Series 4 > Scottish industrial history

198 SCOTTISH INDUSTRIAL HISTORY
carbon) or 2 per cent over our Preveous best weeks work. Second
Week gave 8| per Cent of Tar by weight of Peat Consumed in
Kilns. Peat as formerly used in Steam Boiler Fumece From 3 to 3J
Tons in 24 hours. Large Ponds dug below the Works to contain the
Ammonia Water Condenced (Which averaged 30 per cent of the
Peat used). [The quantity of Water depended on the dryness of
the Peat and the tempreture of the Air. The Condencers being on
the Atmospheric principle gave better results in cold weather.]
Which under the overseeing of the Head Gamekeeper the Ponds
was emptyed in to a Burn leading to the Creed River When in
Flood. But notwithstanding all Precautions, during dry weather it
was impossible to prevent injury to the Salmon Fry in the River,
by under ground leakage using from the Ponds. Having, In select¬
ing a site for the Works overlooked the Killing of the Fish in the
Pond (see Page 3 [i.e. pp. 183-4]) Caused Great trouble and expence
at the Works, to remedy this as much as possible, by an arrange¬
ment of pipes The Ammonea Water was led in to the Ashpits.
This dousing the Hot Charcoal droping through the Fumece bars
saturating the Charcoal and ashes with Ammonia, which was
found Valuable as a Fertilizer, and so used on the improvements
going on in the Castle Grounds. In this Manner about | of the
Water was used up.
The uncondencible Gases Burning to Waste. But notwithstanding
our Manager prohibition, and without his Knowledge, a Flew was
led under Ground, with a rigulating Valve, leading the Gas in to the
Steam Boiler Fumece, Air to support Combusion supplied through
the Furnece Bars, forming a sheet of Flame below the Boiler etc.
This saving 3J Tons of Peat in 24 hours. Which was added to the
Consump of the Kilns with a Coresponding encrease of Tar. The
Gas keeping up Steam for 5 days before our Manager visited the
Works, his time taken up at the refinery (being supplied with a
Poney and Trap by Sir James Mathison).
A sciene at the Works on the Fifth day, or on Mr Caunters first
Visit. Descovering the Gas below the Boiler, He entirely lost
Temper, quite lost Controll of himself, for as he said, daring to do
what he prohibited, and if safe to do Dr Paul would have done it
when at the Works, Predicting the blowing up of the Works etc.
His Mildest Term was stuborn disabedience. Left the Works in a