Ancient Mint Discovered.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 7, 1 May 1906, Page 169

Ancient Mint Discovered.

As the result of the structural and excavation work which is being carried out by Lord Raglan, at Castle Rushen, Isle of Man, the foundations of a minting house was disclosed recently. The sunk fireplace is almost perfect, and portions of the crucibles, with a large quantity of copper dross, were found alongside. There was also a large number of Derby coins, and it is believed that there were minted the coins which the Earls of Derby put i n circulation when Kings of Man.

Increasing appreciation of the advantages of water power, alike for manufacturing and general industrial purposes, and especially tor machinery propulsion, is, we are glad to know, being evidenced on all hands, for the water turbine is doing excellent service in Europe, America and Canada. It is hardly indeed too much to say that water power at the present time is unsurpassed for economy in prime cost, upkeep, and cost of management — when either breast, Poncelet, overshot wheels, or turbines are employed. When the power required greatly varies, breast, Poncelet, or overshot wheels are deemed most suitable, and when the power needed is fairly constant, when a high speed is required, or the fall is high, turbines can be used to advantage. They are now employed for falls as low as 2^ft., thereby dispelling the idea that turbines are only suitable for high falls. On the other hand, the turbine is well adapted to the modern practice of dividing the power over separate parts to reduce the loss of power, cost, wear, and oil. We notice that a writer in the Southampton Observe* exclaims : " The cry has been ' Back to the land !' Why should it not be ' Back to the country, water power and a more natural and healthy life ?' " The idea is a good one, and would, if generally adopted, lead to the increased employment of artesian wells, turbines, pumps and other hydraulic appliances, in which, as The Review has frequently shown, English engineers excel as manufacturers, and increasingly supply.