JAMES BICHEXO FRANCIS. 337 



Although Mr. Francis recognized the possibility of such a freshet, 

 and made his designs and personally carried them out to prevent 

 disaster, it was not then considered necessary by most of the citizens; 

 yet it was his nature not to undertake any risks ; he studied up will 

 the problem presented and omitted no known factors in the solution. 



The repairs, renewal, and maintenance of the canals, and the pre- 

 vention of water waste, was a constant source of care. A new dam 

 was built on the site of the old one, rights of higher flashing secured 

 and consequent pondage, and a portion of Hunt's Fall was removed 

 for the increase of the fall and the relief of the mills on the river's 

 level. 



With the organization of a mutual fire insurance by the mill- 

 owners Mr. Francis became its head, to build a fire-service reservoir 

 with the full plant. Turbines, engines, and pumps, mains and hy- 

 drants, and the mill appliances of pipes, valves, sprinklers were con- 

 structed and placed under his direction and inspection, and maintained 

 under his rules and regulations ; and so well were these kept that the 

 loss by fire was less than one tenth of one per cent. 



For the preservation of the bridges and other wooden structures, of 

 which there were many belonging to the company, he introduced the 

 Kyanizing and Burnettizing processes, which are still continued for 

 the use of the Lowell companies and others, and form a profitable 

 industry. 



In 1844, Mr. Uriah A. Boyden constructed his first turbine for the 

 Appleton Company, which proved successful. Mr. Francis assisted at 

 the test, as he did also at that of two other wheels for the same com- 

 pany in 1848, when the maximum effect was determined and paid for 

 at the rate of 88 per cent of the water expended. Mr. Boyden con- 

 tinued to build wheels, testing the same often witli Mr. Francis's 

 assistance and always with his cognizance of the changes of construc- 

 tion and results. Impressed with the great advantage of the adoption 

 of this wheel at Lowell, at his recommendation the manufacturing 

 companies purchased of Mr. Boyden the rights to his improvements 

 relating to turbines and other hydraulic motors. After that, it devolved 

 on Mi-. Francis to design and superintend the construction of such 

 turbines as might be wanted for their mills. To this work he brought 

 his accustomed industry, assisted by Mr. Boyden's drawings, but more 

 by his own comparison and analysis of the most successful designs. 



This analysis of the working of turbines was continued by testing 

 them as they were applied to the different mills to determine the 

 quantities of water used, the percentage of effect obtained, and the 

 vol. xxvni. (n. s. xx.) 22 



