American Water-works.

298

[Book III.

been estimated that 95 per eent of the power was expended in communi-cating motion to the apparatus !

The evil of working the pumps with shafts and chains at such greatdistances from the power, was seen a few years after the machine wascompleted. In 1738 an attempt was made by M. Camus to raise thewater to the reservoir by a single lift. The attempt succeeded but partially, and the machine was much strained by the extraordinary effort,chiefly because only a small portion of the power was used; viz : thosewheels that raised the water into the first cistern; the others which movedthe shafts and chains abovementioned, not being applicable for the pur-pose. But even this comparatively small power forced the water to thereservoir, and thus demonstrated the practicability of completing the workat one throw, if the whole apparatus had been adapted accordingly. No-thing more was done for nearly forty years, and the machine proceededas before tili 1775, when another trial was made to raise the water onlyto the second cistern : this succeeded, and it was then hoped that the firstcistern would be dispensed with ; but many of the old pipes burst fromthe undue strain upon them, financial difficulties impeded their renewal,and the old plan was once more resorted to. The water wheels at lastfeil into decay and were replaced by a steam engine, of sixty-four horsepower, by Order of Napoleon; but the old shafts, chains, pipes and cisterns,&c. still remain.

We have mentioned only 225 pumps, but there were in all upwards of250; some being feeders to others, and to keep water always over thepistons of those near the river. As each pump had two valves, an im-mense quantity of water must have escaped at every stroke on the open-ing and closing of 500 of these ; to which may be added that which leakedpast the leathers or packing of the pistons, and through the innumerablejoints. The 64 pumps near the river were placed in a perpendicular posi-tion and had solid pistons. They resembled No. 118, except that the suck-ing as well as forcing pipes were United to the sides of the cylinders:those in the cisterns had hollow pistons, and the cylinders were invertedand immersed in the water : one of them is represented at No. 126.

American water-works. —A history of these is desirable and is cer-tainly due to posterity. There are circumstances connected with theirorigin, plans, progress and execution, especially in the older cities of theUnion, of Mexico and the Canadas , that ought to be preserved. An ac-count of them would be useful to future engineers, and, as a record of his-torical and Statistical facts, would include matter of general interest in Corn-ing times. The circumstances attending the first use of pumps and fire-engines, &c. may now be deemed too trifling to deserve particular notice,but they will increase in interest as time grows older. When the destinythat awaits the republic is accomplished—when the continent becomesstudded with cities from one ocean to the other, and civilization, Science and seif government pervade the whole, then every incident relating to theearly cultivation of the useful arts and improvements of machinery will besought for with avidity and be dwelt upon with delight. Why should notthe introduction of the most useful materials, manufactures and implementsinto this mighty continent form episodes in its history, as well as thefleece, the auger, saw, or bellows in that of classic Greece t And whyshould not the names of those persons be preserved from oblivion whohere made the first pump and fire-engine, the first cog wheel and steam-engine—who built the first ship, forged the first anchor, erected the firstsaw, slitting, or grist mill—who made the first plough, grew the first wheat,raised the first silk, wove the first web, cast the first type, made the first