292 MOTIVE POWER EMPLOYED

word, consists in its destruction; and if we,therefore, apply them to a district where thecost of fuel is great, we shall find them verydeficient in economising that article: the ques-tion is, are they capable of such an organiza-tion of parts as will effect that, to so greatan extent as other engines? I am afraid theyperhaps are not, but they certainly are capa-ble of approximating much nearer to it thanthey are at present; the relative economy isnow about as 3:7, and we have seen, in avery trifling alteration of form, a saving in theproportion of 2534:2101; it cannot, therefore,be doubted but a further saving will again beeffected, by pursuing the same rule still far-ther; and that, ultimately the consumption,will be so much reduced, as to approach verynear to that, of other steam-engines.

There is another great objection urgedagainst them, which is, the noise that thesteam makes in escaping into the chimney;

this objection is very singular, as it is notthe result of any inherent form in the organi-sation of such engines : but an accidental cir-cumstdltce. When the engines were first made,the steam escaped into the atmosphere, andmade comparatively little noise ; it was founddifficult then to produce steam in sufficient quan-tity to keep the engine constantly working; orrather, to obtain an adequate rapidity of current