HEATING ROOMS BY STEAM. 3^7 



Dornoch, in the county of Sutherland. He remained in History and 

 Glasgow for six months after this, superintending the con- ^^g^^od f 

 struction of machinery for the mill. During this period he heating rooms 

 M as led to consider of a cheap method of heating the mill, ^ *'^*n>' 

 as he had learnt that fuel was extremely scarce and dear in 

 the country in which the mill was situated. It was evident 

 that none of the methods which he had seen practised could 

 be applied, but at an eaprmous expence ; and his experience 

 had pointed out to liim important defects and inconveniences 

 in them all. Having observed a mode of drying muslins by 

 wrapping them round hollow metal cylinders, filled with 

 steam, practised at the bleach-fields near Glasgow, it oc- 

 curred to him, that by means of a proper apparatus, steam 

 might be applied to heat a cotton mill, or any other largs 

 manufactory. It was evident that this not only would be 

 an ceconomical mode of producing heat in large works, so 

 far as fuel was concerned, but that it would prevent the 

 danger of fire, to which such works, when heated in the 

 usual manner, are much exposed. He communicated his 

 notions to a iiumber of cotton spinners and others, from 

 whose suggestions he expected assistance. But he met with 

 nothing but discouragement, the project being every where ,„ 



treated lightly, or pronouneed to be impracticable. Strongly *•■ 



impressed, however, with' the advantages of the plan, the .0 



memorialist persevered in his resolution to make trial of it, 

 and ordered tin pipes to be made for the purpose. These Ci- 



he erected in the mill in May 1799. When filled with 

 steam they at once produced the necessary degree of heat; 

 but the pipes, having been damaged in the carriage, proved 

 not sufficiently strong. Indeed the memorialist was im- 

 mediately sensible, that their position was unfavourable. 

 With a view to some conveniences in point of room, they 

 had been carried up diagonally in one end of the mill, 

 whence the upper sides of the pipes became sooner heated 

 than the lower, which caused an unequal expansion. The 

 water arising from the steam condensed in the pipes in its 

 return to the boiler, and also obstructed the steam in its 

 ascent. In order to remedy these defects the pipes were 

 altered, and erected in a perpendicular position, and certain 

 jLubcs were connected with th*m, to carry off the water 



arisii) 



