Connecticut western news., 1871-10-06


 in the hall at 45, by the Rev. MT. Curtis, which was followed by an address delivered by MT. George Waring Jr. of Newport, Rhode Island, which occupied about 35 minutes. The premiums were then awar- ded, which with horse trot and foot race wound up the proceedings of the exhibi- ton. Music was furnished the two last days, by Howe's Cornet Band of Bridge port. ART. The First Locomotive Works i'm Amer
 ca.
 tSc'16ner's Monthly for July, in describ- ing Philadelphia and its industries, gives the following account of Baldwin's loco motive works,
 The Baldwin Locomotive Works on Broad street have Q national reputation. Founded in 1881, they have grown to CO., lossal proportions, and employ 1900 men. It takes l,8o0 men one day to complete, set up, and make ready for service single locomotive. Thus these works could turn out 300 engines year; in fact, in twelve months, ending last October, they actually sent off 267, which, one after another, went dashing over the country. Although MT. Baldwin. the founder, is dead, the works still bear his name, for they are the crea- ton of his inventive genius and indomitable perseverance.
 Previous to the spring of 1881, only two locomotives had been built in this country, and those at the National foundery of West Point. In the spring MT. Baldwin made a miniature engine, with two cars, capable of seating four persons, and placed it on track laid in Peale's Muse um, where it was surrounded by curious crowds. The next year he received an order from the Ger mantown Railroad Company for the con- struction of locomotive for their road Although but single American mechanic had succeeded in building one of any use, he boldly undertook it. At the time there was not blacksmith in the city that could weld bar of iron more than an inch and 8 quarter thick, and no one thought of at tempting to weld a tire five inches wide and an inch and half thick. The only machine for boring out cylinder was a chisel fastened in the end of stick, to which crank was fitted and turned by hand. He had no proper tools, no pat terms, no models, but, confidently relying on his genius and resolutions, he went to work, and in six months had it finished and placed on the road. Crowds gathered along the line to see this self-moving mon- ster drag train of cars after it. It was great success. Soon after there appeared in the city papers the following notice:
 NOTICE, engine Quilt by Mr. Bald win) with train of cars will run daily (commencing this day) when the weather is fair. W hen the weather is not fair, the horses will draw the cars the four trips.
 It is not yet forty years slnce this extra ordinary notice appeared in the press of a city into which, now, dozen railroads run, along which dozens of locomotives thunder,
 It is singular how the simplest contri vances are often overlooked, while those requiring the most consummate skill are wrought out. Here was man who could, almost without tools, from his own ingeni- ous brain construct locomotive, and yet the simple remedy of a -'ssand box, Ito keep the wheels from slipping, never oc- cured to him. The principle he doubtless had seen applied score of times to keep the human foot from slipping on the ice, but he never thought of adapting it to this and so in wet weather the locomotive was 1nI or,Jf fhn h0r ,ol oersG in fair weather.
 From that time the reputation of the works was established, until now it is doubtful if they have their equal in the world. A stroll through them awakens novel and often sublime emotions. Amid the din and chatter and thunder of machi- nery and ponderous hammers, the law of order is seen to prevail over all. Each part is made in separate building or room, | and one sees only pile of rivets here, | boilers there, heaps of smoke stacks, and | confused collection of wheels and tires that resemble chaos. But at given word | these detached bones of the monster move from diverse points to common center | the erecting shop-each to find it's appro- priate place in the body that is to be formed. 1 As part is fitted to part, everything is found adapted accurately to that which it is to | join, and rapidly the ponderous thing takes form and swells into huge proportions. When completed, men take hold of the drivers, and roll them once or twice back ward and forward, to see that all is clear. Steam is then turned on, and the drivers are sent whirling at speed that would car " train thirty miles an hour. Then the l inspector advances, and, like skillful doc tor when he examines a patient, lays his hand on the pulse of the engine. The fin gers now press the piston rod, and now the connecting arms, drivers, and cylinder heads, to see If there be any jar or distur- bance. If there is none, the engine is de-