Richmond semi-weekly times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 184?-1853, 1851-02-04
JAMES S. FRENCH's EXPERIMENTAL RAIL.

Last winter the Legislature appropriated $40 900
to test the invention OF Mr. French for ascending high
grades railroads. Mr. f. has expended large sum
in arranging Locomotive and for the purpose and
for laying down railway the opposite side of the
river, mile above Richmond 1t starts from the Dan
vile Railroad near the Spring Hill Factory in valley
Just above the Haunted House., and up hill and
over streams in direction perpendicular to the River
AT II M. large number OF PERSONS principally mem
bers OF the Convection and Legislature, tered the
beautiful and elegant cars Of the Danvie Comnanv of
the termination Of their bridge IN this city-and we're
soon conveyed to the spot-paSsng through the we'll
constructed tunnel beneath the PETERSBURG abroad
The Danvlle Rail Road Is well built with heavy rails
the track for certain distance being excavated through
the solid rock, and winding in graceful curves along
the valleys the bank OF the river The Sc verify Of
the present spell of winter weather exhibited ia the
beautiful frozen cascades and racery work of ice hano
ing from the granite rocks on the railroad RI ;s fnr
tunate that the patriotism of our non oursa
trends is saved severe test by this late freezing wea.
ther. Ice is now beng abundanty obtained 81 inches
thick, 10 this vicinity, for home consumption: and we
are not dependent the Yankees for this luxury now
become a necessary in the Summer heais
The experiments with the railway were very in ter
esting, though, on account OF some accident of the
steam boxes OF the locomotive, they were not as full
as desirable. ' 80 ''''
For the ascending and descending of undulatne sur
races seems Gear to us that better method can
possibly be found combining as it does MANY requisite
qoalncatlons VIZ despatch in the construction oroads
greater cheapness and certainty Of travellng as by
ms method the road is neither affected by frost ice
y
On this railway the road as constructed bv Mr.
French IS more than third of mile in length on A
grade OF 2oo feet TO the mile. The ends of the stills
are cut on square with the string pieces the rail six
inches wide and tourhs OF inch thick is placed
upon the string pieces, and extends outward two and
hall inches, thus afordng an under-surace AGAINST
when pair OF rollers 1.-THE simple principle Of the
whole invention; are pressed These rollers or
wheels are suspended from the engine little in adj
vance Of the driving Wheels and are pressed against the
| extended ra bY a lever, by the regulation OF which
any amount OF adhesion may be obtained This me-
cnanca adhesion has the advantage of being gradua-
ted to circumstances, for running on level but it,
tie adhesion Is required, and reaching any inclined
surface put on In quantity requisite for ascending
and no more Thus are avoided the effects of weight
in great measures Whereas on the ordinary principle
mnch Gead Melgh is put on, only to be made use Of
at certain points, and destroying the road every pas
sage over It, The engine used for the experiment is
only 81 tons, and was built by Messrs Hooq and
Delamatar OF New York, under the superintendent
OF Capt John Erickson, gentleman well known for
ms great mechanical talents Up this grade OF 200
fett, this little engine drew up passenger car filed
with about loo passengers, at velocity of perhaps 10
| miles an hour. On descending, both engine and car
were peectly under control capable OF being stopped
al any moment IN space OF ten feet, and this while
descending by steam power and the force of gravity
combined The experiments have clearly indicated
piled. -
| Among the two hundred persons present on Satur-
| day, there seemed to be general qualification with
the experiment. Oe of the great objects 10 be gained
ny HiS iiVeHo Is tlat tie same power may be obtain
ed by lighter engine and cars, and consequently less
wearing out and injury TO the rails We hear that the
highest grade ever surmounted by locomotives is one
hundred and eighty feet in mile, in Pennsy lvania
But there it required locomotive of twenty tons
| while, with Frenchs invention, LOCOMOTIVE. of only
81 tons 1.-THE Climber ovecame grade of two hun
dred t"et in mile. When the experiment shall have
been fully tested, and heavy eight shall have been
drawn up and down, and great power shall have been
obtained by lighter engines, will be for the State to
ORDER the adaptation 1.-THE invention to portions
OF the various roads, being built, to which it
applicable. We know not what may be the effect in
lime OF the heavy friction OF the two small rollers re.
vovlng 100 times. while the driving wheels reyolve
only 81 times.
We are not Engineers enough to venture a predic-
ton as to ge permanent usefulness Of the invention
AS tar as it went it succeeded perfectly on Saturday
and we heard several mouuaneers declare that if the
invention could Iced in overcoming the grade of the
present experiment it would be sufficient for
railroads through their mountain passes In this
age OF invention we should not ba surprised to see
this application improved, that in less than YEAR
1t will be made of in surmounting the Blue Ridge
snpercedng the very expensive and like tunnels
| through The mountans-Enquirer of yesterday.