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

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HISTORY OF THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVES IN AMERICA
CHAPTER X.
FIKST DELIBEEATIONS CM" EAILEOADS.
When the construction of that great work, the
Liverpool and Manchester Railroad, was commenced,
and even after it had been in progress for several years,
its directors had not determined the motive power to
be eniployed upon it. Horse-power had the strongest
advocates. Another method, and one having a number
of advocates, was that of stationary engines to draw the
trains along. By this method the line of road over
which the transport is conducted is divided into a number
of short sections, at the extremity of each of which
an engine is placed. The wagons or carriages, when
drawn by any one of these engines to its ovTn station,
are detached and connected with the extremity of the
chain worked by the next stationary engiue, and thus
the journey is performed from station to station by
separate engines. It was proposed to divide the Liver-
pool and Manchester road into nineteen stations, or
sections of about a mile and a half each, with twenty-
one engines fixed at the different points to work the
chains forward. Not a single professional man of any
eminence could be found who preferred the locomotive
over the fixed-engine power as above, George Stephenson
only excepted. He stuck to the locomotive-power ; and
finally committees were appointed at his suggestion to
witness the performance of his locomotives employed
in hauling coal upon the Stockton and Darlington Rail-
road. The report from the chairman of one of these
committees states that, " although it would be practica-
ble to go at any speed that the size of the wheel and the
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