Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-10-18

Mr.. Perkins discovery, and that he
speaks confidently Of the soundnesS oil
its principles, as well as The practlcaoiil-
ty OF lis applcati
CATER The l0ah of June, Mr. F, rklns
is ready to lake orders for MS new en-
gines, and his apparatus Tor producing
low pressure steam, for working the or
binary engines. The price, we believe,
of the new engine, is only hall that OF
Bolton & Watts, with one third OF the
savings OF fuel for a period oil years
which we have not heard stated.
From the (CincnnatD National Republican.
Through the National Gazette, we
are furnished with some interesting ex-
tracts from DR.. Brewster's Edlnburg
Philosophical Journal, relative to the
discoveries of our countryman Perkins,
which will be found III our preceding
columns. In this section of the coun-
try, the inhabitants of which are so de-
pendent on steam boats for the trans
portation OF their produce 10 market,
every improvement that will tend TO in
crease the facilities and to decrease the
expenses of navigation, must be regard
ed with great interest. Our readers
have been already informed OF Mr. Per-
kln's important discovery OF mes princi-
Piles in philosophy, relative TO the appi-
cation of heat and the generation OF
steam, which he has with great ingenui-
ty applied in giving motion to an engine
Or construction somewhat different
from any heretofore in use. Eolwiih-
standing the great economy of this en-
CINE, the revolution which he invention
avowedly carries with it, might have re-
tarded its introduction, and have caused
mechanics to retain the inferior machines
With which they arc better acquainted;
but the adaptation of these newly dis
covered principles to the engines now in
use, will save an immense sum OF money
already vested in steam machinery and
as the improvement may be introduced
with comparatively small expense, the
adoption OF it will probably long preccde
the general use the Perkins Engine it.
self.
Ii has been shown By actual expert
ment, that the application of the genera
tor to the engines OF Bolton * Watt, will
produce in the boiler pressare of 4 lbs.
10 the square inch, with a saving Of
eight-ninths in the fuel. From this fact
we may make some estimate of the saw
mo ha taI
boats. The engines Of Bolton s Watt,
arc worked at a pressure perhaps little
lower than our engines, but owing to
the bad construction of their boilers,
with greater consumption Of fuel to
obtain the same power. The engines
used in our western boats have varia-
ton il the degree of their pressure from
four TO sixteen pounds f; they consume
about the same quantity OF fuel as the
high steam engines, in which the range
OF pressure is from 80 to 90 pounds.
Boats of more than $50 tons consume on
an average Is cords Of wood per day -
the minimum being ten cords, and The
maximum twenty -four. BY the applica-
ton of Perkins generator these boats
would not require more than three cords
OF wood per day and the fuel now Con-
sumed on board of any one Of them, in
twenty-iour hours, would suffice for
voyage from Louisville to New-Orleans;
and twice that quantity would be sutfi-
lent tor their return. The advantages
that will result ire this important dis
covery, are SO obvious, that the improve
ment will speedily come into general
use, whenever models of the machinery
shall reach this country. If this should
be done, the saving in fuel and firemans
wages for one boat, during five years,
viii be nearly equal to the original cost
of The boat--And the saving on .welve
OF our large boats, in the same articles,
would amount in four years to sum
amply sufficient 10 defray the expenses
of cutting canal around The Falls al
Louisville.
From the Louisville Public Advertiser.
BRAD3URY'S TRAVELS.