Page:Reflections on the Motive Power of Heat.djvu/225

With reference to the cases (3), (4), (6), (7), the hypothesis of Table B is probably in general nearer the truth than that of Table A. In (4), (6), and (7), especially upon hypothesis B, there is much uncertainty as to the amount of evaporation that will be actually produced by 1 lb. of fuel. The assumption on which the numbers in the second column in Table B are calculated, is, that each pound of coal will send the same number of units of heat into the boiler, whether hypothesis A or hypothesis B be followed. Hence, except in the case of the French contract, in which the evaporation, not the fuel, is specified, the numbers in the third column are the same as those in the third column of Table A.