The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-07-27
steam ON Common Ronds.

A steam carriage made q trial trip on
Tuesday last, on a common road from Tren-
ton to Philadelphia. A correspondent Of the
N. Y. Courier and Enquirer gives the fol.
lowing account Of the trip:
As nine was deemed a sufficient number
for the engine to carry on this occasion,
(though II necessary il can accommodate If
teeD) coach was provided for the remaining
passengers, who, however, took turns In rid.
ing on the machine.
We started at 2:26 P. NJ, the carriage
nearly a mile in advance. The engine had
been sufficiently tested in short runs like that
at Trenton, to make sure that II would go
we'll over paved streets or macsdamized roads
with easy grades its endurance and speed
on long pulls, and It's power Of overcoming
high grades, we're yet to be proved. The
first half hour on the road not only settled all
these questions, but developed a reserved
power, far beyond the requirements OF any
ordinary duty. 1t had been the intention to
keep the carriage ahead, but it was soon ap.
parent that this could not be done. The en-
CINE in very few minutes overlook 1t, held
up to it, got another start, came up again,
and finally passed it and arrived at Neham-
ing Bridge, half mile or more ahead, huv
ing made the distance, three miles in exactly
l6 minutes, running time.
The road was smooth, with hard bed and
light grades, covered all the way, however,
with more or less loose material, with occa
Sional stretches OF pretty deep sand. On
examination, the engine was found to be all
right in every part, and so far all was we'll.
Before us, however, was long covered
bridge, with draw in the middle, in regard
to which we had been cautioned at Bristol,
and as an inspection showed, with very good
reason. Though heavily timbered enough
originally, it was old and sheky, and the
loads which ordinarily cross it, not large
enough to furnish decisive proof OF it's sutfi.
cheney to bear the weight the engine would
bring upon it. 1t was obvious that it must
be crossed at high speed, if at all, and Ger.
tainly there was no disposition to finch from
the attempt. Beyond, the road climbs long
hill, with particularly sharp pitch about
one third of the way up, with an inclination
Of at least one foot in ten, perhaps one in
eight, and very much more severe than any
the engine had had experience of. 1t mus
be done, however, for the engine was on tr
al, and its judges, the Philadel phia Commit
tee, were present and it must be done, too
the first time trying. A furious fire sent the
steam up to 1870 lbs, the spectators took W
their posts of observation, and the men theiI
posts Of duty.
Our chief, standing erect, with head barred
on the forward deck, gave the word, steam
was let on. and the engine started. There
was moment of suspense as it entered thu
bridge, and fairly jumping as it seemed witt
the vibration OF the long arches, approached
, the treacherous draw, but it was oi short du
ra ion sooner than the story can be told o
read, it had cleared the draw, crossed the re
naming length OF the bridge, and emerge,
from the covered passage like some inierna
monster from the mouth o tn" pit, with en-
ecsi"s wrought up to thp highest pitch fo
the final struggle. With every valve wild,
open, and all sfeam on, it whir ed nIo0g the
slope, apparently at ths highest locomotive
sped, d approaching the -terp pitch sur
mnuuted it with un Iterint t-end, hurr,"t
fur on ann, he vi sumuI,. aud - Jpped
Ia exactly one miHuie tyom the lirIe O. start
ing, having travcrsed il that short interval
distance o fully one thousand feet.
The next m'ie was made in five inmates
the next following, which included the us
cent OF another long hill, in six. Whou
going into further par'iru ars as to the re-
naming portions Of the way, it may suffice
to say tn It 1t was found to be perfectly easy
to mnintdin, on fair grades, motion ut lht
rate of twelve miles per hour; that wher
there was any occasion for it, this rate coul'
be increased one fourth or one half that th'
steepest ond longest hills could be ascendet
at the rate of ten miles per hour. A NJ
previous arrangement had been made 70
supplies of fuel and water, much time wa
consumed in stopping to procure them, mort
even than there was in running f.; the whole
time occupied on the trip being FIVE hour
and thirty four minutes, while the actua
running time was but minute or two owe
two hours. The last four miles of the way
lying through the streets of the city, wa
necessarily made at less speed, but even in
GLIDING this 1t will be seen the actual run
; ming time gave an average rate of ten mile
per hour.