Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-11-27
MsSCBil.T-AINElOyI&.


STEAM CARRIAGES ON COMMON ROADS
Experimental JOyHeY Of MeSSiS. Ogic and Summers,
their Steam Carriage, from Southampton 10
Lire'poot. by The ,cdy IF Oxford and Birining ham,
1900 miles,
This vehicle, says the Liverpool Chronicle of Sept
29th which gave an accosnt last week arrived in
Monday evening last. II drove rapidly up to the
Adephi Hotel and after the ladies' OF the party who
eupicd had aghtcd the carriage proceeded the Re
Postory, in Great Charlotte street, where still remains
Ii affords much pleasure he able lay before our
readers the following interesting account, which fur
nished by the propictors:
To reach Liverpool, observe Messrs. Oglc & Summers
intention a here the efficiency OF our power is
most likely he properly appreciated and its application
UNDERSTOOD for where great aud so laudahlc work
the Liverpool and Manchester Railroad has been compet
eel the knowledge OF the subject and its advantages are
host generally diu'ed, aud the number OF practical and
scientific men which that work and the mercantile de-
man for mechanical structures has called together, in
duced conclude that method obtaining power
would meet with due consideration.
As many observations have very naturally (thcy OBJ
serve) been made the subject and some doubts ex
pressed of ability continue the Journey, from the
time which has elapsed since left Southampton, we
WILL after Offering lew observations, give briefly de-
tailed account OF the Journey and the circumstances
which caused delay.
" It can hardly be supposed that the completion of that
mighty work the Railway, of which Eng gland may be-
Justly proud would terminate tho lHborS of mankind
locomOiOn; il likely stimulate others TO carry
the subject still iarther and as man slowly aud progress
sivey improves il must have been by the eve of
science, that the beautiful and useful Railroad would like
all other human undertakings, he modified aud perhaps
ultimately superseded, when the power OF steam any
other power, should he successfully applied
Giles along the prepared surface of the earth When
first applied propc the stormy seas of
our climate, the attempt deridcd by the inform
ed and the good the vain wanhcrngs of mis,lreCed
gemi,Is-wo now know how deruIv wTonocI thc Nom
who, seeing farther than their opponents pcsever
ed in the wondouS work. until the application OF the pow
err now insures swiIness regularity and safety, beyond
all comparison Let the reasoning be anaogicdlly applied
10 .ne application OF steam Tor HE purpose OF propeng
vehicles on the common roads, and the enlightened mind
will Instantly perceive the business OF the analogy The
scienuhc man may apprehend many difficulties, but lie
Will at once admit that there is doubt OF The pnci
pie being obtained, the details must foIiOto."
These enterprzing gentlemen left the village OF Mill
brook, two miles from Southampton, the 18th of Au-
gust III their steam carriage containing fuel water TOOLS
and luggage with party of twenty five persons (nost
of whom accompanied them for other purpose than 10
witness its pcriOrmance and proceeded Winchester
miles, hy, and, in some places soft road i'm one
hour and ten minutes, with blowing of the whole
distance Ii discovered this route i'm descending
some OF the hills, which very Steep that the appara.
tus for rctardlng the carriage sufficient The
journey was, however, prosecuted towards Oxford through
Whitechurcha crossroad, hily tIat the best horse
coaches only clear miles, whilst the steam carriage
cleared IL IL miles per hour The delay on the road
was, IN nc instance OccaSoned by the slightest failure
the machinery want of irnncss in the general snc-
ture On descending steep hill the drag got displaced,
and the carriage actually passed the space one
mile IN minute and ten seconds, without sustaining the
least INJURY; and in another instance il driven through
river. On reaching Oxford powerful LIcak was
put toas eecuay regulate its speed descending
hills. On examining the machinery, defect was dscov.
cred in the crank aXle and critical inspections it W as
also discovered that the who forged IT, at Messrs
TreiIrys IIdscdcns had concealed three SIMS
and other faults; singular circumstance, too was
the only piece OF the machinery which by
themselves This was fortunate discovery, as another
trial OF its strength, like that of descending hill at the
rate OF hiy miles an hour, might have been attended with
serious consequences.
On this discovery, Mr.. Summers started Immediately
for Bristol by Iic way oil NllbOok, distance OF 20 miles
and required more than fortnight complete and return
with new axle to Oxford During their stay Oxford
an additional pump added, TO supply the tank with
water, together with other tritling matters The
springs OF the carriage were also strengthened. The
boiler perfectly tight When the new axle was in il.
place, I'D upI ~.
performed the distance Woodstock i'm IS minutes ovor
sticky, clay road On tls stage some cyncrncn,s rc
lative TO waste steam tried which was tliouoht
may be proltably used hereafter to heat the suppy of
water. On leaving Woodstock good supply OF water in
the boiler was reported by the attendants but it was
discovered not to be the case, and complete the
misfortune they remark, 'thc communication between
the tank and the pump closed, and the boiler without
water and Icd not. Every precautionary measure was
instantly adopted and the boilers allowed cool raduay
After delay OF three hours, again injected,
but to our great annoyance, found HAT portions
our boiler injured Its great power however ena-
bled reach, though with rather diminished speed
Chapel-hOuse, where remained, and apaiu ev,n,nei
the boiler On the following morning we proceeded To-
wards Birmingham, and Notwithstanding tie misfortune
which had happened 10 us the steep hills well known NJ,
the road, assembled with facility: dat OF Liverid,c
nearly mile long at eight miles hou and break on
descending, was found efficient clutch of one of the
wheels was dropped on The road that we were com.
Petd' when ascending The seePcst bills, TO work with
only one wheea very serious disddv antage when the
ascent IS considerable On reaching Birmingham, it be-
DARK, ana c log very dense our lamps lighted,
and passed without the least difficulty the vsrous
coaches on The road towards London; and with scarcely
any fire. and no coke for il all consumed and one
wheel only IN gear, forced with rapidity our way
through Ong-contnued of heavy gravel and bro
ken granite Just laid down. up the steep ascent called the
Buring, TO the church. without enc check There one
wheel aud little steam, found hardly sufficient TO
propel 80 heavy body up great aud rough an ascent
The artisans OF birmingham, who formed a dense
crowd, saw the cause OF the difficulty, instantly APP
Piled the little additional power which was reuule and
the vehicle reached its destination"
Business, and desire to view the various mapuCicur.
ing establishment at Birmingham, SourbrIge, and Shut
End where MIR. Rastrcks excellent locomotive ENGINE
at work, CAS- well ~ lis useful hydraulic i'm induced them
remain lfnght On leaving Birmingham the boil.
continued 10 leak, and the blowing strap pro, ed rotten
which caused them trouble; ibis YVES Of little
consequence compared with c discovery ihat they had
not only the natural difficulties Of such an undertaking
bat also the i vii and malice Of designing persons to
contend with as will be by tic annexed extract:
&" II found that the connection between the tank
and the pump closed and compelled 10 stop
close TO Soho the factory Of Messrs Watt and Bolton who
neither rendered offered render the least assist
auce, being the solitary instance encountered i'm Ia
journey Of 200 miles, Of sordd llibcrsty. Oncvaminpc
tie cause OF tie stoppagc 10 The pipe, found l some
one had hued, very neatly, piece OF wood into c cock
which acted plug. We do not envy the feelings Of
the malicious person who could perpetrde such cline
against those who had not given him any offence. Anef
the discovery and rennyl Of the cause the vehicle pro-
ceeded 20 Wolvcrbampon and then 10 PcnkrIne in Stat