discharge through the various openings of the runner. To this
part I gave close attention, and there was nothing that the
ear could detect to indicate aught but the nicest adjustment.
The bearings of the runners worked with great smoothness, and
did not become at all heated. Through a simple, novel
arrangement, these bearings are lubricated and kept cool.
There is a constant circulation of water from the pumps by
means of a small pipe, which completes a circuit to an
annular in the bearings back to the discharge pipe while the
pump is in motion, requiring no oil and making it seemingly
impossible to heat these bearings.

"The large cast steel valves placed in the embouchement of
the casing, it was thought, might act to check the free
discharge, and arrangements were provided for raising and
keeping them open by a long lever key attached to their axes
of revolution, but, to our great surprise, at the first gush
from the pumps these valves, weighing nearly 1,500 pounds,
were lifted into their recessed chambers, giving an
unobstructed opening to the flow, and they floated on its
surface unsupported, save by the swiftly flowing water,
without a movement, while the pump was in operation.

"The steam-actuated valves in the suction and discharge pipes
worked very well, and the water cushion gave a slow, uniform
motion, and without shock, either in opening or closing them.

"The engines worked noiselessly, without shock or labor. At
no time during the trial was the throttle valve open more
than three-eighths of an inch.