The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-01-20
Az ACTUAL IRON HORSE.
What Or. Patrick Rreen. of Auburn,
has Invented
From the Auburn New.

| Iipu tHc AUBURN news.
a locomotive iron horse has been
added to the catalogue of curious in
ventiOns by Auburn mechanics, by
DR.. Patrick Breen.
Mr.. Breen is a native OF Tralee
county of Kerry, Ireland. lie was
brought up in the apothecary shop OF
the celebrated DR.. John O'Ccnnel ],
uncle of the late Daniel O'Con nell
He came to this country in 1850, and
to Auburn in 1851 Though gener-
ally employed upon the New. York
| Central railroad and in our local ma
| chine shops he has perhaps been bet
ter known here as a curcr of blind
ness.
lie has the credit of several inven-
tons of mGit. Whilst at work for
! Quick Il lIi1ssey, he invented reaper
rake, with simple motion, which has
been caveated, and will 90 into ope-
ration in another ycar. lie found
that by the same principle of motion
a cora-haryestcr might be constructed.
A model has been made, and compe-
tent judges say that it cannot fail to
For nearly year past he has been
employing his leisure hours in study
ing out some plan to make self
supplying chemical power to take the
place of steam, and to make it move
piece of machinery having the mo-
ton of horse. lie claims TO have
brought that also to a degree of per-
fiction which Indicates success. That
he has discovered a motive power in
certain alkalies and acids, which has
never been brought into practical use
for agricultural implements, there is
no doubt. Whether he can make it
work his machinery over soft and un-
even ground, seems to be the only
point to be tested. He appears to be
very confident himself that it will do
so. Upon that We express no opinion
now. We give his description of the
machine as hc has furnished ii 10 US
for public inforInation--not TO adver-
tisc it, but rs a matter of news.
The machine docs not 90 Oh wheels
like an engine, but walks like horse
OH four legs, which rise eight inches
and make a forward move of eighteen
at every revolution of a center shaft
which works them. The shaft is ten
feet long, the length of the machine.
The legs. a-e FIVE feet apart which en-
ables the machine to preserve its bal.
ance on uneven ground. 1t is so con-
strUcted that it will go up and down
a heavy grade with the greatest ease,
and is calculated to walk and draw on
soft and titled land with more ease
than team of horses. 1t turns round
in its OWE length to any point need
ed As TO speed, it will 60 at any
rate from three to fifteen miles per
hour. The concern can be reversed.
1t can be employed for all the pur-
poses that a team of horses are useful,
such as pillow ing, ieapIng, or drawing
wagons. street Gals and canal boats.
A BREED OF WALKING HORSES
What use are fast horses 10 farmers
Can they put them to work in the
plough, harrow, cultivatOr, roller,
reaping machine, cart or wagon?
No. A storm might arise and the
whole crop of hay be ruined, if they
had to depend OH 240 horses to haul
it im. There is but one use that we
can see thai faI mers can put them to
sending for doctor; but as fern
ers have very little occasion for this
professional gentleman, and never get
very sick, a slower and surcr horse
will answer better. Why then parade
these horses at the head of lists at agri
cultual Fairs, and give them the big
gest premiums: No wonder ourprac-
teal farmers complain of this, while
there is no premium at all for walk
ing horses, which are more useful.