Transactions. 131 



It is due to the memory of two gentlemen, Mr Thomas 

 Harkness, solicitor, and Mr Newall, architect, to record that, from 

 the commencement of the movement until the scheme was fairly 

 floated, they in particular were ever active in promoting it at the 

 Council Board, and the latter also from time to time performed 

 much professional service. He assisted Mr Jardine in 1833 and 

 1848 in obtaining data, and made up the estimates of the cost of 

 the various schemes. He was associated with Mr Gale as local 

 engineer in the preparation of the Parliamentary plans of Loch- 

 rutton scheme, and part of the work performed by him consisted 

 in surveying the loch when covered with ice, and taking sound- 

 ings, and in preparing a chart of it showing the depth and the 

 nature of the bed at many different points. The bed he found 

 consisted mostly of debris of rock. 



It has been mentioned that Mr Jardine, the consulting 

 engineer, whose guidance was sought in 1833, and again in 1848, 

 and on whose recommendation the existing works were under- 

 taken, was a native of Dumfriesshire. It may be added that he 

 was engineer to the Edinburgh Water Company, and carried out 

 the Crawley Springs water scheme there, which works were de- 

 signed by another well-known Dumfriesian, Thomas Telford. 

 Mr Leslie succeeded him as engineer to the company in the year 

 1846. 



The very modest g-ravitation water supply works constructed 

 for the purpose of introducing a suitable supply of water to the 

 burghs of Dumfries and Maxwelltown, and inaugurated with some 

 ceremony on the 21st day of October, 1851, have proved to be 

 beneficial beyond the approach of any other work ever carried out 

 in the place, saving life, and promoting health directly, and 

 making possible and efficient other important means to that end, 

 contributing to the ads'ancement of trade and general prosperity, 

 and in every house saving labour and adding to convenience and 

 comfort. By a touch of the finger this wonderful element, 

 endowed with the power of gravity, comes at your call, not 

 sluggishly as if unwilling, but bounding as if in delight to serve 

 you. 



During the discussion which followed, Dr MAXWELL Ross 

 showed a series of lantern slides he had had prepared to illustrate 

 the collection and distribution of water supplies, and various 



