New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-09-22
RAILROAD IMPROVEMENTS.

Since the Count de Pamb0ur, whose carelui
practical experiments and thorough mathemati-
cal analysis are yet unriyaed In any treatlses
on steam engineering, descanted IN glowing
style upon the performances of the locomotive
engine, this great agent of civilization has far
surpassed the imaginatiOns of that accom- llshed
engineer. The "impOsng spectacle" OF NOV
ing on the straight, level lines of the Liverpool
and Manchester and the Stockton and Darling
ton Railway $40 or 50 loaded carriages, each
weighing more than 10000 pounds" is now
immensely exceeded in daily practice on all the
long roads in our country. Mountain grades are
LOW surmounted on the lines of the Pennsylvania
Central and of the Baltimore and Ohio Roads
by the simple adhesion of the wheels, while but
a few years since ropes and fixed engines were
considered necessary even for hauling on levels
The empty freight car now weighs 10000
pounds, and its load some 1900 more. The
ten.wheel engines ofthe Reading Railroad thun-
der steadily up grades of 81 feet per mile, with
loads in coal alone of 500 tuns each, and the
seven.feet drivers on the Hudson River
Road whirl passengers from Thlrty-hrss-
street to the Albany ferry-boats in 26O
minutes. Less fuel is consumed per mile in the
magnificent machines now employed on the
New-York Central Road than in the diminutve
traps used ten years ago to pull half the
present loads and to compare still more
recent dates, the working expenses on
the New-Ycrk and Erie for fuel, oil and the like
have been steadily reduced within the last year
mill oh hlU
report.
This highly encouraging progress has been due
partly to the adoption of absolutely new dis
coyeries, but more to the better application OF
truths long known and published, but badly ap-
piled. School science is always both ahead and
behind that Of the workshop. While each has
a mingled respect and contempt for the other,
the liberal minds who can acquire, reconcile
and apply both are fewer than is generally be-
lieyed. In practice improvements are intro
duced by slow and careful degrees. a dis
tiIct and prominent recognition OF every step
forward or backward will do more to perfect
machinery than all the colleges and patent Offices
in Christendom. A disquisitiOn on momentum,
for instance, may suggest truly valuable idea
to one thoughtful intellect, while leading another
into an expenditure of time and money on some
ridiculous device. The hope of producing
something absolutely new has proved the igniS
tdtuus of many a noble mind, and embittered
many an otherwise happy earthly existence;
but systematic and regular record and exhibit
tion Of actual results has been found to produce
in its quiet, constant impulse, an almost unac-
countable effect. Ii excites in the operator,
the owner, designer and constructor Of every
machine not only emulation to excel but a
vivid apprehension Of most mortltJlng disgrace
ia case of either ignorance, careessness or de-
ctit.
Too high praise cannot be awarded to
Mr.. ID. e. McCallum, tho Superintendent
of the New.lork and Erie Railroad, for the
cucrsy aud frmncss with which he has intro
duccd ON this great avenue OF tralilc n
systcm of recording aud publishing the results
and methods of working It's machines, which
promises to place tho locomotive In some degree
on par with tho pumping engines OF the Cora
wall Galleries James Watt with his partners
manufactured Cornish pumping ons'nos I'LL $500,
aud when his paieut expired Que bushel Of coal
was capable ef lining twenty millions Of pounds
ono foot high or ito equivalent in other WORK.
r,um ihis llme tho duty" as Il is termed. or
amount of woth douc. actually decliusj. until
iaio. when tho minlns ptpptieters. alarmed az
tho fact. hogan g. publish tho duty Of every
spslns. good. bad and indifferent ilereupea
improvement commenced. aud IN ioil thc
r~e, rea,els eesiae pamPoi tweusy four
heuts Ia rte'ence W = commIt,ee, raising oac