> It would be interesting to see if steam superseded water as the typical
> power source for boring mills. Steam has less variability and
> presumably more power. Tredegar used water and steam, Bellona appears
> to have used water only, and S&P was adjacent to the JR&K Canal and was
> presumably water powered.
Lyle,
Sorry that it took me so long to respond. We've (IA grad students)
have come across a source that mentions an auxiliary steam engine for
the water wheel, but appears that the main source of power in the
boring mill was the water wheel. Of course, that information could
change after excavation this summer. Thanks again for your input.
Rachael