The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-08-04
Steam on the Plains.
ENGnJBs RUNNING ON THE WESTERN WAGON ROAD
from the LeayenWorth. Kansas, Conservatve.l

from the Leavenworth. Kansas, Conservativel
The subject OF applying steam power for The transpor-
tation freight turnpike roads the
plains has for several been the theme Of study by
various energetic and progressive parties The progress
have not been generally the public and Wis
ting Nebraska City few days since we were surprised
to find large locomotive sent out from New York for
The machine mentioned being the first one built rs
propelled BY four engines Of horse power each The
cylinders oscatng and connect with shafts, upon
which pinons OF twelve inches In diameter, which
move upon and give motion TO wheels, about SIX feet
in diameter, which are attached 70 the inside
Of The spokes Of the driving wheels. The drivers
feet diameter made Of boiler iron and have
tread o. eighteen inches Inc wn nee s SIX 'ees
forward end Of the tank by ball and socket arrange
ment. The tank forms the body Of the wagon The
boiler is upright tabular and aft OF the driving shaft
The wagon will carry wood and water sufficient for
four hours IL convumes cord per eight hours.
The hands required to run the Steam Wagon ape an eDg
fireman and pilot
The engine Is the result OF careful study and expert
ment and It's trial far has been successful beyond the
ssngune antcpatons Of the projectors IL proved
capable Of drawing eight Of freight up grade
Of six hundred feet " the mile. The heaviest railroad
grade which engine has y three hun
bred and nfty rise TO the mile The treafwheels
ridged prevent slipping, and the machuc capable Of
being stopped and Of holding rs tram on any srade
commencemt OF road from Nebraska City 70 nenver. II
already finished through otoe county 1.-THE one in which
has cost 81 600 including sixteen brdgee IL u
mated that the entire route 10 Denver win cost but
otoe county ieVleu kpeCh puiulnB the
road. The county thirty one miles across and this
road only thirty -four miles long, thus gong but three
miles from direct route. The NJ the road
Is to be vigorously prosecuted by Mr. D. H. Osborn, epg
ncer IN charge.
Three more engines OF seventy horse power each are
furnished, and will be sent out soonpronssly arriving
in Nebraska City sometime July. Three beedes these
OF the size, win be sent forward by fall They will
haul ten tons OF freight each hundred miles per day
The enterprise would doubtless have been
much more advanced stage had u not been for the
sacre in Minnesota, in which the family OF one the
managers captured by the Indians He Obliged
10 spend several months rescuing from the
ages and during that time but little progress in the work
made Some difficulty has also been experienced In
procuring a suitable class Of machinists.
The engine in Nebraska arrived there hast July.
Several large eastern capitalists fully confident OF the
early success OF this magnificent enterprise aiding
the work, which Is now being pushed forward in all It's
branches as rapidly possible Like all enterprises
there are hundreds OF obstacles and dscouragemens 10
be overcome, with which none but An experienced nven
tor acquainted Mr.. Osborn, who Is q
skillful mechanic OF fifteen years experience
and upon whose Judgment we place much
reliance, IL confident OF the early and com.
plee Of the work The majority Of the Intelligent
ceed and IN opinion Indications exceedingly Hat
terng should the hopes conferred upon this enterprise
be fully realized revolution In the fres hting business
wiz anspie scarcely less surprising and gigantic In its
results than tho introduction Of steam Ia water
ton There few rert sns, even among those whose
residence " AT cnterprisug starting points, who
fully realize the lmportance and gigantic proportions
which the trade these great western plains daily
attaining The mind can scarcely conceive the IMMENSELY
Of this intc.ior commerce i,s ramihcatons extend
lnent, and the OBJECT q important a. improv, nsns
made IN The transit OF freight mali aud passengers the
which thcse steam wagons will bring about, Will
scarcely have parallel.