New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-11
SCIENCE AND INVENTION.
THE CALoRIC ENGINE.

4
at WiIhamsburgh, and the hat factory at Brooklyn,
the catastrophe at the baancedOck at the foot Of Pike
street. at the shipjoneIs establishment in Ninth street.
at the saw-nain In Ray, Michigan and the fatal loco
motive explosion in Marietta, GeorgR-aIl of which
have been the subject Of comment in our columns
during the last month-demonstrate that with all its
advantages and under the best conditions the steam
engine dangerous motor and make it idle to assert
that sny excellence of Materials experience in
ufacure, or skill in supervision, can render it alto
| eether harmless.
But rthe last hundred years all the ingenuity Of
thousands of inventors and schemers has been unable
10 devise substitute for the Eeam-engine or to pro-
duce anything capable Of supplying its place in whole
in part until the recent practical introduction Of
EricacRs Caloric Engine. 1t Is alleged that this
motor is entirely safe and this point Is 80 web estab-
hed that the use Of does not raise the rate Of in
suIsnce This commercial test of safety is demonstra-
ton. II is further alleged tina. tho engine consumes
very little fue-saving about 80 per cent Of that con-
suned by steam-engine Of the power. Another
advantage asserted for this motor "a that requires no
engineering supervision, but may be managed by
few minutes attention Of the person using is power
With these claims It must DO admitted that the Caorc
Engine of Capt Ericsson has established position
motor that renders it a most interesting subject Of in
yestigaton; and we have sought and obtained from
reliable sources information in regard to it which can
lot fail to excite interest among all penons having
occasion to employ power.
We learn that more than three hundred Of these
engines, varying in dimension from cylinder Of to
one Of 30 inches are in successful practical opera
ton. Many Of these employed as domestic motors
| in pumping water. large number, chiefly i8-inch
cylinders, performing similar office at railroad
stations Mr.. Vibbard, the General Superintendent Of
the New-YoIk Central Railroad, after having had five
Of these engines in at wsterssaiors for several
months, reports officially over his signature as Super
niendent that they perform incredible amount Of
labor "for the email quantity Of fuel consumed" One
of them at the Jordan Station he says, performs the
labor Of four men, at expense Of 96-lOO OF one cent
per hour; and one at the Savannah Station does the
labor Of FIVE men, at a cost Of eleven cents per day
making saving Of over sl20 per month. We have
"decded he says, TO the engines at all stdtt0HS
"where we are compelled to supply locomotives by
"pumping." An engine Of the same size at the New
market Station on the Hew-Jeuey Central Railroad,
raises 80 600 gallons Of water at the cost Of less than
nine cents day or SO cents for six days appears
from the certificate Of Mr.. 0verton, Roadmaster.
For driving printingpresses the Cslorc engine has
been found equally useful. Fifteen daily newspapers
in the United States now printed by it, and we
need not add that daily paper calls for motor that is
economical Efficient and in all respects reliable. The
engines thus employed Of Sinch and Pinch eyin-
6eu.
Engines Of 2I-inch and 32-nch cylinders used in
raising grain at railroad stations, and merchandise in
large stores in pulyerzing quartz, splitting leather,
propeDing sewing machines, pulPng and huing 'ofee
ginning cotton, and crushing sugar-cane.
The 2I-inch engine has also been successfully applied
for sipss use In pumping, loading, and dischargiag
eargoes, Warping ship, handling the anchor, and Tor
many other purposes now calling for manual labor
sueh an engine on board the ship Wild Pigeon recently
excited 90 much interest ut Cadera IN Chilli as to lead
to an order, within the last week. for five engines Of
the largest dimensions, for that port. Many engines
have been sent TO Cuba, where they have been sue
eessfuy applied to various uses A double 9iinch
CINE runs away with OottOn-gin Of more than seventy
SAWS. II IL on an estate In the vicinity Of Havana
that double 52insh engine is being applied TO
aLtmiIl and double engines Of 4S-ineh cylinder are
nov IN the process Of construction for the market
An engine Of 6O-inch cylinder has been ordered for
vessel for the West India coastng trade, and will be
pu. in hand Immediately on The completion Of the 49,
inch engines. Since the successful introduction of
these engines in Cuba order has been issued by the
Governor General forbidding the erection Of any more
seam-engines in the City Of Havana, in any town
Cd the island.
II IL found that with every increase Of dimension the
power Of the engine s moro than proporiOnately in
creased; and while the engine has been from time to
time enlarged from TO 8, 10, 49, a. and S2-nch cyn
der with complete practical success there Is no reason
10 believe that the AZ or 60nch cylinder will express
the limit Of available and economical power. IL is
efficient to say that this limit Ia not yet asoertaned
ard that actual results indicate that has not been
appropriated.
Several Of the largest machlne-shops in the United
staes are now engaged in the manufacture Of these
eDgiDes under licenses from the patentee. Among
these we may mention the establishments Of l. p.
MoIris & Co. Of Philadelphia, the Newark Machine
Company Of Newark j., Cluts Brothers Of Sche-
Dectady, and William Kidd g. Co. of Rochester in this
State, and Nourss g. Cayl Of Boston. Mr.. John b.
Kitchng has established general agency for the en-
CINE in this city, where he cells machines Of his own
manufacture and those Of the manufacture Of other
licensees. The enterprsing Spanish house Of Peasant
Brothers have the exclusive control Of the patent for
the Spanish West Indies. BsSide the engines now in
opeIstion and those which the licensees building
for their own trade one hundred and thirty engines
aIe now in the course Of construction for a single
agency.
II ia but On act Of Justice to the Caoric Engine to
state that the claims that are made for II Of entire safety
and great economy seem be Abundany Sustained by
competent testimony and we do not forget that the
only competent testimony in tho case is that of men
who have themselves employed the engines watched
them diligently ard intelligently in the actual per-
Torrance Of their Offices. Such testimony Is that Of
Prof HESRY officially made 10 the Lighthouse Board