PREFACE.
The author, a practical first-class licensed engineer of long and varied experience, has for some time felt the need of a clear and can- cise work by which the average fireman or engineer may perfect him- self in his chosen profession, as well as prepare for the necessary ex- aminations essential to his advancement to higher grades. In per- fecting his book, he has endeavored to make it as simple as possible, and, wherever practical, has eliminated all traces of technicality and formula. In place of the former he has given the common names and phrases, while the latter is substituted for simple arithmetical rules that can be easily worked out by any one understanding addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. During his thirty years' experience as fireman, engineer, and mechanical superintendent, to- gether with the experience obtained as instructor and manager of engineering schools, he has had the opportunity to become acquainted with the requirements of the fireman and engineer. He has carefully observed and noted the various stumbling-blocks so likely to confuse not only the beginner, but also the man who in every-day practice finds some point upon which he desires to be enlightened. The author wishes to state that this work cannot be read as a story, but requires careful study and its answers committed to memory, to be expressed in the student's own language after he has clearly under- stood the points desired to be brought out by the writer. To the man striving for a fireman's license he would advise thor- oughly mastering the questions and answers pertaining to boilers and boiler accessories. For the third-class engineer he advises study on subjects previously mentioned, together with the text on engines and valve setting for the simple slide valve and riding cut-off valve. For a second-class engineer he advises study on all the subjects treated in the works, with particular attention to the text on indicator diagrams.
