1848.] 
SAW-MILL. 
27 
damming up two or three small streams, and thus form- 
ing extensive mill-pools. The saw-mill was recently 
erected by Mr. Leavens, who is a practical millwright. 
It is of the kind commonly used in the United States, 
and the manner of applying the water is rather different 
from what we generally see in England. There is a fall 
of water of about ten feet, which, instead of being ap- 
plied to an overshot or breast-wheel, is allowed to rush 
out of a longitudinal aperture at the bottom, against the 
narrow floats of a wheel only twenty inches in diameter, 
which thus revolves with great velocity, and communi- 
cates motion by means of a crank and connecting-rod 
directly to the saw, which of course makes a double 
stroke to each revolution of the wheel. The expense of 
a large slow-motion wheel is thus saved, as well as all 
the gearing necessary for producing a sufficiently rapid 
motion of the saws ; and the whole having a smaller 
number of working parts, is much less liable to get out 
of order, and requires few repairs. The platform carry- 
ing the log is propelled on against the saw in the usual 
manner, but the method of carrying it back at the end 
of the cut is ingenious. The water is shut off from the 
main wheel, and let on at another shoot against a ver- 
tical wheel, on the top of the upright shaft of which is 
a cog-wheel working into a rack on the frame, which 
runs it back with great rapidity, and in the simplest 
manner. One saw only is used, the various thicknesses 
into which the trees are cut rendering more inconvenient. 
We here saw the different kinds of timber used, both 
in the log and in boards, and were told their various 
uses by Mr. Leavens. Some are very hard woods re- 
