Musical Cascade

Where there is a natural cascade, near the lower stream, but not in

it, let there be placed a large wheel, equal to the breadth of the

cascade: the diameter of this wheel, for about a foot from each end,

must be much less than that of the middle part; and all the water from

the cascade must be made to fall on the ends. The water that falls on

the wheel may pass through pipes, so that part of it may be made

occasionally to pass over or fall short of the wheel, as you would

have the time of the music quicker or slower. The remaining part of

the wheel, which is to be kept free from the water, must consist of

bars, on which are placed stops that strike against the bells: these

stops must likewise be moveable. It is evident from the construction

of this machine, that the water falling on the floats at the end of

the wheel, will make the stops, which are adapted to different tunes,

strike the notes of those tunes on the respective bells. Two or three

sets of bells may here be placed on the same line, when the cascade is

sufficiently wide.



Where there is not a natural cascade, one may be artificially

constructed, by raising part of the ground, wherever there is a

descent of water; whether it be a stream that supplies a reservoir or

fountain, or serves domestic uses; or if it be refuse water that has

already served some other purpose.