The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-11-29
steam VS.. water Power.

The following article, interesting to millers,
lumbermen and manufacturers, we find in
the Scientific American: s-sas. 49,
"Various correspondents have made inqui-
ries respecting the relative value of steam
and water power, and one asks: "Whether
an inexhaustible water power or only water
sufficient for steam purposes, with an unlim-
tied supply of cheap fuel, are most advanta-
geous to the development Of manufactur-
ing town. 1t is not possible to give salts
factory answer to a general inquiry respect
ing the comparative advantages OF steam and
water power, but we have no hesitation III
answering the correspondent Gin Iowa. from
whose letter we have quoted the above eX-
tract. An abundance of cheap fuel and steam
power, in our opinion, possesses the greatest
advantages for manufacturing purposes. Few
manufacturing operations can be carried on
without fuel, even where there is plenty OF
water power; therefore where fuel is scarce
and dear, manufacturing cannot be carried on
but under heavy expense.
In giving this opinion we do not forget that
most Of our manufacturing towns and villa
ges are indebted for their rise to water pow
er. They are built on rivers and creeks where
| there are falls of water for driving machine
~, but when they. were first established,
timber for fuel and buildings were plentiful
and cheap in the neighborhoods. 1t has now
become serious question with manufactu-
rers using water power, that their supply OF
water is becoming more unstable every year,
as the forests are cleared of, > and in many
places where water power was exclusively
used few years ago, auxiliary steam power
is required during certain portions Of the
year on account of deficient supply of wa
ter.
Forests and swamps are perennial feeders
of creeks. AS these disappear, and the soil
is apread out to the direct rays Of the sun,
rapid evaporation takes place after Falls OF
rain, and thus it has occurred that many
streams once flowing with'power for the mil
Ter, are now only water-worn channels. The
ruins of grist and saw-mills, are now to be
seen on the banks of dry creeks, where for
ty years ago the merry CHATTER Of the hopper
and hum Of the saw mingled from morn till
night, with the song of the rushing waters
But although this is true respecting num-
Der of places manufactures have rot de-
creased in cur country, thanks to the power
steam. With a plentiful supply of fuel, steam
forms constant and trusty power for driving
machinery, and steam factory can be crea-
ted independent of rare natural localities, like
water falls. 1t has thus great advantages
over power 1t requires $50 900 feet OF wa
ter per hour on thirteen feet fall, to pro
duce the same effect on machinery that car
be obtained with fifty cubic feet of water ant
three hundred pounds Of coal by steam Ell
CINE.
While the power of water for manufactur
ing purposes is growing weaker and weake
} in our country, that of steam is growing
! stronger and stronger. We have read a state
ment that in the year 1870 there were onl,,
three steam engines in all the United States
who can count them now? They number ten
of thousands. Steam factories can be con
Quoted in or near cities and commereia
marts, and thus affect great saving in trans
porting raw materials and goods There arr
various manufactures, howevep, which neet
: considerable water to carry Oh, such as cali
co printing, bleaching, esrpet-weaving, wool
en- cloth making, &c. The securing, washing
and drying require much water: but thei
with steam such factories can be heated, tLt
goods boiled and dried, and taking the ex
pense of keeping dams aid water wheels IL
repair, We arc of the opinion that steam pow
er, when fdel is SO cheap is to he preferred
in nearly every case to water poNer
At any rate, there can be no doubt bu
steam factories must increase in or near ou
coal regions, and ultimately these will be
come the great seats Of American manutac
lures; just as the coal regions OF England
have become the centeis OF manufactures II
that country. And as We have the larees
coal fields in the world, and these scarcel.
, touched by the tool Of the miner, it makes u
hold our breath to contemplate the vast man
ufacturing power the hundreds of Sbeiiields
Birminghams, Manchesters, Leeds and Glas
| gows-that will yet arlse in our country, ant
, make it (on account of its cheap fuel TIN
greatest manufacturing nation Oh the globe