But don’t conclude that you can do the same amount of work each day in the week on the same amount of fuel, even should it be of the same kind.  You will that with all your care and skill, your engine will differ very materially both as to the amount of fuel and water that it will require, though the conditions may apparently be the same.

This may be as good a time as any to say to you, remember that a blast of cold air against the tubes is a bad thing, so be careful about your firedoor; open it as little as, possible; when you want to throw in fuel, don’t open the door, and then go a rod away after a shovel of coal; and I will say here that I have seen this thing done by men who flattered themselves that they were about at the top in the matter of running an engine.  That kind of treatment will ruin the best boiler in existence.  I don’t mean that once or twice will do it, but to keep it up will do it.  Get your shovel of coal and when you are ready to throw it in, open the door quickly and close it at once.  Make it one of your habits to do this, and you will never think of doing it in any other way.  If it becomes necessary to stop your engine with a hot fire and a high pressure of steam, don’t throw your door open, but drop your damper and open the smoke box door.

If, however, you only expect to stop a minute or two, drop your damper, and start your injector if you have one.  If you have none, get one.

An independent boiler feeder is a very nice thing, if constructed on the proper principles.  You can’t have your boiler too well equipped in this particular.

Part four. _______

A boiler should be kept clean, outside and inside.  Outside for your own credit, and inside for the credit of the manufacturers.  A dirty boiler requires hard firing, takes lots of fuel, and is unsatisfactory in every way.

The best way to keep it clean is not to let it get dirty.  The place to begin work, is with your “water boy,” pursuade him to be very careful of the water he brings you, if you can’t succeed in this, ask him to resign.

I have seen a water-hauler back into a stream, and then dip the water from the lowerside of tank, the muddy water always goes down stream and the wheels stir up the mud; and your bright water hauler dips it into the tank.  While if he had dipped it from the upper side he would have gotten clear water.  However, the days of dipping water are past, but a water boy that will do as I have stated is just as liable to throw his hose into the muddy water or lower side of tank as on the upper side, where it is clear.  See that he keeps his tank clean.  We have seen tanks with one-half inch of mud in the bottom.  We know that there are times when you are compelled to use muddy water, but as soon as it is possible to get clear water make him wash out his tank, and don’t let him haul it around till the boiler gets it all.