American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-12-27
From the National Lltelligencer.
TIDE MILLS.

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Among the many monuments OF individual enter
prize and ingenuity, which are to be seen In New
England, none appears, to my mind, deserving
OF notice as the new mill C0rkS, erected by com
pany OF gentlemen OF Boston and its vicinity TIT
idea oil erecting perpetual tide lcater Po1Cer was
believe. when suggested in this case, entirely new
and the project was considered by many as altoge
her chmerical, and, like most enterprises Of no
velty, it had TO encounter many difficulties and dis
arrangements. These, however, by steady per.
severance, have been completely overcome, and il
is now satisfactorily demonstrated that mills may
be kept constantly in operation the year round free
from the casualties OF floods and droughts, to which
fresh streams are liable.
The cost OF these works amount to about 100000
dollars, divided into share, and held as corporate
property. | am not sure OF succeeding in giving
Iyou satisfactory idea OF them by description,
accompanied by drawing or plan, but | will at
tempt it. The geographical situation Of the spot
selected is peculiarly we'll suited for the expert
Iment. The tide waters pass from the ocean thro,
la narrow and deep cham !, which separates Boston
from Charlcsown, spreading afterwards over an
extensive surface, forming what is called Cam
bridge bay, which is enclrcled by the shores oil
Cambridge, Brookne, Roxbury, and the western
part of the peninsula of Boston, exhibiting the APP
pearance OF beautiful lake rather than an arm Of
the sea. Over this bay solid dam has been e.ec-
ted nearly two miles in enRth, connecting Boston
with Brookline, fifty feet wide and fifteen feet high.
i he side walls Of this dam are eight feet at the
base and FIVE feet at the top built with rough stone
taken from the neighbourng quarries, and filled in
the middle with the mud from the adjoining fats
This effectually excludes the tide from about seven
hundred acres al the head Of the bay which are d
vded by another dam ,xtending at nearly right an
gles from the main dam, half mile when il reaches
the upland in RoXbury, and forms two basins; the
larger or empty basin having an area OF 800 acres,
The smaller, about 900 acres. BY means OF suces,
with gates opening inwards, the small basin is filled
with the Hood tide; and on he ebb these gates shut
and retain the water to the height of eight to twelve
feet, according to the course of tides. The mills
are erected on the dam last described through
which sluices are constructed which convey the
water upon the wheels, and after performing its
work, passes into the larger or receiving basin, the
area OF which Is OF Sufficient dimensions to prevent
the accumulation OF wa,er to such height as to in
tertcrc with the wheels By what the miller's term
backwateT. The receiving basin is relieved of the
wafer thus collected, from the full BASIN by suces
through the main dam, with gates which open
0utCdrdS, al low water, and which shut again with
the flood tide, white the gates of the small basin
arc opened to receive fresh supply from the sea
thus the water power IS kept up perpetually, de-
Ipendng upon no contingencies but the ebb md f0ic
~ Ite ttUfSs [Aieauy are etcCleu extensive mills
Tor grinding wheat aud curn and the Citizens begin
to TASTE the advantages of these establishments in
the superiority Of the bread furnished by them.
During the past summer and autumn, people have
Fesorted TO these mills from the country, from a
distance Of to 90 miles, the fresh streams having
mostly failed by the uncommon drought OF the
season
Iron works upon an extensive scale are now bull.
Ding, and little to~h is growing up in the centre
OF bay, whose waters have been literally driven
from their ancient beds, and by the ingenuity Of
man, made subservent to his purposes in all the
variety of machinery which can be moved by this
powerful agents
The roads over the main and cross dams, lead
Immediately into most delightful ard highly cul-
uvated country, and afford the finest drive which
this or any other country can boast.
is estimated that the power thus acquired from Ole
ocean, is equal driving hundred pair of nstones