Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-10-19
GAZETTE.
STEAM CARRIAGES.

| ". Il. hammers. Monday this steam carriage
passed through Neuberry from Southampton TO
Oxford: it proceeded along the streets at stea,
| dy pace, attended by large coneoufse of per-
sons. At the Chequers Inn, Speenhamland, il
stopped to take in water and coke; the supply Of
water required was about one hundred buckets.
When starting, the coach went off with very con-
siderable speed, and soon left all the pedestrians
| far behind.
We understand Messrs. Ogle s. Summers have
been occupied almost four years in the expert
ments, and have expended 100000 in bringing
their invention to perfection, or rather TO that
state which leaves only some trifling minor de.
! tails TO be worked out. The chief desideratum
in locomotive vehicles and vessels lin mines in
our colonies is safe and efficient mode of gene
rating steam on scientific principles. Messrs.
Onle & Summers have completely mastered that
most difficult point. Their boiler contains the
creates, possible heating surface 10 the least pos
sible space, when in combination with the strong
er mechanical form. Their boiler consists of nu-
merous sections, having sufficient connection
with each other, constructed Ut cylinders
with air tubes within each, Standing vertical
", so that stratum o! water is placed be-
tween two heating surfaces, the outer sur
face of the cylinders aud the inner surface OF
the air tube. They allow Is superficial feet tG
the horse power, and the boiler IN their vehicle
contains SOS feet Of heating surface, or so horse
power. They usually work =; the pressure of
| 600 lbs. on the square inch, so that upwards OF
! nineteen millions OF pounds weight are pressing
to yet loose, and yet confined and used with per-
feet saisly. The cylinders are 10! III diameter,
with me,allic pis'ons, OF such perfect construc-
| ton that the steam haS never bPeG known to
pass these pistous. TIE boiler contains upwards
If $4,000 rjyctS, aHd at the Tremendous pres
sure Of SEQ pounds on the iUch, not rivet leaks.
! The JOINTS are all perfectly tight, and the supply
of water to the boiler from the tank quite perfect.
! The form OF the carriage is elegant. Iemarka-
! bly commoiuus, and, we understand. easier
than any other vehicle. 1t differs from the COM
mon carriage chiefly in its height, aud the cum
| Erous appearance Of the boiler, which is placed
! behind. aud be youd is the blowing machine. -
Owing 10 the heavy iron work being at the lower
part of the vehicle, an upset Is almost impossI6le'
| On Monday morning this carriage lett MI.
! brook, near Southampton, with % persons anu
their luggage and proceeded to Oxford. Inc
! first II miles, celebrated for the hills, we're
cleared in one hour and ten minutes, without
| pressing the vehicle to Its speed. The coach
| then proceeded toward, Whitechurh with great
velocity; but before It reached Sutton Sh"tney,
! it was found that the coke, which had been sent
to different stations, consisted OF little bags IN
stead of sacks. aud therefore, fuel was necessa-
riiy waited for. or the whole distance would have
been cleared in less than five hours. The road
is known to be very billy and rough, and to be
perhaps the most irving which steamcoach
could BE- run on Notwithstanding. the loftiest
hill. were surmounted with the greatest facility;
| that from Whitechurch was assembled at full ten
! miles an hour. At Intervals, the coke being
! consumed. Goals were used, which caused i
/ stream ot smoke; but when coke Is burnt there
ia no appearance uf smoke. The want OF coke.
and the illness of Mr. Summers, induced the
/ party to stop Mt Abingdon, having cleared up.
! wards of twelve miles an huur when supplied
with fuel, and which speed could have been con-
siderably accelerated. The strength OF the ma.
! chjnery. and the perfect command over the pow
| er, was completely proved by the fact. tfat at
! the summit of a very long and steep hill, the
drag chain fai ed. and the vehicle rushed forward
\ aud attained the terrific speed oi htty miles an
hour bat was sieered wlth%GccuracY and safety.
! Ii is Messrs. Dale and Summers intention to
remain several DAYS a. Oxford, as they have 6u-
7 siIess 10 transact, and are DESTROYS OF trying
7 experiment iN Nctai, WIN"
alone can teach; they have also found that the
onl, part of the machine not made b. thu mseves.
the crank axle, has shown symptoms OF weakness
in the most unexpected part, arising from cui'
pable neglect. and still more culpao'e conceal
m.nt, oil the workmen who made ii; the necessa'
~ strength will be given to it, aud the vehicle
! will then proceed on It's destination, through Bur-
miusham and Liverpool
! In this experiment there has been no avoiding
Of difficulties; hily, rough and winding roaG
has been selected, and traversed with safety and
I velocity. The boiler is found to be most eth
Gent, and perfectly tight: the cylinders large
enough; the machinery SO well put together that
even a rush of fifty miles an hour has not started
one bolt, nor broken single screw: the springs
of the carriage body have been strengthened. as
so many persons c,ambered on it as to overweight
tucm. Every where the travellers were well and
kindly received, and willingly supplied with wa
ter. The vehicle entered Oxford in fine style,
ascending, at about eight miles an hour. ST. Al
dates, and turned into the gateway Of the Star