160 



Drainage by Steam Power. 



canal the whole of the water falling on the 1200 acres is now lifted within 

 a few hours of the heaviest rain, by the wheel to which I have alluded. 



" I had an excellent opportunity of witnessing this, during my inspection of 

 that portion of the property. The weather had been for some time wet, and heavy 

 rain had fallen during the whole of the previous day; yet on my arrival soon 

 after ten in the morning, I found that, though the wheel had ceased working at 

 two o'clock, there was nearly 5 feet of ditierence between the surface of the 

 water inside and outside the wheel. 



" I may be permitted to express the extreme satisfaction I have experienced 

 in the above survey : it is an unusual and gratifying incident to find the liberal 

 and enlightened views of the proprietor so ably seconded by the skill and 

 energy of the agent; nor is it less gratifying to know, that while the pecuniary 

 resources of the one, and the official character of the other, will equally be 

 benefited by the result, that benefit is shared also by all the inhabitants of 

 the neighbourhood in the improved sanatory condition of the district thus 

 drained. 



" I feel it due to Sir Thomas Hesketh, exclusive of the pleasure it affords 

 me, to make this ample report to the Commissioners, that they may be enabled, 

 in the event of any further application on his behalf, to know the grounds on 

 which I beg to recommend such applications to their most favourable con- 

 sideration. 



Decemher 11, 1850." (Signed) " Robert Neilsox. 



To Mr. Boosie, of RufFord, near Ormskirk, who is thus so 

 deservedly eulogised in Mr. Neilson's report, I am indebted for 

 many of the facts, and for much of the information I have ob- 

 tained with reference to this drainage. Mr. Boosie entered upon 

 the agency at RufFord in January, 1847 : in a short time after- 

 wards he devised his plan of operation, and commenced with 

 making his catch-water drains. The principal catch-water drain 

 intercepts all the water flowing from the higher ground on the 

 north side of the land drained (about 600 acres), and conveys it 

 to the sluice : an embankment being required to pass it through 

 the low ground as it approaches the outfall. The length of this 

 catch-water drain is about 2i miles, and the fall about 7 feet. 

 The object of these drains is obvious — the saving of the addi- 

 tional steam-power which would be required if the water from 

 them was permitted to flow towards the engine. In July, 1849> 

 Mr. Boosie visited the Pode-hole engines near Spalding, in Lin- 

 colnshire, for the purpose of getting information as to the working 

 of those engines, also to assist him in determining the necessary 

 power required for Sir Thomas's engine, and the best mode of 

 constructing the water-wheel. Specifications for the engine and 

 wheel were then prepared for him by a friend in Manchester,! 

 and tenders were received from different parties for an engine of 

 20-horse power, and a wheel 30 feet in diameter. Messrs. Ben- 



* Since the above was written, 100 acres, at a short distance to the south-east of 

 the engine, which were on a sufficiently high level, have been drained into the 

 sluice by a catch-water drain, thus relieving the engine, in some measure, of its 

 work.— H. W. 



t The gentleman here referred to is Mr. Eobert Smith, Engineer, Old Traflford 

 Hall, Manchester, who accompanied Mr. Boosie in'o Lincolnshire. 



