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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1846 edition. Excerpt: ...been adapted accordingly. Nothing more was done for nearly forty years, and the machine proceeded as before till 1775, when another trial was made to raise the water only to the second cistern: this succeeded, and it was then hoped that the first cistern would be dispensed with; but many of the old pipes burst from the undue strain upon them, financial difficulties impeded their renewal, and the old plan was once more resorted to. The water wheels at last fell into decay and were replaced by a steam engine, of sixty-four horse power, by order of Napoleon; but the old shafts, chains, pipes and cisterns, &c. still remain. We have mentioned only 225 pumps, but there were in all upwards of 250; some being feeders to others, and to keep water always over the pistons of those near the river. As each pump had two valves, an immense quantity of water must have escaped at every stroke on the opening and closing of 500 of these; to which may be added that which leaked past the leathers or packing of the pistons, and through the innumerable joints. The 64 pumps near the river were placed in a perpendicular position and had solid pistons. They resembled No. 118, except that the sucking as well as forcing pipes were united to the sides of the cylinders: those in the cisterns had hollow pistons, and the cylinders were inverted and immersed in the water: one of them is represented at No. 126. American Water-works.--A history of these is desirable and is certainly due to posterity. There are circumstances connected with their origin, plans, progress and execution, especially in the older cities of the Umon, of Mexico and the Canadas, that ought to be preserved. An account of them would be useful to future engineers, and, as a record of historical and...

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