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Tub Last New Steamer.-—Trial TRir of tr» TnoMAS Moorb — Pursu-ant to notice given the fourth steamer constituted at this port during the present ■ a-son for the purpose of solving the problem of canal navigation by steam, made her trial trip up the Potomac yesterday afternoon. It is hardly proper to say that the Thomas Mt ore wts constructed for the purpose above named as it is well known that she was simply altered to receive machinery which had been tried elsewhere and proved adapted to the purpose. The gentleman having the enterprise in charge are from Pennsylvania. Mr. Adams is an ex-pciienced engineer,and was foranumbir of years In the service of the government. Mr. 0. L. Darragb is from Beaver county, Pa , is a practical machinist and engineer, and has likewise had considerable experience in naval engineering. Their machinery is a simple horizontal engine with tabular boiler. Taere are two small propellers which work under protection of the rake of the stern in opposite directions, throwing the water to the center, thus preventing any considerable wash of the bangs. The Moore is constructed to stear with a wheel, which will most likely be changed for the old-fashioned tiller, which to use boatmen’s phrase “takes up” a boat much more readily than a wheel At three o’clock the ires were lighted in the furnace as the bjat lay in the slip at the foot of Canal street, and as soon as eighteen pounds of steam were obtained the lines were cast off, the engines started and the boat moved down to the canal lock. It is proper to say here that it was not intended to force the boat faster than the power of thirty pounds of steam, as her boxes wero not tightened. A large crowd had assembled to witness the running of the new steamer, and various were the conjectures as to the chances of success At twenty-six minutes past three sho left the lock going smoothly and steadily up the river under a pressure of only nineteen pounds of stecm It was at once apparent that with that power she could make three miles an hour,at the same time creating as little commotion as a mule boat going at the same speed. In fact the ripple created by the break of water at the bow was greater at any time than the disturbance made by the propellers. We did not take any note of the time made while ascending the river, as several halts wero made, one at Lynn’s wharf, and again further up When the point was reached for taming, several miks above the city, the engines were reversed and she was backed with the same case, and turned with as much readiness as eny lake propeller. She then started on the return trip with twenty-flve pounds of steam and made the first mile in exactly itrelrt minviet by the watch. The distance rem lining to the lock, a little more than a mile was also mtde in twelve rnin-| ate?, proving her ability to run five miles an hour withaforceoftwenty five pounds of steam, and making no more commotion in the water than an ordinary mule boat going at its highest speed. There was also very little jar, scarcely a perceptible tremor, her motion being steady and regular all the lime. We consider the question of canal navigation by steam satisfactorily solved, not only by the Thomas Moore, but by Mr. Hill’s boat and by Mr. McDonald s boat. Capt. Lynch's remains yet to be tried, and we have not the least doubt that it too will be a success. The Thomas Moore is beyond question a success, and we are satisfied that the days of mule power ou the canal are numbered.
Newspaper Details
Cumberland Daily Times
Cumberland, Maryland, US
Thu, Nov 19, 1874
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Andrew S.
MD, USA 02 Apr 2024
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