Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-20
4lisftlIaneons.
The Steam Engine.


One day a lonely prisoner sat meditat-
ing in bis cell in the tower of London.
he was Marquis of Worcester. a noble
Of high rank and large fortune, who had
been imprisoned for political offense.
Bot he had always been q mechanic and
he'd passed the happiest hours of his life
in the workshop. As he watched. sad
almost hopeless in his prison, he noticed
that the cover of kettle that was boiling
on the fire was raised up. and that cloud
Of vapor escaped.
He examined the curious fact. and at
last asked himself, What is it that lifts the
covera-what power is there hidden IN
the boiling kettle? 1t was evidently the
white vapor; it was steam, The Mar
ouis of Worcester had made wonderful
discovery. and when he was liberated he
gave much of his time to the study OF the
new power. He fell the great value OF
steam to mankind; and in his work, A
Century of Inventions, thanked God that
he had been permitted to discover one Of
the s.secrets of nature"
No one before him seems to have
thought of making steam useful The
white vapor had arisen from every boiling
vessel since the first use of fire. 1t was
familiar to the Jew. Assyrian. Greek and
Roman A Greek man of science was
even acquainted with some of its powers,
and empl wed it to brighten one OF his
neighbOrs for whom he had no good will.
He placed boiler in his cellar and drove
the steam through pipes around his neigh
boris house, shaking it with loud noise.
But no one had thought of combining the
vapor in pipe, and making it labor. No
one in Shakespeare's time had fancied
that there was a giant strength in boiling
water; no one forsaw in 1860 that all the
chief labors of the future would be carried
on by the aid of boiling Kettle. But
soon the idea suggested by the Marquis
OF Worcester seems to have excited the
curiosity Of other intelligent men. He
left no machine behind him. if he had
ever made one. His only object was to
force up water. He wrote an account OF
his machine in 1868. and soon after died.
In 1851, Moreland used steam to raise
water. Its power began to be discovered:
It would burst, it was said, gun. and in
flict serious injuries.
Next, about 1857. Papin, a French
Hugenot, exiled to London, almost invent
ed a real steam engine. He filed pipe
OF cylluutT UdiI lull VI WdttI u Pistou vi
rod of iron rested on the water. A fire
was kindled underneath, the water boiled.
the steam drove the piston to the top Of
thh cylinder, where it was secured by Il
peg or latch. The fire was then taken
away. the cold once more condensed the
steam into water. the latch was let loose.
and the piston descended to its former
position. Papin in this way raised
weight of 60 pounds. He was full of
ardor, believed that he could raise 10000
pounds and even suggested a steamboat
But as yet the rude machine consisted
only of pipe. a piston. and latch that
was moved by an attendant. Soon after
in 1896. Slavery invented the first real
steam engine. II consisted of two boilers
q cylinder, a stream of cold water to con-
dense the steam, and was intended to
pump water into cities. houses, and ships.
Slavery addressed his pamphlet describ-
ing his engine to King William who had
examined his machine with interest at
Hampton court. In the year 100 the
steam engine was in its infancy.
1t grew slowly. Savery's engine was
improved, but was still for nearly cen
fury imperfect and almost useless. 1t
could only have piston or rod up and
down. No one had vet discovered n way
TO make it turn wheel. Until the
American revolution, and the age of
Washington and Franklin. the imperfect
machine seemed of real value.
James Watt, a young Scotch mechanic
almost made it what it is. He is the au-
thor of the modern steam engine. He
was the son of maker of mathematic
instruments. He was sicklv, studious,
and always fond of mechanical contriv
ances at six wears old he is said to have
worked out problems in geometry in the
sand ut Il he made an electrical ma
chine; and Mt IL. Arago tells us. studied
the steam that came from tea-kettle,
and planned some Of his future labors.
He was born in 1876.
His chief discovery was how to make
the piston turn wheel and this he did BY
using the crank. His machines became
capable of turning mills, moving spindles.
and pumping out mines. He founded a
great factory of steam engines that were
sold all over the world he grew wealthy.
famous, and was always benevolent. He
never ceased to invent. write, and labor.
even in extreme old aga. and at SO pro-
duced a new copying machine that initial
cd any piece of sculpture. Soon after he
died. No one had done more to add to
the comfort and ease of his fellow men
than Watt by his iare inventions.
The steam engine Is the finest example
of the mechanical art. A thousand parts
make up the whole. all Of which move to-
4ether in harmony. The most violent
storm never disorders them. The piston
moves, the crank turns. the steam rises
and is condensed. 1t is nothing bu, the
Marquis of Worcestcr's kettle boiling over.
Papin's rod OF piston, Watts crank. i'm
proved by later inventors. Yet what a
wonderful creature it is how beautiful and
complete.-Harpcr's Young People.