Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-02-07
TEE rRIcTIoN CONTROVERSY.

clear and wcwrtten explanation 1t ucidy sets loh me
objects which Mr. Fcnch invention proposes 10 a''ain anu
the value of which, the cause OF Internal
must be immense if he be right predicting mat II wi" DC
tested By such experiment.. as VIII reduce 10 cef'an Tue
value OF the improvement patented by Mr French. We
glad hear that full and complete experiments VIII De
made which will leave doubt whether the invention has
or has not any practical advantage We trust that 1t may
'"'s ''' For the Enquirer
Mcssrs Editors Some correspondents OF your paper IN
noticing HE performance of Frcncs improvement upon the
locomotive have objected TO The experiment as unsalsacto-
~ because they had locomotive overcome grade on
the Columbia Railroad heavier than that presented by
the experimental Railroad used by Mr. French Another cor
respondent proposes reuc the OF the
by philosophical dcnonst alton OF its failure In regard 10
the statement first referred the writer make no oer re-
mark ihun that il known that locomotives OF ordinary con-
structon can overcome under favorable state OF the rails
very heavy grades but their capacity OF traction IS necessa
ry limited by the of their adhesion. The fact ha,
the locomotive referred did overcome the grades referred
TO- or that the locomotive of Mr.. French did the same Is not
relied on as conclusive of the value OF his invention Expe
ment will test the value OF that invention and determine
whether Tie adhesion gained by the application OF his me-
chanca impro adds practically 10 the capacity
locomotive merely overcome heavy grades but also
to draw up those grades greater weight than could De Drawn
r. locomotive without hem This will be tested by such
as w by Me- French i will then Be- for the
Legislature und the public TO patronze II or not according
10 tho result The objection Of another correspondent may
be stated in his own language:
f understand the of the experiment. il Is his
That BY the application OF Mr. Fs principle ligh; engine
say of half the Fiction be used the road oil an
ordinary grade and then The engine when the principle
is applied will have double the friction power SO that this
increasing, of friction without weight, will overcome the
elevation OF two hundred feet in mile Now lei US test
this Say instance hs engines are OF ten
tons weight ordinarily, but in ascending an inclined plane
BY applying the biting he the friction power IS increased
TO % TONS equal engine of ~ tons weight VIII II
not take the power them drive his ten ton engine,
(now twenty ons) that il will do 10 drive twenty ton en-
ginel Certainty rW Does not every pound OF friction
,lo pliontp
of the engine? Most surely"
The principle OF Mr. Frenchs invention is understood to
be this He proposes substitute for the adhesion obtained
by weight upon ordinary locomotive the adhesion created
by power and applied by mechanical attachment The
objection stated is that The application OF this mechanical
attachment will create amount OF cion requiring such
an increase the power drive the locomotive, that the
value of the attachment will belost.
IL is probable that the director has adveed the i'm
portant distinction between adhesion and power This diff
cuty The Railroad system is not in obtaining power but
in making power available for traction The power OF To-
connective has mt-he track may be wdcned the To-
connective heightened and the amount Of power increased
any But the important object is to obtain the full
crum by which this power 10 be made available This full
crum depends upon the adhesion the highest adhesion Of
stationary engine for then the traction Of engine
il Of cou; equal its full steam power locomotive Of
ten tons might possibly he made transport the en-
eines of an Atlantic steamer; but owing obstacle
adhesion only sixth of the power of ordinary loco
motive be made available for raction-the difference
being lost for Of adhesion Now the power OF
gins be increased without limit there is relation
between the adhesion Of the locomotive and the
a
~ an engine Of twenty-five horse power, Of Two hun
drcd horse power If these principles be correct then the
objection that the mechanical attachment of Mr. French
will create amount OF friction, requiring large amount
Of power overcome has particular bearing The in
yenton for there might be enough generated
that friction, and leave for purposes of
traction as large as might be required.
The obsc;or asks if lin ascending IN inclined plain by
applying biting wheel the friction ia increased 20 TONS
will il take the power TO drive his ten engine,
(now twenty ons) that il will do 10 drive twenty
CINE - We may grant that il will, since we have demonsa-
ted that the capacity of the engine power
limited and its increase OF power desderau Grant that
will require much power and the great value of this
invention the ei OF the locomotive and train.
If BY the application Of the principle be only necessary
generate the power The friction of the mechan
cal attachment that power eesily generated That is
problem; but thereby in the case put by the Director,
the the transportation of ten Of dead weight
which IL receives nothing whilst out the road
the added capacity adhesion merely chargeabe with
teract The friction Of The mechanical attachment
There doubt but the usefulness Of the Railroad is
limited by the difficulty Of obtaining adhesion without
ryng weight, The present method 10 increase the weight
OF the locomotive that the inss,ent weight may give the
requisite adhesion but ii results that this weight when in
sed peyoad certain power must rapidly destroy the
road and The of such weight al high yeloc
~ greatly increase the injury and liability TO acct
dent that the usefulness Of The Railroad s greatly limited
Under locomotive Of twenty TONS heavy rail may last for
five gears; under locomotive OF forty tons the same raj
would soarcC.; .ast The bearing surface OF the rail-
and lis capacity heavy weigh, and high veoc
ties cannot be increased In proportion 20 the in
cuiben weight Of the locomotive, without an outlay which
would neutazc the advantages Of this increased capacity
for transportation The is obvious. The bearing
face of rail- of ninety pounds TO the yard will not exceed
wo.and ahaf nches then locomotive OF forty tons would
with upon each wheel the weight thus olstrit
ted would mpnge the rail al four points where the cir
conference the wheels rested upon the bearing surface OF
the rail; nssen weight OF nine tons will il is said,
crush cIbc inch Of iron. II this locomotive be drawn
with high velocity, we have tho momentum compound Of
its weight and speed acting upon the road with almost the
effect four cold chscls every revolution Of The wheel
The destructive effect of this increased weight has been ad
ed 10
locomotives and frequent trains, in preference TO heavy loco
motives and high velocities The great desdea'um of
substitute for the adhesion Of incumbent weight has il 10
be hoped been provided by the invention OF Mr. French
locomotive OF ten IONS give the adhesion due 10 that
weight and the mechanical attachment Of Mr. French shall
add adhesion equivalent TO thirty tons 1t is plain that an
adhesion equivalent 10 locomotive OF forty weight has
been obtained Is il nothing 10 have saved the transpoa
ton Of thirty OF dead worse OF destructive weight
upon the road IN word the inventor proposes the subs,
of adhesion by which be increased without
limit and which weighs comparatively nothing for the adhe
of nssient weight which experience has shown TO in
the expense Of railroad in greater ratio than il adds
10 their profits This will be The point of experiment If
solved favoaby in overcoming the heary grades which in
teryene between Eastern Virginia and the Interior II will
have been money well laid out; if not il cannot have pro-
,sd the inventor in nny manner it will have been probably
well spent in developing the inventive talent OF the State
practical purpose II had been paid fer days
debate upon Federal resolutions investment OF which
no one could have complained.
The justification Of the Legislature ths The expense
ofestng the OF his principle was more than private
peraon could well bear The principle if sound, calcu
reduce Inc COST ana Increase the capacity Oh Ral-
roads. The State Committed 10 several important |
works which would require large expenditures construct
the Legislature appropriated the necessary for the
experiment, FIRST with the purpose of testing invention
upon which much depended and possibly with nci-
nation 20 aid citizen who had given his time and
the demonstration OF an important experiment.
The correspondent of Enquirer perfectly right in de-
string that the Legislature should efficiently the value
OF the invention II should not rely upon the representa-
lions of the inventor OF his opponents tits be hoped
tina, practical trial of the precise value of the principle
should be made and there be better than that
pested by the correspondent Of the Enquirer:
If The legislature wish 10 give the experiment fair test
lie, the Climber start al Of tho depots with load
which she will be able carry then her the inclined
plane Of Mr. French and if she does climb
If she does ascend without unloading, then something is
ganed, but if moi, then nothing is accomplished"
For the Enquirer.
To LEMuEL J. BOWDEN. ESQ, MEMBER OF TIE REFORM
CONVENTION OF VIRGINIA
Sir:-Haying all occasions supported your election
claim the privilege of addressing subject BY most
of the Eastern people deemed of great Importance and
expect in reply full and frank II is very in ius
trously circulated in this county thu, you "Whe
Basis man. and this report has caused much dissatsfac
ton among those who voted for you member of that