I allude to those cases
where the horse drawing a reaping or thrashing machine, not only pulls
it forward as he might pull a cart, but causes its machinery to
revolve, so as to perform the desired kind of work. This species of
horse-engine, though known, was but little used in 1831. With respect
to hot-air engines there have been many attempts to improve them, and
some hot-air engines are working, and are working with considerable
success; but the amount of power they develop in relation to their
size is small, and I am inclined to doubt whether it can be much
increased.
TRANSMISSION OF POWER.
I now come to the subject of the transmission of power. I do not mean
transmission in the ordinary sense by means of shafting, gearing, or
belting, but I mean transmission over long distances. In 1831, we had
for this purpose flat rods, as they were called, rods transmitting
power from pumping engines for a considerable distance to the pits
where the pumps were placed, and we had also the pneumatic, the
exhaustion system--the invention of John Hague, a Yorkshire-man, my
old master, to whom I was apprenticed--which mode of transmission was
then used to a very considerable extent. The recollection of it, I
find, however, has nearly died out, and I am glad to have this
opportunity of reviving it.
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