bore to the power indicated on the brake in the atmospheric engine.

Mr. Holt said unfortunately he had not any figures with him which
would give this information; and it was so long since he had anything
practically to do with this form of engine, that he should not like to
speak from memory. He might add that the largest size of gas-engine
made (of about 100 horse power indicated) was at work at Messrs. Edwin
Butterworth and Co.'s, of Manchester. It was now driven by ordinary
coal gas; but Dowson plant was to be put up very shortly in order to
reduce the cost of working, which, though not excessive, would be
still more economical with the Dowson gas--probably only about 30s.
per week. The present cost was about £4 per week, though it was not
working always at full power.

Mr. T. Holgate (Batley) said he thought it was generally understood,
by those who had studied the subject, that the adoption of compression
of the gaseous mixture before ignition had, so far, more than anything
else, contributed to the improved working of gas-engines. This fact
had not been sufficiently brought out in the paper, although Mr. Lane
had clearly indicated some of the directions in which further
improvements were likely to obtain. Gas engineers were largely
indebted to Mr. Dugald Clerk for the statement he had made of the
theory of the gas-engine.[4] Mr. Lane had given some figures, arrived
at by Messrs. Brooks and Steward, from experiments made in America;
but, prior to these Mr. Clerk had given others which were in the main
in accordance with them. Professor Kennedy had also made experiments,
the results of which agreed with them.[5] The extent of the loss by
the cooling water was thus well ascertained; and it was no doubt by a
reduction of this loss that further improvement in the working of
gas-engines would eventually be obtained.