PRAINING OF THE POND OF CITI3- $9 



each other, though they are so near. The pond of Citis is 

 several feet lower than any of those here mentione'l, and, what 

 is very remarkable, it is near twenty-seven feet, English mea- Its level 27 



■ 1 1 1 1 i- .L 1-L- 1 I • feet below ih 8 



sure, below the level ot the sea. ihis poud may be const- ^^^^^ 



dered as a spacious basin, enclosed by lofty mountains, in 

 which the rain water has accumulated and become stagnant, 

 having no outlet. 



The waters of Lavalduc are saline to sixteen degrees*. The Salt-works es- 

 proximity of this pond to that otCuis; the tdcuity with which 

 its water might be let into it, by opening a passage through the 

 mountain separating them ; and the decrease of the water of 

 Citis after several _years of drought, gave rise to the salt-works 

 of Citis. These were undertaken by a company, who sub- 

 scribed a joint stock to defray the expense. Their plan was 

 to prevent the addition of more water, and gradually dry up 

 the pond, by stopping on the sides of the mountains the course 

 <jf tile rain water, which was its sole supply. This attempt 

 succeeded completely, and the affairs oi the company were in 

 a very prosperous wa), when, after a memorable winter, the 

 pond was completely inundated by the excessive rains, that These inun- 

 fell for three months successively. The company indeed 

 might blame themselves for this disaster; since by their neg- 

 ligence in not keeping the canal in repair, or rectifying its 

 level, the rain-water, being so much more abundant than ' 

 usual, could not flow with sufficient freedom through it; and 

 thus by its weight breaking down the feeble dike that sup- 

 ported it along the sides of the mountains, it ran into the 

 pond. 



This event, of which apprehensions had always been enter- Apparently a 

 tained, appeared to admit of no remedy to the company, who iioijeless case, 

 had long foreseen, that, if the pond should corne to fill at any 

 time, there would be no way to preserve the salt-works, but 

 by carrying ort the water over the hills between the pond and 

 the sea. But what means could effect this.? There appeared 

 none but the common pump, orThe sciew of Archimedes; and 

 these being too expensive or inadequate, the company was proposed to be" 

 about to give up the work, when Mr. Augustus de Jesse pro- drained by a 



J J • ■ , , . • r. • . ■ Steam engine, 



posed to drain it by employing a steam engine. Being admit- forcing the 



* Thi;; I believe implies, that they contaiitl6 per cent of salt. Tr. 



ted 



