The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-03-31

the ai-aDsorDlng TOPIC, any Improvement which WIN
reduce the expense of building, transportation on
Railroads. exciies deep interest.
Some time since Mr.. James S. French pctitioned
Congress for pecuniary aid to enable him TO test h's
plan Of railroad engines, by which he claims
adhesion rs obtained 10 ''enable the engine TO wok
readily and safely for higher grades than have here
,ofore been attempted 4 committee appointed
by the House If Representatives to examine the
model and the committee made very elaborate re-
port, expressive Of the utmost confidence in the
success of the experiment.
We would gladly publish the report entire, but its
length is ususmountablc obstacle. The follow Ing
extracts, however, we hope will he Interesting.
The plan Of Mr.. French is certainly original, and
is the only one known to your committee in whrh
smooth wheels and the rails Of the track
ranged as 10 enable the eng TO wo,k readily and
safely Tor CHER grades than have heretofore been
attempted IN connection with railway tiansit. This
is effected bya yey slight modification of the pes-
ent plan, and consists in substituting pressure for
weight in producing the required adhesion.
The apparatus by which adhesion any cStcut de-
sired by the engineer may he produced at pleasure is
SIM l., compact mechanical cont ivancc, costing
but few hundred dollars, read, attached to any
engine, and may he thrown in Of gear Instantly
by the turning Of a stcam-cock. When out Of gear
it is lifted some twelve eighteen inches above the
rails and the enc way differs rom The
mon locomotive hut runs readily by the adhesion due
to its weight, the level portions of the road.
This plan. therefore, adds nothing to the expense
# constructing railroad small increase in
the weight Of the rail heavy incnes, where
large Business Is done; but saves time and cXpendi
ture in grading, reduces the weight Of the engines,
and consequently the working expenses OF the road;
gives greater security railway travelling, and sug-
seS- the introduction of railroads with machinery
light scarcely TO exceed in weight the ordinary
mail stage.
You. committee have doubt that, this ulan
far cheaper ia Dads NAV be constructed ard safely
worked with corresponding light machinery than any
now III use; can they douia that by IL an engine
may be made 10 ascend any required grade. These
things perfectly apparent from the ing model
which has been submitted to inspection, and
see nothing whatever TO justify MS IN asserting that
this invention will not accOmtli sh ali the
claims for il. The application Of well established
principle is simple in this invention, see
/ no reason why it viii not work well large
scale a small one; and, referring to the expert
ments heretofore made by the inventor this plan,
confidence increased in the belief that he has
perfected (regarding the interests be affected
by ~ Of the most remarkable imp ovements Of
the age. He has supplied what has been con-
sider as the greatest desideratum in railway motive
Eowei-namely, sufficient adhss for the engine on
the rail.
The model which has been for some time working
in the Capitol shows glance the whole arrange
ment. 1t consists of a common wooden super C.
urc, with fiat barral; the ends Of the cross-tinl-
bers cut of flush with the sccpcrs and the fiat
bar resting on the sieepers projects the out
side OF the track, forming clear contnueus space
each side of the road for friction rollers, or small
wheels to 'evolve up against the projecting edge OF
the rail. The crauk> attached to the ends Of the
drivIng-aNle and between these and the driving
wheels is sus pended from the aN!c, each side
L.,
pleasure directly under The driving wheels. | sing
the driving axle a iulcrum, by means Of COM
pound lever, these friction rollers wheels are
pressed mp pleasure, and to that press down
the driving wheels, producing instantly whatever
amount of adhes ION NAV he required The tread of
the driving wheels is VIDE the rails. and the
Fiction rollers rcvove just under them, with tlanges
to prevent their rubbing the sides of the road. These
friction rollers small wheels, when not required
instantly thrown up some eighteen inches above
the track, where they remain until they again re-
CURED " hen they are instantly thrown into eear.--
This facility f removing them adapts the engine in
! all respects TO the common read and requires mod
ifcatioD of the rail only in working the incline.
| That road tbs plan may be as substantially
constructed as any other, Your committee do NJ
question, nor that the heavy rail may bc rcadii,
adapted to it; thus giving the road, however con-
structed the Of ma hineiy directly suited 10 its
wants Light engines, wiih light loads, at high We
lcity, while on the same road might tiIw irei Iht
cuIipes; and even these greatly reduced IN weight,
with Lngc l,a;lS al slower velocity; and the adhe-
SION beng at all times ready aud certain, Induces the
belief the part of your committee that roads with
high grades can be worked in all conditions uf the
weather, with more certainty and regularity than are
now the more level lines The various modes which
suggest themselves for clcvating the rails and Gslcn-
ing them down, well as for takiu, advantage Of
thi, principle will readily occur to nee hanical min.
and your committee therefore deem unncec>ar, to
dwell upon them.
The importance Of this improvement to Minnesota
will be incalcui.ble. If tie engine performs what
the co nnttee think it will, the construction of rail-
roads IN this Territory viii be no greater than the
expense If the rail, and laying them down There
is grading neces ary piaiiies, nature has
done al! that is necessary, except adjusting the rail,
and en- inc.
To secure adhesion heretofore, weight has been
used, and hence ponderous, heavy load of machinery
is necessary to give the engine progressive motion;
but by this improvement, light machinery can be used
and is peculiarly adapted 10 the use 4 calorc as
motive power.
The committee believe the Improvement Of Mr.
French will very much add the security of railway
travel, while the ''ensnes may be constructed mach
generate steam" and the committee 'feel great CON
fdence in the opinion, that if mechanical adhesion
as applied in the plan before us, be substituted for
weight, engines may be made to draw nmuneratiye
loads over much higher grades than any now used,
even such worked with assistant engines''
The committee believe that the plan for producing
mechanical adhesion row proposed will offer less
resistance To an engine ascending plane than ii
w"nd were the same quantity OF adhesion produced
by weight. This is Illustrated in the model we have
examined. This works generally grade Of 100
feet "a the mile, and the engine is made 10 ascend by
means of adhesion produced by piling the engine
just over its driving wheels, "A snifccnt weisht to
produce the required quantity, This is then removed.
and mechanical adhesion is produced and with this
the engine moves up the plane more rapidly and
steadily than when loaded with the necessary weight
That this effect exhibited in the model, will be re-
alzcd IN practice your committee dc not doubt. When
the locomotive engine shall become limited in is
power only by ITS steam capacity, it will be so much
more powerful and effective than it now is, we NAV
reasonably expest advantages almost as great to flow
from this change 10 its character as those which