Later Years
Francis stayed active on all levels of involvement in the city of Lowell, and even served as an Alderman from 1862 to 1864.
In 1865, James researched and publish his findings on cast iron, and their use as structural columns in; "The Strength of Cast-Iron Columns."
Francis also originated scientific methods of testing hydraulic machinery, and was a founding member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and its president in 1880.
In 1883, James completed his calculation standards for water flow rates, now known as the Francis equation or Francis Formula, usually used in Fluid Dynamics in conjunction with calculating weirs. Q=3.33h1 3/2 (L-0.2h1)
Q= discharge in ft3/s neglecting velocity of approach
L =the length of weir in feet
h1= head on the weir in feet
He remained at the Locks and Canal Company for his entire career, until retirement in 1884 at the age of 69, and remained on as a consultant right up until his death. His son James took over as Chief Engineer. The rest of his life he spent with his wife Sarah, and their six children in their home on Worthen Street, which was Whistlers old home and now the Whistler House Museum of Art. Francis died at the on September 18, 1892, age of 77, and is buried at Lowell Cemetery under a massive pillar of cut granite stones, symbolizing the stones used to make the canals.
Read more about this topic: James B. Francis
Famous quotes containing the word years:
“The greater part of our best years has been passed for our generation in these two great worldconvulsions. All will be changed after this war, which spends in one month more than nations earned before in years ... there is no more security in our time than in those of the Reformation or the fall of Rome.”
—Stefan Zweig (18811942)
“Keeping up with the Joneses was a full-time job with my mother and father. It was not until many years later when I lived alone that I realized how much cheaper it was to drag the Joneses down to my level.”
—Quentin Crisp (b. 1908)