Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-06-27
NEW INVENTION.

Mr.. EZRA CoLMAN Of Saratoga las recent
ly invented what IS termed an 'endless screw,
which is to be attached 10 railroad locomo-
,ives, and will enable them to ascend and
descend inclined planes of the s,eepest
grades, and drag along after them any amour,
of loading. Those who have seen it pro-
nounce !, one Of the most importan, improve
ments of the age, and the numerous expert.
ments which have been made to test its val.
ue and feasibility have been attended with
the most satisfactory results. The editor of
The Saratoga Wing has witnessed expert.
ments with miniature Locomotive, which
is so small that il can be put in peck meas
use, and says that it "easily carried up a
gentleman Of two hundred weight, on TEN.
porary inclined plane twice as steep as any
actually in use in the country" The fol.
lowing description which we copy from the
Wing will give an idea Of its operation!
"The attachment" or endless screw can be appli.
ed TO any locomotive, At an expense not exceeding
$780, Upon the shat, of the driving wheel OF the loco
WOUVe Is pIdCeu u cog WUteIi WHICH Wnen the WnteI
is not in motion plays loosely upon the shaft. Beneath
the locomotive Is placed horizontally, the endless
screw; the cog wheel upon the driving shaft working
into the cog wheel upon the shaft OF the endless
thus produces motion. To correspond with the screw,
is central track, upon which friction circular rollers
are placed and when the locomotive approaches an
inclined plane, il is thrown into gear and The screw
revoves, the whole force of the locomotive operating
| exclusively upon the shaft Of the driving wheel The
locomotive will ascend descend the sieepest places
without detention danger, it being entirely under
control of the engineer, with enormous capacities fol-
taking up heavy loads, without reference to their in
clination.
| "This improvement doubtless is one of the mos,
important which has ever been conceived in connex
| ion with rail roads, Had its merits been known and
appreciated, hundreds of thousands Of dollars might
have been saved in the construction OF the Haraem
rail road, and the Schenectady and Albany road
would not have found it necessary To do away with
the inclined planes at either end Of that route Penn
| sylvania might abandon her expensive stationary
power and the Brooklyn tunnel would have been rem
dered utterly unnecessary. The under the loco
| motive in no way interferss with the regular opera
| tons Of the engine but the moment il legns to as
cend the inclined planet is thrown into gear and doei
| its work without the slightest labor detention.
| "Mr. Colman sails for Europe in the next Boston
steam ship leaving in the hands of an agent the righ
TO dispose OF II 10 companies IN this country IL vii
enable rail roads TO be carried in direct lines shorten
distances, save deep cuts through vast quantities Of
stone render stationary engines unnecessary and
duce immensely the expense Of constructing roads
The expense Of the Improvement is merely the screw
| on the locomotives and the additional track of a few
rods wherever inclined plane OCCURS. Mr.. Colman
proposes to visit England, France, Germany, Austris
and especially Russia, where he expects extensive con
| tracts with each government. He is fortified with
letters from MIR. Packenham the British Minister, Mi
Buchanan Secretary of State, from the French, Bel
gan, Austrian and Russian ministers each 10 emnen
| engineers direct TO the Government whom they
represent We look forward to The Of our young
townsman as one which will give him honor and prof
and add distinction to the ingenious character o
| Americans in The old world"