The Shasta courier., 1868-01-25
SHASTA COURIER.
Novel Invertion.


We have been shown the drawings and
models of an invention that is intended to do
away with the use Of steam to propel vessels
on the ocean, by very novel idea. The
inventor. Mr.. w. d. Robertson, proceeding
on the belief that the ocean Is never entirely
mt rest. conceived the idea that the waves
might be made 10 act on vessels SO as to
move snachinery and give propulsion he
r elaborated it after several years considera
ton of the matter, and now has it ready to
put in practice in a couple OF weeks. His
plan is To construct three vessels, one of
tonnage equal to the other two, and connect
them by strong braces, in a straight line
the larger vessel in the centre, with the
machinery and paddle wheels; the braces
from each small vessel to run to large hori
zontal timber across the bow Tor stern) of
the middle vessel; connecting rod from the
forword Tor rear) vessel acts with the rise
and fall Of the waves, and gives circular
movement to a compensating cam described
in the are of quadrant, and moves double
set of walking beams, which, by means of
reversible clutches, will revolye the paddle
wheels. rise or fall of one foot by either of
the vessels will suffice to move the machinery
SO as to give one revolution of the paddle
wheels, and by peculiar invention, the
motion is made continuous, even though the
forward vessel may move the machinery
faster than the motion given to 1T by either OF
the other vessels. The machinery is so con-
structed that the power can be regulated or
disconnected altogether. Mr.. Robertson
has associated with him Mr.. v. Frazee,
mechanical engineer, who joins hlm IN the
application for patent and has given valu-
able assistance in the invention of machinery
IL. ,tptxn
The first objection that presents itself is
the connection to be made of three vessels in
a straight line with sufficient strength to re-
sist the action of the wind and waves athwart
ships but the inventor points to the Illus
trated London News of 1863, (Vol, 43, PIP,
III and 100, in the Mechanics Institute
Library,l where will be found an engraving
and description Of the "Jonted Iron Steam
ship Connector," which navigated the Eng
lish Channel, and was composed of three
vessels, one of which could be d,sengaged
from the others and left ut dock to be un-
loaded, and afterwards the other, and then
each again picked up and reunited. With
this established as possible there seems 10
reason to doubt that Mr.. Robertson can
make vessels equally strong or stronger, ard
then all that remains to be demonstrated is
the application of his peculiar principle =
lie claims that the three yessele can never
be on the same plane if there is any motion
in the water, and if one is buoyed up, or
falls by the action of the waves, he gets
power for his machinery There is no claim
made as to greatest speed, but ten miles an
hour is calculated on. A trial will be made
outside the Heads in a couple of weeks, with
boats now finished for the purpose and only
awaiting the nachinery-the larger one Of
eight and the others of four tons each max
ing, when in line, length Of sixty eight
feet the larger boat has q width of seven
feet and two inches. and five and half feet
depth. These are sufficiently large for an
experiment, and if the motion of the waves
can bc obtained by them the invention is a
success. 1t is also proposed to use this in
= yention to drive machinery for saw mills or
manufacturing purposes on the coast; and
also for fogw histles, which are now operated
by steam or hot air. How valuable it will
be as Il substitute for steam power for vessels
will depend upon the speed to be obtained
and the cost of construction. The boats will
also have sails, ST. that if there should be such
an anomaly as breeze without waves, it
can be taken advantage of. He will use the
sails to move the vessels outside the Heads.
The experimental trip will attract great
deal of attention for the novelty Of the idea,
and as there will be considerable passenger
room, there will be good many applicants
for the honor of riding on the first vessels
intended to harness the waves and make
them subservient to mans will.