New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-23
SUGGESTIONS FROM LECTURE-ROOAS.
STEAM on COMMON ROADS.

The Polytechnic Association met last even
ing In Hall No q, Cooper Union. s. d. TIIlnan in the
chair The notable feature OF the evening was the read
inc Of paper on Traction Engines; the Past Present
and FIXTURE OF Steam Common Roads" by Prof X H.
Thurston Of the stevens Institute of Technology. The
paDer WAS mainly devoted account OF experiments
made by the Professor with two traction engines, or
load locomotives at Orange, y. j. on Oct. last. The
following ia resume OF the facts established by the
pcrlmonts:
l. \ traction engine may be so constructed "a to be
capable of being easily ami rapidly Unanswered on the
common road ana m h2 midst Of any ordinary ooatruc,
TONS such engine may be placed IN me hanus OF
the average mechanic or even OF an intelligent YOUTH
6. with confidence that he VIII quickly hcgire IN
der instruction. the requisite knowledge ana skl IN Us
trpsrryati0u ana management 3. An engine Weighing
rather thln five tuus may be turned continuously
in circle OF lSfeet radius Without dlihcuy anu WIN
ont Shining either driyngwhccl, rough ground,
and may be turned IN roadway OF width only slightly
greater than the length OF the locomotive by proper
maneuvrrug. T. a road locomotive, weighing o tuns
cwt Las been constructed. which capable OF draw
lug, on good road; more than 2SO poundS up
the almost uncximplet grade OF 5i3 rect TO the
mile at the rate OF Tour mleS an nour. ..
such locomotive may Dc mao, uIder sii i
conditions to draw load Of more Than 5000 pounds mp
hl 225 feet 20 the mile at the rl!e OF two miles
per hour DONG the work of more man 20 horses me
action Of the traction engine upon the road is Deencla
even when eNertins rs maximum power, wh!o' WIN
T. The coecant OF traction - with such heavily laden
and roughly made wagons as were uscu al south Osahse
and under the circ,n stances noted nov Iaf rom i2r
per ccntun on a well made macldamlzed road B. Tue
good qualify, may ne ftchOntu
les, than 900 pounds per day, whore the engine Is CON
siderable portion OF the time heavily loaded, anu during
the remaining time. running light.
The running expenses and first cost OF steam carriages
were proved 10 be than the first cost Hud running
expenses OF number OF horses capable or doing the
same amount OF work Tho subject OF the evenings pa
per was also discussed by Prof Van der Mejdc, W T.
Partridge. DR.. j. V. {. smith, and others.
LAW-MAKISG AT ALBANY.
The Liberal Club was addressed last night by
the Hon. L. Bradford Prince. Chairman OF the Judiciary
Committee Of the New-York Assembly. the following
were some OF his leading thoughts
The Legislature OF New-York proyerbial for cor
rupton Year by year the pross drew pictures Of this
and carried on the canvass under the watchword OF
"Regorm" Exaggerated though these representations
might be- there was too much truth at the bottom Of
them Till recently, all this iaId at the door Of
Tweed and Timmauy, but last year Reform Leglsla-
ture made up OF men who meant reform ana VINO knew
what the people wanted, had enacted laws which mad
made its very name q rcprUach snow, what was the
reason ~ thsf Chiefly, the speaker thought very Odd
legislative methods. 80
As remedies the speaker suggested in substance O)
constitutional prohibition of spncal acts where gene
raj laws could cover them (3) The confinement OF local
like having roads and building dnllnpOftdut
bridges TO the county boards Of supervisors Iney knew
best what was wanted IN their nclghb0rhpod; ana Dy
the present the local matters went as the
Representative urged, making hun dcspOt. % me
might De in early, and crOwding might be avoided %
4 requirement that all amendments, as wei as DIS
shoniI be printed before they were voted on, when
Wouid prcycnt tampcrlug with bills. EnaCtmtnS IKE
OF Illinois adopted two years ago, as had also partial
measure, Of the kind III New-HOrk
The lecture uteT-persed by illustrations winch
had fallen under the speakers notice