Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-09-07
From tho N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.
The New Motive Power.

The invention of DR.. Drake, which has
been for few weeks past exhibited IN this
city, appears tn be one Of the greatest value.
The many difficulties that attend the use Of
steam as an agent, the immense space which
the inonchincry, the boilders and the furnaces
require, the great expense Of fuel aud the
danger of explosion, have long rendered
substitute possessing not these difficulties
desidcra,um To engineers and those interested
in machinery. Tia, substitute has at length
been found. Af:cr years Of application, aud
after su,nnounlIng the greatest difficulties,
DR.. Drake has ut length carried out his de.
sign, and has the pleasure of seeing his la
bors crowned with success. He has con.
s,ructed an engine three horse power, aud
ends his most songuinc hopes fully realized
III ITS operation. II viii he well to state in
what respects This Invention IS superior TO
the steam engine. Firstly the consumption
of fuel is less. To prove this 1t is but neccs-
snry 10 state that when the common rcsnous
gas is used. the engine consumes quantity
equal to one pound aud half Of rosin per
hour. A three horse power engine consum.
ing one pound and a half Of very cheap
fuel per hour! Secondly, The danger of cx-
plosion is entirely removed, no boiler or iur.
mace bciug required Thirdly, it does no,
occupy hulf the space that steam engine
of the same power would require. These
are but few of its advantages, and they are
those which upon first sight must be obvious
to every bchodcr hut 10 one who lnspects
the engine closely, und with view to It's
practical use, many others equally important
appear.
The great difficulty with regard to war
steamers has been the exposed situation of
the pipes. The failure OF tho plan of lajera!
cliinncs on board the Missouri has proved
the lmpossibliy of placing them out of dan
ger in ships propelled by steam engine.
But the engine Of DIR. Drake, when It's natural
aud appropriate fuel is used, (being spirits oil
turpcnline) or lard combined with Il small
portion Of whisky,) requires no furnace, aud
consequently no pipe. A ship, then, sup
piled with this invention, with Ihe paddles
/ placed in the stern or under water, az IN The
recent inventions Of Ericsson and others
would present precisely The same appearance
as common vessel not the slightest incon.
venience would be felt froia the machinery
which nigh, be placed entirely below decks
go as TO be out of all danger from shot. Re
| turning now TO the matter of economy, tins
II is fact that 10 some will doubtless appear
! strange and incredible. TO set the machine
in motion requires the space Of one minute
Il lf'i, were necessary for ship to stop, evcl
for the space Of half an hour, tho machinery
being stopped, there would be no consump
| rion Of fuel, and in one minutes time ate
the order to proceed is given che is again II
! motion. Therefore all the expense Of get
ting up, md when the vessel stops keepIn!
up steam, is avoided. have not uttemptc,
to give n description Of the mode Of opera
ton. Those who fee, interested should cal
upon the inventor and examine for them
selves. have been compelled also to TAX
most cursory view of It's advantages, bu
hope that ere long, these will be fully slate
by one more competent to the task.
II w IT, A.