The Engine for the Lowell water works was constructed to Proposals issued by the Board of Water Commissioners of Lowell, which, with general specifications, were prepared by the Engineer for the Commissioners. The type of engine and its requirements in performance, and ~e controlling strength of parts were given, but both proposals and specifications left the design of the engine in the main in the hands of the bidder, and the following gives the result as erected by the Southwark Foundry,--Henry G. Morris, proprietor,-of which establishment the writer was at the time superintendent.
This engine is peculiar in the United States as being, without material change, a specimen of the" Simpson" pumping engine of England. Its performance in duty of pumping h~s compared favorably with the reported standard of that engine. A full account of performance, together with a statemen t of the figures of construction, will be found in the JOURSAI,, Vol. C, page 805, where is also given the specification for the boilers,--accompanying fhe engine, wi~h plate.
SPECIFICATION OF k PUMPING ENGINE FOR THE~CITY OF LOWELL~ MASS.