The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-03
A Ride In the Steam Carriage.

is STEAM LcCOMOTION ON LAND, WITHOUT
PRAcTlCABLE!-THx AxPERIMsNr 70 BIZ TKIxD-
DESCRIPTION THE Nxw sraAM CABBAGE AND
WHAT 1T HAS DONE.
Many OF our readers have doubtless noticed the small
carriage which been driven abou, the OK
New York and vicinity within the last nine months II is
odd looking machine and has much the appearance OF
artillery wagon from is low size aad the projecting
boiler, which is not unlike cannon.
Is has long been disputed pou, whether steam car
rsgss be pavigated safely and successfully ana
and the time subserve any useful purpose. The
prevailing belief has been that they are entirely useless
and mprsc,csble for has been deemed incredible that
mode OF ocomoton obviously advantageous shsud not
long ago into general II not for
masquerade difficulty In the way.
When the wonderful powers OF steam were first dis
covered, Immediately suggested that 1t might be
used In the propulsion OF vehicles land and the first
experiments with the motor with . view to
stis this way But all the early ate mpts proved
unsuccessful although the Ingenuity OF the best mecba
MICS Europe to bear 10 solve the ,bem
This not the place 70 detail the numberiess experiments
In carriages which have been maie from time TO
time Suffice say that none have been acknowledged
successful by the pubic whatsoever the opinions OF tho
several inventors may have been. Il Is indeed claimed
tia, more than one carriage mas been built EagiAnd
that would answer every purpose Tor which they were
dssgneo, bus that popular prejudice tho opposition OF
ssge nopeors the poverty Of the inventor have pre-
vented them from coming into general use.
rhe carrisge which has been propelled through the
MT Richard Dudgson, mechanic OF Eoglish birth, bat
who learned bis trade In America He the Inventor OF
ss,wbos, oer .nS a,so on o.ber meor sonlcsuoos Of
hydraulic power. He 10 simply good locomotive ma
cbnsi kooss nothing Of the history Of previous attempts
IN the making OF steam carriages, aud Is unable ~
plain vhereln his carriage offers from others, except
that promises 10 be successful, white s certain that
MI former oGcs have not been deemed 80.
Mr. Dudgeons carriage weighs ZOO los, and may be de-
scr.bed half quarter szed locomotive, with very
large wheels aud smoke Pipe peculisry tue
tubular boiler with improved valve gear. Toe cylinders
fastened TO the front OF the boiler or smoke box at the
usual angle, and inside connections 10 the crank.
The ia distributed 70 the pistons by mo1ern slide
valve and the link motion perfected by Stephenson The
smoke discharged downwsrds, front, with
out a chimney, and pAss benin1 a water tank on the
front end OF the boiler. The cranks worked on the
Tho Improvement other engines consists 10 ncrcas
Ing The stroke OF the piston and diminishing the size OF
the driving wbess Tho stroke n eighteen ncnss, ana
the oipne,er OF the wheels three feet aod nan.
The carriage wheels are very similar 10 those in or
binary use only smaller 70 diminish the jolt The springs
similar, though differently applied. The hind
ordinary crank axle. The steering s dons BY tue
front wheels, ana with great eass and certainty
most crowded streets IN New York fho steering IS
accomplished by stout iron rod. armed with scres at
end which moves the front axle recording TO tbs d
rccon Il gets from the crank under the control
OF driver sits behind the bner. The sxes
At ether end OF boer that may be KEEP; iow and
a long wheel base obIained, which makes i run very
sta ady over rough pavement
Upon Invitation Of Mr.. Dudgcon, one Of our reporters
took trip with him In bic steam Carriage 20 Harlem
time since The day was uuprcpltcus, as the roa1 ~ss
bad from the rains, and there Vas but little oppor
tuny 10 tes speed OF the carrsge, compared Nth
the fast korscs tbs, frequent the Is Is no.
tended thai this carriage viii run on SOFT road iu great
weight AGO Ios would render Impossible TO make
hard aud even; and should these vehicles come
use, roads must Dc made purpoey for their accommo
enethvays, for the wheels 10 apon~Ould. The in
vcntor Claims do very well for ali practical purposes
snd sd 10 aend TIE engine started nom Goercs street.
about O'Clock In the Afternoon and proceeded no
Grand street The Belgian pavement, over which the
Of an omnibus Although !, me, ssrlcss the
journey, there collision, could be managed
with much greater ease aud certainty than horse AMI
wagon In liz progress OF attracted great sen
ton every one stopping on the walk 70 look AZ TIC
majority evidently ress,den - GOO Jose soa noogn'
juveniles, however were It's most ardent admirers, and on
the ouskrp Of the city they fairly swarmed arouud tho
The route taken Was up the track the Second Avenue
Railroad 10 Harlem aud back again 10 Grand street, dis
ss ,eaae r soopsq though .cre was no es
made TO run fast The distance 10 Harlem aud
back could easily have been run in al, an
and there had been impediments. The cars were
easily ouirun. aud boy on foe -hte horse, who a.
behind IN few minutes The carriage sso travels very
readily inclined plane. The nil on the Second
avenue above Forteth street. seemed 10
obsructo nor did that At the other side OF Jones Wool
The inventor claims that viii easily ascend hill 800
feet per mile, and there Is reason 70 believe tnst will
do so From the speed attained evi lent that Twelve
miles per hour could be easily, provided All vas IN
condition clear bard road &C and this OF course leaves
margin for Improvements 10 the construction OF other
steam vehicles.
The cost Of the mschine under notice Is 81 500
aulres two pcrpops II; lsf ho~sver, quite
competent a. grown person for tnis duty
mere 10 one objection 10 these csrrisges-n
least IN crowded. cities-that will yet raise
great cutlery against them, and tha e, The alarm
ID creates among horses These sensitive suimsls
will manifest their fear It's approach. and serious conse
auences will day onsue. We'll trained horses pay
very lille attention The novelty, but all horses are
we'll trained and hence the dhculsy II true that this
machine been ia the streets OF New York for ths
last nine months without any accident occurring, bn
should any dculty rsnspire the proprieors Of ho~ses
be unanimous In putting stop 70 u within TIE oy
limits
Should however, these steam carriages come nto use
will be on roads made for the purpose tor travel be
tween points that would not supports railroad. There
are plenty such In the country and should these ma
chimes prove practicable, they vill make TREMENDOUS
revolution in the modes Of travel throughout the country
por-o, ~ p,~ocp.r prprnf The Hon. John g..