The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-11-16
From the London A,hennum.
The Late Geo. Experimentation OF the
Railway System.

Railway System.
On the 18th of Angus, died Mr.. George
Stephenson, the author OF the railway sss-
tenn, the first great practical improvcr Of
the locomotive steam engine, the inventor
(consemporanconsly with D.vy) Of the safe
ty-Iamp, aud man who displayed q wig
orous and original genius ia everything
which he undertook. lie was born ON tho
OH Of June. 1871, (now consequently, ut
the time of his death. in his 6S,h ycar,) at
little village near Ncwcas,lc-on. Tyne, 81
parents in the humbIcst rank Of life. His
first occupation rs boy was attending to
the steam engines used al the mouth Of
coal pits. Eventually be became coal-
viewer, or surveyor; and distinguished him
self in the conl district by an improved
mode Of carrying on some great works at
Darlington. IN 1919, a committee which
had investigated the priority Of tho clnims
OF the discoveries Of the safety lamp, give
him public dinner ut Newcastle, nj which
he was presented with silver tankard and
n purse Of thousand guincns. In return
ing thanks he announced his intentions of
dcvoting that sun 10 the education 0f his
only son, Robcr,. ut the University Of I'd.
inburgh. The history Of his employment
to construct the Stockton aud Darlington,
the first public railroad, and the Liverpool
aud Manchester. the first on which locoino-
tive engines we're introduced for tho con-
veyoncc Of passengcrs--is well known
From the first journey Of the locomotive
built by Stephenson over tho railrond con.
structed BY them, dates the nctunl CON-
tncncemcnt of the greatest mecha meal rev.
oIution effected since the invention of tho
steam engine BY Watt. Though sclccdn-
catcd--scarcely educated nj all beyond
reading and writing until he had attained
manhood, Mr.. Stephenson topk every OPP
portunty OF impressing upon the youth tho
advantages Of science and literature. lie
related that At public dinner nj the OPEN
ing oc the Birkcnhend docks, how, il his
early career, after the lnbors OF the day. he
used TO work in the evening nj mcnding
watches ond clocks in order to cnrn enough
to send bis child tn school. llc was tho
founder and first President Of tho Society
Of Mechanical Engineers; and was never
better pleased than when assisting by his
advice and encouragement the ideas Of in
gcnious artisans. In agriculture and hor.
ticuture no made many cnrions and sue
cesslll cxpcriments--nnd tho study of ge-
ology was a passion with him. II Is fear
ed that the intermittent fever of which he
died, was occnsoncd by the damp minsmo
arising from the fertilizers which he en-.
ployed with great success in his hot houses.
In brief and hurried notice i. is impossi-
bio to do justice to so remarkable a man.
IN the words Of a contemporary writcr:--
Ills mechanical genius was Of nm order that
il may without exogeerntion be asserted
that if Watt Ind not previously invented
The steam engine he was capable of achiev.
ing it. Others before him had prepared
the way; others since have contributed val
uable improvements in details; but to Geo.
Stephenson unqncstionably belongs tho
proud title of tho Author Of the Railway
System. lie gathered the mnny threads
Of ingenuity and enterprise. and wcnvcd
them into tho wide-sprcading net work
which promises, in it's manifold extension,
10 envelope the whole world in bonds Of
commerce, civilization and pence.
SINGULAR CIRCrMsrANcH.---Thc re.
sides in Delaware, some lew miles from
Tcmplesvillc in this county, a respectable
farmer having daughter now about elev-
en- years old, who, until attaining her fifth
yenr, lnborcd under an impeachment Of