Editor, THE INTERNATIONAL STEAM ENGINEER:

I have finally secured the necessary information regarding the number of men in Texas who are following steam engineering as a means of gaining a livelihood and submit the same by this means to the membership of our International Union, according to my promise of last October.

We are under obligations for information sent us by Mr. C. W. Woodman of Austin, Texas, Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and hereby acknowledge the

same.

Mr. Woodman, if he errs at all in his figures, does so on the side of conservatism and the writer has no hesitation in presenting the figures as being dependable. His letter is as follows:

"MR. R. C. DEIFENDERFER, Secretary Stationary Engineer's Union No. 348. 1228 Humboldt St., Fort Worth, Texas.

"Dear Mr. Deifenderfer-Answering your letter of the 1st, will inform you that there are more than 6,000 manufacturing plants in Texas, more than one-half of which employ engineers.

"The above does not include oilmills, business buildings, nor school houses, nor does it include power houses or country gins, all of which employ men eligible to membership in your organization.

"Speaking conservatively, you have more than 7,000 engineers in Texas of the kind known as stationary men.

"Trusting the above information is what you seek, assuring you it is a pleasure to render the slightest service to you or to your union, I am,

and secures his remaining 4,000 of the total of 7,000 by estimating the engineers in oil mills, office buildings,

etc.

Yet, in his total estimate, he does not mention the other arm of our membership, the hoisting and portable engineer.

To place an estimate upon the latter of 3,000 would be very conservative, as the large oil fields of the state alone have that many employed and when one included the river and harbor improvements under way, the public utilities, such as huge dams, courthouses, roads, bridges, etc., the many office buildings and, last but not least, the farm-tractors scattered over the state, I am sure the total of 10,000 will be exceeded by several thousand more.

In point of numbers one must yield first place to the gin engineers, as every cross-roads has its cotton gin. These gins require only a slight knowledge of engineering, as the equipment usually consists of one or two return tubes, tubular boilers and slide valve engines, although one can occasionally find a fairly decent plant among the largest of them. Wages for these men are from $1.75 to $2.50 per day, usually including board, and hours of work from 3 a. m. until 11:59 p. m. The work is a seasonal one, usually lasting about three or four months in the fall and early winter months.

Next in point of numbers comes the hoisting and portable men, of all classes. This work is fairly well paid. where the men are organized, but it is a tough proposition where they are not; $4.50 and $5.00 is the average wage where the I. U. S. and O. E. controls and $2.00 to $3.00 where they do not, while, as usual. the union man enjoys shorter hours.

Next in order would come waterworks engineers. One finds many fine installations for this class of work

and high grades of the stationary engineers, in point of ability, operating the same. Diesel's, natural gas, condensing and non-condensing, cross and tandem compound and triple expansion steam engines are the usual type to be found. The men following this line of work are moderately well paid and usually union men, especially where locals are to be found. Source of water supply is about 50 per cent artesian, the balance surface. Municipal rates average $12.00 per year to the domestic user, allowing 400 cubic feet per month with additional charge for excess of that

amount.

Lack of space prohibits giving any accounts of "oil mill" men in this letter, so I will have to outline their duties as well as the "central station"-yes, we have 'em-and refrig

erating men's in my February letter.

Local No. 348 wishes to thank Bro. Hersome, secretary of the Massachusetts State Branch, for his kindness and promptness in supplying us with information and literature of their magnificent state organization.

The rest of you secretaries, "who intended to write but didn't," we thank you, too, only your thanks are in advance.

In conclusion, all secretaries of

Texas locals are requested to mail a

card with their name and address on it to the undersigned, as Local No. 348 has matters of moment for your consideration.

(Signed) R. C. DEIFENDERFER,

Cor. Secretary Local No. 348, 1228 Humboldt St., Forth Worth, Texas.

If you will kindly allow me the space I will give you a report of the Massachusetts State Branch Convention, held in Boston recently.

The twenty-fourth semi-annual convention of the Massachusetts State Branch, I. U. S. & O. E., was held at Engineers' Hall, 995 Washington street, Boston, Sunday, December 12, 1915. The convention was called to order at 10:30 a. m. by James O'Hair, chairman of committee on conventions from the Boston locals, who welcomed the delegates to Boston and wished them a successful and progressive convention. President Daniel C. Dynan of Lynn replied for the state branch and accepted the hospitality offered the delegates by Bro. O'Hair. The convention was then called to order by State President Daniel C. Dynan, who read the official call for the convention. Roll of

officers was called and found President Daniel C. Dynan, Vice-President Andrew J. Tighe, Secretary Albra W. Hersome, and Financial SecretaryTreasurer James L. Wilmarth present. President Dynan unrolled and read the new charter just reissued to us as a state branch by the International president, Matt Comerford, and General Secretary James G. Hannahan. The committee on credentials, George G. Barry, Local 4; Wm. E. Kenefick, Local 352, and Sidney W. Fallis, Local 93, reported delegates present as follows: Local 4, Boston, Arthur M. Huddell, George G. Barry, James Mulcahy; Local 4 B, Boston, Wm. J. Farrell, James F. Monohan, Frederick J. Donahue; Local 52, Lynn, Daniel C. Dynan, Harry B. Brown, E. M. Furbush; Local 74, Boston, Andrew J. Tighe, Michael D. McGrath, Arthur W. Daniels; Local 78, Worcester, Daniel B. Gallagher, Thomas O'Malley; Local 79, Quincy, Robert McVitie, Alex. M. Smith, John J. Dailey; Local 93, Salem, Sidney W. Fallis, Arnold P. Greene, Louis W.

Nelson; Local 98, Springfield, Arthur L. Fish, Samuel J. Connier; Local 108, Rockport, Joseph Newbold, John R. Everett, Edward J. O'Hearn; Local 135, New Bedford, Carl F. Hayward, Patrick F. Lynch, Patrick J. Sullivan; Local 263, Boston, James L. Wilmarth, William M. Beck, Herman M. Comerford; Local 352, Lowell, Albra W. Hersome, William E. Kenefick, John H. Smith; Local 466, Holyoke, Joseph L. Marion, Alcide Vian; Local 468, Haverhill, W. Harold Gilderson, Harry Small, David L. Roche; Local 488, Taunton, James W. Flynn, Cyrus S. Harwood, Frank P. Connors; Local 501, Brockton, E. N. Beane, Alton L. French, Roderick Donnell. The delegates named were seated as the delegates to the convention.

President Dynan declared the convention duly organized and appointed the following: Messenger, Michael D. McGrath, 74; sergeant-at-arms, Roderick Donnell, 501. Resolutions committee: Arthur M. Huddell, 4; Robert McVitie, 79; Joseph L. Marion, 466. Officers reports: Wm. M. Beck, 263; Daniel B. Gallagher, 78; Jas. W. Flynn. Auditing committee: E. N. Beane, 501; Wm. J. Farrell, 4B; Joseph Newbold, 108. Press committee: Herman M. Comerford, 263; Harry B. Brown, 52; W. Harold Gilderson, 468. The reports of the president, secretary and treasurer were read and referred to the proper committees. The records of the twentythird semi-annual convention at Lynn June 13, 1915, were read, also the minutes of the executive board meetings during the past term. The resolution committee reported and the convention adopted the following: Resolution No. 1, by Local 74: "That the incoming legislative committee present a bill for the state legislature that no engineer can work more than twelve hours continuously in one day." Resolution No. 2, by Local 4: "That this convention endorse the freight handlers' strike for a living wage and endorse and support the bill to come before the Massachusetts legislature for the government ownership of railroad companies." Resolu

tion No. 3, by Local 4: "To request the legislative committee, state branch, to present a bill amending the engineers' license law so that it will require a license to operate locomotives used by other than railroad companies." Resolution No. 5, by Local 263: "That no public service corporation shall be allowed to sell electricity at less than 5% above nor for more than 25% over and above the cost of production and distribution." Resolution No. 6, by 263: "That the salaries of assistant engineers employed at the state house shall be $15.00 per year." Resolution No. 7, by Local 93: "That all affiliated locals of this state branch shall report all names of rejected applicants, names of those expelled and the cause thereof, also the names of those reinstated, to the state secretary, who shall tabulate same and forward to each local once a month." Resolution No. 8, by Local 93: "That the state branch appoint a committee in the interests of such matter as will revert to the affiliated locals in the forward movement to our general betterment." mittee recommends that officers of state branch act as that committee. At this point President Dynan announced that the time for adjournment was reached and declared the convention adjourned until 2 p. m.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Com

After the delegates had partaken of a bounteous and substantial dinner in an adjoining hall, provided by the committee on conventions from the joint Boston locals, the convention was called to order at 2:05 p. m. by President Dynan. The roll call of delegates showed all present except those on committees that were in session. Delegate Huddell of resolution committee was given the floor and reported resolution No. 9, by Local 93, "That the state branch adopt ways and means whereby the boot and shoe workers will be induced, if possible, to assist in placing union engineers in factories in which their label prevails." Committee approves and recommends that president, vice-president and secretary take matter up with Boot and Shoe

Workers' international officers. Resolution No. 10, by the legislative committee, state branch, "That this convention endorse and if necessary introduce a bill to separate the boiler inspection department from the Massachusetts state police." Resolution No. 11, by Local 93, “That this convention approve and request the appointment of an organizer for Massachusetts, preferably a Massachusetts a Massachusetts man, who will conserve our business interests." Resolution No. 12, by Delegate Greene, "That the Executive Board take up the matter of a state-wide wage scale for stationary engineers, the same being referred to the established locals." Ex-President Thomas B. Constant gave a report of the A. F. L. Metal Trades Convention, from where he had just returned as a delegate to that body. The convention instructed the secretary to request Governor D. I. Walsh to appoint William M. Beck as the

member of the Board of Boiler Rules representing the operating engineers, and Thomas H. O'Malley, of Worcester, as second choice in case Bro. Beck cannot be confirmed by the council. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Andrew J. Tighe; vice-president, Herman M. Comerford; secretary, Albra W. Hersome; treasurer, James L. Wilmarth. Holyoke was chosen as place of next convention, June 11, 1916. The newly elected officers were installed by ex-President Thomas B. Constant. The Boston Locals were given a rising vote of thanks for the entertainment and dinner furnished the delegates. President Dynan and the old board of officers were given a vote of thanks for their service during the past term. The convention adjourned at 6:10 p. m.

Respectfully submitted,
ALBRA W. HEARSOME,
Secretary.

As there have been some requests for information along the boiler room chemistry, I have decided to write a series of articles on chemistry and which I am sure will be of much imterest to any engineer or plant owner, as it will give a great light on the chemical changes that are constantly taking place in the furnace and inside the boiler as well as other parts of the engine room, which many engineers pay little attention to and know nothing about, and which might be. of great benefit for them to know and would no doubt make them more efficient engineers and of more value to the plant owner, as well as increasing their knowledge for their own benefit to shoulder greater responsibility in the engineering line and plant operation. Stop and think. Why? How? What? Which? When? Where? You will find out and discover many things that you never even dreamed of before that are actually taking

place around your plant. You will discover Old Mother Chemistry constantly at work transforming and retransforming things back to their natural state. Don't forget that everything around your plant has some time or some place been worked out in a chemical laboratory before it ever saw a foundry or machine shop. Your refrigerators, machinery and chemicals, your dynamos, motors, wire lamps, globes, window glass, cement or iron flooring, your coal, wood, oil, water, etc., have all been analyzed and worked out in the laboratory first. All of the phenomena that takes place about you-burning of coal, falling of rain, freezing of water, formation of clouds, the coloring of the rainbow, the boiling of water, the slacking of lime, the explosion of gas or gunpowder, and many others which will be taken up in this series of articles.

Now for instance when coal is

burned we observe heat, light and smoke and after a time the coal has disappeared. But what chemical action has taken place?

For another instance let us take water and boil it long enough so it will all disappear. On the other hand. if we cool water enough it solidifies to ice. Now there is a reason for these changes. When we cool the steam after boiling water we get back water; and if we heat ice we also get water. Before we take up the chemistry of the coal pile we will go thoroughly into the water end of it. Every one is familiar with the fact that nature gives a great variety of

waters, some of which, fresh spring or river waters and rain waters, are drinkable and have but little taste, while others, especially sea water, are very salty to the taste. It will be well first to consider the cause of the differences and the real action the different waters have on steam boil

ers.

Let us now start at the beginning and ask the question: "Well, what is water, chemically speaking, and what causes water to be different in nature and action when used in steam boilers?"

(To be continued.)

Wonderful Impulse in American Art Revealed at the Exposition Will be Furthered by Valuable Pictorial Record of the Art of America as It Was Shown in the Fine Arts Section-Plans Are Under Way to Preserve the Beautiful Exposition Fine Arts Palace as a Permanent Repository of Art and to Create One of the Great Centers That Will Further the Art Movement in America.

Thousands of Americans who have visited the Panama-Pacific International Exposition this year will be interested in learning that a movement to preserve the majestic Palace of Fine Arts is gaining definite headway and there seems to be but little doubt that in the very near future all steps for the preservation of this exquisite structure in permanent materials will have been announced.

Hundreds of leading club women of California are interested in preserving the beautiful edifice, and rendering it a permanent repository of works of art. Art lovers throughout California have signed petitions to Secretary of War Garrison, asking that a revocable permit be issued, per

mitting the Palace of Fine Arts to remain on the United States Government land in the Presidio reservation, San Francisco. Indeed, John E. D. Trask, chief of Fine Arts at the Exposition, who is now on the Atlantic coast, will call upon Secretary of War Garrison for the purpose of interesting him in the preservation of this beautiful edifice, which no less a critic than Lord Richard Neville, personal representative of King George of England, upon a visit to the Exposition, pronounced as one of the two

most beautiful structures in the world, the other being the famous Taj Mahal in India.

The movement to save the Fine Arts Palace arises in the wonderful art impulse felt throughout the west as a result of the magnificent display of the works of American artists and sculptors at the Exposition. Despite the greatest war in the history of the world, the display of the fine arts at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition is said by expert critics to have been the finest and most com