Sleam-Engines at Consolidcded Mhips. 30!) 



engines erected on the Consolidated Mines near Redruth, in Corn- 

 wall, was put to work ; and as two of these machines are of a 

 larger size than was ever before attempted, and as the concern is 

 one of great extent and interest, some account of it may be ac- 

 ceptable to our readers. 



The undertaking includes four or five copper mines nearly ad- 

 joining, and on the same veins, formerly worked very profitably 

 in distinct portions, until owing to difficulties in pumping the 

 water, and other circumstances, they were gradually abandoned 

 about 16 years since. 



The improvement in the use of steam power since that period 

 is a prominent reason for expecting advantage to those who have 

 had the spirit to renew the workings, though there are many others 

 which are important, such as increased skill in the management 

 of mining processes, and a reduction in the cost of labour and 

 those materials which are most largely consumed. The present 

 company have engaged a capital of about ()5,000Z. in the con- 

 cern, and the whole is under the management of Capt. William 

 Davey and Mr. John Taylor. 



The extent of underground workings to be drained is very con- 

 siderable, running for about a mile in length, and reaching at the 

 lowest part to a depth of about loO fathoms under the adit, or 

 level bv which the water is discharged towards the sea. 



To keep the whole of these excavations dry, and to enable the 

 mines to be sunk deeper, three engines have been erected by 

 Mr. Arthur Woolf. One at the western extremity of the ground 

 having a cvlinder of 70 inches diameter, which works a pump 

 about 60 fathoms deep, and two others, which we mean particu- 

 larly to notice, are situated one near the centre, and the other 

 at the eastern end of the concern. 



These engines have cylinders of 90 inches diameter, the pis- 

 tons make a stroke of 10 feet in the cvlinder, and the centre of 

 the beams is so fixed that the rods make an eight foot stroke in 

 the pumps ; thus they are able, at the common pressure, to raise 

 a load of 85,000 lbs. Each of the engines is fiirnished with six 

 wrought-iron boilers for producing high pressure steam, which 

 is applied in the mode usually called expansive by engineers, and 

 is condensed in the common manner. 



Three boilers are connected so as to be heated by two fires, 

 and are snlficient to work the engine, leaving three others to be 

 applied when those which have been in use are cleansing or re- 

 pairing. 



These immense engines are executed in a very beautiful manner, 

 and exhibit remarkable instances of accurate workmanship and 

 sound calculation, Though they exceed in power all others that 



have 



