222 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



allows this to be done by hand when desired, through a lever upon the 

 lower end of the rod 25. This movement is the one which takes place 

 when the wind-pressure upon the small vane is sufficient, the wheel 

 swinging round toward the rudder-vane an amount proportional to the 

 pressure. When this pressure is great the wheel swings parallel with 

 the rudder and j^resents only its edge to the wind, as in the case of the 

 other vane-mill. The weight 13 is movable upon the lever 26, and 

 the wheel is therefore capable of nice adjustment. 



Windmills have gone very largely into use in the Western States, 

 where the wind can be counted on with tolerable certainty. They are 

 also used to a considerable extent in the East, both in the country and 

 in the cities. Makers of wheels claim that in most localities they will 

 work up to their full power seven hours out of the twenty-four, and a 

 good portion of the remaining time will give some part of their full ca- 

 pacity. W^hen a steady and continuous power is required, either at a 

 definite time or whenever you happen to want it, the windmill is not 

 suitable ; but for all uses in which such conditions do not hold, such as 

 pumping water, it is admirably adapted. It is for this purpose employed 

 on railroads, the farm, country seats, and to some extent in cities where 

 the water-pressure is insufficient to carry the water to the upper stories 

 of buildings, as many as five hundred being employed in New York 

 City alone for this purpose. On the farm it would seem that a mill 

 might be employed for a variety of purposes besides the pumping 

 of water. Such oj^erations as sawing wood, chopping feed, and per- 

 haps churning, might readily be done by wind-power, by timing them 

 to the periods when experience showed it could best be depended upon. 

 With a well-constructed automatic mill of from two to five horse, such 

 work could probably be performed with less trouble than in any other 

 way. The only expense after the first cost is that for rej^airs and lubri- 

 cation, neither of which is large. The power of any wheel depends, 

 of course, on the velocity of the wind. They are usually rated with 

 the wind at twenty miles an hour, and on this basis the powers of those 

 made range from one eighth to forty horse, the smaller size being eight 

 and a half feet in diameter and the latter sixty. The first cost of a 

 good mill is from twenty-five to fifty per cent, higher than a steam- 

 engine of corresponding power, w^ith boiler. 



While the windmill is peculiarly well adapted for pumping and 

 allied jDurposes, it is not at all suited to most of the uses for which a 

 small power is required. Water-power, on the other hand, is excel- 

 lently adapted to such uses. Water-wheels are simple, easily managed, 

 and the most efficient of known motors. They are especially suitable 

 for use in the household, and, where sufficient water can be procured 

 under a proper pressure, are at once the cheapest and most convenient 

 motor for the shop. Water-wheels of large power, such as are required 

 in manufacturing operations, can only be used in particular localities ; 

 but those of comparatively small power can, owing to the very general 



