to Mr. Hewson, the Borough Engineer of
Leeds). The details and estimates for the Leeds scheme are not yet in a
forward enough state to enable me to give them at present; but the whole
case is sufficiently worked out for Birmingham to enable a fair
deduction to be made therefrom as regards the utility of the system in
other towns. In Birmingham, progress has been delayed owing to
difficulties in procuring a site for the works, and other matters of
detail. We have, however, recently succeeded in obtaining a suitable
place, and making arrangements for railway siding, water supply, etc.;
and we hope to be in a position to start early in the present year.

I inclose (1) a tabulated summary of the estimates for Birmingham
divided into stages of 3,000 gross indicated horse power at a time; (2)
a statement showing the cost to consumers in terms of indicated horse
power and in different modes, more or less economical, of applying the
air power in the consumers' engines; (3) a tracing showing the method of
laying the mains; (4) a tracing showing the method of collecting the
meter records at the central station, by means of electric apparatus,
and ascertaining the exact amount of leakage. A short description of the
two latter would be as well.

TABLE I.--_Showing the Progressive Development of the Compressed Air
System in stages of 3000 Indicated Horse Power (gross) at a Time, and
the Profits at each Stage_

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Gross | 3000 | 6000 | 9000 | 12,000 | 15,000 |
Indicated | Ind. | Ind. | Ind. | Ind. | Ind. |
Horse Power | H.P. | H.P. | H.P. | H.P. | H.P. |
at Central | | | | | |
Works: | | | | | |
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Thousands of | 1,080,000 | 2,160,000 |3,240,000 | 4,320,000 |5,400,000 |
Cubic Feet at 45 | | | | | |
lbs. pressure | | | | | |
at engines | | | | | |
Deduction for | 17,928 | 70,927 | 154,429 | 267,529 | 409,346 |
friction and | | | | | |
leakage