The life of George Stephenson, railway engineer - Lighthouse ...

CHAP XV.] MK. JAMES VISITS KILLINGWOKTH. 17X
a heavy load of coal wagons at about six miles an hour with ap-
parent ease, at which Mr. James expressed his extreme satis-
faction, and declared to Mr. Losh his opinion that Stephenson
" was the greatest practical genius of the age," and that, " if he
developed the full powers of that engine, (the locomotive,) his
fame in the world would rank equal to that of Watt." Mr.
James, who had long been an advocate of the locomotive system,
was confirmed in his views by the performances of the Killing-
worth engine ;
and informing Stephenson and Losh of the survey
of the proposed tramroad between Liverpool and Manchester,
upon which he had been engaged, he did not hesitate to state
that he would henceforward advocate the adoption of a locomo-
tive railroad instead of the tramroad which had originally been
proposed.
As Mr. James's influence amongst persons of influence was
considerable, and he was particularly identified with the more
important railway projects of the day, Stephenson and Losh
were naturally desirous of enUsting his good services on behalf
of their patent locomotive. As yet it had proved comparatively
unproductive. The Hetton Eailway was the only line, in addi-
tion to the Killingworth, on which they had then a prospect of
getting their engines introduced. Although Stephenson had vir-
tually solved the problem of the locomotive, and demonstrated
its profitable employment as a tractive power on railroads, neither
he nor Mr. Losh were able to write up and advocate the inven-
tion so as to insure its more extensive adoption. This they be-
lieved Mr. James might be able effectually to do for them. "With
this object, they proposed to give him an interest in their patent,
in exchange for his services in this way ; and accordingly, by a
-deed, dated the 1st September, 1821, they assigned to Mr. James
one fourth of the profits which might be derived from the use of
their patent locomotive for railroads on any lines which might be
constructed south of a line drawn across England from Liverpool
to Hull, the deed setting forth that this assignment of profits was
made in consideration of Mr. James giving " his recommenda-
tion and best assistance " towards the use of the patent locomo-
tive on all such railways.
Mr. James's first recommendation did not prove successful.