Selim, Piscataquis, N. H., writes:

"My opinion was asked as to a proposed plan for bringing hot water to washbowls and sinks. The engineer considered it a 'happy thought.' His plan was this: He has a low pressure or gravity system heating the building by steam, and was to make return pipes (one or more) supply the hot water to the bowls, etc. Would a man having any clear idea of the principle of steam heating attempt such things? I gave him my opinion in very plain English. I then asked how high above ' water line' his bowls and sinks were located; how much pressure he proposed to carry on his boiler; if he was to have a fireman in constant attendance, or control bv automatic damper regulator; where his hot water was to come from ? I asked if he had a feed-water heater and pump or injector, and if so, why he called it a gravity job; and finally, why he did not put in a small hot-water boiler or tank, with brass coil connecting with his steam and return, and thus safely supply hot water to his bowls and sinks? He has a horizontal tubular boiler of 40 horse power. With the hot-water at several sinks running - left running thoughtlessly, as they are very likely to be-what would be the very probable result?"

A LOOP ABOVE AND A CIRCUIT BELOW A HOT-WATER BOILER.

[This proposed plan of hot-water supply is too ridiculous to be entertained, and but for the fact that just such men as would plan a job of this sort often, by their unskillfulness and ignorance, cause great inconvenience and injury to others, even placing human life in jeopardy, we would not feel justified in going into details in answering the query of our correspondent. No person properly trained as a heating engineer would lay out such a job, and employers should consult their own interests by not entrusting work to such impracticable and dangerous men. Assuming that the job was installed upon the plan indicated, only steam could be drawn upon the top floors, steam and water from the cocks near the water line, and water from those below the water line. Water drawn from such a system would not be fit for domestic use. It would be full of rust and at times would emit a disagreeable odor such as is often detected where air is drawn from gravity coils.

One of the first laws of steam heating which a fitter should learn is to allow no water to be taken from the returns. Experience has taught that this practice has caused the "burning" of more boilers than all other causes combined. Many heating contractors in recognition of this danger will not connect a " blow-off " directly to a sewer. This restriction we heartily indorse for small jobs or places where an engineer is not employed.

Your plan of a hot-water tank with brass heating pipes through which the steam and return pipes would connect, is very proper and is the best that can be done under some conditions. We would suggest in this case, using a hot-water circulating boiler of sufficient size and of the character used in the plumbing of dwellings. If there is sufficient pressure in the main service pipe, it will force the hot water from the boiler to the several points for use; or if not a tank should be placed sufficiently high and so connected that when in service it would act as a head, giving the desired pressure. The water in this boiler or tank may be heated by connecting flow and return pipes into the firebox of the steam boiler, on the same general plan as is used in connecting a kitchen range and tank. The pipes can be laid against the bridge wall. The hotter the place the better, if much hot water is required, but great care must be taken to have the connecting pipes properly run, otherwise there will be endless noises and repairs. Any good plumber should know how to arrange the job. You ask what would be the probable result of drawing hot-water service from the returns of a gravity system. It might be annoyance, stench, dirty water, scalding by steam, with chances favoring a burned or cracked boiler with a heavy boilermaker's bill, or an exploded boiler with attendant damage to property and peril to life, and the incidental inquiry-after the event -" How did it happen? Who is to blame?"]