Mr J. G. Stuart on the Turbine Water-Wheel. 157 



mittee, for the purpose of investigating the comparative merits 

 of the turbine and other water-wheels before the next meet- 

 ing of the Association. 



Here, however, the matter has rested, so far as that Com- 

 mittee is concerned, ever since ; and, with a single excep- 

 tion, to be immediately noticed, I am not aware of the subject 

 having been again brought before the public of this country. 

 The exception referred to is a popular description of the tur- 

 bine of Fourneyron, with a very strong recommendation in its 

 favour, contained in the interesting volume on the " Indus- 

 trial Resources of Ireland," published in the year 1844, by 

 Dr Kane of Dublin.* 



While the Committee of the British Association did not, 

 so far as I know, follow out in any way the remit made to 

 them, I felt so much interest on the subject (incited no doubt 

 by suffering much annoyance and serious loss from two very 

 inefficient breast-wheels at my works here) as to continue, 

 with Professor Gordon, the investigations which he had al- 

 ready entered upon, until we became convinced that the tur- 

 bine was indeed a material improvement upon any other 

 known mode of using water-power. 



Circumstances prevented us, however, from giving practi- 

 cal expression to our convictions, until my breast- wheels be- 

 came so worn out as to threaten complete breakdown ; and 

 then, in the early part of last year, I seriously set about the 

 task of erecting one. I may here mention that, at this time, 

 I hesitated between the turbine and Whitelaw and Stirrat's 

 patent water-mill ; but, after consideration of their published 

 statement, and a personal inspection of several of their mills 

 erected on a large scale, I saw sufficient cause to confirm my 

 impression in favour of the Turbine of Fourneyron, as the 

 more perfect machine. I then put myself in communication 

 with the French patentee, and offered to allow him to erect, 

 or superintend the erection of a wheel for me, so as his in- 

 vention might be introduced into this country, under the 

 most favourable circumstances. Fourneyron, however, de- 

 clined to enter into the arrangement unless he was to be per- 



* Since this paper was read, Professor Kane has published a translation of 

 Riihlman's Essay on the Construction of Turbines. 



