[Footnote 1: Address before the June Convention of the Master
Mechanics' Association.]

By JOHN A. COLEMAN.


Mr. Chairman and gentlemen: I was rash enough some time ago to promise
to prepare a paper for this occasion, the fulfillment of which prior
engagements have absolutely prevented.

I would greatly prefer to be let off altogether, but I do not like to
break down when expected to do anything; and if you have the patience
to listen for a few minutes to the reflections of an "outsider," I
will endeavor to put what I have to say in as concise form as I can,
in such manner as will do no harm, even if it does no good.

For many years I was connected with steam engineering. I was once with
the Corliss Steam Engine Company, and afterward was the agent of Mr.
Joseph Harrison, of Russian fame, for the introduction of his safety
boilers.

That brought me into contact with the heavy manufacturers throughout
the Eastern States, and during that long experience I was particularly
impressed with a peculiarity common to the mill owners, which, I
believe it may be said with truth, is equally common to those
interested in locomotive engineering, namely, how much we overlook
common, every-day facts. For instance, we burn coal; that is, we think
we do, and boilers are put into mills and upon railroads, and we
suppose we are burning coal under them, when in reality we are only