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6 THE MARINE RECORD. A SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION OF THE CAUSE OF THE EXPOSITION FIRE AT PITTSBURGH. The most plausible theory of the cause of the recent exposition fire at Pittsburgh, Pa , has been that of spontaneous combustion. Many centused accounts have been printed of the probable manner in which the spon- taneous combustion occurred, but none have been stated in such clear terms as that con- tributed to the Pittsburgh Dispatch by Jolin R. Neeld, a practical chemist. Our atten- tion has been called to Mr. Neeld’s article by an esteemed and trustworthy correspond- ent, Who assures us that Mr. Neeld’s theory is the one now generally accepted in Pitts- burgh. ‘The scientist says: After reading the testimony of Professor Warner, his assistant, Doran, and Watchman McCloskey, as given before Fire Marshal MeFadden in relation to the exposition fire, Tam convinced that the balloon was the cause of it. Professor Warner stated that he dug a trench 15 feet long, covering it over, making an underground furnace; he put in an iron pipe at one end of the trench, one end of it inserted in the balloon, and started a wood tire in the far end of the trench, in order to force hot air into the balloon to dry it. ‘Ihe woad being wet did not burn well; he preewed four or tive gallons of benzine and threw it.on the fire in ‘small quantities ata time. Gas was generated rapidly. Some of the gas was consumed, but large quanti- ties of it, saturated by the steam from the burning wet wood, passed into the balloon with the steam. Coming in contact with the cold, wet ballogn it was condensed back again to benzine. The outside coating.of the bal- loon, which Professor Warner relied so much on for its fire-proof qualities, prevented the benzine from escaping through the material of the balloon. ‘The condensed benzine and sterm saturated the inside of the. balloon, and that is why the professor failed to dry it. In this condition the balloon was hung up in the boiler room, where the heat again con- verted the benzine inside the balloon to gas, It flowed out of the balloon and fell to the floor, being hycro-carbon’ gas and heavier than the atinosphere. ‘I'he close, tight floor prevented its escape downward, the natural course by which it would seek to escape. It then spread over the floor, flowing under the furnace, and as it became heated expanded and rose, mixing with the air until it became of the right mixture to produce an explo- sion, which mixture is one part of hydro- earbon gas to seven parts of common atimos- ‘phere. ‘The top surtace was of that mixture, and coming in contact with the fire in the furnace or an open light it produced a flash by which another layer of gas was heated and mixed with air, Each succeeding fli.sh was stronger until the whole body of gas was ignited. ‘he gas expanded so rapid y as to be driven out into machinery hall in great volumes. It filled the hall in a few minutes time and burned so fiercely that the combined fire departments of both cities eould not control it. ‘he balloon itselt might not haye taken fire entil the building was all ablaze, it having no more to do with the fire than to be the gas holder. By the time the gas got into machinery hall it was heated, expanded, and lighter than the atmosphere. It ascended to the roof, and being held down by the roof and held up by tie heavier air, it rapidly forced itself through floral hall to the maim hall by the expanding force in the rear. What else could have conducted fire through floral hall, where there was nothing to conduct the fire but miniature lakes, fountains, cascades, green bushes, glass, and asmall amount of wood? On reaching the main hall it ran along under the roof, setting fire to the bunting decorations, burning them off and dropping them blazing on the exhibit goods below, just aseye witnesses say that it did. On reaching the farthest end of the hall its headway was checked for a moment and the hall became ignited from end to end ina very few moments, Some of the eye wit- nesses say they believe the tire reached the farthest end of the hall in twelve minutes, They were probably afraid their veracity would be questioned. if they gave any short- ertime. It seems. incredible. I believe it was not the half of that time in reaching the farther end of the building. Had the bal- loon been less wet than it was when hung in the boiler room the tire would have occurred much sooner, as gas would have generated quicker. Many persons say that four or five gallons of benzine would not produce gas enongh to fill the building, It would not be necessary to fill the building with gas to produce the effect that was produced, ‘Che gas would run along under the roof in a thin strata, and avery large quantity would not be re- quired to reach the far end of the hall. Had the fire occurred a few hours earl when the building was jammed with fifteen or twenty thousand human beings, with the windows many feet above ground, with the turnstile passage ways, admitting one person ata time, and a high board fence surround ing the building—what would have been the consequence? Well, I will not discuss it. Everybody knows that instead of the gay flags and friends every dwelling in the two cities would have been draped in mourning. My own children were there, Tshudder to think banners of our jovial German — of it. Every person who was there on that! night may rejoice and thank Providence that the balloou was so wet. ' THE NAVAL SERVICE, The President’s message, which is a con- cise statement of foreign relations and pub- lic affairs of the United States, contains the following in regard to the naval service: The Secretary of the Navy reports that under the authority of the laws of August Btn, 1882, and March 3d, 1883, the work of etrengthening our navy by the construction ot modern vessels has been auspiciously be- gun. ‘Three cruisere are in’ process of con- struction—the Chicago, of 4,500 tons dis- placement, and the Boston and Atlanta, each of 2,500 tons. ‘They are to be built of steel, with the tensile gs rength and ductility prescribed by law, and in combina- tlon of speed, endurance and armament are expected to compare favorably with the best unarmored war vessels of other nations, A fourth vessel, the Dolphin, is to be con- structed of similar material, and is intended to serve as a fleet dispatch boat. ‘The double turretted mouitors Puritan, Amphitrite and ‘Terror bave been launched on the Delaware river and a contract has been made tor the supply of their machinery. A similar mon- itor, the Monadnock, has been lanneched in California. The naval advisory board and the Secretary reconmend the completion ot the monitors, the construction of four gun- boats and also of three additional steel ves- sels like the Chicago, Boston and Dolphin as an important measure of material defense. ‘The Secretary urges also the immediate erection of an interior coast life of water- ways across the peninsula of Florida along the coast of Florida to Hamptcn Roads, be tween the Chesapeake Bay “ind the Dela- ware river and through Cape Cod. I feel bound to impress upon Congress the neces- sity of continued progress in the reconstruc- tion of the navy. The condition of the pub lic treasury, as [ have already intimated, makes the present an auspicious time for putting this branch of the service in a state of efficiency. It is no part of our policy to ereate and maintain a navy able to cope with that of the other great powers of the world. We have no wish for foreign con- quest, and the peace which we have long enjoyed is in no seeming danger of interrup- tion, but-that our naval strength should be made adequate for the detense of our har- bors, the protection of our commercial inter- ests and the maintenance of our National honor, is a proposition trom. which no pat- riotie citizen can withhold his assent. QUESTION OF FEES. In order to prevent the occurrence of dis- crepancies between the statements of transac- tions under the steamboat inspection laws of- the chiet officers of customs and the in- spectors of steam vessels, the tollowing re- gulations are published for the guidance of chief officers of customs: 1. ‘The fees provided for by section 4,458, Revised Statutes, as a compensation tor the inspection ot steam vessels, will be com- puted, in each case, on the basis of the re- gister tonnage as expressed in the steamers marine documents on the particular day on which the inspection was completed and a certificate made and subseribed by the in- spectors of steain vessels. 2. in case the certificate of inspection returned to the custom house contains erroneous tonnage, the inspectors should be notified of the fact, so that they may be en- abled to make the appropriate corrections. In no case will an officer of customs make changes in an inspection certificate. 3. The register tonnage of u vessel re- ferred to above is the net tounage as deter- mined under the act entitled “An act to pro- vide for deductions from the gross tonnage of vessels of the United States,” approved August 5, 1882 (published in department circular No. 95, series of 1882,) in the case of steamers admeasured under the act, and the gross ton as determined previous to the passage of said act in ease of steamers not so acmeasured, 4. In reporting the tonnage in the state- ment of tranaactions under the steamboat inspection laws, Form 240 a, the gross ton- nage of all steamers whose inspection fees have been collected should be reported in the column gross tonnage, and the net ton- nage, as determined by actual measurement under the act of August 5, 1882, should be: reported in the column net tonnage. The tonnage of steamers not admeasured under the new law should be reported in the column gross tonnage only, since their net tonnage has not been ascertained, 5. In the abstract of moneys received un- der the steamboat inspection laws, Cat. No. 69, the register tonnage, as above defined, should be reported in the column tonnage. 6. ‘The gross and net tonnage reported in both the statements and abstract must be the tonnage as it existed on the date of the in- spection, and not thet determined on a subse- quent date. 7. In the case of steamers exempt from admeasnrement by the regulations and not admeasured, an estimated tonnage must be reported asa basis for the computation of the fees, the figures given being preceded by the abbreviation “¥st..’’ to indicate that the tonnage is an approximated tonnage, the vessel not having beeh admeasured, Cnas. J. FoLGer, Secretary. THE CENTURY. PROGRAMME FOR 1883-84. The programme for the fourteenth year of this magazine, and the third under the new name, is if anything more nteresting and popu ar than ever. With every season the Century shows a_ decided gain in circulation. The new volume begins wiih November, and, when possible, subscriptions should begin with that issue, The following are some of the features of the coming year. A new novel by George W. Cable, author of “Old Creole Days.” etc., entitled |r, Sevier,” a story of New Orleans life, the time being the eve of the late civil war. “life in the Thirteen Colonies,’ by Edward Eggleston, separate illustrated papers on subjects connected with the early history of this country. Three stories by Henry James, of varying lengths, to-appear through the year. The New Astr. nomy, untechnical articles, by Prof. S. B. Langley, descril ing the most interest- ing of recent di. coveries in the sun and stars, A novelette by H. H. Boyeson, author of “Gunnar,” etc. A vivid and sparkling story. The New Era in American Architecture, a se- ries of papers dezcriptive of the best work of American architects in public buildings, city and country houses, etc, ‘To be },rofusely illustrated. A novelette by Robert Grant, author of “Con- fessic ns of a Frivolous Girl,” etc., entitled «An Aver>ge Man’’—a story of New York, ‘The Breac-winners, one of the most remarkable novels of tle day, to be completed in January, Cinstianity and Wealth, with other essays, by the author of «The Christian League of Connecti cut, etc., on the application of Christian morals to the present phase of modern life. - Coasting About the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a series of entertaining articles profusely illustrated. On the Track of Ulysses, ihe record of a yacht- cruise on the Mediterranean, identifying the route of Ulysses on his return from the Tr jan war, “Garfield in England,” extracts from a private journal kept during a trip to Europe in 1867. “The Silverado squatters,” by Robert Louis Stevenson, author of “New Arabian Nights.” There will be papers on outdoor England by John, Burroughs and others, a beautifully illustrat- ed series on Dante, anumber of papers by the eminent French novelist Alphonse Dau- det,’ articles on art and archeology by Charles Dudley Warner and others, illustrated papers on sport and adventure, shot stories by the. feeding writers, essays on timely subjects, etc., ete. Subscription price, $4.00 a year; single numbers sold everywhere at 35 cents eaeh. All dealers receive subscriptions, or remittance may be made direct to the publishers by postal or express order, registered letter, bank check, or draft, SPECIAL OFFERS. To enable new subscribers to begin with the first volume under The Century name, we make the following special offers : New subscribers beginning with November, 1888, may obtain the magazine one year from date, and the twenty-four previous niunbers, unbound, for $8.00... Reqular price sor three years, $12.00. Or, if preferred, a subscription and the twenty- four elegant volumes will be furnished for $10, Regular price $16 THE CENTURY CO., New York, N.Y. Boat washing and general laun- dry in a few hours. CLEVELAND STEAM LAUNDRY, 33 St. Clair Street. Telephone I18. A PRIZE. fee's costly box of yoods which will help you to more money ight away than anything else in this world. All, of either sex, succeed from first hour. The broad road to fortune opens before. the workers, absolutely sure. At once address, TRUE & C Augusta, Maine, ‘ cents for postage, and receive A $5 Book for $2.50! 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