گی در بیل
BAltinioRe And Shio RailRoad company.
EXPERIMENTS
ON
RAIL ROADS,
IN ENGLAND,
ILLUSTRATIVE
OF THE
Safety, Economy and Speed,
OF
TRANSPORTATION,
WHICH THIS SYSTEM,
AS NOW IMPROVED,
IS CAPABLE OF AFFORDING.
Baltimore:
PRINTED BY WILLIAM WOODDY
1829.

Transpet
TE
50
BIG
}

گونگی
Baltimore and shio RailRoad company.
EXPERIMENTS
ON
RAIL ROADS,
IN ENGLAND,
ILLUSTRATIVE
OF THE
Safety, Economy and Speed,
OF
TRANSPORTATION,
WHICH THIS SYSTEM,
AS NOW IMPROVED,
IS CAPABLE OF AFFORDING.
Baltimore:
PRINTED BY WILLIAM WOODDY.,
1829.
+
.

J.
Tramport
TE
57
, B/G
مسه
rmiser
29-50
F
EXPERIMENTS
Ї

+
:
ON
RAIL ROADS.
The importance of securing an easy, economical, and expe-
ditious means of communication, between all parts of our widely
extended country, now rapidly increasing in population, is so
universally admitted, and so fully appreciated, that it is deemed
altogether unnecessary to attempt any illustration, of the many,
and deeply interesting considerations, which urge upon us the
propriety of availing ourselves, of every practicable means, by
which this most desirable purpose can be effectuated.
เ
Whether we consider the subject as regards its social,
commercial, or political relations, it is believed that all will
agree, there is no other question, which can, at this time, have so
strong a claim upon the close and earnest attention of the
American people and Government.
Of the several artificial means of intercommunication be-
tween distant points, turnpike roads, canals and rail-ways;
unquestionably have the advantage over all others which hu-
man ingenuity has suggested; each of these has its particular
claims to a preference, according to the nature and extent of
the communication proposed to be accommodated, or to local
circumstances, and the surface of the country to be traversed.
When the traffic or communication is small, a turnpike road
would, on account of the cheapness of its cost, naturally be a-
dopted: when the country is level, and water abundant, as in
Holland, a canal would afford all the necessary accommodation,
if speed in transportation was not requisite; but when the coun-
try is mountainous, or even undulating-the traffic large, and a
rapid transit desirable, a rail-road would afford advantages so much
greater than either a turnpike road or canal, as to leave no doubt
of its superiority, both as regards safety, speed, and economy.
The following reports and statements of experiments upon
the Liverpool and Manchester, and other rail roads in England,
will, at once satisfy every candid unprejudiced individual of the
correctness of this opinion; and will afford an exhibit of the pro-
digious improvements which in the short space of three years
have been realised in the construction of Rail Roads, and the
application of moving power upon them in that country. At
the same time it should be remarked, that experience, aided by
the inventive genius of highly talented men, both in the United
States and in Europe, is daily developing further discoveries and
improvements, in this important system of intercommunication,
W
·
น
4
From the London Courier, November, 1826.
"About a fortnight since, a number of experiments with the
locomotive engines, were performed at Killingworth, near New-
castle-upon-Tyne, by order of the Committee of the Liverpool
and Manchester Rail-way.
On the 22nd ult. a superior engine, of eight horse power, being
employed, the diameter of the wheels being four feet, five dif-
ferent trials of its power and speed were made. The weight
moved, exclusive of the engine, was 48 tons, 15 cwt. The in-
clination of the road was 1 in 840-the greatest rise in any part
11 inches in 100 yards, or 1 in 327. The engine and load be-
ing moved in both directions along this inclined plane, the total
result may be considered as upon a horizontal plane. The aver-
age velocity was nearly seven miles an hour, and the greatest
speed nine and a half miles an hour. As this engine was not of
the best construction for speed, no doubt can be entertained,
that with proper engines, goods and merchandise may be con-
veyed with a very considerable increased velocity."
Extract from the letter of an American Gentleman in England,
dated, Liverpool, 29th Sept. 1827, published in the Baltimore
Gazette.
"Each Locomotive Engine conveys a train of 27 wagons,
conveying 90 tons of coal, on the Leeds Rail-road.
"I next proceeded to the Hetton Rail Road. This extends
from the Hetton Collieries over a series of high hills, to the
river Wear, near Sunderland, a distance of several miles.
"From the uneven features of the country, the Hetton Road
consists almost entirely of a series of inclined planes.
"Here is a practical and very striking illustration of the effect
of this novel mode of transportation in a hilly or mountainous
country. A sterile, broken region, hitherto nearly inaccessible,
and entirely unproductive, suddenly emerges from obscurity,
and becomes, by this ingenuous contrivance, a source of great
private emolument, as well as public (and I may say National)
utility. This is in part demonstrated by the immense increase
of shipping at this port.
"Ascending one of the Rail Road Coaches, I returned to Dar-
lington, and from thence to New Shelton, a distance of twenty
miles. Here commenced the first Inclined plane, and here ter-
minates the route of the Locomotive Engines. This hill is as-
cended by an Inclined plane of one mile and three quarters, in
a straight line; on the summit there is a stationary Engine of
sixty horse power, the descent westward, is also by an incline
·

5
of one mile and a half; the same Engine acts upon both these
planes.
"Taking my station upon the last of a long line of wagons,
the foremost of which, being previously attached to the rope,
and the proper signal being given, I found myself in a moment
hurried up the ascent with a surprising and unexpected veloci-
ty, which brought me in a few minutes, to the summit, whence I
was conveyed down the western side with the same speed; so
that this heavy train of wagons was transported over this formi-
dable barrier, a distance of three miles and a quarter, in the
space of a few minutes.
"The prompt, vigorous, and rapid style, in which this move-
ment is performed, is eminently calculated to excite both sur-
prise and delight, and affords a striking contrast to the tardy
operations of a Canal similiarly circumstanced.
"The engines are simple in their construction, neat and light,
of five or six horse power, and each one generally takes a train
of ten or twelve loaded wagons. The conductor executes the
various manoeuvres with such surprising facility, that one would
almost imagine the beautiful machinery to be endowed with in-
telligence. The whole train is made to advance, to recede, to
turn out, at pleasure; and when arrived at its destination, the en-
gine immediately takes a position in the rear of the line of wagons,
pushes them onward to the Shutes, where the coals are dis-
charged, and finally taking them in its train, returns back upon
the same route."
The experiments with Locomotive Engines, above enumer-
ated, and those which will presently be submitted, were made
with wagons of the old construction. Mr. Ross Winans, an
American citizen, has, invented a Rail-way Car, which by the
addition of anti-friction wheels, will enable a given, power acting
upon a horizontal Rail Way to transport a weight perhaps twice
as great as by the ordinary Rail-road wagons heretofore used.
Extract from the Liverpool Mercury of 17th July, 1829.
"Our readers may form a tolerable idea of the ease with
which this (Winans') carriage is moved, by the fact, that on a
dead level, a weight of sixteen pounds, drew it forward at the
rate of about three miles in the hour, while it was laden with
three tons of iron, which, including the weight of the carriage,
amounted to three tons fifteen hundred weight. With fifteen
ordinary sized persons standing and sitting in the wagon, two
men by means of the winches, urged it forward at a rate ex-
ceeding thirteen miles in the hour, and we were told by a
6
gentleman who had a stop watch, that the maximum speed was
fifteen miles."
Extract from the Liverpool Times.
I
"This invention (Winans) appecs to possess considerable merit,
and is likely to be of much practie utility.-It appears that, by
manual power applied by winches, a passage between this place
and Manchester, (34 miles) may be effected in about three hours,
at about 6d. a head. This will be the actual cost of the power,
but the proprietors of the road will probably charge 3s. 6d. or
4s. which will leave an immeuse revenue on the carriage of
passengers only. It is intended to convey along the rail-road
between this place and Manchester, not only bipeds, but ani-
mals of various kinds, and carriages have already been con-
structed for the accommodation of cattle and pigs! We, on
Monday, saw a carriage constructed for the accommodation of
the latter respectable class of quadrupeds, which certainly is a
much handsomer and more commodious vehicle than those in
which his Majesty's liege subjects were accustomed to travel
fifty years ago."
Extract from the Liverpool Chronicle, 26th September.
"RAILWAY EXPERIMENTS.-On Wednesday, several gentle-
men assembled on the level piece of railway between Edge-hill
and the Wavertree road, to witness the trial of railway carriage
wheels on Mr. Winan's principle. The carriage and wheels
weighed
0 tons. 11 cwt. 1 qr. 3lbs.
and was loaded with pig iron, 3
S
0
1 21
11
2 24
making a total of weight to be Į 3
moved,
A contrivance for ascertaining the requisite power or weight
to move the above was used, that had previously obtained the
sanction of two eminent engineers. The carriage and weight
were moved along the road at various speeds, and with 10lbs.
12lbs. 15lbs. 17lbs. and 19lbs. from which the following pro-
portionate results were deduced.
1lb. moved 334 and kept it moving 4 miles per hour.
1lb. 66 470 (
1lb. tr
(૮
616 tr
66
..
3 (C
t
2. 1/1
AC
66
66
When motion was first given by other power to the carriage,
then
1lb. with 617 kept it moving 44 miles per hour.
1lb. 66
800 kept it moving.
When 12lb. 12 oz. and upwards were used to bring the carriage
and load forward, it invariably gained in speed.
my
On the whole, the results were highly satisfactory, and, from
them it would appear, that a horse's work on the rail-road, at a
slow speed, may be brought to approximate much nearer to his
work on a canal, than perhaps had been generally imagined.
One point seemed to be fully established, that this principle has
greater advantages under a quick speed than under a slow one.
for, when considerable speed was given at first, by other power,
the speed was better kept up or increased by the respective
weights, than when tried under a slow speed.
·
[From the above it will be seen, that rating the power of a
horse at 120 lbs. the result will be equal to 33 tons drawn by
a single horse at the speed of two and a half miles per hour.]
From the Liverpool Mercury, Oct. 9.
1
1

TRIAL OF THE LOCOMOTIVE CARRIAGES ON THE RAIL-WAY.
Our readers are aware, that a few months ago, a premium of
£500 was offered by the Directors of the Liverpool and
Manchester Railway Company, for a Locomotive carriage of
the best construction, and combining in the highest degree the
advantages of velocity and draught. On Tuesday last, the ex-
periments to ascertain the merits of different carriages which
have been entered for the prize, were commenced, and they have
been since continued daily, in order to ascertain, satisfactorily,
their different merits. The spot chosen for the experiments,
was a portion of the railroad, near Rainhill, about ten miles
from Liverpool, which is on a perfect level, and is therefore,
admirably adapted for the purpose. The ground was crowded
with spectators from Liverpool and the neighbourhood, to the
number of 10,000 or 15,000. The following gentlemen were
the umpires or judges; J. M. Rastrick, Esq. of Stourbridge; N.
Wood, Esq. of Killingworth, and J. Kennedy, Esq. of Man-
chester. There were also several gentlemen from different
parts of the kingdom, eminent for their scientific and mechanical
knowledge, on the ground. The following is a description of
the carriage:
No. 1.-Messrs. Braithwaite and Erickson, of London. "The
Novelty;" copper and and blue; weight 2 tons. 15 cwt.
2.-Mr. Ackworth, of Darlington. "The Sans Pareil;"
green, yellow, and black; weight 4 tons, 8 cwt.
and 2 qr.
3. Mr. Robert Stephenson, New Castle-upon-Tyne.
"The Rocket," yellow and black, white chimney,
weight 4 tons, 2 cwt.
:
4.—Mr. Brandreth, of Liverpool. "The Cycloped,'
weight 3 tons, worked by 2 horses.,
""
}
8
5.-Mr. Burstall, Edinburg. "The Perseverance;" red
wheels; weight 2 tons, 17 cwt.
Of these, the four first were exhibited during the day; but
Mr. Burstall's did not make its appearance, as it was unfortu-
nately thrown off the wagon on which it was conveyed to the
scene of action, and experienced some injury in the fall. The
following account of the running on the first day, we take from
that Courier of Wednesday:
"The Locomotive carriages attracted, of course, the atten-
tion of every individual on the ground. They ran up and down
the road during the forenoon, more for amusement than experi-
ment, surprising and even startling the unscientific beholders by
the amazing velocity with which they moved along the rails.
Mr. Robert Stephenson's carriage attracted the most attention
during the early part of the afternoon. It ran without any
weight being attached to it, at the rate of 24 miles in the hour,
shooting past the spectators with amazing velocity, emitting
very little smoke, but dropping red-hot cinders as it proceeded.
Cars containing stones were then attached to it, weighing to-
gether with its own weight, upwards of 17 tons, preparatory
to the trial of its speed being made. The precise distance be-
tween the point of starting, at or near the weighing shed to the
point of returning, was 1 miles; but, in the adjudication of dis-
tances, we are given to understand, the judges allowed a furlong at
each end for the acquirement and abatement of speed. The obser-
vations we record, apply, however, to the whole distance. With
a load of 12 tons gross, the Rocket travelled the above space
of 14 miles, four times forward and backward, equal to fourteen
miles, in the space of 75 minutes, exclusive of stoppages; but
including the stoppages, the average rate was 10 miles per
hour. But in the fifth course, the rate of speed, with a load,
augmented by passengers until equal to 13 tons, was full 15
miles an hour.
"Mr. Ackworth, of Darlington, ran his carriage along the
course during the day; but no trial of his speed with weights
took place yesterday.
"The engine of Messrs. Braithwaite and Erickson, of London,
was universally allowed to exhibit, in appearance and compact-
ness, the beau ideal of a locomotive engine. Its performance,
while exercising without a load, was most astonishing: passing
over a space of 22 miles in seven minutes and a quarter, includ-
ing a stoppage. With this delay its rate of speed was about 23
miles an hour. While running, the progress was upwards of
28 miles an hour. The velocity at which it moved, surprised
and amazed every beholder. It seemed, indeed, to fly, present-


9
ing one of the most sublime spectacles of human ingenuity, and
human daring the world ever beheld. It actually made one gid-
dy to look at it, and filled thousands with lively fears for the
safety of the individuals who were on it, and who seemed not to
run along the earth, but to fly, as it were, on the wings of the
wind."
The following are additional particulars:-We have been in-
formed at the Railway Office, that the course was rather more
than a mile and three-quarters each way, making a total distance
each heat of about three miles and a half. Mr. Stephenson's
carriage, the Rocket, with wagons and tender attached to it,
weighing 12 tons 9 cwt., and the weight on the wheels of the
engine being 4 tons 3 cwt., performed four heats in the follow-
ing periods:
The 1st heat was performed in 13 minutes.
2d (6
66
221/
(6
3d
CC
66
15
(
4th
(C
(6
171
66
62
minutes.
Being a distance of fourteen miles. The Rocket performed
one heat, without any weights being attached to it, 81 minutes,
being at the rate of 24 miles in the hour.
EXPERIMENTS ON WEDNESDAY.-We have just heard that
there was an experiment made on Wednesday, with the carriage
of Messrs. Braithwaite and Erickson, preparatory to the grand
trial which is to be made on Saturday. The carriage is said to
have travelled at the rate of 25 miles in the hour, with three
times its own weight. In consequence of the bursting of the
bellows of one of the engines, the commencement of the con-
test was postponed to yesterday.
Further experiments on the Rail Road.
THURSDAY.—The powers of Mi. Stephenson's carriage, the
Rocket, were this day put to the test in the performance of a
journey of seventy miles, with loaded wagons attached to it.
This, we are informed, was done at the average rate of eleven
miles in the hour, including stoppages, and the time lost after
stopping to return, before the recovery of the general speed.
On one occasion the distance of thirteen miles was performed
within the hour. We have been favoured by Messrs. Braith-
waite and Erickson with the following paragraph:
Trial of the Locomotive Engine.-In consequence of the
judges having this day ordered a new set of conditions, or "or
1
r
i
10
deal which each locomotive engine shall undergo in contending
for the premium of £500 at Rainhill," Messrs. Braithwaite
and Erickson, have, with the approbation of the judges, deferred
the further exhibition of their engine, "the Novelty," till to-
morrow (Saturday) the 10th, on which day, at 11 it will start
at Rainhill, to go 70 miles with its allotted load, in less time
than any other engine.
The following regulations have been made with respect to
the course:
A
с
d
B
A line of road, A. B. is fixed upon for the experiment; the
space between c and d being 3 miles. This distance will be
run over ten times, at full speed, each carriage carrying three
times its own weight. The space between A. and c, at one end,
and B. and d at the other is allowed for the carriage to slacken
speed, to turn, and to regain its maximum state.
This will be a very decisive and satisfactory test of the re-
spective capabilities of the carriages, and the winner will very
amply merit the five hundred pounds, which will be the reward
of his ingenuity.
The weight of the carriage of Messrs. Braithwaite and Erick-
son, is said, in the newspapers, to be 3 tons 15 cwt. In the Di-
rectors' card, however, which we presume to be more correct,
it is stated to be only 2 tons 15 cwt. Messrs. Braithwaite and
Erickson have pledged themselves to produce another carriage,
which shall transport fifteen persons in one hour from Liverpool
to Manchester. [the distance 34 miles.]
FURTHER AND MORE INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS.
From the Liverpool Chronicle of Oct. 17th.
Saturday-Fifth Day.-It has been arranged, that the Lon-
don engine was to start this morning; and accordingly, at the
appointed hour, the engine was weighed, and the load assigned
to it by the judges. The steam was got up in 54 minutes from
the time of lighting the fire. The engine went one trip by way
of rehearsal, when the accidental explosion of a small copper
tube, caused a delay until it could be repaired, by the time
matters were adjusted, it was considered too late to commence
the running with a view to a decision. Between the occurrence
and the repair of this little mishap, Mr. Stephenson's locomotive
engine was run twice down the course and back, making in all
seven miles.
The boilers were filled, the steam got up, and all
load was taken off from behind, including even the tender-car-

11.
riage with the water tank. Thus stripped for the race, the
Rocket was started off, and performed the seven miles in the
incredibly short space of fourteen minutes, being at the rate of
thirty miles an hour. This was a highly interesting exhibition,
and gave universal satisfaction.
When the Rocket had run, the Novelty started in order to
make a fair experiment of her power, her load being attached,
Mr. Vignoles, the engineer, who rode on the Novelty, and timed
it, has given the following record of the weights and perform-
ances of that engine:
Weight of the Engine,
વર્ષ
***
Tons Cut. Qrs. Lbs.
2
15
Load assigned by the judges, water,
coke, and persons on the Engine.
7
11
1
9
1
9
Tons 10 6
The Engine went off from the starting post at the rate of 12
miles per hour, and her velocity rapidly increased during the
whole trip.
The mile between the quarter post and the Judges' tents, was
run in 2 minutes 54 seconds, while the last half mile was run in
85 seconds, being at the rate of 21 1-6 miles per hour.
The whole time between the tents of the Judges, at each
end, being exactly 1½ miles, was performed in 4 minutes and
30 seconds, being at the rate of 17 miles per hour.
It should be remembered, that this experiment was made on
a dead level, and that the rails could not be said to be wet, al-
though, from the appearance of the morning, they might be
called damp.
On returning, the speed was slackened, and it will be per-
ceived, that the rate was nearly uniform. The whole distance
of 1 mile, between the tents of the judges, was performed in
five minutes and fifty four seconds, being at the rate of nearly
154 miles an hour. The first mile was precisely at the rate of
15 miles an hour, and the last quarter was done in 56 seconds,
being upwards of 16 miles an hour.
There is no doubt, that on a continued forward journey, the
Novelty would have freely travelled at the rate of twenty miles
per hour. The average rate of her two trips was very nearly
16 miles an hour; always loaded.
The Novelty, after this highly interesting experiment, ran
down to the grand stand, with empty wagons, and then a large
assemblage of ladies and gentlemen mounted, among whom we
noticed Dr. Traill and his family. The doctor timed the speed
of the Novelty while running the full course, and it appears to
7
12:
WAR
have averaged twenty-two miles an hour, with forty-five pas-
sengers, and at one period carried the same passengers at the
inconceivable velocity of thirty two miles an hour. The No-
velty ran over the course twice, the experiments ceased, and
the company hastened back to town, to await the races of this
week, with an impatience only to be conceived by those who
saw with their own eyes, what locomotive engines can do.
that the Novelty is the first locomotive en-
gine Messrs. Braithwaite and Erickson ever constructed, and it
was four months after the appearance of the advertisement of
fering the premium that they first thought of applying the princi-
ple of their patent boiler to generate locomotion on a railway.
This having been determined on, it naturally required some time
to digest and dispose the application of the principle, to study
the form and arrangement of the engine, and to reduce all these
to working drawings. It was only on the 1st of August that
the Novelty was put into hand; and on the 29th of September,
it arrived by the canal at Liverpool! It was never even tried
until two days before the first day's contest.
Monday-Sixth Day.-There was no note of preparation
sounded this morning, although it was considered that some no-
velty might be witnessed during the day, the result proved it a
very dies non.
Tuesday-Seventh Day.-The Judges were at their stations
early this morning, and shortly afterwards Mr. Ackworth's en-
gine was announced as ready for the race, it having been pre-
viously weighed and the regular load assigned. The first print-
ed cards having stated the weight of the "Sans Pariel" to be four
tons 8 cwt. 2 qrs. the load assigned to it, according to the con-
ditions, would be 13 tons, 5 cwt. 2 qrs., making in all 17 tons
13 cwt. for the total of the engine and load. Soon after ten, the
"Sans Pariel” started to do her assigned performance of seven-
ty miles; and for two hours this engine performed with great
speed and regularity, averaging full fourteen miles an hour, for
a distance of upwards of twenty-five miles, while dragging that
enormous load. One of the pumps which supply the boiler from
the tender was out of order, which caused a cessation of the
race, but this not being considered as tending to effect the velo-
city of the engine, and the "Sans Pariel" exhibited enough
during the day to show that her powers are of a superior order
indeed. Mr. Stephenson's engine was also on the ground this
day, and excited, if possible, increased interest. The numbers
present, notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather;
were considerable, and appeared to be highly gratified with the
different exhibitions.

13
Wednesday. Eighth Day.-We may consider the trial of
the Locomotive Engines virtually at an end. In consequence
of the number of petty accidents which had occurred to the
London engine, "The Novelty," the ingenious inventors,
Me-srs. Braithwaite & Erickson, (rather unadvisedly as we
consider) took their engine to pieces after the performance of
Saturday, and they only had the joints of the boiler pipe closed
this morning. Every engineer knows the effect of a high pres--
sure upon a green joint, but as the Novelty had been entered
for this day's contest, the proprietor, determined upon starting.
Accordingly, at one o'clock the engine set off, and performed
about seven miles in a manner highly satisfactory, going at one
time at the rate of twenty-four miles an hour, with its accus-
tomed load, when the green joint of the boiler pipe gave way,
as might have actually been expected, and the engine was
obliged to stop. It is much to be regretted, that the Novelty
had not been built in time to have the same opportunity of ex-
ercising that Mr. Stephenson's engine had, or that there is not
in London, or its vicinity, any railway where experiments with
it could have been tried. It will evidently require several
weeks to perfect the working of the 'machine and the proper
fitting of the joints, and under this impression, Messrs. Braith-
waite and Erickson have acted wisely in withdrawing, as they
have done, from the contest.
In the early part of the day, Mr. Stephenson's engine as-
cended the Rainhill inclined plane several times with heavy
loads of passengers, and did this at a rate of twelve miles an
hour, now, considering that the rate of ascent is 1 in 96, or
upwards of a third of an inch in a yard, we consider the erec-
tion of fixed engines on that and the other inclined plane at Sut-
ton, as quite out of the question.
The course is thus left clear for Mr. Stephenson, and we con-
gratulate him with much sincerity on the probability of his
being about to receive the reward of £500. This is due
to him for the perfection to which he has brought the old-
fashioned Locomotive engine; but the grand prize of public
opinion is the one which has been gained by Messrs. Braith-
waite and Erickson for their decided improvement in the ar-
rangement, the safety, simplicity, and the smoothness and stea-
diness of a Locomotive Engine, and however imperfect the
present works of the machine may be, it is beyond a doubt, and
we believe we speak the opinion of nine-tenths of the engineers
and scientific men now in Liverpool, that it is the principle and
arrangement of this London engine which will be followed in
the construction of all future locomotives. The powerful in-

14
troduction of a blast bellows, the position of the water tank
below the furnaces of the carriages, by which means the centre
of gravity is brought below the line of central motion, the beau-
tiful mechanism of the connecting movement of the wheels, the
absolute absence of all smell, smoke, noise, vibration, or un-
pleasant feeling of any kind, the elegance of the machinery, in
short the taut ensemble proclaim the perfection of the principle,
and we deeply regret that the want of sufficient time to prac-
tice the mere mechanical motion of their engine, has caused
Messrs. Braithwaite and Erickson to withdraw, their motives
for which, we hope will be properly appreciated by the public,
and by the railway directors, inasmuch as we believe it has
been only to devote their whole time and talent to the perfec-
tion of their machine.
In awarding the principal prize, we cannot doubt both the
inclination and the intention of the directors to purchase the
engines which have been exhibited, and to reward with minor
prizes the unsuccessful but ingenious competitors.
The opinion which we have heard almost universally ex-
pressed by scientific and practical men, who are best competent
to judge, is, that the principle of the "Novelty is the most
complete. We have heard many suggestions as to the best
mode of correcting the imperfections of the mere working parts
of the machine, but it would ill become us, by repeating them,
to pretend to dictate to persons who must know so much better
than any others how this may be done, as the ingenious in-
ventors.
The Editor of the Liverpool Mechanics' Magazine, who rode
on the Novelty, describes his ride thus:
"A carriage with seats for the accommodation of passengers,
being substituted for the loaded wagons attached to "The Novel-
ty," about forty-five ladies and gentlemen ascended to enjoy the
excursion by steam. We can say, for ourselves, that we never
enjoyed any thing in the way of travelling more. We flew
along at the rate of a mile and a half in three minutes, and though
the velocity was such, that we could scarcely distinguish ob-
jects as we passed them, the motion was so steady and equable,
that we could manage not only to read but write.”
The editor of the Leeds Mercury, who was present, says:
"We had the pleasure to travel on a level the rate of twen-
ty-eight miles an hour, with as little appearance of danger and
even of undue speed, as is felt in a stage coach travelling on
the highway at the ordinary speed. The motion indeed of the
carriage was so slight, that the passengers could read with per-
fect ease at the period of its utmost velocity, and, if the springs
:
15
on which the carriage for the passengers was mounted had been
in perfect order, we think it would not have been very difficult
to write."
FURTHER EXPERIMENTS ON THE RAIL WAY.
After the lengthened accounts which have appeared in this
and other papers of the experiments which have been made.
on the Railway, we should not have ventured to call the
attention of our readers again to the subject, if we were
not convinced that the first experiments that were tried af-
forded no idea of the power actually possessed by locomo-·
tive engines. By the original conditions issued by the direc-
tors, it was required that the carriages should draw three times
their own weight, and proceed at the rate of ten miles an hour,
and this was at first thonght to be a considerable task. Subse-
quent experiments have, however, proved that this is nothing in
comparison with what the carriages really can perform. We
stated last week that the prize engine, the Rocket, had drawn
20 tons, at the rate of from 13 to 20 miles per hour, and since
then we have seen it draw the still more astonishing load of 42
tons; or ten times its own weight, at the rate of 15 miles an
hour, which is by far the greatest task that has ever been per-
formed by a locomotive carriage. This feat it performed on
Thursday last. At the commencement of the experiments, a
load of 33 tons was attached to the carriage, which it drew
along for several miles at the rate of 13 miles an hour. An
additional load was then put on, which raised it to 37½ tons, and
with this it proceeded at the rate of 13 miles an hour, its speed
constantly increasing as it got into practice. The enormous load
of 42 tons was then put on, and with this it proceeded at the
average rate of 14 miles an hour! Another class of experi-
ments was afterwards tried in order to ascertain with what load,
and at what rate it would ascend the inclined plane at Huyton,
when it was found that with 11 tons it travelled the mile and a
half in 5 minutes and 35 seconds, or 16 miles an hour, and with
16 tons in 7 minutes and 10 seconds, or 12 miles an hour.
These performances far exceed the warmest anticipations of the
friends of locomotive carriages, and afford additional and incon-
testible evidence of their superiority to all the modes of con-
veyance which at present exist.-The Directors have ordered
four locomotive engines on Mr. Booth's principle of boiler, that
of the Rocket, to be built by Messrs. Robert Stephenson and
Co. of Newcastle.-Liverpool Times.
4
The Editor of the London Mechanics' Magazine, remarking
upon the recent trial of Locomotive Engines at Liverpool, ob-
serves:

16
"But suppose we go a step further, and estimate what the
effects will be of extending this system of communication over
the whole kingdom; what mind is there so comprehensive as to
embrace all the important consequences to which it will lead?
We think we shall not go far in saying, that it will produce an
entire change in the face of British Society. The effect will be
much the same as if the workshop of the manufacturer were
brought along side the quarry, where he obtains his raw materi-
al, and whence he sends it forth again in a manufactured shape,
to the most distant parts of the world: or as if the collieries,
iron mines, and potters of the heart of England were scattered
along its shores. Peculiar local advantages will figure less than
they have done in our manufacturing and commercial history,
since whatever one place produces, can be as quickly and
cheaply transported to another; and instead of our manufactures
continuing concentrated in two or three large towns-to the
great injury of the moral and physical condition of those em-
ployed in them, we may expect to see them spreading gradu-
ally over the kingdom.
*4
Living in the country, will no longer be a term synonymous
with every sort of inconvenience; and it will come to be a mere
matter of choice, whether a man of business lives close by his
counting house, or thirty miles from it. The rents of lands and
houses will not be raised by the change, but they will be equal-
ized; they will be reduced in town and raised in the country.
In proportion, too, as the intercourse of men with each other,
and the interchange of commodities between them is thus fa-
cilitated, the greater will be the cheapness of every thing; the
more our manufacturers will have it in their power to bear up
against that foreign competition by which they are so much en-
dangered. The oftener (to use the common phrase) the penny
is turned, the greater the profit; and the quicker the trader's re-
turn, the smaller capital he requires in business. In fine, we
may say of railways in general, as a worthy gentleman is said
to have observed of the Stockton and Darlington line, and with
ten times greater probability of seeing our prophecy realized.
"LET THE COUNTRY BUT MAKE THE RAIL-
ROADS, AND THE RAIL-ROADS WILL MAKE THE
COUNTRY."
1
TO THE SENATE
AND
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Of the United States, in Congress assembled.
!
The Memorial of the President and Directors of the Balti-
more and Ohio Rail Road Company,
RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH,
That your Memorialists are engaged in the con-
struction of a Rail Road, with at least two sets of Tracks, from
the City of Baltimore to the Ohio River, upon which they have
been actively employed a little more than one year, and have
nearly completed the graduation and masonry, for about twenty-
six miles, including, as your Memorialists confidently believe,
the most expensive and difficult part of the entire line. Upon
about three miles of this, a Rail Way has been laid down.
The necessary acts of Incorporation have been obtained from
the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, vesting your
Memorialists with most ample powers to conduct the Road
through those States, and affording to them every requisite pro-
tection and security.
Stock to the amount of three Millions of Dollars has been
subscribed by individuals, and to the amount of one Million of
Dollars by the State of Maryland and City of Baltimore, con-
stituting a Capital of Four Millions of Dollars, upon which 15
per cent., or 600,000 has been received: the Instalments being
all paid, upon every share of Stock belonging either to the pub-
lic, or individual Stockholders.
The entire district between the City of Baltimore and the
Ohio River, has been examined, and it has been most satisfac-
torily ascertained, that the intermediate country affords such
great facilities for the construction of the proposed Road, as to
render its completion not only certainly practicable, but far less
difficult than was at first supposed; and an actual location of its
eastern section has been made, extending from Baltimore to the
Valley of the Potomac, a distance of abou: 66 miles. Along
this line a route for the Road has been secured, which, with the
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3937
WS?
2
exception of a slight elevation between the Monocacy and Pe
tomac rivers, has only a single summit, and across this summit a
track has been gained of so easy access, as to occasion but little
difficulty, or increase of expense to the transportation. By pur-
suing the Valley of the Potomac, the Road may be continued,
if desired, without one additional summit to the Eastern base
of the Alleghany mountain, and would then exhibit a Rail Way
of about 180 miles, with but one summit requiring stationary
power, a result which it is believed, has not been paralleled
either in this country or in Europe. From the Eastern base of
this mountain, the Road can be conducted by a series of Inclin-
ed Planes, and the aid of stationary engines, over that ridge to
its Western Side, without any diminution in the speed of tra-
velling, and thence it may be carried by a regular graduation,
adapted to locomotive power, to the Ohio River.
The result of the late improvements in the construction of
Locomotive Engines in Europe, and in the application of Steam
Power to them, fully warrant your Memorialists in asserting,
that upon a well constructed Rail Road, the Mail might, with
regularity and certainty, be conveyed from the seat of the general
Government to the State of Ohio, in thirty-six hours, or even
in less time, should it be desirable. Passengers could also be
conveyed in the same time at one-third the expense now incur-
red, and produce of all kinds at a proportionate reduction of
cost.
At the time your Memorialists embarked in this enterprise,
they did not hesitate to believe, that so enlightened a body as
the Congress of the United States, would fully appreciate the
vast importance of the undertaking, whether considered in re-
ference to its social, its commercial or its political influence
upon our country, and they have always looked with confidence
to the aid of the general government in carrying it into opera-
tion. Believing, as your Memorialists do, that every section
of our country has a deep and vital interest in this great work,
and that the countenance and support of the National Legisla-
ture, would essentially promote its early and successful accom-
plishment, they respectfully ask the attention of Congress to the
subject, and confidently hope that a subscription, on the part of
the United States, to the Stock Company, will be authorised to
such extent as in their wisdom may be deemed for the interest
of the Nation.

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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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