Page:Report from the Select Committee on Steam Carriages.pdf/156



Mr. Nathaniel Ogle. 17 August, 1831. now, upon the point of establishing a factory where these vehicles will be made in numbers, and a great many are already required by coach-proprietors, carriers of merchandize, and others, for their use on the public roads. Railroads, excepting in very peculiar situations, are behind the age, and it is my decided opinion, that those who embark capital in constructing them will be great losers.

Will you describe the form of your boiler?—The base of the boiler and the summit are composed of cross pieces, cylindrical within, and square without; there are holes bored through these cross pieces, and inserted through the hole is an air tube. The inner hole of the lower surface, and the under hole of the upper surface, are rather larger than the other ones. Round the air-tube is placed a small cylinder, the collar of which fits round the larger aperture on the inner surface of the lower frame, and the under surface of the upper frame-work. These are both drawn together by screws from the top; these cross pieces are united by connecting pieces, the whole strongly bolted together, so that we obtain in one-tenth of the space, and with one-tenth of the weight, the same heating surface and power as is now.obtained in other and low pressure boilers, with incalculably greater safety. Our present experimental boiler contains 250 superficial feet of heating surface in the space of 3 feet 8 inches high; 3 feet long; and 2 feet 4 inches broad, and weighs about 800 weight: We supply the two cylinders with steam, communicating by their pistons with a crank axle to the ends of which either one or both wheels are affixed as may be required. One wheel is found sufficient; excepting under very difficult circumstances, and when the elevation is about one foot in six, to impel the vehicle forward.

Have you taken out a Patent for this invention?—We have, in the name of William Alltoft Summers and Nathaniel Ogle.

You state that the weight of that Carriage is about three tons or more, is that independent of the necessary load?—That will include the coke and the water, but not the passengers.