St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-19
STEAM CARRIAGES
Were Experimental With Over a
Hundred Years Ago.

La Nature.
The first steam carriage was due to
Joseph Cugnct, who was born in Lor-
raine, Sept. ., 1725. Cugnot passed his
youth in Germany, where he studied
mechanics with much ardor, and soon
obtained employment as an engineer.
He afterward lived in the Netherlands
and made himself remarked by Mar
shall de SAKE be devising a new style of
gun. He resolved to construct steam
vehicles which he called steam trucks,
and which he designed for the carriage
of guns and artillery material. In
1863 he went to Paris and there sue
ceeded in constructing a style of steam
carriage which he finished in ITO.
Tradition relates that Cugnot tried
his machine and made it operate, but
that in an unfortunate experiment the
vehicle deviated from its route and ran
against a wall, which upset it The
trials were thus interrupted.
Cugnot's steam carriage is still pre-
served in the Conservatoire. 1t is still
there and visitors examine it with in
terest. This carriage was run by a
simple acting steam engine having
two bronze cylinders. The boiler,
veloped in refractory clay The car
rage, which had three wheels, con-
stituted a true tricycle.. Cugnot died
in 1904, at the age Of seventy-nine years.
In 1856, an American, Oliver Evans,
of Pennsylvania, constructed a high
pressure steam engine that he desired
to employ for the running of a carriage.
In 1900, after spending all that he pos
SPSGa6 hE ha1 ba SIC nti Of
his steam carriage operate He under
took the manufacture of high pressure
engines and succeeded in creating ex-
tensive factories in Philadelphia, but in
1919 his works were completely des-
troyed by fire. The unfortunate in
ventor, who had intended to take up his
carriage again, died of broken heart.
Evans had often sent his plans to Eng
land. where they were known to few
engineers.
In 1901 two mechanicians of Cornwall,
Trevithick and Vivian, constructed
some high pressure engines analogous
to those of Evans, and were led also to
construct steam carriages. This ap-
paratus exhibited some ingenious ar
engagements, but it was still far from
constituting a practical system for
recognized the imperfections of their
work and converted in into a car for
running upon rails in mines. Success
did not crown their efforts, which
nevertheless merit mention.
The experiments of Trevithick and
Vivian were much talked about in
England, but it is not until 1927 that we
reach the construction of another
curious steam carriage, due to
mechanician named Quincy.
This carriage was operated, but we
have in our possession only the engrav-
ing and its legend, which gives on in
complete description, without men tom
ing the experiments OR giving the least
details whatever as to the motor.
In 1888, six years after the construc-
ton Of which we have just spoken, an
Italian engineer named Church, brought
out at Birmingham, England, a singu-
lar steam carriage. This vehicle was
heavy and massive. twas actuated by
steam engine and was capable of
accommodating a large number of
passengers. Like the Cugnot carriages,
it was a tricycle.. We have no details
as to the experiments made or the ar
rangement of the mechanism. Re-
calling the efforts of these old inventors
shows how slowly progress moves in
the world. 1t was they who prepared
the way for the solution of the problem
now considered solved.