Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-04-19
THE HYDRAULIC RAM.

In the year 1872 Whitehurst, of Eng
land, invented the first form OF hydraulic
ram that was ever put In operation. 1t
was not entirely automatic in its action,
but it was extensively used. In 1896
Montgoliter, of France, the originator OF
the hot-air baloon,l invented the auto
matte hydraulic ram, and his son alter
ward improved and simplifed it. Ihe
improved hydraulic ram was justly re-
garded as one of the greatest inventions
that had ever been made. 1t rendered
Montgolifer the most famous man in
France, and gained for him the grand
gold medal f the Royal academy. Thous-
ands were made and put in operation IN
various parts of the country, and result
ed in saving vast amount OF labor AT
present hydraulic rams are employed III
most European countries for raising
water for,agricultural, domestic, and man
ufacturing purposes. In some OF the
| eastern states they are quite numerous,
and wherever used they give excellent
satisfaction. They are often employed
to raise water into the upper stories OF
dwellings; to afford water for fountains,
and to provide it for stock in pastures.
By raising the water into q tank or ele-
waited reservoir it is easy to conduct 1t
where it is wanted by means OF pipes.
By iudicious arrangement of pipes the
house, stable, sto k yard and pasture can
all be supplied with water at a very
small expense. 1t can also be applied
to watering troughs on the road side, to
fountains on the lawn, and to artificial
ponds The hydraulic ram in places
where it can he employed to advantage
effects a great saving of labor as we'll as
i of money.
Hydraulic rams are rarely found in the
western states, although the amount of
water required to be raised for domestic,
stock, irrigation, and mechanical pur-
poses is very large The hydraulic ram
is placed in a position where it is not
likely to receive injuries, and is made of
materials that are not subject to speedy
decay It's action is continuous and not
| dependent on certain causes. It's oper-
alton will go on tor al indefinite period,
providing the supply of water holds out.
1t is not likely to be injured by storms.
The constantly recurring click is not nm
pleasant, and when one has become ac-
cu~tomed to it the noise is hardly noticed.
If desired the operation of the hydraulic
ram can be suspended at any time as
easily as that of any motor.
1t may be that hydraulic rams are less
used it the west than in some of the
eastern states and in Europe for the rea-
son that running streams are less common
1t is likely, however, that their use is
restricted or altogether unknown, for the
reason that few people have ever seen
them operate or know of their advan-
tages. The hydraulic ram is not patent
ed, and therefore its sale is not pushed
| like that Of the numerous patented APP
| planes for raising water. A running
stream having considerable fall is essen
tial for the operation of the hydraulic
ram. The stream, however, may be
quite small and the fall moderate. The
amount of water that issues from a spring
is ample for operating hydraulic ram.
With fall of five or six feet water can
be raised to the height of thirty feet
From the place where it is raj ed it can
be conducted to the place or places where
{ wanted. L s not necessary that
the fall be at the place where the water
or the spring issues from the ground 1t
may be at quite distance from it. The
entire amount of water in running
stream cannot be raised by the use OF.
RAIN, as part of it is employed in raising
the rest. That which is expended in
pfoducing force flows away. One accus-
toned to their use, and to putting them
INFO position, could find many places
where they would work admirably One
hydraulic ram in operation in place
where none had ever been used could be
the means of introducing them into most
of the localities where they would be en-
ployed. 1t seems strange that western
dairymen have given so little attention
to the matter of raising water by means
of Tha hvdraI1lin rom