JAMES BICHENO FRANCIS. 335 



It was at this time IMr. Francis came in full charge as engineer, 

 and he was the right man for the time and place ; eminently conserv- 

 ative, he made up his mind only by thorough study of the conditions 

 and requirements of the subject. 



He hunted up the records of the Merrimac River, its high and low 

 water marks, investigated the facilities for storage by reservoirs and 

 flashing, and the condition of the canals, to determine the then avail- 

 able flow, and how much would be obtained by careful watching to 

 prevent loss of head and waste of water. He tested the water-wheels 

 in use, and collected all data pertinent to the improvement of the 

 water power. 



In 1845 the Locks and Canals Company sold their machine shop 

 and most of their leal estate to outside parties ; the balance of the 

 real estate, with the canals and franchise, were transferred to the 

 different manufacturing companies, who became proprietors and mem- 

 bers of the corporation under its old title, with interests in proportion 

 to the number of mill powers originally purchased by them. 



Althouojh Mr. Francis had but little to do with the i-uuniuor of the 

 machine shop and the construction of machinery, yet with the advice 

 in new constructions and care and division of a large real estate, a 

 great deal of his time was taken up. With the change incident to the 

 sale, he became agent also of the company, and had opportunity and 

 greater support in carrying out changes for the improvement of the 

 water power which had long been recognized as of vital importance. 



The interest of the new proprietors of the old company was now 

 essentially a Lowell interest, and a mutual one, to secure as large and 

 as permanent a water power as possible. Mr. Francis, by his experi- 

 ence and studies, was well posted in the potentialities of the Merrimac 

 River at Lowell. He was personally acquainted and intimate with 

 the board of directors, who had implicit confidence in his integrity 

 and capacity. 



Although Mr. Francis well knew what would be required for the 

 improvements of the water power, and what in the end would be his 

 complete design, yet in his recommendations he was economical and 

 progressive, following out the line he had laid out, and securing those 

 advantages which were first needed and most readily obtainable. 



In 1846, the Locks and Canals Company together with the Essex 

 Company at Lawrence organized the Lake Company, and secured the 

 control of the outlet of Lake AVinnipiseogee, with other ponds and 

 lakes in the vicinity. The object of the purchase was to improve the 

 storage capacity of the lake by raising the water in it, and by pro- 



