New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-06-22
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
STEAM-CARRIAGE TRIP.

To u. Editor # TAs \. Tyrbsne.
SIR: wish. through your columns, to give an exact
account of the experimental trips which have thus lar
made with my steamcariage They have no, been with
out interruption from accidents of slight kind, which
were the result solely of the incomplete workmanship.
which was the best had TO procure. | will irst
describe tcse accidents in order that those acquainted
with the subject nav make fair allowance for the effect
they had in mpairng the effectiveness of the engines for
the time.
On THURSDAY night as you stated from asthst,
North River down to Libery-st. and then turned
and ran up far the PAX had not provided enough
of for the trip, consequently the water got low and
the steam hot 20 melt the ndarubber packing OF
Joint in the pipe ard the steam blew ont so fast that
we could no, proceed This could have been repaired in
ten minutes five had been provided with piece of Indis
rubber, could have found II that hour But It would
be better have joints made not TO require pack
ing h8ble TO such injury
Another accident occurred yesterday morning during
trip from Twenty-sh-st to the Park it consisted IN the
ccaciment of the rod that works the valve of the right
engine m consequence of the loss OF a small pm found
thai we did not nscend the from Canal to Secondst
a. Wei did Thursday night, aud could not ac-
count for until we got into the Park and were informed
by n boy that something was loose we had run some
dls,ancc-how far cannot say-wh only engine and
were probably hindeTed by the other
Until these small troubles occurred we workeda speea
equal 10 that II good horses Especially upon the Russ
pavement we worked well ~ to Afford fair prcsump-
lion that well built steam carriages may be worked WIN
advantage upon that pavement And we also provea'nat
cobbe payemens very poor condition, are not I'M
practicable for And this performance was win
boiler that very little powera nd IL not ht for any but
good plank roads boiler thar depends upon the blast
pine ana for minute make steam without H. 10
make hi. boiler generate steam in any useful quantity,
when ruon difficult road would require blower; and
this though iofesaw Il almost certain, was con-
sraiuod to dispense with until had tried the cheaper
expeditni of the blast pipe.
tpon the gravel surface in the Park where tried to
vsrk yerisriay found that could run while the steam
enough H. even Wheu CUT
ting OFT nj half stroke but could not move fast enough
10 make effective blast and generate steam enough IN
keep in motion under the circumstances Had there been
lorg Of that pnay. II would have been less uns-
yorahle because the wheels must be slipped IN turn
ing much power Is wasted IN deyloion- from SHAgnl
but then the boiler could not DC made 10 sup
PLY steam fast enough Nothing but powerful and man.
ageabe blast could, from so little surface, produce tfe
fequist, supply.
ms. boiler /, not the one At first designed to I
had invented one and contracted for the materials for 1t:
but they could be furnished al the proper time; and
Welded the advice Of friends and adopted boiler that
hHd beer tried upon steam carriage with consderapis
II proves however not to be so good NJ soma
bsors the upright kind which extensively in use
rs faults that II fOams nj times nnd NJ other uDes
makes the too dry and does not supply with reg
usrity. A much better boiler be made; and be-
eve that If the of steam carriages depends ON
boilers. they will be successful.
The arrangement of the engines conceive 10 be good.
There no rocking unsteady motion produced by tem
and they will allow the easiest springs 10 De used Inc
steering GOOD upon cobhe and Russ pavements, flag
stones plank but upon gravel the front wheels AP
lateroy timer instead OF forcing OF the drivers To
Zip. This may be remedied by putting more weight
forward.
Allowance will trust be made for the incompeteness
and the defects which economy constrained me to &c
Ouiesce in in merely experimental carriage There Is no
proper framing Of iron hard wood-onlya fire box The
sprngs Il the main axle not good they of India
rubber put replace steel springs that were broken I'm
q space too cor fined for common springs
Lastly there faults the plan. The body hangs too
near the Ground there enough for some Of the
working parts. correction of these will much improve
H. end make it convenient and manageable.
II steam can be introduced the Of payemenis will
IT, less than third OF what il is under horses and the
cleaning will be Isss than sixth This is shown by docu
ments published ~ order OF the British Parliament.
One thing more A steam hre-engine may be made by
putting upon q steam-carragc Of Worhingons steam
pumps. The boiler of the carriage after II has got the
carriage the fire will be instantly available TO work the
s;eam-pump At starting from the engine-h0use all hands
would help il until the il up after which they
would all ride, and arrive u, the fire IN fresh working
dition. Yours, respectfully, }. X. FISHER.
Nsr-I crkJu 1f.l'l5