Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-05-19

s. Ulata& eess nq esg sf ReSsmentss have been
n Pc ansSon Sf aro.ry cam engine. Vast
snm6 hav Is expende1 I'd the search, and the en-
gineers and mechanics Of the Old World havecome
to the conclusion that the idea was Altogether inn
practicable It was reserved however, for citizen
Of New York. Mr.. Ebeneser Barrows, to demons
strated It's practcabity and he has susceeded ully
it is Believed in accomplishing that which hag
long baf1ed the researches Of mechanical scencd-
The discovery 70 second in temperatures only to that
of Fulton's demonstration of the prsctcability Of
navigating rivers by steam; for IL will lessen the ex-
to that object a. ct present. full one halea consd
Grafton which cannot fail to place the name of the
inventor high the roll of public benectors. Yet
whatever fame his genius has won for him, he sur
wives not to enjoy it. as told that he died. af
ter short illness, only month ago.
By the annexed article from the New York Cour.
Ter & Enquirer it will be seen that the invention has
been fairly and fully tested with the most satisfactory
results and its complete adaptation to steam navga
ton may now be considered a q" fixed fact"
Mr. Barrows, of our city, has constructed rotary
engine, which is, to use the language of the the
atrical critics. decided success 1t ia called the
"Direct and Double Power Reversible Rotary Steam
Engine" Ebenezer Barrows, Patentee, 228 Water
street. New York One of these engines has been
placed in propeller recently built for the Steam
Navigation Company.
The new propeller Dawn, intended to run as one
of line of freight propellers between Fair Haven
and New York. in which the rotary engine is placed,
is fine craft 400 tons burthen 100 feet long. COM
manded by Capt Lemuel c. Wood, of Fair Haven,
experienced steamboat navigator.
One day this week a committee Of gentlemen Wis.,
tied Fair Haven on invitation of the owners of the
Dawn to inspect the rotary engine, and satisfy
themselves respecting the character of the invention.
Before the party reached Fair Haven thick snow
storm set in and the beautiful harbor of New Bed
- ~. Al
curson of the Dawn postponed till fair weather.
To practical men the working of the engine was,
however, very satisfactorily demonstrated by putting
it in motion as the steamer tied to the wharf.
The engineer of the steamer explained the machine
~ of the engine, which he said had performed ad-
mirably her trip from New York to Fair Haven,
on the 7th inst. Among the persons present by in
vitation were Donald Mckay, the builder of clipper
ships, and Mr.. c. Shelter, Engineer and Constructor
in the Navy of Holland, who has been sent at the
request of the Pasha Of Egypt to perfect and com.
plete the machinery of the Voyngeur de la Mer.
The latter gentleman entirely dsbelieved that ro.
tary steam engine possible. His incredulity
was removed on witnessing the performance Of this
engine and hearing account of the late trip of the
Dawn from New York.
The following master machinsts were also pres
emit Mr. Eddy of the Western Railroad Adams,
Of the Boston and Worcester Railroad; Mr.. Bullock,
Of the Old Colony Railroad and Joseph Bradford,
of the Ftchburg Railroad who all spoke a?provingy
of the new machine. The Dawn is finely modelled
craft built expressly for the freghting business in
New York. She is 100 feet long, about 400 tons
burhern constructed of the best TIMBER and copper
fastened. The engine consists of an iron drum,
within which is the steam wheel, having for its axis
the main shaft of the propeller. The steam is in.
PRODUCED upon two opposite Sides SO as to equaize
the side pressure. The steam works in chambers
formed between the inner periphery of the drum,
and the other periphery of the wheel, by four pis
fono how ra11o yvh fho
inside of the drum, and are pressed against it by
springs. The steam pressing upon these pistons
with direct force drives the wheel around and they
are made to turn by an "eccentric' just when op-
poste the side valves where the steam is exhausted
and resume their position in time to take the cur
rent of the steam it is Introduced The steam is
exhausted at each half turn of the Wheel and there
is constant direct pressure of steam upon the
chambers The steam box drum of this engine
is about feet inches in diameter, inside, and the
breadth of the periphery is 26 inches The space
between (what choose to calD the inside wheel
and the drum, is 81 inches, that each of the pis
tons presents to the action of the steam surface Of
1894 square inches. The engine revolves steadily,
with no lateral motion, and very little Earring.
1t will be that this engine, which is 400 horse
power, with its condensng apparatus, may occupy
but a very small space compared to reci2rocating
engine of the same power. 1t is much lighter and
much less expensive in its construction, and accord.
ing to the statements of the Engineer and the Cap
tan's log, consumes less than half the fuel. The
Dawn started from New York at two o'clock, April
7th and made the to Fair Haven, something
over 1870 miles, in eighteen hours. The engine new
ceased its revolutions on the way, and worked
admirably in every respect 1t should also be borne
in mind that the engine worked with caution,
under easy steam and that the vessel being unload
ed her propeller was not more than threc-quarters
submerged.
She made the passage at the rate of more than ten
knots an hour under great disadvantages, and her
performance must be considered very satisfactory,
indeed While she was tied to the wharf. her engine
made twenty five revolutions to the minute with
two pounds of steam. 1t is the opinion of those
who have investigated the subject, that this engine
will supercede all others for locomotives and for
general use.
The Rotary Steam Navigation Company will soon
have line of propellers between Fair Haven and
New York, in connection with the Fair Haven
Branch Railroad 1t is believed that this form one
Of the best and most reliable lines for heavy eights,
and especially in the winter season. it will have ad
vantages over every other outside route.
Mr.. Barrows' engine. we learn, can be constructed
it one half the cost of the engines on the old prn-
ciple-it consumes less than halt the space of the
old engine with similar power-it does not create
that disagreeable Earring of the vessel which is OBJ
served on all our river steamers.
But the advantages possessed by Mr.. Barrows
patent do not rest here 1t is we'll adapted for
railroad engines, manufacturing concerns, and all
other purpose where the common engine is used as
for propelling vessels. Here it may be looked upon
as one of the most important inventions of the age
and most to become generally used on land and
sea.
NEW Posi- OFF1cE.-We learn that q new Post Of
flee has been established the opposite side of the
river, at the Cross Roads, by the name of Bellevue
and that Mr.. G. E. Peterson is appointed Post Mas
tor We fofiv Prf