72 



BB. B. AK0TJ8 SMITH ON ANCIENT AND 



which passes through is not much injured. The washing 

 water, for example, is not rendered much more impure 

 than on entering, whilst the dye-water can be emptied 

 into a very small tank. The amount of water unnecessarily 

 spoiled is far beyond what is used. Suppose 200 gallons are 

 in a beck, and 50 becks are emptied in a day, (a very large 

 supposition,") 10,000 gallons only are sent out impure by this 

 means ; whilst the same works could not get on with even half 

 a million, and yet that would render many millions impure. 



It is probable that a stream would, even when low, supply 

 the wants of all in cases where there have been many separate 

 collections of water; but if not, the union of the millowners 

 in the valley would make a reservoir which would cause a 

 constant supply ; the interest of all would be the same, whilst 

 now it is the interest of each to hurt his neighbour. 



The appearance of our rivers would change, and the re- 

 freshing appearance to the eye and to the whole man, of a 

 pure stream, would not be an imperceptible element in the 

 result. 



The substances which come from manufactories have all a 

 great value. On examining the Medlock some time ago, I 

 found the following: — 



Per Day. Per Annara, 



Potash 178 cwt 3,200 tons. 



Soda 257 " 4,640 " 



Lime 940 " 16,900 " 



Magnesia 9 " 160 ♦' 



Phosphoric Acid , 71 " 1,280 '* 



Silica 266 " 4,800 " 



Alum 18 " 810 " 



Oxide of Iron 124 " 2,240 " 



Sulphuric Acid 444 " 8,000 " 



Chlorine 151 " 2,720 " 



Organic Matter, containing 6 per 



cent, of Nitrogen 80 " 1,440 " 



Insoluble Matter, chiefly Silica, 



Alumim, and Iron Oxides ... 1,866 " 33,600 " 



