doors should be treated to a bath of filler compound of tallow, beeswax, molasses and rosin, as often as once in three or four months. I do not know that this is necessary, but I practise it.

The President then introduced Mr. F. M. MESSENGER of North Grosvenor Dale, Conn., who read the following paper.

REPORT OF A SERIES OF TESTS OF SPINDLE OILS, CONDUCTED AT THE MILLS OF GROSVENOR DALE COMPANY, NORTH GROSVENOR DALE, CONNECTICUT, MAY TO OCTOBER, 1890.

By F. M. MESSENGER.

I am aware that the subject of lubrication has often been discussed by this Association. It is a question, however, that cannot be exhausted until inventive genius finds a perfect lubricant; one adapted to all the varying conditions under which it may be used.

About two years ago, Mr. W. F. Draper read a paper here, showing that, in running modern spindles, great advantages could be derived by using lighter-gravity oils than it had been found practicable to use with the Sawyer, Pearl, and other older forms of spindles. I presume that many, if not all, have since verified Mr. Draper's claims by common practice.

The following series of tests seem to indicate that the oil men have taken up this question; and, in their efforts to excel, have produced oils of somewhat heavier gravity, which surpass in results any of the samples tested by Mr. Draper.

In making these tests, one of a lot of frames made by the Whitin Machine Works was used; about five years ago they were remodeled by putting in new cylinders and Whitin gravity spindles; this frame contained 256 of these spindles ; the cylinder was seven inches in diameter, the spindles were banded by what is known as the " Coggeshall method;" the

driving belt was three inches wide; and the frame pulleys were nine and five-eighths inches in diameter. We used an Emerson Power Scale in making these tests.

While testing, the rolls were always disconnected, running only the cylinder and spindles; the latter being loaded with empty bobbins. After each test the frame was connected and put to its regular work.

In changing from one oil to another, the spindles and bolsters were removed from the frame, the bolster cases pumped out with a syringe made expressly for the purpose, the oil was emptied and wiped out from the bolsters, and the spindles wiped; each one being carefully replaced in the case from which it came.

In our first series, each oil was tested for about ten days. (with the exception of Nos. 4 and 7, which were discontinued on account of inferiority, and No. 9, which was received too late to continue to a full test), and the weighings were taken as near to 9 A.M. and 3 P.M. as practicable; two weighings were always taken, and if they did not agree, three, and sometimes more, were taken to insure accuracy. The flash and evaporation tests were made at the Institute of Technology, through the kindness of the Boston Manufacturers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company.

In the second series, each oil was tested one day; five separate tests were made, three with empty bobbins and two with bobbins full of yarn, but with rolls disconnected in each instance; each separate test lasted one hour, and eighteen readings were taken; the tests with full, and with empty, bobbins were taken alternately; we also used a flat bulb thermometer fastened to the bolster rail to register its temperature, noting the temperature of the room at same time by a thermometer hung midway of the frame upon the creel. The samples of oil tested were selected from those used in the first series, but

were renumbered for convenience; taken in their regular orde they were Nos. 6, 9, 8 and 1 of the former series. Followi are the results:

The President then stated that Mr. M. M. Laduc of Lowell, Mass., would explain a device connected with a frame loom in which he was interested; which the latter proceeded to do.

A MEMBER. Mr. President, I want to ask a question in regard to the machine we have before us for increasing the humidity of the atmosphere in the mill. I find that, if Mr. SAUNDERS takes the temperature and humidity of Lancashire, Eng., as a standard, it seems to me strange we should be compelled to increase the humidity of our atmosphere in our mills here. He gives as the water vapor in Stalybridge, the mean, 5.581 grains; and yet we find in the Wamsutta mills the mean is something over 7 grains; so that there is really more vapor, more moisture in the air, than there was at Stalybridge. Now, it seems to me that we not only require a machine for increasing the humidity of the atmosphere, but also for diminishing it, if these statements of Mr. SAUNDERS are correct.

The PRESIDENT. Mr. SAUNDERS, I have no doubt, can answer that inquiry.

Mr. SAUNDERS. Mr. President, I do not expect that I shall be able to answer all the questions that might possibly be asked in regard to a matter of this kind. In Stalybridge, Eng., or in Lancashire, where the temperature is about the same as in Stalybridge, you will observe by the table that the wind was south-west twenty-two days in the month of July; therefore we draw our conclusion that if in the month of July the wind was south-west twenty-two days, the humidity and temperature would run quite close. Now, in Lowell, you will see by the table, you cannot get any definite idea about the wind, because it is so changeable. Why I present those two tables is to show the extreme we have to contend with. The difficulty we have to contend with here in New England is, I think, in our changeable atmosphere; while in Lancashire, as you well know, it runs quite uniform. As to the amount of water vapor or relative humidity in New Bedford, we find that the conditions there are very much better than anywhere else probably in New England. You remember that last year Mr. Atkinson read a