cubic ft. of free air per minute. It is estimated that more sand can be rammed in a given time and in a better manner by this machine, than can be done by five men doing Rammer in horizontal position showing method of reversing ends. hand work. The rammer is suspended from the ceiling in the ordinary manner, and requires but little room for its operation, This rammer is now successfully used in several leading steel foundries, and will be seen _in a number of other places as soon as shipment of the rammers already ordered can be made. In this rammer the butt and pein ends are at- tached to the opposite ends of the piston, which extends through the cylinder of the machine: To change ends it is only necessary to revolve the rammer on its axis, as will be seen by referring to the illustration. In addition to the vast saving of time above referred to, the great advantage of this rammer lies in the fact that the operator is not required to exert any power beyond guiding the machine and varying the blow, rendering his task far less irksome and laborious than with the old method of hand ramming. Plans for new terminal buildings and piers at Hoboken, to be the finest in the world, have been adopted by the North German Lloyd Steam- ship Co. <A solid sea wall of granite and concrete is to be constructed along the entire front (900 ft.) of the company's property. On this sea wall or stone bulkhead a building, 850 ft. in length and 130 ft. in width, will be constructed of steel columns, filled with, and surrounded by, con- crete held in place by iron jackets, brick sides, steel girders with brick arches as flooring, the second floor being of the same construction, The . lower floor of this building will be used for the storing of cargo, and on the upper floor the passenger traffic of arriving and departing steamships will be handled. Three piers from which the:steamers will sail will ex- tend into the river. The northernmost of the piers will be 780 ft. in length for the present, ultimately to be lengthened to 910 ft., the second 894 ft. and the third 874 ft. long, the two first 80 ft. and the third 90 ft. wide. The Dominion line has given a contract to Harland & Wolff, the Belfast builders, for three new steamers to be ready next spring. The steamers are to be built on the same lines as the Commonwealth, but even larger than the latest additions to the Dominion fleet. Two of the new steamers are to be put on the Boston service and the other will sail between Liverpool and Montreal.