Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-02-04
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
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JAMES s. FRENCH'S EXPERIMENTAL RAILWAY.
Last winter Legislature appropriated uVuu 10 teat
the nven,ion nf Mr. French for ascending high grades on
railroads Mr. F. has expended large sum IN arranging
Locomotive and Car for purpose and for laying down
railway on the opposite side Of the river mile above Rich
mond l, starts from Danvile Riroai the Spring
Hin Factory in valley Just above tho Haunted House,
ard runs uo Mills and streams in direction psrrendic
uar 10 the River Al 10 W. large namher Of persona pri1
cpoly members Of Convention and Legislature, entered
the beautiful and elsgan, Ok 'ae Danvie Company al
the termination OF their idce In this cygnd were soof
conveyed 10 the spo-passins through The
beneath the Petersburg Railroad The Dsnyiile tta
Roads, we'll built with heavy raiIsthc track 10: certain
distance being through the solid rock and winding
In graceful along the valleys on tie bank OF the river
The severity OF the present spell OF winter weather was
led in the be,uu frozen cascades and racery work Of ice
hanging from the granite rocks on the railroad III Is
fortunate that patriotism OF "non-intercourse
friends Is saved severe by kis lac freezing weather
Ice is now being abundany obtained 81 inches thick 10
this vicinity home consumption; and not depend
en on the Yankses for this luxury become necessary
in the Summer heats
The experiments with the railway very interesting;
though on account of accident the
the locomotive they not rs full os desirable.
For the ascending and descending of undulang surfaces
seems clear 10 US that better method possibly DO
found combining 1t docs many requisite qualifications
viz: despatch In the construction OF roads, greater cheap
nes, and certainty of travelling by this method the road
is neither aec led BY Frost ice grease ITSELF or the
latter has been ,ried On hi, railway the road
s,ructed by Mr. French is than third Of mile in
length onn grade of 200 feet me The ends of the
sis are off square with the string pieces the rail- six
inches wide and ,hreeourths OF inch thick is placed
upon the string pieces and extends ouwards and halt
inches thus aordng under surface against which pair
OF rollers he simple principle of the whole nvention)
pressed These rollers wheels suspended from the
engine little in advance of the driving wheels and are
pressed against the extended ra by lever by the regula
ton Of which any amount Of adhesion may be obtained
This mechanical adhesion has the advantage of being gra
duated circumstances for running on level but little
adhesion is required and reaching any inclined surface
put in quantity requisite for ascending and no more
Thus are avoided the effects Of weight In great measurc
whereas the ordinary principle much dead weight put
on only be made OF at certain points, and destroying
the road on every The engine used for the
experiment is only 3x and was built BY Me Hogg
and Delamatar New York. under tho supernendence OF
Capt. John Erickson gentleman we'll known for his great
mechanical talents Up this grade Of 200 feet this little
CINE drew UP passenger filled 100 passengers
at velocity Of perhaps 10 miles hour. On descending
both engine and perfectly under CONTROL capable OF
being stopped moment In space OF ten set and TINS
while descending by power and the force OF gravity
combined The experiments clearly indicated the prac
cal use TO which this invention be applied.
Among the hundred persons present on Saturday,
there seemed to be general qualification with the experiment
One of the great objects be gained by this invention that
the same power may be Obtained by lighter engine and
and consequently less wearing and injury TO the rails
We hear that the highest grade suounted by ocomo-
ves hundred and eighty feet in mie in Pennsylva-
nia Blu, there i,equired locomotive Of twenty tons
while with Frenchs invention a locomotive Of only 81
tons (he "Clmber') overcame grade Of two hundred
feet mile. When the experiment ehnl have been fully
tested and heavy weight shall have been drawn up and
down. and gea, power shall have been obtained by lighter
engines. II will the State order the adaptation Of the
invention TO some portions Of the variou. roads, being
built TO which il is applicable We know what may be
the effect In time the heavy friction of the two sa rol
ers revolving l7oO times while the driving wheels reyove
only 90 times.
We Ensnee!s enough TO venture predicioa rs 70
tho permanent usefulness Of tho n"ention. As fur as i,
went, succeeded perfectly Saturday and sasd several
mountainees declare that the invention could saccccd IN
overcoming the grade of the present experiment, 1t would
be sufficient for railroads through their mountaa In
this ago Of invention should be surprised TO see s
application 90 improved that 10 less than year. It will be
made use OF In suroun,ing Blue Ridge supecadine the
ery expensive and snaillke Tunnels through the noun
rajna