Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-10-18
IMPROVED STEAM ENGINE.
From DR.. Brewster's Edinburg Philosophical
Journal.

1MIhON ED , La All l. n Ill y L.
From DR.. Brewster's Edinburg Philosophical
Journal.
e There never has been in our day, an
invention which has created such SEN
sation in the scientific and in the manu-
featuring world.--The steam engine OF
Mr.. Watt had been SO long considered
as the greatest triumph ofar and science,
that it sas deemed a sort of heresy
to regard it as capable of improvement;
and Notwithstanding all that has been
done by Mr.. Woolff, and other eminent
engineers; the undoubtc merit of their
engines has scarcely yet been admitted
by the public. Under such circum-
stances, Mr.. Perkins claims were kelly
TO meet with various kinds Of opposition.
Instead of haiing it as an invention which
was to do honor to the age in which we
live, and to add new and powerful arm
to British industry, imperfect expert
mcnts and confined views were urged
against the principle of its construction,
the Jealousies of rival trades were array
ed against it, imaginary apprehensions
OF danger were excited, and short-sigh,-
ed politicians sounding the alarm, that
such an invention would precipitate our
country from its lofty pre-eminence
a nsz-s., the rnannfaetu ring .,aeiouo OF TIC
world.
Most of these grounds of opposition
have been now removed by direct cx-
pertinent. Mr.. Perkins engine is actu-
ally at work. Its operations have been
witnessed and infinitely examined By
engineers and philosophers of all kinds
and the most unreasonable scep,cs have
been compelled 10 acknowledge the just
ness of It's principles, as well as the
energy of its operation. The active and
inventive mind Of Mr.. Perkins, however,
did "ot remain satisfied with this expert
ment. He has discovered method,
which we consider equal in value 10 his
new engine, by which he can convey the
beneii OF his original principle to steam
engines OF the old construction and this
has recently been succeeded, we are told,
by most extraordinary discovery, that
the same heat may be made to perform
lis part more than once, in the active
operations OF the engine.
Great as the invention is, yet we are
disposed to think that the application of
the principle 10 old steam engines is not
less important. When we consider the
enormous capital which is al present
embodied in Great Britain in the sub
stantial form of steam engines, and the
admirable elegance and skill with which
these noble machines impel and regulate
the vast population of wheels and pinions
over which they reign, we feel as if some
vast innovation were proposed upon our
established usages, by the introduction
OF Me- Perkins engine. The very idea
that these potentates of the mechanical
world should be displaced from their
thrones: tIat their strong holds should
be dlsmanfled; thair palaces dcmolish-
ed, and tieir whole affairs placed under
amors economical managem eat, Is some
whs. startling to those WAC dread change,
aad admire Institutions that both work
and wear we'll. Mr.. Perkins, however,
has saved them from such degradation.
H has allowed them to retain all their
honors and privileges, and proposes on
ly to invisorate them with fresh infu
ence and power.
"Ia Ibis new system, the old engines,
with their boilers, remain unalfercd.
the furnaces are alone removed. Mr..
Perkins constructs a generator consist
ing OF three horizontal tubes of gun
metal, connected together, filled with
water, and supplied with water from
forcing pump, as in his own engine.
This generator is exposed to heat in an
analogous manner, so that, by means oil
loaded valve, which opens and shuts,
the red hot fluid may be constrained nil
forced out of the generator into the wa
ter. in the boilers OF Bolton & Watt B.
this means, as much low pressure steam
OF four pounds on the square inch, may
be generated by one bushei Of Goals, as
could be produced in the old engine by
nine bushels This most important re-
suit was obtained by actual experiment.
"Snce thes. great Improvements
have been effected, Mr.. Perkins has
made discovery, that seems, in its
practical importance, to surpass them
all. He now entirely dispcnses with the
use Of the condenser, and works the en-
gne against the atmosphere alone; and
BY methods With which we are not ac-
quainted, and which indeed il would no,
be prudent for him to disclose at present,
he is enabled 10 arrest the heat after it
ha, performed its mechanical functions,
and actually pump it back to the gene.
rator, to unite with a fresh portion oil