The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1880-11-03
STEAM AND OLIVER NV MS.

ne New York Times in 4 recent article on
the engine that made the run Of ninety miles
/ In ninety minutes between New York and
Philadelphia, suggested It's being sent to Eng
land to show our British cousins the STYLE Of
locomotives that We build here, adding that
we took the idea of the locomotive from Eug-
land; but we have worked at ii with such origi
nalty and independence Of tradition as to re-
suit Ia Development which has Produced a
distinctly American type Of ehgiue. While
fully cencurring with the Times in its claim
for the superiority Of American engines, we
deny that the idea of the locomotive was OBJ.
teined from England, and assert, on the con-
trary, chat American genius first furnished
the idea of the high-pressure steam engine
put on wheels which has made railway travel
E ing possible at all, and the wondrous feat Of a
mile minute is bit the outcome of that idea.
Olinthus Gregory, professor of mathematics
in the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich,
conceded, In work published In 1895 That
the creation of the high pressure steam engine
was due to Oliver Evans, and the Mechanics
Mdgdsirt, published in London half century
ago, accorded to Oliver Evans an American
citizen, the high honor Of being the actual
protector Of steam travelling. Fully three.
quarters of a century ago Oliver Evans rode
through Market street, in this city, up to the
Schuylkill on one of his high. pressure engines,
being the first application Of the principle to
the purposes Of locomoton. T ore were then
no tracks, and he had to use the public high
way. The feat was witnessed by thousands
Of his fellow-citizens. At that time however,
he had forecast the principles of the railway,
and daalarad1 that On -sssels lhis engine court
be made to travel as fast as a pigeon can fly
He was mathematician, and having witness
ed the number of revolutions bis high-pressure
stationary engine could make, the results
were as plain to him as Euclid's demonstra-
tions. 1t can be established that he sent the
plans and specifications of his Inventions TO
England before the close Of The last century,
and these, or parts of them, were published
III several works devoted to the application Of
steam. lie not only projected the high
pressure steam LOCOMOTIVES but he proposed
double track railways, and even looked so far
ahead as to propose sleeping cars. In fact,
the whole system of railroad travelling as in
use to-day was as plain to him as is project
ed building to an architect who has perfected
his plans. In 1909, over twenty years before
the opening Of the Liverpool and Manchester
Railway, Oliver Evans endeavofed to estab-
lish railway for freight and passenger traf-
rrfc between Philadelphia and New York, and
offered to subscribe from his own means $500
per mile, but his countrymen were too poor
or too cautious TO entertain the project.
The above from the North 11aerscat is only
simple justice to the memory of Oliver Evans,
who was one of the greatest inventors of the
age. Before us is copy Of the Pcnnsyl5dAid
Correspondent published by Asher Miner, in
Doylestown, dated April 3, 1900. In 1t is an
advertisement OF Oliver Evans, informing the
public that he has recently received letters
patent for an improvement in flour mills /; also,
for screw mill to grind plaster Of Paris, aud
introduction of mica into the door. In this
advertisement he alludes to his steam engine,
which, he says, he has rendered simple and
cheap, and 10 suitable for great variety Of
purposes in the country" 1t appears to be
minor object, compared with his improve
ment in mills. He warns all persons against
using these improvements without paying
him royalty, which is 800 for each mill and
$50 for each plaster crusher, Newtown Pa,
Enterprise. ga