Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1839-03-16
MISCELLANEOUS.

RAIL-RoADs.-Every improvement calcula-
ted to reduce the cost or increase the useful
ness of these great labor-saving machines is
worthy of the attention of the Public. The
following article from the London Observer
contains description of an invention which if
successful in its application cannot fail to give
an additional impetus to the already rapid
march of steam.
AN IMPoRTANT Discovery CONNECTED WITH
RAILRoADs.-During the last month or six
weeks crowds ofpersons, evidently of a supe-
rior class society, have, to the great surprise
of the inhabitants of the quiet neighborhood of
Soho, been seen bending towards and inquiriDg
their way TO an obscure house, No. Carlisle
street, Soho square. In the course of the past
week the excitement has greatly increased by a
vast assemblage of the nobility, members of
the administration, fellows of colleges and Of
scientific institutions, eminent engineers, naval
architects, surveyors, rail road directors, paint
ers, and whole host Of the patrons of the arts
and sciences, all of whom were las we found
out by following in the wake) attracted thither
by the exhibition of model of locomotive
cLCun CuSluO, WllCl WILL OtllCl hCW uppu-
rentIy simple inventions acting and harmonis-
ing Herewith, are destined to work the follow
ing wonderous changes and improvements in
the present system Of steam carriage convey
ance-a desideratum and consumation de-
voutly to be wished
'The engines and trains cannot possibly go
offthe railway or upset.
'They can run on any required curve with
speed, safety, and minimum degree of fric-
tion.'
.They can ascend and descend all activities
that can be required in railways, with speed
and convenience
'They are relieved of all the dead weight
rendered necessary by the present system, and
are no heavier than is required to bear the load
Of goods and passengers
sThe carriage bodies and weight will be al
most on the ground
'They will be less expensive than those at
present in use; and the immense expenditure
of tunneling, embankments, cuttings, etc, will
be entirely avoided
'The repairs of the railways, the wear and
tear of the engines and trains, will be much
less expensive than those now in use.
'The Inconvenience and enormous outlay of
cutting through parks or other peculiarly sltua-
ted property is avoided by the power of giving
the line any desired direction
The ingenious inventor andpatentee of this
new system, which he illustrates with great
clearness, is Mr.. Kollam, gentleman well
known and much respected and admired in the
scientific circles. He attends in Carlisle
street three days week, for the purpose of
exhibiting his models and engine, the latter of
which has been beautifully manufactured at an
expense of G3O0; and is on the scale of one
and half inch to foot. 1t is worked by
steam, and performs various and speedy evou-
tions upon model railway, formed in the shape
of the figure 8, which demonstrates practical
ly its capability of moving round circle of
fourteen feet radius, besides its wonderful
power of ascending hill of one mile in four
teen, acclivity. This revolution is effected by
an'additional forewheel on either side, of small
driving wheel, the tire of which is roughened
to give it necessary hold on the surface of the
rail, which is elevated at the commencement of
the ACTIVITY, SO as for the smaller wheel to act
upon it, being also just sufficiently elevated to
raise the larger wheel from the line of rail on
which it previously acted.
To prevent the possibility of the engine be-
ing diverted from its course, there is centre
rail with two horizontal wheels IN front of the
engine which acts as pole in the carriage, and
makes its direction completely subservient to
the middle or centre rail- the outward wheels
running upon plain and unconfned surface of
iron. But description is almost superfuous-
it must be seen to be properly appreciated and
Mr.. Kollam, having protected his invention by
taking out letters patent in this and other coun-
tries, is too liberal minded man to withhold
any information calculated to enliven and ele-
vate the human mind, and too much of phi
ianthropst to refuse to elucidatea system which
according to present appearances, will be des-
tined 10 confer permanent advantages and i'm
provement on the present and future genera
tions. 4.a
THE MAINE BouNDARY.-The following
from the United States Gazette, gives correct
general view of the cause and progress of the
difficulties between Name and the British Go