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

Messrs Editors AS interested in improvements,
whether by public money or private enterprise, allow me,
air if YOU please few words in regard 10 the expert
ment on Saturday of Mr. Frenchs great improvement in
steam engines for overcoming inclined planes on railroads.
That the sublcc of interest," yea Of great interest is
evident from facts Frsat the last session OF the c-
risaure our representatives appropatng SUUo Tor
Mr. French test s casbly and secondly ne
vast number of gentlemen present 10 witness IT'S success,
which reflect great honor on the perc.pve faculties
of our worthy representatives and Mr f. 10 retire
from the Of action victor, and To repose Il, night
ony 10 dream Of palaces and fountains and untold Golfers
Of The "ou DIST the reward Of his constructive gcnl-
us The question is now, did it succeed! answer yes,
il did; for with all possible The locomotive assembled
the plane OF 200 feet 10 the mile and then nsn doicn aea
without difficulty accident; and ths by many was pro-
nounced "a triumphant experiment. But LEI me ASK was
this all that needed test Letcvcry pTacilca! man
answer and Ihnk the answer will be, No! No.! II I'M
derstand the intention Of the experiment. il is this That BY
the application of Mr. Fs principle lleh; engine, say OF
half the friction can be used to run over me road ei an oIo
nary grade nnd then the engine when the principle
il nnpied will have double the friction power that tins
Increasing Of friction without weight, will overcome the
elevation of two hundred feet in mile Now let Us lest
this assumed Say for instance his engines are OF len
tons weight ordinarily but in ascending an inclined pane
by APPLYING tho biting nhe the friction power is Increased
TO 20 tons is equal 10 engine OF 20 tons weight viii II
not take thesame power them to drive his ten ton engine
NOV twenty tons that it will do TO drive twenty ton en-
gne2 Certainly 1H Does not every pound OF friction
aided TO the engine by the application take oil the power
of the cnuncl Most surely Then what have gained!
Why iust nothing at all. But it may be said, gain in
,oor md tear of the by running light
one True but will we not lose more in another way than
ia here gained For instance his engine capable draw
na mn level tro hundredtons burden When the BIZ
,no wheel is applied which doubles tho friction the engine
ose, hall her power SO that she them only able 10 draw
one hundred TONS which amounts 10 leaving halt her load NJ
,he foot of the HILL Any engine will do much Again il
eyed princpe the law of mechanics, tina, in ascent
of fty feet the mc you have 10 double your power
conscoueny al two hundred feet you would have 10
Than ouadruple power. Consequently an engine OF
Mr. F "a construction starting level with two hun
dred TONS could only inclined plane OF two hun
dred feet 10 the mile with twenty-five TONS or else fUadr-
j her pouer IL for instance she starts with two hun
dred tons burden she must 10 ascend with the same have
the nbiy of increasing her power sixteen times We ask,
,ben world not this waste of power be infinitely
more extensive in the end than eveng the road 10 too or
dnarv prnde or of keeping stationary engine! This,
think will be found be To my mind then It's clearly
i'm nraet;cahe ever 10 overcome than ordinary
Grade in rnirosd; for the waste 81 power WI! IN he
end cost more than grading The road thc legislature wish
10 give the experiment fair test let the Climber start at
on of the depots with load which will he a5Ic 10
~ then nut her inclined plane OF Mr. French and see
II abe does not cease eb II she does ascend, with
ont unloading then something is gained, but if not then
nothing accomplished She assembled Saturday, It's
,rne hut think IL proved nothing. She only drew little
more than her own weight. She weighs three and half
,on, This on Mr. Fs pIan, doubled by the friction wheel
wnuld be seren IONS and the cars and all hads
over eight TONS Legislature has given the money
s them fairiv ties, that the psope viii DC satisfied and
hn thew NAV know how far they are 10 Dc benefited by The
.nn,onTi,,ion Yours RICHMOND.