Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-10-16
THOUGH a Scotsman by
\ birth, James Watts life work
- is ,ssoc;ated with Rirmine-


II birth, James Watts life work
- is associated with Birming-
ham. 1t was there Ie achieved fame
and prosperity ana is buried, and
there his centenary recently was
commemorated. pear Birmingham,
too, was Heathfidd Hall, the great
inventors home.
If the Battle oi Waterloo was won
on the play field of Eaton, the mod
ern steam ensine was certainly
Graded in the fudy and by the do
mestic fireside. For Watt was, like
so many who nave left deep marks
on the worlds civilization, much
more often to be found pouring over
his books than trying his strength
on the play fields; and If out walk
ing he seemf often to have been
thinking of instruments and the
theories of cience, then called nat
ural philosophy. These sedentary
habits may have been in part due
to-and peihaps the cause of-his
ill health, which clung to him until
middle life, but which did not pre-
vent his attaining the good age of
SO years and seven months, death
taking him August 10, 1919.
1t is recorded that his home life in
boyhood was comfortable, and GER
tainly both his father and grand
father had lanings toward natural
philosophy. 1t was in his fathers
workshop that he early acquired
mechanical kill and knowledge. 1t
was in Londbn, where he went when
19 and spett a year, that he was
formally trained in instrument max
ing, paying'a premium Of 500 and
living frugtlly on 50 week. 1t is
worthy of note that he made the
journey I'd London on horseback
and took twelve days on the way.
To-day, largely because of his own
great work, the journey can be
made in lever hours and at frac-
ton of tie cost and risk.
On hif return to Glasgow at 20
Watt setup as an instrument maker
in GLASGOW College. Here he be-
came fiendly with many scientific
minds, among whose names several
like those of Adam Smith and
Black--live to-day. He entered into
partnership with John Craig in 1860,
and In 1854, at 2s, he married his
first wife. 1t was in the following
year hat he made his invention of
the SEPARATE condenser, the first of
his great steam engine improve
menB.
Not a Revelation
Contrary to popular belief, this
was not a discovery of boyish idle
ness, nor yet the sudden flash of an
unDught revelation. Watt himself
tells us that a friend, Robson, di-
reded his attention to the steam en-
gine in 1859, that he began its Sc
rious study in 1851, and that in the
winter of 1854 he was asked to
repair a model of Newcomers at
mosRheric pressure engine. With
this he experimented, and was i'm
pressed with its lack OF economy
He saw that the condensation must
take place in a separate vessel con
neded at the proper times with the
cylinder. which latter must be KEEP
hot at all times.
| Like many another promising in
| faAt, the new steam engine seemed
likely to fade away and die. fol
shortly afterwards Watts partnel
| died and the business was given up
! Watt turned over a. new leaf II
his career. Indeed he opened a new
/ book. From being an instrumen
ard toymaker he became a sur
i v.yor, making at least three impor
tlnt canal surveys. and acting ais
IS a consulting civil engineer. Thi
! ,eriod ended in 1873, and at tn
same time he lost his wife.
Il However, he had neglected hi
lsteam engine theories altogether
| He made models, including one of ;
surface condenser with tubes, nov
in South Kensington Museum, AM
in 1853 made an engine for Roe
buck, who acted as financial part
ner in these early struggles. In thi
year he seems to have first met hi
| future partner, Boulton. and late
to have corresponded closely wit
him, finally moving to Birmingham
in 1774, and commencing his ia
nous partnership with Boulton
| 1775.
1t is not possible here to describ
in detail the successive improve
ments effected by Watt. His frs
engine. like Newcomers, was simpl
n beam pumping engine. Quit
early he turned the water thu
pumped onto a water wheel so as I
! obtain rotary power. and. indeed
his first engine at Boulton's work
was 50 arranged. Forestalled b