98 



Bedford Level. 



of March. It is 30 horse-power ; the diameter of the wheel being 

 27 feet, the ladles 21 inches wide, making 4 revolutions in a minute. 

 It drains about 3000 acres, the consumption of coals amounting to \\d. 

 per acre. March 4th District, or "West Fen" engine, is on the north 

 bank of the Nene, about a mile and a half westward of the town. It is 

 40 horse-power ; the diameter of the wheel being 28 feet, the width of 

 the ladles 2 feet, and it makes 4 revolutions per minute. It drains 

 about 5000 acres, at a cost of \s. \d. per acre for coals. About 2000 

 acres of high-lancl water run into the two latter districts without paying 

 any tax. The district drainage taxes are 4^. per acre in the two first 

 districts ; in the next Qs. per acre, and in the latter bs. per acre ; part of 

 the taxes going annually in liquidation of money borrowed for the 

 erection of the engines.* 



It is believed that the artificial system of drainage is, in many 

 districts, an unnecessary expense ; and a great improvement in 

 the main drains is now in progress. In the Session of 1844 an 

 Act was obtained for improving the Drainage and Navigation 

 of the Middle Level of the Fens laying a tax of Is. 6d. upon 

 130,000 acres, varying from 2s. ?)d. to 2>d. per acre. The object 

 was, besides enlarging the old drains, and connecting them with 

 some new, to make a new outfall to a more northern point, and 

 therefore a lower level of the Ptiver Ouse. By this great cut 

 the Tongs-drain (or Marshland Cut) will be useless, a dam 

 being placed across this drain near the upper Tongs-sluice. This 

 new channel from the upper end of the Eau Brink Cut to the 

 Sixteen-feet River, about II miles long and 15 feet deep, is now 

 completed, after much difficulty ; — the weight of the banks having 

 in many places forced up the bed of soft blue clay, the banks 

 thus slipping into the drain. The other works cannot be exe- 

 cuted until another Act is obtained, increasing the tax at least \s. 

 per acre. These works will carry away altogether the waters of 

 Whittlesey Mere, — a lake spreading over more than a thousand 

 acres of rich soil not more than 4 feet under water, and sur- 

 rounded by extensive reed- beds. There is no doubt that steam 

 power would ultimately have usurped entirely the offices of the 

 windmills, had not these improvements been projected; it being 



* The engines generally "dip " from 5 to 6 feet below the level of the 

 surface when first erected ; but a few years of good drainage consolidates 

 the moor, and the surface is thus lowered very quickly. It is now gene- 

 rally understood to be the better way for a 40-horse engine to have 

 three boilers of 30-horse power each, two to be at work, and one ready 

 for cleansing or repairs if out of order. Experience has proved that two 

 boilers of 30-horse power each will generate steam for a 40-horse engine 

 with less fuel than one 40-horse boiler, as the furnace does not want so 

 often disturbing to replenish the fire (thereby letting in the cold air), and 

 the combustion is more complete. The cost of a steam-engine, including 

 the building and fixing for purposes of drainage, is about 100/. for every 

 horse power. 



