ment in some states. Thus about half of the towns of Connecticut preserve a district system. The district government of the schools has the advantage of an extreme democracy; but the disadvantages of smallness and isolation. In Connecticut since 1866 the school districts may be consolidated by a vote of the town. It was part of the work of Horace Mann to show the deficiencies and weakness of the district system which arise from its extreme decentralization.
Gov′ernor (engine), a device attached to a steam-engine or other motor for keeping the speed of the machine constant within practical limits. As applied to a steam-engine, the object of the governor is to act on the throttle-valve or on the supply of steam to the cylinder, so that the supply of steam is proportional to the load. The common engine-governors depend on balancing the centrifugal force of a revolving mass either against gravity or against the force of a spring. The governor applied to the steam-engine by Watt consists of two heavy balls attached to two inclined arms, which are jointed to an upright spindle so that the balls can move in a vertical plane, thus forming a double conical pendulum. The spindle is geared so as to revolve with a speed proportional to that of the engine, and as the speed of the spindle increases the balls fly out and rise against gravity. For a definite speed the balls have a definite position. Beyond this speed they rise, and below this speed they fall. By suitable links and levers the supply of steam is increased or decreased for lower or higher speeds. In modern high speed engines (speeds over 150) the governor most commonly used is placed inside the fly-wheel. A heavy mass on a lever attached to a spoke of the fly-wheel is held toward the center by a spring, and as the speed increases the spring is stretched and the mass flies out. By suitable mechanism this movement regulates the supply of steam. The demand upon a governor is that, in engines for ordinary service, the speed must not vary more than 2%; and for electric light service not over 1%.
WATT'S ENGINE-GOVERNOR
A HIGH SPEED ENGINE-GOVERNOR
Gow′an, Hon. James Robert, a senator of the Dominion, was born in Ireland in 1815 and came to Canada in 1832. After serving as a volunteer in the rebellion of 1837 he was called to the bar of Upper Canada in 1838, and appointed judge in 1843, retiring from the bench in 1883. He was appointed chairman of the board of judges in 1884 and a senator the year following. He introduced the present mode of procedure in divorce cases in the senate, and has been president of its divorce tribunal since 1889, making now 56 years of judicial service. In addition he has taken an important part in the revision and codification of the laws of the Dominion.
Grac′chi (grăk′ī), The, two Roman brothers, who were celebrated as soldiers and tribunes.
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, the elder, was born about 168 B. C., and in 137 served as questor with Mancinus against Spain. In 133 he was elected tribune and attempted to re-enforce the agrarian or land law of Licinius Stolo, and succeeded in passing the measure. But, as with all good men, he was falsely accused of violating the sacredness of his office; and, in the midst of the next election, he was, with many of his supporters, foully murdered.
Caius Sempronius Gracchus, younger by nine years than his brother, was serving in Spain under Scipio Africanus at the time of Tiberius' murder, but felt himself urged by his brother's death to return and take up his work. In 123 he stood for the tribuneship and was a second time elected in the following year. He labored always
