20 



ADVANTAGES OF STEAM. 



of an extensive and unconnected establishment of houses by one fire, is 

 impracticable in most cases ; but, in the mode here represented, the ex- 

 tent of apphcation is in a manner unlimited, whatever be the number or 

 situation of the houses requiring heat. It likewise combines all the 

 advantages of steam as a conductor of heat, with that of a bulk of water 

 as a retainer. The water pipes are eight inches in diameter, and about 

 twenty eight feet long. The steam pipe of one inch in diameter, entering 

 at the centre of one end, and proceeding in rather an inclined direction to 

 the other, is then returned, still inclining, and passed out at the bottom of 

 the bore, immediately under the place where it entered. It is then 

 formed into a siphon, about three feet deep, whence the condensed water 

 is conveyed away. A smaller pipe is also connected ^ith the top of the 

 large one, to receive the increase of water by expansion when heated, 

 which, as the large pipe cools, retm^ns into it again." Under the line of 

 these tubes is a hollow flue or air chamber, and over this is another flue 

 or chamber, in which the water pipes lie. " The air being admitted from 

 the air chamber underneath, through an opening extending the whole 

 length of the pipes, and passing through the upper chamber on ea<3h side 

 of the pipes, is discharged through the grating" in the floor "through the 

 house. Shallow cisterns are connected with the upper part of the pipes, 

 about eighteen'^ inches from each other, by means of hollow screws, which 

 admit the water to pass to and fro reciprocally; the capacity of the 

 cistern is more than sufficient to receive the increased bulk of the water, 

 which expands when heated, and returns again into the pipes as the water 

 cools." The du'ection of the pipes upon this principle is similar to 

 the generahty of hot water pipes, viz., passing along the front of the 

 house, turning round at the ends, and continuing along parallel to 

 the back wall. " The external diameter of the front pipes is thirteen 

 inches, and of the back pipes ten inches and a half; each set of pipes is 

 divided in the middle of their length, except that the nearest dirision of 

 the front pipes return about half way round, the end being in length more 

 than sixty feet. These water pipes have one inch and a quarter steam 

 pipe, extending in them their whole length, and returning again, preserv- 

 ing a regular inclination throughout. The back pipes have steam pipes 

 one inch in diameter, passing through them in a similar way, and the 

 feeding pipes are so arranged that each di^dsion may be heated separately, 

 or in conjunction mth the rest. Another advantage attending this mode 

 of applying heat is, that as no returning pipes are necessary as in the 

 common hot water apparatus, the bulk of water is doubled, with the ^ame 

 extent of heating surface, and the returning power of the apparatus is 



