Springfield Township (part 2 of 3)

We built, some time since, a wheel of but 10 inches in diameter, and using the same number of square inches and cubic feet of water that our 7^ inch wheel uses ; it supersedes a 120 horse jiower engine, as the wheel gives that power and has a head of 228 feet. It was built of fine brass and steel, with buckets made of German Silver, and was a perfect model of strength and beauty. We have also put in operation a number of others, under heads of 80 feet and over. One was built and applied recently to ahead of 300 feet, for mining purposes, being the highest head ever utilized in this country. In fact, the form of its construction, and the nature of the action of the water upon it, admits of its use under pressures far greater even than those mentioned.

The essential points to be observed are few and simple, and consist mainly in having the machinery immediately connected to the wheel of neat proportions, and as light as is consistent with the work to be performed, and otherwise to reduce the friction to the smallest amount, as it must be obvious that massive machinery and much friction upon a small wheel running at a high velocity must seriously detract from the good performance of the wheel. Simplicity in the arrangement of machinery is likewise of the greatest importance, for it is a very easy matter to so absorb the power of sm'all wheels by undue length of shafting and long trains of gearing, particularly bevel gearing, that there will be but comparatively little available power left.

The plates on pages 70 and 72 illustrate one of the most complete and successful achievements of hydraulic engineering in this country, which at once shows that, by the use of the Leftel Wheel, many valuable powers can be created, where now it is considered impracticable by reason of the high fall and limited amount of water in the stream. The success of this will not only establish the fact that the Leftel Wheel is durable and gives a steady motion under excessively high falls, but, also, that so great is its economy in use of water that a surprisingly large amount of power can be obtained from a very small stream of water. In fact the amount of work done by the Leftel Wheel under these high falls, when compared with the small stream of water used, is surprising and a mystery to those who are not sufticiently acquainted with the principles governing the operation of the Wheel to know that it embraces the elements requisite to give the very largest amount of power that is possible to obtain from a limited quantity ot water. We, therefore, call particular attention to this mill, as it will no doubt, convince others that they, by the use of the Leftel Wheel, may secure equally as vaUiable and constant a power. This mill, as shown, is a large flouring mill belonging to H. C. Williams, Ithica, N. Y., and has five to six run of large burrs, with all the necessary machinery for a first-class merchant mill. On page 72 will be found plate and detailed description of the machinery, as arranged in the mill. The mill is located at the base of a hill, from the summit of which the water is obtained to drive it. The stream is a very small one indeed, furnishing but a limited quantity of water. The water is carried down to the Wheel (which is located in basement of mill) through an iron pipe 500 feet long, where it is attached to a Globe case in which the Wheel is placed. The Wheel itself is 153^ inches diameter, but is reduced in capacity, so that it uses, with full gate, only the same quantity of water as our 11)2 inch Wheel, and can, therefore, virtually be regarded as one of that size. It is made wholly of brass and steel, and of the highest finish. The fall employed is 95 feet, and although the Wheel with full gates uses only 14 square inches of water, yet it gives sufficient power to run six large burrs at one time, besides a vast amount of other machinery, such as separator, packer, etc. Abovit 200 feet from lower end of main pipe is attached a branch pipe'leading down to another mill, (plaster mill,) in which is placed a 13/^2 inch Wheel, reduced in capacity to a lo-inch Wheel ; this Wheel operates under 82 feet fall, and is enclosed in Globe case similar to the one in flour mill. The plaster mill is not shown in the plate. After the water has operated upon the Wheel, it is conducted through an underground tunnel and discharges through the small archway into the channel of a large stream which will be seen flowing in frorit of the mill. The operation of this Wheel has excited the grea;.>5t interest and wonder throughout that vicinity.

The plate on page 72 gives in detail the arrangement of the machinery in the mill shown on page 70. Although the little wheel is doing an astonishing amount of work, yet the machinery which it drives is not arranged in as simple and complete a manner as the peculiar advantages of our Wheel would permit, the mill having formerly been run by two large overshot wheels. The inachinery was arranged and adapted to the overshot wheels. In applying our Wheel, there was no change made in the machinery whatever, hence all the heavy, complicated machinery used with the overshot wheels has to be carried by our little Wheel, which, added to the work of propelling five pairs of large burrs, makes its performance wonderful. We have taken some pains to show the manner of connecting this Wheel to the work, as it is a method that can be frequently adopted where it is desirable to connect our Wheel to the same machinery run by the overshot wheel, and where the machinery, for variovis reasons, cannot be changed. The bvn-rs are located around the main spur wheel G ; the shaft U extends up into the mill running the machinery ; the pinion E, which receives the power of the Wheel through the pulley D, works into the spur wheel G, thus driving all or any number of the burrs at one time. The belt, running from the pulley on the water >vheel sb^ft, i§ j6 inches wide, anc} runs with a speed of almost 89 feet per second. B is the Globe case within which the wheel is placed, and although the pressure on this case is over 43 pounds per square inch, jet it remains perfectly watertight, and shows no signs of undue strain upon it. A is the pipe which conducts the water to the wheel. At I there is a screw and worm wheel, for opening the gates of the wheel, which by this means is done gradually, thus avoiding any sudden shock which might be produced by suddenly opening or closing the gates. The gates of the wheel, under this enormous pressure, are opened with the greatest ease, requiring in fact scarcely more force than if under a fall of only ten feet. The casing B, is firmly bolted to timbers, secured in heavy masonry. In some instances, it may be found convenient to use a short draft tube, but we aim always, where it is possible, to avoid entirely the use of an^^ tube, except a short one cast on the Globe, the end of which should be so located as to touch the standing tail -water.

There are some mi'ls, particularly flour and saw mills, that are so situated with reference 10 flume, that it is difficult to gear or attach the spindles, or horizontal shaft to the water wheel shaft above the surface of the water. This frequently happens where the water is on a level with the second or third stbry of the mill, and the machinery operating on the first floor. In such a case the wheel can be placed, as shown in the accompanying plate. In addition to the ordinary perpendicular portion of flume or penstock, there is a horizontal section flume built in which the wheel is placed. This decking may be three or four feet high on the inside, where the head is about 14 feet and the water wheel of about 23 inches diameter. Other sizes of wheels and other heads require different heights of decking.

This plate shows a shaft that is attached to the wheel shaft, passing out of the top of decking of this horizontal section of flume, and around the shaft is placed a stuffing box to prevent leakage of water; around the gate rod, there being one also for the same purpose. To the upright shaft attached to the wheel, may be applied bevel gears for driving the horizontal shaft for the saw mill, or spur gears may be used as shown in the cut to drive mill burrs. The shaft can be extended upwards between the burrs to which elevators and other machinery can be attached. The advantage of this method of placing the Avheel is that the power can be brought nearer to the point where the work is to be done, otherwise it w ould have to be brought through a long train of gears and shafting, which of course would tend greatly to lessen the usual effect of the wheel.

As the value of any mill depends mainly upon the power to propel it, we wovild say, conform the machinery, if possible, to the wheel, and not the wheel to the machinery, as it is too frequently done. Bring the work as near the wheels as possible and avoid too great length of shafting and complication of gearing. An excess of shafting and too

In building this style of flume we cannot too much impress the necessity of having strong, heavy timbers and plank, which ought to be fitted closely, particularly at the joints, elbows or turns. The husk or frame support of millstone is built entirely upon a separate foundation, resting upon stone walls, piers and abutments as will be seen. The corner posts may be considerably heavier than the illustration indicates, and two or three others should be framed in the long part or side next to view, and from this to the upper horizontal plate, diagonal pieces may be framed or securely nailed to give it the greatest possible stiffness and strength. By building the frames separate from the penstock, either of them can be renewed at any time, that it may become necessary.

A plain, substantial flume is constructed with good, heavy timbers and a firm foundation. The stone piers and the back wall may be placed upon planking, as illustrated in the cuts on pages 75 and 87, providing the foundation is a soft one ; or upon stone providing the bottom of the pit is of that material. In all cases, however, the level of the tail water when standing, ought to be as high as the top surface of the lowest sill. The space below the sills in the cut was left that the placing of the sill on the wall and the pier might be observed ; but in practice the water should cover all of these, that the full benefit of the head and fall may be realized, by means of a tube or cylinder extending downward from the wheel, touching the water when in operation, and thus excluding the air and utilizing the full power.

There should be sufficient space, both in depth and width between the floor of the flume and the floor of the tail race, to let the water pass out freely and without obstruction from beneath the flume or penstock. The floor of this penstock should be of heavy planking to give sufficient firmness to support the combined weight of water and the wheel with the shafting and gearing. In the floor of this penstock there should be cut a hole of sufficient size to admit the cylinder of wheel casing, which will pass through the floor of the penstock, thus allowing the wheel to rest, by means of the flange of its cas.ing, upon the floor. It will not require anything to fix it to its place, as the weight of the wheel and water will hold it firmly in position. The penstock is a mere continuation of the flume or forbay, as the cut shows, excepting that it has a little greater depth and strength ; the planking of the forbay or flume being merely extended into the penstock. This penstock should in every case be made according to the dimensions in column F of the tables on pages 27 and 33, accompanying the cuts on preceding pages 26 and 32. The floor of the penstock it must be remembered, should come sufficiently near the standing tail water that the end of the cylinder projecting downward from the wheel casing through the floor.

A pit of good depth should ahyays be dug underneath the flume in all cases, to preyent the water from reacting upon the wheel, whereby the amount of power would be diminished. This penstock can be constructed to suit the peculiarities of the location, the essential points to obserye being, to haye it strong enough and of sufficient capacity to let the water to the wheel without obstruction. In the illustration the mill stone husk is shown upon the penstock timbers ; it maj be built separately from this, and independent of it, as will be found in cut on page 71^. The timbers supporting the burrs may be heayier, and more of them than is shown here ; and diagonal braces may also be used for stiftening and making the husk more solid and substantial.

The general introduction of the Turbine Wheel as a motor was immediately followed by attempts, with yarying degrees of success, to deyise some means of testing or measuring its power in the different forms in which it was constructed. Up to the present time the method generally adopted has been the use of the friction brake, dynamometer, and the lifting of weights. While this method of testing a wheel appears a simple one, and should apparently yield definite results, it has been found in the experience of manufacturers of wheels and in that of practical mill-owners, to be entirely unreliable as an indicator of the amount of Ayork the wheel will perform. We haye held this view of the matter for years, in our publications and correspondence. As an example of the position which we haye taken vipon this subject, and still maintain, we make the following extract from our pamphlet issued in 1867 :

"The ordinary method of determining the ratio of useful effect produced by a wheel from a certain quantity of water is by means of a friction brake, or by raising weights, where the quantity of water and the height through w hich it falls, or in other words, the amount of head and fall employed, is carefully compared wath the amount of resistance oyercome. Thus what is called the percentage of power is accurately obtained. Now, while, in a scientific sense, to ascertain the percentage of a wheel is of some value, and to which formerly much importance was attached, it has become a well-established fact, from the many careful tests made by individuals and corporations, that the co-efficient of useful effect thus determined cannot be held as a measure of the efficiency of a wheel, or taken as any assurance that the same comparative results will be obtained, when applied to the various purposes of manufacture. Before this fact was fully established it was a matter of much astonishment not only to manufacturers, but to the builders of wheels themselves, to find a great disparity existing between the results obtained in an experimental test and the results produced when practically applied to propel machinery. So great has been this difference that many wheels which, from the high per cent, obtained by test trials, gave flattering promise of a successful and economical wheel, when reqviired to overcome the ever-changing resistance of machinery, have totally failed to meet the requirements of an economical wheel. So frequently have these failures occvu-red that it forms one of the great obstacles of introducing a really valuable and successful wheel ; and it is an ordinary thing for shrewd and careful manufacturers to say : ' We know beautijul results can he produced before test committees, but what u)illyour wheel do in my millf "

It is a well-authenticated fact that in an experimental test of the kind above described, a number of wheels widely differing in their actual practical efficiency may give an almost uniform percentage of power - the experience of manufacturers showing that of those very wheels some will do nearly double the actual work performed by others.

One of the most memorable and instructive cases of this kind on record was the competitive test of water wheels at the Fairmount Water Works, in Philadelphia, in 1859-60. It is an unquestioned fact, and one within the knowledge of all manufacturers of wheels, that in the Fairmount test, in which the lifting of weights was the criterion of effect, several wheels gave nearly 90 per cent, of power, while others were not far behind ; and that wheels which gave the most flattering percentage in the test were fovind in their subsequent practical operation to be of comparatively little value, while other wheels which stood relatively low in the experimental scale proved to be in practice far more effective than those which yielded the larger percentage. We cite the Fairmount test not only because it was a signal instance of the deceptive results of a trial by percentage, but also for the reason that the attention of mill-owners w^as largely drawn to it as one of the most exhaustive and searching tests ever undertaken. That it was thoroughly and carefully conducted is shown by the completeness of the preparations. The apparatus for the test was constructed under a liberal appropriation by the City Council of Philadelphia, and neither pains nor expense was spared. The amplest provision was made in money, material, and skill for the demands of the occasion, and manufacturers of turbines were invited to send or bring wheels to be tested, without extorting or impelling the payment of a fee. And in order to avoid any false computation which might possibly occur from the measurement of water by the use of a weir (which is liable to erroneous results,) an absolutely certain method was adopted, the water being caught in a large tank and measured with perfect accuracy.

In the ascertaining of the useful effect or percentage the liability tQ error involved in the use of the ordinary appliances w^as avoided by substituting the lifting of weights, and in every particular the trial was beyond criticism in the minute precision with which its fundamental theory was applied. No one can question the ability with w^hich the test was conducted. It was superintended by the best engineering talent in the country, and no candid man can read the admirable and exhaustive report of the trial (which is contained in a large and handsomely illustrated pamphlet,) without being convinced of the thorough-

Yet, after all, of v,hat practical value was this test ? "What did it teach ? Simply nothing except the inadequacy of such tests to reveal those peculiar properties of the water wheel which constitute its value as a practical motor. The very wheel which gave the highest percentage of power at Fairmount, when put to the test of propelling machinery by the manufacturing community, was found inadequate and inefficient ; and the maker of that wheel having at length abandoned it, after endeavoring for several years to put it en the market, adopted in its stead a wheel belonging to the class which gave the lowest percentage in the Fairmount test, and is now engaged in its manufacture, with much better results than with his former w heel. Other wheels, moreover, which fell far behind in the Fairmount trial, have since attained a more eligible position in the esteem of the manufacturing community than the wheels which surpassed them in the experimental tests. *

While such tests may to some degree or in a measure, in the hands of entirely competent and honest parties, give comparatively reliable results, under particularly favorable circumstances, they cannot aftbrd truthful indications of the operation of a wheel, which is subject not only to unfavorable circumstances in location, etc., but to constantly changing speeds imder various conditions. With a percentage test the wheel is tried but a few seconds, at a perfectly uniform speed, discharging the same quantity of water for each interval of time, with the flume and pit in the very best possible condition, both for entrance and discharge of water. The gateage is then probably changed, and a few seconds' test made in that manner, under the same uniform conditions as at first ; and so on are a number of such test s made. In practice, the wheels are, perhaps, in a majority of cases, operating under verv unfavorable circumstances, not only as to the entrance and discharge of water to and from the wheel, but as to the size and proportion of the gears, and the location of the wheel in relation to the work to be done. The motion, especially in woolen, cotton, and saw mills, is ever changing, exceedingly unsteady, and these changes by no means in a uniform degree, and of course discharging for each interval of time difterent quantities of w-ater than where the conditions are uniform and favorable, as in the test flume. In such cases no percentage test, however carefully devised and conducted, will aftbrd an exponent indicating the real obtainable power, particularly when the experiment is made under the unfavorable conditions to which we have already alluded. As a consequence, some wheels which, by the percentage method, give a high and uniform result, will fall far below more ordinary wheels in their average work when submitted to this ever-varying routine of change.

Aside from the inability of percentage testing to prove the actual worth of a wheel for driving various kinds of machinery, should it be done even in an honest and competent manner, it proves nothing whatever as to the durability of a wheel, ck* as to its general manage- mcntwhen it has been once in operation a number of jears. This requires the practical operation of a large number, many of which have been running for several 3'ears, before all the points of merit and demerit become apparent or fully demonstrated. So also is the ease of repairing and the liability of breakage only subject to demonstration by actual use.

In view of the failure of all tests of the character above described, to indicate the actual available merits of the competing wheels, we are led to the unavoidable conclusion that the only reliable test of the power of a water, wheel is its practical working, whether in grinding grain or the propelling of machinery, under the varying conditions which it is destined to encounter, and for a length of time sufficient to exemplify those conditions and reveal their effect.

In the foregoing remarks we have had in view only those few tests which are at least honestly and fairly made, and about which there is no fraud, pretence, or intended deception. There are " tests," socalled, of which we frequently hear, but which might more justly be called conspiracies. We refer to the " tests " which builders of water wheels in competition with the Leifel Wheel often profess to have made, publishing the alleged results with an immense flourish of trumpets, and claiming, of course, to have achieved a brilliant victory over the Leftel Wheel. The fact has in almost every instance proved to be that these parties had held a private test to suit their own ideas and interests, and entirely without our knowledge or consent.

Sometimes we are informed, from some distant part of the country, by some vmknown builder of wheels, that he is about to make a test against our wheel in some mill, and that we must appear on the ground and see that our wheel is in order, which has perhaps been in operation a number of years. We are commanded by such novices as though we had nothing to occupy our time, or our business had no claims vipon our attention, and as though it were our duty to aid in making them and their wheel a reputation, or at least to give them influence hy a recognition of their wheel. They, however, do not desire our presence, but it is done, in such cases as reach our notice, for the sole purpose of a pretence to be fair, and to influence spectators or judges. Fairness and honesty is not what they want ; it is their desire to test in our absence. It would be a very poor wheel which could not beat the Leftel under such circumstances, however much it might fall short of it in actual merit and practical value. The invariable selection of the Leftel Wheel, however, as a standard of comparison by opposition wheel builders, and their extreme anxiety to make it appear, by fair means or foul, that their wheel is equal or superior to the Leftel, is one of the most striking proofs which caa be afforded that it is beyond dispvite the best water wheel in use.

I am just in receipt of a letter from Helena, Ark., making inquiries about the Leffel Wneel. I write to him to-day the full truth about the wheel. Since it was put in on August 17th, 1877, till the present writing, nearly seven years, it has never had to be loooked at - neither wheel nor gate has ever been out of order. It has ginned six crops of cotton and done our grinding ; cut all the oat straw, and for two years has had a circular saw. There are a number of your wheels here iu reach of my observation, that have been running for years, and I have never heard any kind of ( omflaint urged agarnst one of them, nor have I heard of an owner who was dissatisfied, send you the letter as you may wish to write to him. Your wheel has run two terms, and we are by it like by the President, we have no desire to make a change.

Gentlemen - lam using two of your I _ inch Wheels in my pulp mill at Grand Rapids, Wis. They are giving entire satisfaction. Under a ten foot head and with a two-thirds gate, they give ample power to drive four pulp grinders, a refiner, pump, and two saws. I am making from three and one-half to four tons of diy pulp every twenty-four hours, and have ample power. to make from one to two tons more, during the same period. I have used several other make of water wheels, but yours gives better results, using less water, than any other 1 have tried.

Dear Sirs - Am well satisfied with the 50 inch Special you sold me. The Wheel has been running now about 7 months, and 1 never, so far, have had any trouble with it. With lour feet fall at about half gate, it drives easily the corn mill, &c.: occasionally a corn elevator and a sheller, as well as a hominy machine. I can well recommend yours to any man who wants a reliable wheel.

We are running the 10 inch Leffel Water Wheel under a 30 foot head. We run this wheel on feed and corn meal altogether at % to % gate ; grind about 15 bushels meal per hour or about 25 bushels feed. As far as the wheel giving satisfaction is concerned, I never had a failure in the Leffel Wheel, having used and sold a great many on their merits. Yours, &c.,

Roller King Milling Co

Dear Sirs - We can say that the 56 inch Water Wheel that we bought of you gives entire satisfaction. We use it in the manufacturing of Excelsior under a five foot head. We have five machines, one saw and press, and it will run the whole thing with % gate, and can run the whole mill with 2}^ feet head at su?h a time as high water. Yours truly,

Shiawassee Excelsior Co

This cut illustrates a first-class circular saw mill, built in the most recent and modern stvle, and supplied with all the arrangements and conveniences for manufacturing a large amount of lumber ; although the minor details are omitted in the illustration, that the circular mill, penstock and connection of wheel, saw and work, maj be exhibited on a scale of sufficient size, without complications, to render the general plan easily understood. The water wheel in this case mav be our 303/0 or 35 inch, vmder a 14 or 15 feet head of water, and located as the design represents, in a decked penstock, built precisely upon the j^rinciple and in the manner of that shown on page 87, except that perhaps in that case the wheel is smaller and penstock higher, necessitating somewhat more strength in the posts and planking although not requiring so great internal dimensions as in the cut before us ; since the lower the head the less pressure, and consequently the less resistance required in posts and planking, with, however, nearly the same aggfegate strength in the floor planking amd sills, for the lower head, requiring as it does a larger floor and more space, with also larger wheels.

This same plan is also given in a general way on page 75, though a more portable and not so substantial a form as our cut here illustrates. It is by no means essential that the decked penstock in all cases should be used for saw mills ; it usually happens, however, w here the head is more than an average height, it becomes necessary for the sake of convenience, that the power be taken oflf below the level of head water, in which case the decked penstock is required, or a better substitute in the Globe Casing as illustrated on pages 22, 55, 65 and 72. In many instances where the head water and penstock are low, and the floor of mill of modern height, a method may be adopted, in which there is no decking or oifset used, the wheel being simply set or located in the open penstock, with its shaft extending above the cap timbers, a gear on this shaft connecting with the one on the horizontal shaft, and conducting the power under the main floor, where it can be taken off by means of a pulley and belt, and transmitted through the floor to the pulley on saw mandrel as our cut here exhibits ; or it may be connected direct to an upright mill by gearing, as cut on page 77 represents ; or may be used upon a crank shaft of vipright saw under the mill by a belt.

The principle of communicating the power, conducting it to the proper location, and connecting it to the saw mill, which may be eithei circular or upright, is precisely similar, whether the Decked, Globe 01 Open Penstock is used, as may be seen by a comparison of the illustra tions on pages 65, 77, 84 and 96, although each diftcrent case maj reqviire some slight modifications, by which the particular circum stances may each be adapted the one to the other, yet by no mean departing from the general principle or arrangement as stated above In the cut^ the driving pulley on main horizontal line sl)^ft ^nd th belt are not shown, as they are near and under the floor ; the belt passes through the floor and connects with the pulley on saw mandrel, being almost or entirely out of the way of the workmen and lumber ; if for any purpose it is considered desirable, the main line may be placed higher, when a part of pulley and belt would be above the floor. The gate arrangement beyond the log carriage can be located at any convenient point, and under the floor may be attached by a gear or rack connections to the gate rod at water wheel.

Parties applying to us for any information concerning the adaptation of water wheels to saw mills, should always give as full and complete a statement of the circumstances in the case as possible ; stating whether a mulay, sash, gang or circular mill ; the amount of head water, and probable size of stream, which may be estimated by directions given elsewhere in pamphlet, or by letting us know how far above or below other mills you are, if any, and what amount of work they are doing in 24 hours. State also size and capacity of your proposed mill, and particularly the size and kind of saw, whether circular or upright, and what kind and amount of timber you intend cutting in inch measure per hour, or per day of twelve hours. All these conditions modify more or less the size and adaptation of water wheel to the proposed work.

The cut exhibits in a clear and distinct manner, a style of flume and penstock, often employed in cases where the power is to be taken off or applied below the level of head water. It is termed usually, a decked penstock ; and is variously modified in its construction, although in no case differing, in general principle, materially from that shown in this instance. The illustrations on pages 84 and 96 are of the same design and idea ; but vary somewhat in the detail of constructions. In the one on page 84 it will be observed, the decking is upon the same side of the upright; instead of the front as seen in the cut before us, it can be used, or the wheel placed on either side or front, as circumstances may require in each particular instance. The building and general arrangement of the penstock need hardly be described ; each detail being so carefully shown as to convey at once a correct idea of the whole affair. It might be stated, that to insure durability and general efiiciency, it should be made strong and tight, using heavy timbers and planking ; the latter well-jointed, with a short bevel on the inner edge of each plank, to admit of caulking or stopping of any small leaks, by the collection of sediment or small floating particles. The planking may be tongued and grooved if preferred ; but in no case should the lumber be entirely dry nor altogether green ; if too dry, the planking would swell and bulge off its bearings, and if too green, would shrink, leaving the penstock loose and leaky, when left a few days exposed to the air, with the water out of the flume and bulkhead, or penstock.

The cut shows the sills or foundation, with planking on them, all laid on the bottom of a dry pit, upon which the stone piers are placed. The cut on page 77 has the piers resting directly upon a stone bottom, without the sills or planking, they being unnecessary Avhere such a foundation can be obtained. The piers must in all cases be carefully and solidly laid up (water cement being preferable to mortar,) since the entire weight of all the wood work, water, water wheel, with some of the shafting and gearing must rest upon them. In neither of these cases, in fact in no case, must it be inferred, that the penstock bottom or the foundation planking must stand thus above the tail -water. The level of tail -water. Mobile standing or running, should and must stand on a level with the top of the sills placed on the top of stone piers, on which the plank of decking and main part of decking, and main part of penstock are placed ; if the very best results are desired. An inch or two lower than this, or two or three inches higher than the top of these sills, will not affect the results in a material manner ; bvit beyond these limits, a decrease of power may be expected. The planking should be well nailed to each post, wherever it touches them, by this means preventing them from spreading or pulling apart, and avoiding the necessity of cross ties framed into the posts. The bottom planks are supported by sills and ties, the ends of the plank being seen projecting through on the side, lying on the side sill, and securely nailed to its resting place. The two middle sills are supported by rods or bolts.

The following tables are taken from "Leffers Construction- of Milldams and Bookwaltcr's I»Iillwright and Mechanic" ; published by Jas Leffel & Co. The calculations for these tables have been carefully made from the formula of Weisbach ; and will be found extremely useful, in determining the available power of water, inoving at any velocity, from one to twenty feet per second, through pipes from nine to thirty inches inside diameter. The length of pipe for which the table is calculated is 100 feet. As however, the loss of head by friction, varies in the same direct ratio as the length of the pipe, the amount of such loss in a pipe of greater or less length than 100 feet, can be easily ascertained.

For example : to find the loss of head in a pipe 47 feet long, 9 inches inside diameter, discharging 79.41 cubic feet of water per minute. This rate of discharge, as will be seen by the table, indicates a velocity of 3 feet per second. The loss of head is found in the column for 9 inch opposite the figure 3 in the column of velocities, viz.: 45-100 of a foot for a pipe 100 feet long. For a pipe 47 feet long it will be fortyseven hundredths of .45 feet, or .45 multiplied by .47, making 21-100 feet, di-opping decimals below the second place. That is, for one foot of pipe the loss is .45 divided by 100, and for 47 feet, forty-seven times the loss of one foot. f e third perpendicular column represents the number of cubic feet in whole numbers and decimal parts, discharged per second, and each , alternate column thereafter, represents the theoretical amount of horse ; power due to the quantity of water issued. The diameters of the different nozzles are given in the first horizontal line at the top.

The orifices or nozzles are presumed to be at the end of a large and short hose or piping, and that the approach or entrance of the water I to the nozzle, is without any considerable velocity, and guided by a ' properly shaped and contracted conductor ; having what is known as J the proper curve or contracted vein. Such a nozzle discharges the ' largest quantity of water possible, equalling almost the full or theoretical amount that w^ould be discharged, when left to flow freely and governed by the laws of gravitation.

In ordinary orifices or openings a considerable less quantity of water will be discharged per second, as the flow of the water to the forifice is not conducted by a proper contracted entrance. A jet of water will be found contracted on the outside of the issue, and at some (distance from the opening ; consequently the quantity of water discharged will not be equivalent to that which would pass through the actual opening, but a quantity that would pass through an opening the size of the flow of water, at the narrowest place of the jet or stream or where the greatest contraction occurs. This usually ranges from 65 to 95 per cent of the theoretical discharge.

In this table there is no estimate made for the loss of head or velocity by friction. This loss will depend altogether on the size of pipe conducting the water to the nozzle, and on the velocity in the pipe, as will be seen in other tables elsewhere given ; therefore the table cannot be i taken literally for the quantity of water that is usually actually disi charged under ordinary circumstances. The horse power given for ! each quantity discharged, is also the theoretical power aud not that ; which is actually given ; as when applied to the water wheels, pumps, I motors, etc., there is a considerable loss through the imperfect application and friction. The table represents a considerable greaterquantity than is usually discharged, except under the peculiarly favorable circumstances mentioned in the beginning of article ; and of course the amount of power tabled is in excess of what can be realized in ordinary cases, because of the greater issue of water, and the fact that the estimate is for the full theoretical amount of power, without any calculation for losses of any kind.

Dear Sirs - We are using one of your 50 inch Special Wheels in our grist mill. It was put in November 1877 and has never been taken up. It furnishes power for our 100 barrel roller mill, under an eight foot head, and has not cost us to exceed ten dollars for repiirs for the seven years. We also have a 44 inch Special bought of you in the fall of 1884 with which we are running a feed mill, 2 run stones and other machinery, and have power to spare. We consider them the best wheels that we have used.

The table on the foregoing page has been specially arranged by us from formula and parts of tables by Randall ; and gives the quantity of water in cubic feet discharged per second, flowing through smooth, iron pipes, the length of each of which is estimated at one thousand times the diameter. It is understood, as has already been explained in our tables on pages 89, 90 and 91, that ths length of pipe affords a resistance to the flow, according t3 the quantity of water passing, or the velocity with which it is discharging. For any length of pipe in this table of less or more than one thousand diameters, an additional .ncrease or decrease of flow, the loss or gain of resistance may be ap- 'proximately estimated from our tables on pages just alluded to.

It must be remembered that this table is given for clean, smooth piping. If it is ordinarily rough the flow will be about twelve per cent, less than the quantity given. In case the pipes are very rough, a loss of nearly twenty -five per cent, would have to be deducted from the estimate contained in the table. Of course if bends or angles are introduced, these will materially affect the discharge also, depending on the number and the abruptness of the bend or angle. If they become actually necessary, the bend should be of tlie longest possible radius, and all narrow passages or contracted portions of the pipe should be avoided. It would be difficult to attempt to give any formula, or general rule to answer all the cases that might occur in connection with these angles or bends, which may arise from undulations in the profile of the pipe, or by horizontal deviations from straight lines.

It is hardly necessary to give an example for the quantity of water that may be discharged in any particular case, as the table will be sufficiently well understood upon a mere examination to enable any one to estimate correctly. The first horizontal line represents the bore of the different sizes of pipe in inches ; and the first perpendicular or vertical column represents the fall per mile in feet and hundredths of a foot ; while the second upright column the fall in decimals of an inch per rod. All the perpendicular columns following the two already described, represent the number of cubic feet discharged by each pipe, under each head in feet and hundredths of a foot per second.

Gents - We arre using a 40 inch Turbine Wheel with entire satisfaction. We run a fifty inch saw and cut from two to four thousand feet of lumber per day with 8 feet head of water. We also run a fifty saw Gin with about one-fourth gate ; gin from four to six bales per day. Very respectfully, R. P. McLEOD & BRO.

We present on the preceding page an illustration of a frontier mill, combining in one view a saw-mill and grist-mill both of simple construction and convenient arrangement. Either may be run separately or both at the same time. The cut is sufficient in detail to give a correct idea of the entire affair.

Such a mill can be easily and very cheaply constructed ; one water wheel answering both purposes ; requiring only one penstock, and being capable of being detached from either at leisure. The wheel may be of medium size, ranging perhaps from 20 to 40 inches diameter, with gearing, shafting and pulleys arranged and adapted to the size and for the purpose intended, this general plan or design answering for either of the sizes of wheel named.

We can recommend this method in instances even where quite a permanent and durable arrangement is desired, although it is perhaps more applicable to frontier use. Both of the structures protecting the different kinds of mills may be made even more temporarily than the illustration exhibits, should it be desired to expend the least amount possible for its successful operation. The grist and saw mills may both be of portable character, which will still further enable the easy and rapid completion of such an enterprise.

Gentlemen - We have in all 10 of your wheels in our mills, some of which have been in use so long that we cannot now say when they were bought. They are one and all doing e.xcellent work as attested by the amount of machinery they drive, as follows:

One 66 inch Leffel in our water power saw mill, n ft. head, running r Double Rotary, one 4 Saw Edger, one 6 Saw Edger, 5 Cut Off SawSj i Picket Mill and 1 Slab Grinder - the latter a load of itself for most any good wheel.

One 263^ inch Leffel, 11 ft. head, in Machine Shop, running 4 Iron Turning Lathes, i Iron Planer, i Drill, i Bolt and Nut Cutter, 2 Wood Turning Lathes, i Grindstone and Jig Saw.

One 35 inch Leffel, 16 ft. head, runs 4 Shingle Jointers, 2 Cut Offs, Turning Lathe and Grindstone and an Electric Light Dynamo requiring 20 Horse Power.

Three Special 44 inch Leffels bought in 1881 and put in our Flour Mill at Chetek, drive 3 run of 48 inch burrs, i pair Steven's rolls, i double porcelain roll with cleaners dusters, purifiers, bolts, cockle separator, and all the machinery of a first class flouring mill. These latter have given satis factory results under 4 ft. head as also under

II ft. We consider the special Leffel the best wheel we know of for a flouring mill running under a varying head of water. All the wheels have given us entire satisfaction whether used at full or partial gate. Yours truly.

We are constantly in receipt of letters asking about the size ot wheel to do a certain amount of work. Some merely say, " I have so many feet head " - not a word about the quantity of water ; some say: "The stream will furnish so many cubic feet of water per minute " - not a word about the head ; and some give neither head nor quantity of water ; others ask, " What size wheel shall I use to grind so many bushels per hour ? " This may appear strange, but it is a fact ; hence we are so particular in stating what is required to be known. If attention is given to this article as to ascertaining supply and quantity of water, and the questions contained on these pages are answered carefully, much time and trouble will be saved and many disappointments prevented.

Question 2. If the stream is small, what quantity of water can be relied upon ; that is, what depth and width of spill is there over the weir board as described and required in our article on measurement of water over weirs, on page 4 to 1 1 ; or if an overshot has been used, state how wide and how much the gate was raised to let the water on it, and particularly how deep the water was above the gate opening in the forebay .''

Question 3. If the stream is large, state whether a creek or river, and if possible give us a measurement according to our instructions for " large open streams," described on page 9.

Question 4. What size and kind of wheel, if any, is at present or has been running, and how many square inches opening is there in the wheel, if turbine or reaction wheel ; and how many hours out of the twenty-four will the stream aftoid sufficient water to supply it.''

Question 6. If a corn or wheat mill, state whether an old or new mill, size and number of burrs, how many bushels each one is grinding at present, and how much do you wish to grind on each ; state how many are to be running at one time, whether one, two, three or more.

Question 7. If a circular saw, state particularly the size, and what speed it has if an old mill, or what speed desired if a new mill, and particularly what kind of timber is to be sawed and the amount per day.

Question 8. If a sash or vertical saw, state speed or number of strokes it makes or is desired to make, and the length of stroke, what kind of timber you intend cutting, and particularly what amount of feet, inch measure, you intend cutting in twelve hours.

Qj-ESTION lo. If a eotton mill, give the number of spindles, also <rf the looms, and the class of goods made, and w hether old or new maclunery.

Question 14. If the power is to be taken off above the level of head-water, give us the distance from level of head-water to center of horizontal power shaft, if a saw, woolen or cotton mill ; and what the distance from said level of head-water to a level of the bed-stones, if a grist-mill.

Qlestion 15. If the power is to be taken off below the level of head-water (as our decked flume plate illustrates, page 87,) state the distance from center of horizontal power shaft below the head-water (or the distance above tail-water) when at rest.

Qltestion 16. When there are main and connecting gears, always state whether spur or bevel, number of cogs, pitch of cogs, width of face of drivers and pinions.

NOTE. - If it is impossible or difficult to obtain any of the foregoing data, with even a moderate degree of accuracy, we would like any other information that may be in some manner relevant to the subject. With a statement of some kind it may be possible for us to ofter some advice or give an idea of the requirements in the way of a wheel as to size, price, etc. At all events, we shall be pleased to receive any inquiries concerning the wheel, with such knowledge of the circumstances in the case as correspondent may have at his command : we will then answer all in as satisfactory a manner as the nature of the case and the amount of information will admit.

In ordering wheels, don't fail to state which way they must run. With or Against the sun. Right or Left handed, and observe shipping instructions on page 126. For Price List of James Leftel's Wheels see page 49, of this pamphlet.

Pulaski, Tenn., March 27, 1885. Dear Sirs - It is seldom the case that we are asked our opinion of an arti( le that gives us real pleasure in commending, but it is with the sincerest pleasure that we recommend Leffel's Water Wheels. We are now using two of them and cannot speak too highly of them. With a 50 inch Special Wheel we are running three burrs with all the attachments added of a merchant mill. We are also running our cotton mill, which uses 35 horse power to drive it, with a 60 inch Special. They stand side by side, under a 7 foot head, and are not at all affected by stopping one of them. They run so steadily that we do not use any governors on them. We replaced a 62 inch American with the 50 inch Leffel and find it gives us more power. We appreciate your instructions in regard to not over-estimating the Leffel, and assure you that if they did not do the work as we state, we certainly would not say anything in their behalf, but we would condemn them. They are all we want in a water wheel.

On the foregoing page we have presented a cut showing an extremely simple manner in which our water wheel can be attached to the machinery of a Flour Mill, This cut shows a mill of the same capacity and under the same fall as an overshot mill which we will describe in this article, in order to enable us to compare the different methods of applying the two kinds of wheels, showing many advantages gained by the use of our wheel over the overshot, particularly on small streams and high falls ; and to more clearly show this we ask a careful comparison of the arrangement shown in this cut with that which we will describe of the overshot mill, having taken the same fall and the same size stream in both instances.

On page 46 and in the explanation following we endeavor to show also some of the advantages of the Turbine in its location over the overshot. That illustration with the one we now propose describing shows the infinitely superior arrangement of machinery which can be secured by our wheel. For the purpose of comparison in this instance, we have selected an overshot wheel of 22 feet diameter and 3 feet face, used for the purpose of propelling a small flouring mill under 24 feet head and fall ; being of a size suited to small streams of water. It is well known that an overshot of these dimensions, well constructed and in the lightest manner possible, is of enormous weight ; which is greatly increased by the weight of the water in the buckets ; and it is evident that this immense weight will cause quite a loss of power from the friction of the bearings at the ends of the water wheel shaft. In order to transmit the power of the overshot wheel, a large bevel wheel of about 12 feet diameter is placed on the water wheel shaft, which works in a small pinion wheel or pinion on a large upright shaft usually passing up through the mill and to which the balance of the machinery is attached, A large spur wheel of 9 feet diameter is placed on the upright shaft, this spur-wheel working into the pinion on the spindle of the burr. As the motion of the wheel is slow, a bevel-wheel of small diameter, a large spur-wheel and a small pinion must be used in order to get up the proper motion of the burrs ; and as the strain on this gearing is enormous by reason of the slow motion of the wheel, all the parts must be heavy and cumbersome to sustain the force applied. The upright must be at least eight inches in diameter as its motion is only about twenty revolutions per minute. Not only does this slow motion require massive pit-gearing, but in order to run the machinery at its proper speed the shaft H should be at least 4 inches diameter ; for it is to be observed that the power necessary to run the smutter must be transmitted through heavy gears and large pullevs. The many objections to the whole arrangement may be briefly stated to be as follows : The great expense involved in the construction, as it requires several tons of iron to give proper strength to shafts and gearing ; the great loss of power from friction arising from heavy and complicated machinery ; the points of friction are at the two journals of water wheel ; the masteridi JAMES LRFFEL^S TURBmE WATElt WHEfit, wheel and bevel, the spur-wheel and pinion, the Smutter gears with the bearings of the shaft, and the bevels, all of which move with a sluggish motion, are subjected to an enormous pressure, which must necessarily consume avast amount of power.

Instead of using a 22 feet overshot we would use one of our wheels 11^2 inches in diameter, which will give even more power than the 22 feet overshot wheel. The shaft of the overshot wheel must be at least two feet in diameter of wood, and at least ten inches diameter of iron. The shaft on our Turbine wheel need not exceed i^ inches in diameter. Instead of the massive master-wheel, bevel-pinion and spurwheel which together weigh several thousand pounds in the overshot arrangment, we would use only a ten -inch pulley weighing only about thirty pounds on our Turbine, and run a belt direct to the pulley on the spindle of the burr. The upright shaft used with the overshot must be from four to eight inches diameter, in order to sustain the heavy strain resulting from a slow motion ; while the same shaft when our wheel is used, need not exceed i}^ inches in diameter, as we would give it a quick motion and reduce the speed upon the reels and other machinery ; while from the slow speed of the overshot machinery a constant increase from a slow to faster speed is required ; with our wheel the reverse is the case. It will be observed that in order to obtain the proper speed for the smutter and separator, a large spur-wheel and pinion, and pulley, are necessary where an overshot wheel is used ; but none of this gearing is necessary where our wheel is substituted, as it will make nearly six hundred revolutions per minute. The pulley on the water wheel shaft need be but slightly larger than the pulley on the smutter, which is usually about 8 inches diameter.

It must be apparent to all, that by the use of our wheel not only is there much saved in the cost of machinery, but a great gain of power is effected from the simplicity of the arrangement and such direct communication of the power to the work to be done. In the case of an overshot, the power is commvmicated through a vast amount of heavy gearing M-eighing thousands of pounds, and consequently laboring under the disadvantages of a necessary increase of motion ; while the amount of machinery required by our wheel consists of only a short shaft and three pulleys, altogether weighing but little more than one hundred pounds, and besides, having a motion of over six hundred revolutions per minute, possesses the great advantage of a reduction of motion on the burrs.

But it is needless for us to further point out the many advantages our wheel possesses over an overshot wheel, as an examination of the two cuts we have given, and the explanation in connection with the different arrangements, cannot fail to convince even the most skeptical.

the simplest construction. This new Mining wheel was more especially designed for mining purposes than for any other particular use; although it has in a number of instances been applied to Saw-Mills, Paper-Mills and other manufacturing establishments, in which it has been found equally well adapted. An illustration of a Saw-Mill driven in this manner will be found in another part of the book, and a large Paper-Mill in still another illustration.

The mill illustrated in the cut herewith, is one of a class of mills for the reduction of precious metals in the mining regions similar somewhat in operation and construction. This mill is what is usually termed a Free Milling Gold Mill, without the complicated machinery that is generally required for the reduction of various gold and silver ores. The application of our mining wheel is similar however, whether it be applied to a Gold or Silver Mill, a Concentrator, or Reduction works ; all of which are usually driven from a primary horizontal shaft. From this main shaft within the works, other machinery is driven, depending upon the quality of the ores and the necessary adaptation of the works to their proper treatment. Our cut illustrates the simplest kind of mill ; requiring only an ore crusher in the upper portion of the building, and any suitable number of stamps in the lower part of the building, which constitutes all of the running or operating machinery.

This cut illustrates a fifteen stamp gold mill. The ore crusher in the upper portion of the building reduces the ore to a regular and even size, and from this crusher it is run into bins or chutes conveying the ore to the stamps. These stamps operate in mortars Avhere the quartz or ore is pulverized by the action or reciprocating motion of the stamps. The stamps usually range from 150 to 850 pounds each, and are raised perpendicularly to a hight of eight to fourteen inches, making sixty to a hundred drops a minute, and requiring usually from one to two horse j^ower per stamp, having a capacity o( one to three tons per day of 24 hours, depending on the kind and quality of the ores. A small but constant supply of water is admitted to the mortar in which the ore is being crushed ; and when it is reduced to a certain fineness, is washed through screens just behind the openings shown in the illustration. This crushed mass falls upon and is washed over inclined amalgamated and silvered copper plates, as thf^ illustration exhibits. From these plates the gold is afterwards gathered.

The application of our Vertical Mining wheel to this class of mills avoids the necessity of gearing, in making the first transmission. This is desirable on account of the high speeds that are usually necessary in small wheels, applied to the hightails and small quantities of water, which are so generally found in the mining sections of our country. It is only necessary to place the wheel on a good firm foundation, with the shaft level, and parallel to the main horizontal shaft within the works. Then by connecting a belt direct from the small pulley on the water wheel shaft, to the large one on the first main counter shaft, the power is thus easily and simply applied. It will be observed in the illustration that a short draft tube extends down from the discharge pipe, touching the tail water. The use of this short draft tube should invariably be observed, wherever it is desired to obtain the greatest amount of head pressure. Of course underneath the end of the tube an ample and sufficient discharge pit, or space, should be excavated, so that the water will not be retarded in its flow, thus giving it a free and easy escape, avoiding a reaction on the wheel and a consequent loss of power, as would be the case if the space were not sufficient. A small part of the head pipe is also shown. This could extend to any practical distance and hight. We have a large number of these wheels in operation throughout the entire mining region, driving mining machinery of every description, and it has proven itself perfectly adapted and entirely successful.

Although we regard the fact that our wheels have given satisfaction, under the endless variety of circumstances under which they are placed, as undoubted evidence of their excellence and superiority, yet we consider the immense number that have been put in operation as the strongest proof of their great merits, and of their fully meeting the great necessity of manufacturers depending upon water as a motor. Such has been the complete satisfaction our Wheels have given, and so great has been the demand for them, that we have now in successful operation Twelve Thousand Wheels, yielding in the aggregate the immense power of over Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Horse Power. We think no other evidence than this is needed to convince any uprejudiced person of the unequaled merits of our wheel. Many hundreds of letters highly commending the wheel can by produced, if that kind of evidence is regarded of more value.

Gentlemen - We wish to say, that we have been using water wheels of all kinds and description, for upwards of forty years and we have at present m use three of your improved double Turbine, well as four others of first class make, and without any hesitation we can truly say that your wheels in each and every particular, give far better results and better satisfaction than any we have heretofore used, and inasmuch as our mills require a steady and uniform motion we use them with a regulator attached, and whether under a full or part gate we are able to obtain as even and uniform speed as if we were running by steam, and further will state that while in our experience we have found some make of wheels to give a fair result under a high head of water, we must say that under a low, or medium head, no wheel equals them that has come to our notice. At this present time the water in our dam is ex-< ceedingly high, but as soon as it reaches a point that will enable us to place another wheel we shall want one, and while some wheels are being offered at a much lower price than yours, we shall *^ake yours in preference feeling that it is greatly for oui* interest to do so. Yours respectfully,

Graham'S Cotton Mills

The illustration on the opposite page exhibits, as is clearly seen, a rather new and somewhat novel method of propelling a saw mill. It is the application of one of our Mining Wheels having a horizontal shaft and the wheel running vertically. Such an arrangement is extremely simple and is conveniently applied. The necessity of gearing, which is almost imiversally employed where larger wheels with upright shafts are used, is entirely obviated by the substitution of this style of wheel in place of the ordinary make. By placing the Avheel some distance away from the saw, necessary tO obtain a reasonable length of belt, it may be situated either below or above the floor ; usually below the floor is most convenient, as it does not occupy the milling flour space. When it is placed on the mill floor, it is necessary to use a long draft tube, extending down until it touches the surface of the water ; this being necessary in all cases, and at whatever distance the foundation of the wheel ma}' be above the level of the tail water.

This illustration shows a wooden penstock of rather niore than usual bight ; and extending above the view obtained in the picture, of course connecting by a horizontal part not shown, to the dam or race, and having a head pipe which conducts the water to the wheel, attached to the bottom of penstock and running horizontally, but with an elbow at the penstock. The use of the wooden penstock or bulkhead, may be avoided by the application of a larger iron head pipe, running from the wheel at any inclination or distance, until it reaches the dam or bulkhead from which the supply of water is obtained. This method for driving Saw Mills is more frequently applied in instances, where the head is of considerable hight, and the wheel required of small dimensions. The high speed is quickly and simply reduced, by connecting from the small pulley on the water wheel shaft, direct to a pully of considerable size on the saw mandrel.

The simplicity of the arrangement commends itself to all parties desiring an efficient, easily managed and well regulated establishment. There is no question as to the excellence of this design for Saw Mills; providing parties desire the least complicated method of applying the power. In different parts of the pamphlet, several letters will be found from parties making use of this style of mill, and they give their unqualified approbation as to the satisfaction it affords them. No one need hesitate adopting the method.

A fact worthy of particular notice is the large number of the Leffel Wheels which have^been sold in the last few years, in the New Eng. land States. A very significant feature of the case, also, is the ex. tent to which this wheel has been adopted by Cotton Mill owners throughout that region, who investigate as to the qualities of a wheel more thoroughly, or with whom good, steady, reHable power is a more vital consideration, than is the case with proprietors of other mills. Nor is there any class that more strongly objects to trying experiments in water wheels. They demand, in buying a wheel, that it shall have been proved to possess the greatest practical value ; and should they entertain the slightest suspicion that the wheel is not first-class, they will have nothing to do with it. We could give a very large list of names of parties using the wheel, giving in the aggregate 30,000 horse power, in such mills, not only m this country but in foreign countries also.

That there is a valid foundation for this exacting care in the selection of wheels for cotton mills is manifest from the fact that the nature of the business is such as to require an enormous amount of power ; as an example of which we have in one mill of this class, wheels affording a total of 1,700 horse power. It is also a very essential point in such establishments that the power should be easily controlled and regulated, its available effect being influenced to a rnarked extent by the steadiness and facility with which it is managed. It is for these reasons that the Leffel Wheel has attained such extensive popularity among the cotton mills of New England (as well as other portions of the country) ; it having been proved by its practical operation for a long period, and under the most trying conditions, to possess unquestionable superiority in amount and uniformity of power and the ease with which it is controlled.

It is important in putting in the wheel, that the work should be done in the most substantial manner. In the plate on page 50 is shown the manner in which the Leffel wheel is usually put in, in the large cotton mills of New England. In the plate only iron and stone penstocks are shown, but wooden penstocks are also used to some extent.

Dear Sirs - We have two of your wheels in operatiDn, one fifteen inches under thirty-five feet head, running a fifty-six inch Siw, Pony Planer, and Shingle Machine. Also twenty inch Mining wheel under twenty-nine feet head, running 52 inch Saw, Planer and Shingle Machine. The wheels do their work in first class manner, without trouble or tinkering giving perfect satisfaction as to power and capacity. We are working the hardest, and toughest Pine, in the world and for that reason the amount of work we are doing would be no criterion for other localities where heavier feed can be used. Respectfully yours, HAWKINS & HIGBY.

Gentlemen - Your favor of the 26th inst., at hand. In reply we take great pleasure in saying the New Improved Special 50 inch wheel which we have now had in use some ten months gives perfect satisfaction. Our working head is 5^ feet. With ^ gate we run all the machinery (both gass and water pumps) of an Ice Machine which formerly took an 8 Horse Power Engine. With half gate we run in addition to Ice Machine a set of 20 inch burrs. We have been put to no otitlay for repairs and say that it does more than you claimed it to do and that we are well pleased with it. Yours respectfully, DEL RIO ICE CO.

Gentlemen - In 1874 ^ ^^^^ advised to buy and rebuild an old mill that had one corn run in it and ground 4 bushels per hour, and which was such hard property that it passed from hand to hand like an old blind horse.

After investigation I concluded* to put in a 30)^ inch Regular Leffel Wheel as a motor, and attach a 36 inch corn run and a 36 inch wheat run with bolts, elevators, smutter and all necessary machinery for a custom mill. My head was only 8 feet 4 inches, and through the summer the water was scant.

This was a hardy venture for a man with $500 capital, which was all I had of my own. The old-timers predicted a disastrous failure. You may judge of my surprise and joy when the little wheel walked out with my burrs and ground 24 bushels of corn in one hour. So unexpectedly economical was my wheel that I found that out of over abundance of caution I had undersized my stream. I had hardly enough power to drive both run up to speed which was partly owing to insufficient size of wheel pit.

After m}^ mill had put me on my feet I replaced my original wheel with a 30}^ Special, which gave enough added power for all purposes without changing the speed. As I have told you I only do custom work and I do not care anything about its capacity so long as it docs all the work which is brought to it, which it easily does. It has furnished my family, which is a large one, with all my bread and meat, and fed my milk cows and netted me over a thousand dollars a year.

In the summer time when water is scant I often grind my "head down to 3 feet, and in the winter I have ground with the water within 18 inches of the top of the dam, or with the wheel under nearly 7 feet of back water. When I grind wheat alone with a full dam I only use ^2 g^te to grind the capacity of my bolt, and if I do not get nearly or quite half the powxr of the wheel I cannot discover it.

One of the incidents with my wheel is that a 2 by 4 inch seasoned hickory stick, got out for cog timber, w^as dropped into the penstock and drawn into the wheel while running with one set of burrs under a full head. The wheel was stopped instantaneously while the burrs went on, crushing the teeth out of the spur wheel. I drew off the water and went down to the wheel with a heavy heart. On taking out the stick I found that the bucket had bit into it fully an inch deep clear across the four inch face and the wheel was unharmed, except a cracked gate which was replaced for a trifling sum. Last winter twenty feet of my dam foundation and all was swept out and I ground ten bushels before the creek ran down. Under all the varying conditions and severe tests this wheel has been subjected to it has been a continual surprise and satisfaction to me, and I cannot believe I could change it for any other wheel without loss.

The cut on the opposite page, illustrates a general arrangement, and application of water power to Roller Flouring Mills. In the illustration only a portion of the interior of the mill is shown. Four of the Roller Mills may be seen, and in a mill of ordinary capacity usually two or three others are employed. In fact a mill of almost any capacity can be built upon this general plan, by extending the building any convenient length, in which case it would be necessary only to extend the main driving shaft in the basement, to a corresponding distance. The upper portion of the building shows the machinery, usually employed in dressing the products, as they are gradually reduced, and the extreme upper portion of the building for cleaning the grain before reduction commences. The Elevators, Spouts, Hoppers etc., are also to be observed. It is to be presumed of course, that any other convenient arrangement of these different machines, in the upper portion of the mill, can be adopted ; but the general plan of driving from 'below is in most instances conformed to. Sometimes even the second story is partly occupied by the Roller mills in accomplishing part of the reduction.

The application of the water wheel is simple. In this instance, a high penstock with a decking is shown, and a LefFel wheel of ordinary size, placed in the elbow of decking ; and by means of the usual pair of Bevel Gears the power is transmitted to a horizontal shaft, to which the belts are attached, leading to the roller mills, and to any other machinery that may be located on the first or principal floor. In case larger water wheels are used upon lower heads of water, the decking or high penstock, may be dispensed with, and the gearing placed immediately on top of the penstock, and still sufficient space obtained in the basement in which to locate the main power or horizontal shaft. In placing this shaft it is best to have a bearing near each main belt for transmitting the power. Further details and description, it is presumed are unnecessary. The illustration no doubt clearly conveys the general idea in carrying out such an enterprise.

Dear Sirs: - Some two years ago I tore out my oW overshot water wheel and put in its place one of your 30)^ Inch Turbine wheels, I am surprised at the wonderful amount of power in these wheels and I must say I am well pleased with the exchange. I can run my roller mill with all the machinery connected necessary to make three barrels per hour, with this 30)^ inch wheel, with a two-thirds gate under a x6 foot head, no back water. I have also a 20 inch wheel to assrst in time of back water. My experience is to place wheel at the bottom of penstock, as I can get more power than when there is a flume below the wheel, (except in back water) but such times only come occasionally and I use both wheels and get all the power needed. I can cheerfully recommend you to any one desiring a water wheel as honest and responsible men with whom to deal.

Mat Wolfe

The cut on opposite page, shows one of the wheel houses of the above Co., containing lo Leffel water wheels on horizontal shafts. Each of the large cylindrical cases encloses two wheels, on steel shafts S}4 inches diameter, and so arranged as to discharge the water into one draft tube, situated between each pair. The same company are using 5 more Leffel wheels in other pa.rts of their works : consisting of paper, pulp and saw mills. This company's plant is producing daily, 12 tons of paper and about 40 tons wood pulp, dry weight. The following letter from the superintendent will further explain.

Fifteen Leffel Wheels Giving 6,000 Horse Power

Gents - In reply to yours of the 6th inst., asking "how our new wheels worked under the conditions we placed them," would say that we have no fault whatever to find with them ; in fact they are doing more work with less water than we calculated on, that is, the two sets or runs we put in and started last October (1884). They have been running almost constantly day and night since, and we have only had occasion to look at them once since, and that was for the purpose of clearing out some blocks of wood that got in the canal below the rack.

As we knew of no similar work, or any of such magnitude as a precedent to go by, we naturally gave the planning of our motive power and connections a great deal of thought and study, and after looking over the various turbine wheels of different builders we decided on yours as having the greatest number of good points in its favor, and the satisfactory working of the two runs as mentioned, confirms us in our conclusions.

After running the two sets (iioo to 1200 horse power each) day and night for six months, we were so well satisfied with the results that we have erected two more sets, exact duplicates of the first two in every particular. We had a pratical illustration that we studied very closely while in actual operation, and could not find a single point in any of the details that we thought we could change or alter to advantage.

We expect to get the new wheels and machinery running next month ; when we will have about 5,000 horse power in that mill alone. These wheels, cases etc., are all contained and the power consumed in a room 70 by 80 feet, without the use of gearing or belts.

You probably are awaie that you made a very nice fit of the wheels to their cases. There was not over one thirty second of an inch difference in the diameters, yet in all the wheels we have placed on a horizontal shaft not one has rubbed against the case ; there being no difficultv in adjusting and keeping them in place.

Our wheels in the Pulp mill are placed twenty feet above the tail water ; rather the bottom of the draft tube is twenty feet below the center of the wheels, and the water in the wheel pit stands one to two feet above the bottom of the tubes, making a column of water 18 to 19 feet in hight hanging below the center of the wheel shaft. We have a vacuum gauge attached to the top of draft tube which indicates 16 to 18 inches of Mercury, showing that we lose nothing to speak of by placing the wheels on horizontal shaft, and above the discharge water. Calling the specific gravity of the mercury 13.6, our gauge shows that the water in draft tube stands above the center of shaft.

In the Fall of 1883 we placed two of your special size and build 44 inch wheels on our lower level, on a horizontal shaft under 28 teet head and they have been working day and night ever since. They replaced a 60 inch wheel on an upright shaft. The old wheel was not able to drive half our present machinery up to speed on full work. These new wheels drive everything up briskly and not using full gate. We measured the water from old wheel and that used by your two 44 inch and found the latter using considerable less water and giving us ample power. Formerly, steps and gears bothered us greatly, now we have neither step or gears.

We have now fifteen of your wheels (all except one 23 in.) working on horizontalshafts, giving us nearly 6,000 horse power. We have ten wheels of other makes giving about 1,500 horse power, and from our present experience when the proper time comes we will replace the latter with your wheels.

The Mill Dam

We have endeavored in the following article to give a few rules embracing the vital principles to be observed in putting in our wheel. These rules are stated as plainly as possible, in order to avoid any misunderstanding in their application ; and if they are carefully followed the wheel cannot fail to work as represented hy us. THE MILL DAM.

In improving a water privilege, the first step is the construction of the dam. For full and minute information on that subject, covering every variety of circumstances and form of dam, we would refer the reader to the columns of The Leffel Mechanical News, (published by James Leffel & Co., Springfield, Ohio,) in which a long series of original articles on Mill Dams and their construction was published, each article being illustrated w ith a large original cut. We would refer parties also to "Leftel's Construction of Mill Dams and Bookwalter's Millwright and Mechanic," a nicely printed and bound book, finelj^ illustrated throughout with full page cuts, and published also by our firm. It contains all that has appeared in the Mechanical News, (much of which having been revised), as well as considerable that has not been published in that paper.

The Head Race And Gates

The next matter to be attended to is the canal or head race, in constructing which a very frequent error is committed in failing to give it suflScient capacity. It should be made both wide and deep; and this is especially necessary where the race is of considerable length and a large quantity of water is to pass through it. It is difficult to give a definite rule which will apply to every case, but it inay be stated as a general rule that the water shoi;ld not flow faster than from 60 to 120 feet per minute. In cases w^here there is along race, after the wheel has been running three or four hours, the head frequently draws down from one to three feet. The effect of this is precisely the same as if the dam had been . lowered an equal distance, resulting in a loss of power which would have been prevented by making the race as wide and deep as it should be. On page 108 will be found viseful hints on the subject of head-gates, their construction, etc. " Leftel's Con- struction of Mill Dams," already referred to, contains much more on the subject, race and reservoir embankments, etc., which can be made available in the improvement of any water power of any kind.

The Wheel Pit

must next be located, and we can not too strongly impress the importance of a proper depth of the pit. This is a point in which millowners and millwrights putting in our wheel are more liable to err than in any other. In fact, if a person should write us, "Your wheel is not doing as represented," the first question we would ask is, "What depth have you below the wheel .^" Whether under high or low head, the pit should be made deep and wide. There is no case where this is more important than where a large wheel is run under a low head, as under these circumstances no loss of head, however small, can be afforded. A pit of insufficient size causes the water to react upon the wheel; and an additional loss of power is also caused by the fact that a portion of the head is consumed in forcing the water out of the pit when there is not sufficient outlet. As a general rule, the depth of pit should not be less than 20 inches for the smallest wheels, and in some cases as much as 5 or 7 feet for the largest wheels under high heads. An average size Avheel, say a 48-inch, under an average head, say 12 feet, should have 33 to 40 inches clear space from the mouth of the cylinder or wheel tube, where the water discharges from the wheel, to the bottom of the pit. In making the pit, if there is a sandy or mud bottom, to keep the foundation from washing out, mud-sills must be put down as shown in plates on pages 26 and 87, and on these sills should be placed a 2% inch plank floor. The tail-water should stand at the very least^ two feet deep on this floor when the wheel is not running; and for high heads and large wheels it should not be less than from three to six feet, the cylinder or dratt tube of course in all cases touching the tail-water. A rock-bottom does not require mudsills or plank, but must be blasted out so as to give the same depth of standing tail-water. This depth should be continued the whole length and breadth of the flume, and, if possible, from two to four feet beyond the sides; but in all cases it must extend from five to twenty feet down the tail race from the end of the flume. We wish to most strongly impress the fact that the water can not discharge too freely from a wheel.

The Tail-Race

as well as the wheel pit, should be both wide and deep; and, if possible, the level, or the bottom of the wheel pit, should be carried out the whole length of the tail-race to the stream, which is easily done when the race is short and empties directly into the stream. When the desired depth can not be given the whole length of the race, it should be made up in width; and in this case the bottom of tail-race should slope gently to the bottom of the wheel -pit, in order to avoid an abrupt opposing surface. There should be, if possiii6 blc, two feet in depth of dead water in the tail-race when the wheel is not running, in order to avoid the raising of the water in the tailrace, and consequent loss of head. The race should also be much wider than it is usually made; and its sectional area should not in any case be less, but should if possible exceed that of the outlet of the wheel pit. By the sectional area is implied the product of the width and depth multiplied together. A wheel pit three feet deep and ten feet wide has thirty square feet sectional area. It is of as much importance that the tail-race should be made wide and deep as that the head race should be, and neither can be made too large.

Size Of Penstock

We have given in column B, on pages 27 and 29 the inside diameter of penstock for each size wheel, and by reference to the plate on the opposite pages (26 and 2S) the required diameter can be readih' - found. These are the least dimensions which it is expedient to employ.

Size Of Flume Or Conduit

As we have already stated, the flume or forebay conducting the water to the penstock, should be sufl[iciently large to deliver the water smoothly and quietly in the penstock without loss of head. The water in the penstock, in order to give the best results, should be as nearly as possible without motion, except the natural current or suction towards the wheel. In order that there may be no mistake as to the size of the conduit, we have given in last column on pages 27 and 29, the cross-section of water in conduit. [The space in conduit above the surface of the water is not included in this estimate.] For example, a 40-inch wheel should have a flume, according to the table to which we have referred, of about 34 square feet, or a depth and wadth of water 54 by 90 inches, or 4I0 by 7)^ feet, which, multiplied together, gives the square feet or cross section; therefore, a flume or forebay 4^^ feet deep and 7)0 feet wide would be as small as it should be made; and to this should be added one foot in height for the space above the surface of water in the conduit.

Construction Of Lower Timbers And Floor Of Flume

These cuts on pages 116 and 119 are designed to give our customers a general idea of the proper manner of framing the bottom of penstocks for our wheels. We do not anticipate these plans will cover a great number of difficult places in which our wheels are frequently used; but they will give the millwright or mill-owner a good insight of the method in which the timbers immediately around the cylinder of the wheel should be framed. A number of other ways by which the bottom of the penstock may be framed to suit certain locations, will readily occur to a practical mill-wright.

penstocks. The side sills shoald be 12 inches square, providing 10 inch square posts are used, which will be heavy enough for 10 to 15 feet head. P'or 12 by 14 inch sills, 12 inch posts may be used. If the corner posts are rabbeted, they should be 12 by 14, or 14 by 16 inches square, so as to rabbet four inches one way and two inches the other. The intermediate sills may be narrow one way and placed edgewise up and down ; and in large flumes these may be supported by two or three posts of stiff, hard timber, four inches square, placed solidly on the foundations. Letter F, in plates on pages 27,29,116 and 119 shows the distance the timbers should be framed apart, around the cylinder. In column F, page 27, will be found the distance, in inches, that these timbers should be framed apart for each size of wheel. For the size of penstock, see the foregoing articles on that subject.

In plates on pages 87 and 77, we show the penstock resting on stone piers. This is not absolutely necessary, as the side posts of the penstock can extend down to the apron or bottom of pit, the lower ends of the posts resting on mud -sills where the bottom is mud or sand (with the sills of the penstock framed into the posts,) or on rock if the bottom is of that nature. This arrangement is used in plate on page 96.

In the case of large penstocks, we would advise that they should rest either on stone pillars or side walls ; but pillars are decidedly the best, especially where the tail-race or wheel-pit can be made wider than the penstock, as they allow a free discharge of water in all directions.

For the floor of the flume, 2% to 3 inch planks should be laid on the sills of the penstock and spiked down. A hole must be cut in this floor, of sufficient size to allow the cylinder of the wheel to pass through. The diameter of this hole is given in column F, page 27. Surrounding the hole, soft pine planks should be placed, extending a little beyond the flanges of the wheel, and beveled as shown on pages

26 and 28. These planks must be leveled and planed off" perfectly true. The flange of the wheel rests upon the planks, the cylinder passing down through the hole, and its end dipping two or more inches below the surface of standing tail-water. No fastening is necessary to keep the wheel in position, as its own weight and the pressure of the water will hold it firmly in place.