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

144 HISTOKY OP THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVES IN AMEKICA.
favor of locomotive-power, but I rested the decision of the question
on the position that, what the performance of a horse was and
would be, every one knew ; but the man was not living who would
and I may
undertake to say what the locomotive was yet to do ;
add that, after more than thirty years have elapsed, during every
one of which the soundness of this position has gained new grounds
to sustain it, he would be a bold man who would say that we had
attained the limit in the performance, and especially in the economy
of performance, of this great mechanical blessing to mankind.
In the recommendation of this report in favor of locomotive-power
the Board of the South Carolina Railroad Company unanimously
concurred, and, as this decision was the first on any railway built
for general freight and passenger business in this country or in
England, it has been referred to as one of the interesting facts in
the early history of railroads."
The preparations for the work were at once com-
menced, and the road was begun in 1829. Six miles
were completed in that year.
Like the Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad, a mimber of
experiments were tried with different powers.
The company offered a prexninm of $500 for the
best locomotive by horse-power. This premium was
awarded to Mr. C. E. Detmole, who invented one
worked on an endless-chain platform. When this
horse-power locomotive was completed and tested upon
the road, it carried twelve passengers at the rate of
twelve miles an hour.
A sailing-car, or a car propelled by the wind, was
also tested upon the road in 1829-30. A description
of one of the trips upon this machine we copy from the
Charleston Oov/rier, March 20, 1830
" Sailing on Land.—A sail was set on a car on our railroad
yesterday afternoon, in the presence of a large concourse of spec-
tators. Fifteen gentlemen got on board and flew off at the i-ate
of twelve to fourteen miles an hour. Thirteen persons and three
tons of iron were carried about ten miles an hour. The preparations
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