3 



by being drawn from a deep pit beneath the basement of the 

 apparatus. In its course the vapour is exposed to a surface of 

 2200 square feet of surface, upon which the injection water, 

 brought to a low temperature by being passed in a shower of 

 minute drops through a current of air, is kept constantly play- 

 ing. We mentioned the four interior columns which support 

 the vacuum pan ; two of these are used as overflow pipes. One 

 peculiarity in the arrangements of this machine consists in a 

 particular construction of valves and receivers, by w^hich all 

 danger of interrupting the process of evaporation by overboiling 

 is anticipated and provided against. The manner, also, of 

 exposing the steam-heating surface within the boiler is novel, 

 and will be more effectual than the usual method, in so far that 

 a greater amount of evaporating surface is obtained, and at a 

 much lower degree of heat. The vacuum is produced by three 

 pumps with metallic piston-valves, connected with a wrought- 

 iron three-throw-crank driven by a steam-engine of a very 

 beautiful construction, which is peculiarly arranged for the 

 purpose. The vacuum pan, with its pumps, connections, &c, 

 is perhaps the most complete piece of mechanism which has yet 

 been turned out of any establishment for a similar purpose, and 

 is finished in a most elegant and tradesman-like manner in all 

 its parts. Besides the apparatus we have described, two other 

 steam-engines were in full operation at the same time. These 

 were to be used for working the mills for crushing the sugar 

 canes. The cane-mill, attached to one of the engines, is a most 

 gigantic and ponderous piece of macbinery. It is composed of 

 three enormous rollers, which are worked by wheels, and must 

 have an enormous crushing power. This will be evident when 

 we state that the mill, without its gearing, weighs no less than 

 forty tons. This, we believe, is the heaviest and largest 

 machine which has ever yet been made for crushing canes. 

 We cannot conclude our necessarily imperfect notice of these 

 interesting machines without a word of commendation to the 

 excellence, strength, and elegance of the workmanship, which 



