The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-08-15
nlislcllo,lcous.
steam Oh the Plains,
ENGINES RUNNING ON THE WESTERN
WAGON ROADS.

|
ENGINES RUNNING ON THE WESTERN
WAGON ROADS.
! The subjec' of applying seam power
for the transportation of freight over
common turnpike roads across the plains,
has for several years been the theme of
study by various energetic and progress
sive parties. The progress Of the vari-
Gus experiments in appropriate machine
ny have not been generally known to the
public, and on visi ing Nebraska City
few days since, were surprised to find
large locomotive, sent out from New
York for experiment.
The machine mentioned, being the
first one built, is propelled by four en-
gnes Of ten horse power each. The cyl
inders are osciliating and connect with
shat $, upon which are pinions Of twelve
inches in diame'er, which move upon
and give motion to wheels, about SIX
feet in diameter, which are attached to
the inside of the spo&es of the driving
wheels. The drivers are ten feet in
diameter, made of boiler iron, and have
tread Of eighteen inches. The steer
ing wheel is six feet in diameter and
attached at the middle of the axle to the
forward end of the tank by ball and
socke. arrangement. The tank forms
he body of the "wagon." The boiler
is an upright tubular, and aft of the
driving shaft.
The wagon will carry wood and water
sufficient for a four hours run. 1t con-
sumes one cord per eight hours. The
hands required to run the S cam Wagon
are an engineer, fireman and pilot,
The engine is the result of careful
study and experiment, and its trial, so
far, has been successful beyond the most
sangune anticlpations of the projectors.
it Is proved to be capable of drawing
eight tons Of freight up grade of six
hundred feet to the mile. The heaviest
railroad grade over which an engine has
ever passed is three hundred and fifty
rise to the mile. The trcadwheels are
ridged to prevent slipping, and the
machine is capable Of being stopped and
of holding its train on any grade.
| The success Of this mechanical pro-
duction has led to the commencement of
a road from Nebraska Ciy to Denver
1t is aleady finished through Otoc
couny (thc one in which Nebraska City
is loca cd.) Through that county the
road has cost $1,000, including sixteen
bridges, and it is estimated that the
entire roue to Denver will cost but
$4,000 Otoe county levied special
lax for building the road. The county
is thir y one miles across, and this road
is only thirty four miles long, thus go
ing but three miles from direct route
! The work of building the road is to be
vigorously prosecuted by Mr.. b. Ii. Os-
born, engineer in charge.
Three more engines of seventy horse
power each are finished, and will be sent
out soon-probably, arriving in Nebraska
City some time in July. Three besides
these, of the same size, will be sent for
ward by Fall. They will haul tons of
freight each one hundred mics per day.
The en- erprisc would, doubtless, have
been now in a much more advanced
stage, had it not been for the massacre
in Minnesota, in which the family of one
of the managers was captured by the
Indians. He was obliged to spend sew
cral months in rescung them from the
savagcs, and during that time but little
progress in the work was made. Some
difficulty has also been experienced in
procuring sui able class of machinists.
Several large capitalists, fully conf
dent of the early success of this nagnif-
cent enterprise, are aiding the work,
which is now being pushed forward in all
its branches as fast as possible. Like
all new enterprises there are hundreds
of obstacles aud discouragements to be
overcome, wi which none but an ex-
pcrenced inventor is acquainted. Mr..
Osborn, who is skillful mechanic of ff-
teen years experience, and upon whose
judgment we place much reliance, is con-
tdent Of the early and complete success
of the work. The majority of the intel
ligent citizens Of Nebraska are of the
opinion that it will succeed, and in our
opinion indications are exceedingly fat.
cring. Should the hopes conferred upon
this enterprise be fully realized rcvolu-
ton in the freightiug business will tran
splre, scarcely less surprising and gigan-
tic in its results than the Introduction of
steam in water navigation. There are
few persons, even among those whose
residence is at our most enterpiising
starting points, who fully realize the
importance and gigantic proper ions
which the trade across these great West
crn plains is daily attaining. The mind
can scarcely conceive the immensely of
his interior commerce. Its ramifcations
extend throu ghout the length and breadth
of the American continent, aud the ef
feet of SO important an Improvement
made in the transit Of freight, mail and
passengers, as the one which these steam
wagons will bring about, will scarcely
have parallel.