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PUBLIC LIPKAR

ATOR, LENOX

come convinced of the practicability of Mr. Ruttan's method was B. R. Hawley of Normal, Illinois, who, in 1866, with the in. tention of putting the system in practice, became associated with W. A. Pennell and Lemuel Grover under the firm name of W. A. Pennell & Company. It was soon after the organization of the firm that young Smead became associated with it. It is not our purpose to follow in detail the successes and failures of the new enterprise, which was surrounded on all sides by obstacles. The experiments in which the firm were engaged in reducing Mr. Ruttan's theories to practice, as well as the scientific principles involved in them, so enlisted the natural genius of the boy that he engaged in the work with all the ardor and enthusiasm of a veteran scientist. So valuable did his work become and so rapid was his progress that his proficiency soon became recognized, and upon the organization of the company in 1872, he was chosen its secretary. The newly organized company began at once to push the enterprise with vigor, expending several thousand dollars to improve old patterns and to make new ones. At the end of four years scarcely a pattern remained that was in use when the company was organized. During this period Mr. Smead displayed marvelous ingenuity in overcoming mechanical obstacles, seeming insurmountable; and such has been his readiness and fertility of invention that the enterprise has never lacked a new tool or appliance to meet the necessities of improvements which have been constantly going forward. The company went on prosperously until 1877, when, on account of an unfortunate investment in iron, which

was opposed by Mr. Smead, they were compelled to suspend operations. However, a new company was organized immediately, of which Mr. Smead was president, and business was again started. The offices of the company were removed to Chicago; after two years of business success a new office was opened in Kansas City; in 1882 another office was opened in Toledo, under the firm name of Isaac D. Smead & Company; early in 1885, from the employés of the Toledo company, under the direct management of Mr. Smead, who had removed his residence to that city, two new companies were formed, under the name of Smead Warming and Ventilating company, one with offices at Elmira, New York, and the other at Philadelphia; and in 1886 another firm was organized, which also bears his name, with offices at Toronto, Canada.

To Mr. Smead more than to any other person is due the success of this noble and truly useful enterprise. Of the fourteen patents used in applying the Ruttan-Smead system of heating and ventilation, all except two or three are the inventions of Mr. Smead. So great have been the changes introduced by him that, were the originator still alive, he would not be able to recognize in the improved system that which originally bore his name. When Mr. Smead first interested himself in the subject, it had not reached the stage of theoretical demonstration, but under his practical genius and skill it can almost be said to be a perfect solution of the problem of safe and healthy warming and ventilation of buildings.

To show the rapid growth of the business under Mr. Smead's management, it

is only necessary to state that in 1877 the amount of iron manufactured into apparatus was about two hundred thousand pounds, while in 1887 over five million pounds were used.

The Smead Warming and Ventilating apparatus, together with the sound and economical principles which they so happily illustrate, have gained almost universal acceptance, being favorably reported upon by the most intelligent and practical committees of public buildings, schools and colleges, both in the United States and in foreign countries. We have space for only two or three extracts from these reports. Opinion of a member of the Ohio State Board of Health. Dr. T. Clarke Miller, of Massillon, Ohio. S. S. GRAY, M. D.:

Direct

Dear Dr.-Your letter to the State Board of Health of the sixteenth instant received. It was referred to Dr. Jones mistakenly; he was not at home, and now he refers it to me. Steam heating which makes proper provision for ventilation is a very expensive luxury, not adapted to public buildings. radiation ought not to be thought of-being away behind stoves. The Smead system is philosophical in principle, practical, effective, safe, cheap, durable. The dry closet system is almost a new sun in the sanitary heavens. It would be a matter of interest to understand the motives which determine officials, when they adopt a system of heating which never was satisfactory, costs a good deal originally, is a constant expense as well as danger, disabled or insufficient when most needed, and which requires the skill of an engineer to run, against one which is perfectly adapted to the situation and necessities, costs moderately and almost runs itself. I hope you will continue to make the fight, in the interest of humanity and sanitary science.

Yours respectfully,

T. CLARKE MILLER, M. D.

The following is from the Toledo School report for the year ending August

31, 1884:

Two years ago the board introduced the Smead system of heating and ventilation into the new part

of the Humboldt building. Six rooms were heated An excellent opportunity was thus afforded of comby this system, and six by the old hot air furnaces. paring the two systems as to efficiency and economy. A careful account for the entire year was kept of

each side, and the result showed that the new system was what was claimed for it. It heated and

thoroughly ventilated the rooms, and the schools on that side were not dismissed for a single day. A test with an air meter showed that on ordinarily cold days the air could be changed from six to eight times thirty-six dollars less to heat and ventilate these six rooms than it did to heat the other six by the ordinary hot air furnace. So successful was the experi

per hour. As to economy, it cost two hundred and

ment and so well pleased was the board, that the new system was ordered placed in the six new buildings subsequently erected. The unsatisfactory condition of the heating apparatus in the old buildings, and the constant complaint of parents and teachers on account of having to dismiss school on cold days, led the board to investigate the expense of introducing the new system into the old buildings. After a careful investigation, the committee on buildings reported that an introduction of the Smead system into six old buildings would secure the same results as were secured in the Humboldt building, and at a saving of fuel of about one thousand eight hundred dollars per annum. This saving of fuel alone would in seven years pay for the cost of making the change, to say nothing about the saving of valuable time of the pupils on account of no dismissals of school from the cold condition of the rooms. The change recommended was made.

It is a matter of congratulation to the patrons of the schools that we now have one hundred and sixtytwo school rooms thoroughly heated and ventilated. It is safe to say that there is no city in the United States that has its school rooms better heated and ventilated than the city of Toledo. (Annual Report, 1884.)

At this writing (January, 1888) there are twenty-one of the public school buildings of Toledo containing the Smead apparatus.

In 1885 Mr. Smead issued a volume of one hundred and thirty quarto pages in which he reviewed the history of the rise and progress of the Ruttan-Smead system. It is a work that all should read who

would understand the history and working of this, the only perfect system of warming and ventilation. But the best test of it and that which has given its great prestige and popularity is its practical success in all the places where it has been applied. Mr. Smead is not wholly occupied with the management of this large business; his energetic nature finds occupation in various other directions and public services. He owns and cultivates a large orange grove in Florida, and is vice-president of the Toledo Marine company.

A Republican in politics, he is sound and firm in fealty to his party, anything like neutrality or compromise where duty and principle are involved being foreign to his nature. He believes in his party because he regards it as the best exponent of political principles and of a sound National policy. Although he has never sought or solicited any political office or appointment, he has held and filled with his usual energy and competency for the discharge of the executive business, since 1886, a place in the board of managers of the Ohio State penitentiary, to which he was appointed by Governor Foraker. He is also by appointment of the executive board commissioner to take charge of the department of machinery at the Ohio Centennial in 1888.

The career of Mr. Smead thus imperfectly outlined will indicate somewhat his mental endowments and traits of character. One of his distinguishing characteristics is his intuitive sagacity in judging of He seems to know by intuition the right person to fill any place which he wants filled; and perhaps this is the secret of the little friction and disturbance

men.

which occur in his extensive business. His power of organization and his executive ability enable him to systematize and easily manage a large force of employés, and his uniform courtesy to all secures him the good-will not only of everyone in his employ but of the many committees and of the large number of public men and private citizens with whom he is constantly in business relations. His remarkably frank and genial manner and his direct and fluent style of speaking render him an agreeable and instructive companion. While as an employer he is exacting and strict in discipline, he is never overbearing or unjust in his demands. No employer was ever more popular with his employés, as he impresses upon all his sincere desire to be fair and equitable in all his dealings with them. Coming from the ranks of the laboring masses, he is moved by their impulse, inspired by a clear perception of their rights, and no man would be less inclined to unjustly use power. The high regard in which he is held by those in his employ is attested in many ways. The many souvenirs which grace his home-gifts from those long in his employ-are the best testimonials to his constant kindness and interest in their welfare.

But it is in the circle of his homegraced as it is by a most estimable wife, the daughter of Honorable J. N. Armstrong of LaSalle county, Illinois, whom he married in 1874, and his two bright and promising boys-that Mr. Smead finds his highest enjoyment. Here his virtues as an exemplary husband and father testify to the noblest qualities of his manhood. The home of Mr. Smead, on the corner

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