Series 4 > Scottish industrial history

200
SCOTTISH INDUSTRIAL HISTORY
Hot water Boiler for the Castle Hot houses. This dowing away with
the smoke blowing about the Castle Windows when the Boiler is
Fired. In 1874 an English Gentleman sugested this, But officials
objected.]
The Ammonea apparatus prepared by Dr Paul (see Page 36
[i.e. p. 197]) which he often said, when fitted up, would take
Byproducts out of the Peat Water equal if not more then Pay the
Working expence of the Works. The Brown Acid after being used at
the Refinery was to be reused to fix the Ammonea at Creed,
Was by this time allowed to run in to the Broad Bay. About this
time A Gentleman Visitor at the Lewis Castle, observing the large
quantity of Shells put ashore by the Tides on the South end of the
Broad Bay, suggested to gather and Bum them into Lime. Sir
James and Lady Mathison being always willing to give employ¬
ment to the Tennants, ordered the shells to be Gathered, Kilns
Built in the Castle Grounds where the Lime was to be used on the
Improvements. But on Trial The Kilns found unsutable so in that
way proved a Failure and given up. Which lead to a Furnice being
Built at Creed Works and the Gases applied to burn the shells
during the Existance of the Works, scores of the Crofters in the
adjoining Villages, Paid heavy arears of rent by gathering and
Carting the shells to Creed Works. [When the Works was under¬
going repairs, The Shells was Burnt with Peat Fewal in stead of
Gas, a Furnece being added to lower end . . . The flame from the
Peat fire acting on the shells similar to the Gas. In this manner all
the Lime required for Estate Work could have been Burnt at about
half the cost of Irish Lime, The Broad Bay supplying the Shells.
All such discouraged by Estate officials. No tips from Lime Agents
or Ship owners.] In this Way Generating steam, Evaporating the
Peat Water and Burning Shells all the Uncondencible Gases was
Utilized. For which our Manager took Credid, as he had an equal
right to do as first using the Gas to Generate Steam (See Page 39
[i.e. pp. 198-9]).
Every opertunity was taken to farther improve the Works as
practice would derect, Widi the result that our weekley Produce of
Tar was from 8| to 9 Tons. [The Pitch was easely seperated by
stirring diluted Acid in the Tar when in a few hours The Pitch was
on the Bottom of the Tank. The Pitch when Boiled was found