Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-06

Flanders
For many years have felt the importance of
this grand discovery. In Ave visits to England
have had it in my power 10 study attentiveiy, and
to make myself thoroughly acquainted with all
The details Of the composition and structure of
those machines. But that was not sufficient
We were TO be relieved from the necessity of re.
curing to foreigners for their construction, and
France did not then possess the means OF building
them. Those which were erected for the work
ing the coal mines OF Valencer and Old Conde
had been imported from England, and did not
possess the advantages of the recent improve
msnts made there, which 1 observed with great
attentiont
have, at last, brought from that country. mo-
deis OF all those machines and every thing requi-
site tor the erection of them; all that is wanting
can now be done at my works shops of Chaillot;
an establishment in which have ventured my
whole fortune.
did not confine myself while in ENGLAND TO an
inquiry into the structure of those useful ma
chimes; endeavored also to learn all the differ
ent applications which have been made of them
found very soon that the city of London was
abundanty supplied with water by eleven such
machines. That use of them was the principal
object Rad in view, for had then conceived the
Plan distributing the water ofthe Seine to Paris
Which has since been executed through my sgen-
ICY.
In travelling through England Remarked, that
IN almost oil manufactures, the Steam Engine was
the moving power. Furnaces for nmetting iron
ore, forge hammers, rolling and turning nils were
put in operation by them. The boring of cannon
TOR the navy, in short every thing which belongs
to the art OF preparing iron for use, and con-
quoting heavy mschinscy, is done by the Steam,
Engines. The great foundery at Carron in
Scotland employs twenty two of these en-
Cine. That useful establishment, which fur.
0ra - a. n
could not exist without this valuable invention
for, there is no water course ut the place which
could afford sufficient power
| All the machinery for spinning cotton and
/ wool, is moved by steam Engines. Most of the
canals for navigation, which have been greatly
multiplied in England, are supplied with water
which is raised by them Their great utility for
that important object will be readily acknowl-
edged when il 10 known, upon becoming nstruc-
ted with regard to their effect, that gfYer guam
tity of coal consumed in the furnace of one of
them, raises TO the height of 90 metres or 100
Il feet 1900 times its own weight of water.
Ii the Canal of st. Quentin he'd been executed
upon that principle, it would have cost ten mil
lions OF livres less than il has, and would have
been in full navigation ten years ago Il needed
not to have been feared that the daily consumpt-
on OF fuel by the machines might prove an obsta-
Gle to the scheme the transportation of the
local of Belgium is the chief object of the canal,
| and moderate duty paid in kind by each Boat
loaded With that fuel would have much more
than supplied all the machines
: Called last year into Holland, 20 give my O..
, Pinion relative to the draining OF sdnken land
n contemplated there Showed that those drsin
, lnss could be executed with more economy by
means OF Steam engines, than Eir,d mills, which
it has been customary to employ Tor that purpose
: heretofore
: One Steam engine of sixty inches diameter,
: resembling those of Chaillot, which furnish wa
ter TO Paris, but OF double power w1Snld raise
2l.0uO epbis toisss Of S'a.cg re- ha,n =, IT,,
height necessary for laying me land dry. It
would produce as great an effect as thirty Wind
lmiiis, which from the information given me
there, would cost at this time two millions Of Il,
yres-fhe engine all complies. sud cost 2oO.-
OOo Francs There would then be saving of
nlne tenths THE capital employed. It Is true
that steam Engines require daily supply Of fu
el while the wind costs nothing. But that ex
Ipenee, however it may be calculated, EQUALS not
the interest OF the capital sayed--and even If il
Should be equal to the interest, it is better to
e1pend income than capital. and TO defray the
exPence annually, than by one paymAnt.
! There IS, besides, q very important observation
% pe made upon the subject. When desiccaton
OF mat KIND IS attempted 10 some extent, very
powerful and OF course, considerably expensive
means must be employed, which, when the work
- hnished, become, in great measure, useless
Tor nothing more s wanted afterwards, than 10
dra"oit the super-abundant ram water of every
year Where great number of wind mills have
been erected and where the draining !, finished
only few are wanted, there must Be superRu.
n Gus expense incurred But Il steam Engines are
used, one OF which, of ordinary dimensions, will
produce the effect Of thirty wind mills as have
Just sad, they, too, consume nothing, while not
at work, and when the land is once thoroughly
drained they maybe put in motion from time 20
TINE as the occasion may require, which csn-
not always be done, when wanted, with machines
moved by power so uncertain and unsteady as
the Wind "
have said above, that the steam ENGINES had
contributed TO the political influence of the En-.
giish government England possesses abundant
mines OF Coal, which could uot be worked with
out those machines. The transportation of the
Coal from the mines 70 the Sea, has rendered.
necessary that prodIgious number Of naviEable
canals which traverse, 10 every direction, ali the
counties OF that kingdom The great trade in
that article, carried on by the ,gJish win an
Europe has been, il is wei known. the nursery,
md school Of those sailors which man their navy
II may be said that Of every twenty vessels which
sail from the porte Of England, nineteen are laden
with coal All our seaports and our nsn,lfan.
turing towns are supplied with coal from abroad
While our own mines remain without a vent for
thelr product. The low price Of Transportation
~ Engiasd gives them the preference due TO
S3eApI'ess ana TO the steam engine alone, that
advantage Is owing. When our interior navigs
ton comes to be improved, which is very eSsy
with the aid ofthe Steam Engine, we shall enjoy
TIE same advantages, and may in our turn sun.
i ply foreign places with Coal
j Io6s concluded in o,sr ners.
i Mt zSftiom much difficulty aid se,4ols ri,k