The history of the first locomotives in America. From original ...

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HISTORY OF THE FIKST LOCOMOTIVES IN AMERICA.
ture, adapted to their road, the president and directors hereby
give public notice that they mil pay the sum of four thousand
dollars for the most approved engine which shall be delivered for
trial upon the road, on or before the 1st of June, 1831 ; and they
"will also pay three thousand five hundred dollars for the engine
which shall be adjudged the next best, and be delivered as afore-
said, subject to the following conditions, to wit
" First. The engine must burn coke or coal, and must consume
its own smoke.
^'Second. The engine, when in operation, must not exceed
three and one-half tons' weight, and must, on a level road, be ca-
pable of drawing, day by day, fifteen tons, inclusive of the weight
of the wagons, fifteen miles per hour. The company to furnish
wagons of Winans's construction, the friction of which will not
exceed five pounds to the ton.
" Third. In deciding on the relative advantages of the several
engines, the company will take into consideration their respective
weights, power, and durability, and, all other things being equal;
will adjudge a preference to the engine weighing the least.
" Fourth. The flanges are to run on the inside of the rails.
The form of the cone and flanges, and the tread of the wheels,
must be such as are now in use on the road. K the working-
parts are so connected as to work with the adhesion of all the four
wheels, then all the wheels shall be of equal diameter, not to ex-
ceed three feet ; but if the connection be such as to work with the
adhesion of two wheels only, then those 1;wo wheels may have a
diameter not exceeding four feet, and the other two wheels shall
be two and a half feet in diameter, and shall work with Winans's
friction-wheels, which last will be furnished upon application to
the company. The flanges to be four feet seven and a half inches
apart, from outside to outside. The wheels to be coupled four
feet from centre to centre, in order to suit curves of short radius.
"^ Fifth. The pressure of steam not to exceed one hundred
pounds to the square inch, and, as a less pressure will be prefei-red,
the company, in deciding «n the advantages of the several engines,
will take into consideration their relative degrees of pressure.
The company will be at liberty to put the boiler, fire-tube, cylinder,
etc., to the test of a pressure of water not exceeding three times
the pressure of the steam intended to be worked, without being
answerable for any damage the machine may receive in conse-
quence of such test.
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