Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-07-03
STEAM ENGINE IMPROVED.

gland, establish belief that our ingeni-
Gus countryman PERKINS has perfected
an improvement in the generation and
application of steam, which viii rival in
importance the introduction of that
great as mechanical power. If all that
is related of Mr. Perkins invention be
true land we know not how to doubt it,
it will form an epoch in the history of the
world.
The following notices of the subject
are from various papers.
| Extract of letter from an American
gentleman in London, dated April
e5th, 1919.
II have made the acquaintance of our
very ingenious countryman, Perkins,
and have derived much pleasure and
improvement from bis new invented
Steam Engine, which he took great
pains to render ineligible to me. His
principle is to prevent the water from
boiling, and thereby to cause il TO retain
a great part of the caloric which usually
escapes this is effected by kcepin. the
generator, (usually called boiler) con-
stantly full by means Of heavy pres
sure, and in consequence prevents the
steam from forming around the sides of
the vessel between them and water,
which being a strong non-conducts the
heat from being absorbed by the water,
| and by this means loss of a great pow
er His machinery, besides, being much
simplifed, possesses the following ad-
vantages, viz: it consumes nine-tenths
less fuel, occupies four-tifths less space,
and weighs four-ffths less the coal
necessary to keep in motion an engine
of ten horse power, is only half bushel
per day, and the same water is always
in use, for when it escapes from the
generator in the form of steam, after
putting the biston in motion, it again be-
comes water, is conveyed into reser-
voir, and from that, is reconductedto the
generator to be again transferred irtc
! steam,
"A boat which he is now con structing
to ply between London and Margate
will, he confidently expects, move at
the rate of fifteen miles per hour His
numerous inventions are producing a
rapid fortune, particularly those for
bank note engraving, and for printing
calicoes, by means of so engraved cylin-
der, which, passing over the cloth, per-
forms the work that was formerly done
by manual labor.n-.Nat Gaz.
FROM rnR BALriEoaK MORNING. CHRONICLE
1t is = gratifying circumstance to find thar
the recent invention of our countfyman, Per-
kins, promises To realize all the anticipaiions
which had been formed respecting it. The
Boston Centnel Contains AZ extract Of letter
| from London, which it is said tilat Colonel
Baldwin, late engineer for the Union Canal
| Company OF pennsy ivania and competss,t
Judge, us highly delighted with MIR. Perkins
Steam Engine" and that " the invention is
the WONDER and admiration Of scientific men
| in England" The Boston DaiE Advertiser
| contains long extract from another letter,
written at London by gentleman of Boston
''en,inent for his scientific attanments snd
mechanical Skill" in which the engine is de-
scribed, and the following Observations are
made
Before begin, however, you must
free your mind from all notions of a
common engine, and cali his what you
please afterwards. do not mean that
Mr. Perkins machine is not a steam
engine, but that its operation is so es-
sentally different, in iNprinciple, from
all other machines under that name
heretofore known, that you must pre-
pare for great novelty, such an one
as must, in a short period, throw out
OF use all the steam engines, on
whatever principles, hitherto maize, l
saw it on Monday last, the day after my
arrival, being the first time he publicly
exhibited it.
Mr. Perkins is now building steam
beat of 500 tons, to have two engines of
sixty horse power each, the cylinders
OF which will be only seven inches di-
ameter, with a five foot stroke, and the
whole work will be below deck, at the
bow of the boat. It's strictly true, in
principle, that when the engine is once
filled, no additional water is required
But owing to some small quantity in
erltably escaping through the joints of
the tubes, SC a slsoll loss is sustained,
which must be supplied by the pump +;
for this purpose be has bucket Of water
ready. From the compact form, sim
phcity, lightness, and power of his
machines, see no reason why steam
carriages should not, especially on good
roads, in a very few years, supersede
all other kinds of land carriage, and a
mail coach soon be running between
This place and Liverpool, at the rate of
twenty or funnt 4 five miles nn hnlrD