Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-06-29
.ppIyALs AND DEPARTURES.
LOCOMOTIVES FOR HIGH
WAYS.

Improved mechanical locomotion has
been an especial study during the past
few years, the object being the more
effective transportation of both passen-
gers and freight at cheaper than exist
Ing rates. Railroads have been the
favorite idea In this respect, and in the
matter of locomotives employed upon
them, 1t would seem, that perfection Is
nearly attained, for the noble and most
powerful "iron horse +" Of the present
day is hard to surpass or improve upon.
Yet cheaper railroads are sought in the
newly adopted narrow-gauge article,
which are said to be more easily and
cheaply constructed than the ordinary
broad-gauge, and more cheaply run.
Several are already projected in this
State and upon this coast, especially i'll
the mountain regions, as for instance.
that between Virginia and Reno, and
from Elko to White Pine, but none are
rs vet constructed or fairly In process
of construction.
. The most recent new idea In the way
of locomotives Is that Of adapting
them to common highways instead OF
misunderstanding them in place ofhorscS
or other draught animals. The most
practical and feasible engine for this
purpose, first adopted, is the famous
Thomson road steamer or locomotive:
This was the first really successful road
locomotive, and the various other in
yentions for the same purpose IN TINS
country and Europe are all or nearly
all attempted improvements upon the
Thomson locomotive. The New o
Stakeholder. giving an account OF some
of those built in England, has the fol-
lowing: 1850.
"Of the number recently ordered for
India two were exhibited, one OF H.
horse power (nominal) but much more
effective than this rating. and one OF
S-horss power. To the large one In
the experiments referred to, a large
omnibus was attached, also designed
by Mr.. Thomson, and constructed to
carry 65 passengers. This omnibus
runs upon only two wheels, OF great
width, aud, like those Of the engine II
self, covered by india-rubber tires: IL
handled this omnibus and its load on
ordinary roads, macadamized roads,
erass-lclds, gO!ngup and downinclines
Of ! In 8, and doing It's work with per
feet steadiness. The smaller machine
tshorse power wa taken along n mar
row lane, and steered through n gate
way (which il cleared only BY about an
inch on either side into Il field OF light,
dry, sandy loan. with a crop OF wheat.
This field was crossed by several large
burrows or grips, aud contained a deep
oval nit, or hollow, about 20 feet by 40
feet, with steep shelving sides all ronild.
The engine ran aross the burrows ooth
nj rioht angles to them and ohliqneiy'
without the slightest impeachment or
Jerk ; and 1t ran into. and across, ahu
out Of the pit, rs readily and easily as
on level ground. Either In descending
or ascending it could be stopped III
stantly, kept still, and started again AZ
pleasure, without showing the least
tendency to slip, or to give up It's tena-
cious hold Of the surface.
IAN engine similar to the last de-
seribed was used in India last year,
with It's train Of omnibtISes anu wagons
under the direction of Lieut.. Cromp-
ton, employed In the transport Of troops
and stores. He worked It steadily for
many months, and proved Its capaoili-
ties although It was not built for pas
senger traflic) by bringing troops a as
lance of 26 miles in 6ta hours. He also
took it through the dried-up beds OF
rivers, and up and down steep l~nclines,
and tested its endurance by running 1t
distances of so miles at u stretch.
sit was mentioned to the reporter OF
the London Times, witnessing the
above experiments, that one of these
road steamers Is now employed in con-
veying the granite for the new Mormon
temple In Utah, and that a carrying
company has been started 70 run the
steamers between Pekin and Tien-tSin.
A steamer, omnibus, and wagons are
now building for this company. This
will be the first steam engine ever
worked on land in China"