livered from his workshop, within the last twelve months, ten locomotive steam-engines, has six now in his shop in a state of great forwardness, some of which are nearly completed, and has contracts on hand for about twenty engines, for the following roads, viz. the Columbia, Pa., State Road; the Trenton, the Newark, the Jamaica, the Troy and Saratoga, and the Utica and Schenectady roads. Under his present arrangements, he informed me that he gives employment to about 150 persons, and is able to complete an engine about every three weeks; and, to meet the increasing demand, is erecting workshops which will accommodate 300 hands. "As regards the character of these engines, there are seven of them at work on the Pennsylvania State road, upon which they have also two English engines, from the workshop of their most celebrated maker, R. Stephenson. "The engineer who has charge of the locomotive department on this road, informed me that the power of the American engines is about 35 per cent. greater than that of the English, and that the loss of time, and cost for repairs, is altogether in favour of the American engines: five hands, as he stated, having been sufficient to keep all the seven in order. "For the gratification of such of your readers as are interested in railroads, I will refer to the principal points of difference between the English and American engine, and what I conceive to be the peculiar advantages of the American engine. "It is well known, that the crank-shaft and the wheels of the locomotive engine, have been by far the most troublesome and expensive part of the machine to be kept in repair. By the improvements in Mr. B.'s engine, these difficulties have been obviated, as has been proved by experiment. Of the seven engines on the State road, and two on the Trenton road, some have been at work since the 1st of July last, and in no instance has a crank broken, or worked loose, or any of his improved wheels failed, or given trouble. "It is here proper to observe, that the Pennsylvania road is almost a continued series of curves, ranging from 500 to 700 feet radius, and so severe is it upon the wheels of an engine, that one of the English engines, (the other having been out of repair most of the time,) has within two months used up or destroyed a part of the wheels of both engines, and is now using a set of Mr. Baldwin's wheels 66 The other improvements affect the force-pump, eccentrics, and reverse gear, all of which are so much simplified that the joints and working parts are not more than half as numerous as in the common English engine. The steampipes have all ground metallic joints, and no cement or soft solder is used in any of the joints of the engine. "Another very important improvement has been added, by which the adhesion of the driving wheels may be increased at will, from 35 to 50 per cent. By this means, one of these engines, with only 6,487 lbs. on her driving wheels, as a fixed weight, has carried a gross weight of 80 tons up an inclination nearly two miles in length, of 35 feet per mile ascent, without any perceptible slipping of the wheels. "The great object of the whole of these improvements has been to strengthen the weak points in the machine, and to simplify and reduce the number of its parts; and so fully has this object been accomplished, that this engine may justly be considered the most perfect of its kind now in use."* NOTES AND NOTICES. The Railroad System in America.-The New Brunswick Fredonian says:-" Railway stocks are all the go now-a-days among the speculators and capitalists. A few days since books were opened in Philadelphia for subscription to the stock of the Lancaster, Portsmouth, and Harrisburgh Railroad. In thirty-one minutes every share was taken, and a large number applied for beyond the ability of the Commissioners to supply. The stock of the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Company is gradually advancing to its real value. It is eagerly gought after now at 126, and will, it is believed, not stop much, if any, short of 2001. The stock of the Camden and Amboy Railroad is also selling at an advance of something like 60 per cent. Painted Binding.-Many beautiful subjects may be formed on the sides of books by the workman skilled in painting. The volume is prepared by being pastewashed, so as to present an uniform fawn colour, the designs slightly traced, and afterwards coloured according to the pattern, the colours being mixed to the proper shade with water. The shades must be tried on pieces of refuse leather, as, being *For a further explanation of the construction of Mr. Baldwin's engines, see Mech, Mag., vol. xxiii. p. 239. 8 tpirit colours, when once laid on, no art can soften hem down if too strong; and a peculiar lightness of touch will be necessary to produce effect. Por. traits, &c., may also be executed in this manner; and many superb designs have at times been executed by the best binders of this country and France. M. Didot, bookseller, of Paris, presented a copy of the "Henriade," published by himself, to Louis XVIII., most elegantly ornamented in this style. It was executed by M. Bellier, bookbinder, of Tours, and presented on one side a miniature portrait of Henry IV., and on the other a similar one of Louis XVIII., both perfect likenesses. The greatest difficulty consisted in the portraits, which were first imprinted on paper, very moist, and immediately applied to the cover, on which they were impressed with a flat roller. When perfectly dry, they were coloured with all the art of which the binder was capable, and the other ornamental paintings executed by hand. This proceeding requires great care in the execution; and will be applicable to any design where the binding will justify the expense.-Arnett's Bibliopegia. Power of the Screw.-There is a screw-dock in New York, at which a ship weighing 200 tons can be raised a height of two feet in thirty minutes by the power of only fifty men applied to the screws. Prodigious Force of Earthquakes.-An English merchant ship, which was nearly four miles from the land (at the time of the late earthquake in Chili), and going seven knots, seemed in a moment to be arrested, and her bottem grated as on a hard sand. So perfect was the illusion, indeed, that the master was in the act of lowering his boats to save the crew, considering the vessel irrecoverably wrecked on a bank, when it was ascertained that there were no soundings even at ninety fathoms ! -Extract from a Private Letter in the Athenæum. Plate-Glass-A Freach paper states, that the largest piece of plate glass ever manufactured has jut been finished at St. Gobin. It is 175 French inches high by 125 wide. At the last Exhibition at the Louvre, the largest plate shown was 155 inches by 93. Mr. Perkins' Boiler.-The Franklin Journal for last month contains a paper by Professor Bache of the University of Pennsylvania, in which he gives the details of a series of experiments made by him "on the efficacy of Perkins' Steam-Boilers." "The inference from these experiments," says the Professor," is obviously, that so far from producing any important effect in promoting the generation of steam, the inner cylinders or circulars did not even effect a sensible increase in the quantity of water vaporized in a given time, and with a given quantity of fuel." Thermometers. Professor Johnson exhibited some alcohol and mercurial therinometers constructed by him of large size and admitting of gra duation to hundredths and even two hundredths of a degree Fahr. He showed a curious fact not noticed in descriptions of the thermometer, namely, that the first effect of heat on one of these instruments is to cause a fall in the liquid, and the reverse on reducing the temperature-effects produced as was explained by the expansion and contraction of the glass.-Monthly Meeting Franklin Institute. Mr. Gurney's Case.-We have good authority for stating, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has refused the consent of the Crown to the grant of 16,000l. proposed, by a Committee of the House of Commons, to be given to Mr. Gurney as the alleged inven'or of steam-carriages on common roads. The Chancellor of the Exchequer's con duct in this affair does him great credit. Tidal Experiment.-A stone plunged into a pool of still water occasions a series of waves to advance along the surface, though the water itself is not carried forward, but only rises into heights, and sinks into hollows, each portion of the surface being elevated and depressed in its turn. Another stone of the same size thrown into the water near the first will occasion a similar set of undulations. Then, if an equal and similar wave from each stone arrive at the same spot at the same time, so that the elevation of the one exactly coincides with the elevation of the other, their united effect will pro duce a wave twice the size of either; but if one wave precede the other by exactly half an undulation, the elevation of the one will coincide with the hollow of the other, and the hollow of the one with the elevation of the other, and the waves will so entirely obliterate one another, that the surface of the water will remain smooth and level. It will be found that, according to this principle, when still water is disturbed by the fall of two equal stones, that there are certain lines on its surface of a hyperbolic form, where the water is smooth in consequence of the waves obliterating each other; and that the elevation of the water in the adjacent parts corresponds to both the waves united. Now, in the spring and neap tides, arising from the combination of the single soli-lunar waves, the spring-tide is the joint result of the combination when they coincide in time and place; and the neap-tide happens when they succeed each other by half an interval, so as to leave only the effect of this difference sensible. It is therefore evident, that if the solar and lunar tides were of the same height there would be no difference, consequently no neap-tides, and the spring-tides twice as high as either separately. In the port of Botsha, in Tonquin, where the tides arrive by two channels of lengths corresponding to half an interval, there is neither high nor low water, on account of the interference of waves.-Mrs. Somerville. Evaporation of Plants.-Forests cool the air by shading the ground from the sun, and by evaporation from the boughs. Hales found that the leaves of a single plant of helianthus, three feet high, exposed nearly forty feet of surface; and if it be considered that the woody regions of the river Amazons, and the higher part of the Oroonoko, occupy an area of 260,000 square leagues, some idea may be formed of the torrents of vapour which arise from the leaves of forests all over the globe. However, the frigorific effects of their evaporation are counteracted in some measure by the perfect calm which reigns in the tropical wildernesses.— Mrs. Somerville. Communications received from Fanqui— Mr. Thomas Gray-E. H.-A Looker-on-Mr. Dickin son-G. J. H. Patents taken out with economy and despatch; Specifications prepared or revised; Caveats entered; and generally every Branch of Patent Business promptly transacted. Drawings of Machinery also executed by skilful assistants, on the shortest notice. Our Publisher will give One Shilling and Sixpence for copies of the Supplement to Vol. IX. LONDON: Published by J. CUNNINGHAM, at the Mechanics' Magazine Office, No. 6, Peterborough-court, between 135 and 136, Fleet-street. Agent for the American Edition, Mr. O. RICH, 12, Red Lion-square. Sold by G. G. BENNIS, 55, Rue Neuve, Saint Augustin, Paris. CUNNINGHAM and SALMON, Printers, Fleet-street. PATENT PADDLE-WHEEL CASE. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, Morgan and Lucena v. Seawards. (Further Report.) The paddle-wheel which forms the subject of the charge of piracy in this case was fully described in our journal of the 24th of January last-not only as it was originally patented by Mr. Elijah Galloway, who transferred his right to the plaintiffs, Messrs. Morgan and Lucena, but as it has been since improved and is now constructed by them. As the en graving then given of the original construction of the wheel, however, is somewhat indistinct (though copied from Mr. Galloway's own work on the SteamEngine), we have given on the opposite page a side-section and an end view of it, which are exact copies of the two principal figures in the drawing attached to Mr. Galloway's specification. We subjoin, also, a copy of so much of the specification as is descriptive of these figures, and the extent of the patentee's claim : Fig. 1, represents a section of a paddlewheel constructed according to my improvement; fig. 2, an end view. * a, b, c, d, and e, the float boards, or paddles, which are affixed by straps and screw bolts, or by any other suitable means, to bent stems marked f. 'g, h, i, j, and k, are connecting rods attached at one of their ends by pins or bolts r, to the bent stems f, of the float boards, &c.; the other ends of all these rods excepting g, are attached to the disc A, by pins or bolts, S. The disc A, is made to revolve on the crank B; C, is the framing; D, are the radiating arms of the wheel; t, are the axes (which carry the stems of the floatboards, and which connect the two sides of the framing of the wheel); E 1, and E 2, are the naves or bosses to which the radiating arms are fixed, by screw bolts, or by any other suitable means. The crank B, is fixed in the outer bearing F, and is prevented from turning therein, by the adjusting screw X, or by keys, or, by both; the outer nave plate, or boss, E 2, fig. 2, revolves round an axis; G, is the shaft which communicates rotatory motion from the engine, and which shaft G, is made fast to the inner nave plate, or boss E 1, fig. 2; and thus the wheel is made to revolve independent of the crank, the part z, being merely a bearing, and not a fixture. Now, it will be evident from the above description, that on turning the wheel in the direction of the arrow, fig. 1, the paddle or float-board d, will be carried forward to nearly the position of e. It will be seen, that the lever g, is made fast to the disc A, and does not turn on a pin, as is the case with the others; consequently, the advancing of d, to the position of e, will turn the disc A, and with it the other levers, h, į, j, and k, which, together with the revolving of the wheel, will cause each of the paddles or float-boards successively to take the position shown by a, and all the other positions shown in the drawing. "And as regards my improvements on machinery for propelling vessels, the mode herein before described, of giving the required angle to the paddles, by means of the rods g, h, i, j, and k, and bent stems marked f, the disc A, and the crank B, and such my improvements, being, to the best of my knowledge and belief, entirely new and never before used, &c." The paddle-wheel construeted by the defendants, Messrs. Seawards, and which was charged to be an imitation of Mr. Galloway's wheel, is represented in the engravings on our front page, the positions in which it is shown being precisely analogous to that in which the plaintiffs' wheel is exhibited, that the reader may the more readily perceive how far they resemble or differ from each other. For the Injunction, Affidavits were produced of the purport following: Messrs. Morgan and Lucena, after reciting Mr. E. Galloway's patent and specification, and the history of their title thereto, Say, that on the 10th April, 1835, these deponents were informed, as they believe the fact and truth to be, that the defendants had fitted or caused to be fitted, to the Levant steam-boat, which, as they were informed, and believe, was then immediately about to leave this country for the Mediterranean, two paddlewheels, the paddles whereof were acted upon by using or imitating the mode described in the specification of E. Galloway. And these deponents further say, that they have been informed and believe, that the said paddles of the said paddle-wheel, fitted by the said defendants to the said Levant steam-boat, were acted upon by the same means and combination of mechanical instruments or implements or parts, as are set forth in the said specification; and that the mode of causing the said paddles to enter and leave the water, is substantially the same as the mode set forth in the said specification, |