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

63 HISTOKT OF THE FIKST LOCOMOTIVES IN AMEKICA.
locomotives ; ttat the annual expense for maintaining
the stationary engines was likewise greater than for the
locomotives, and consequently the expense of transpor-
tation Iby a stationary system was greater in like proportion.
The system of locomotive-power, therefore, was
entitled to the preference. Yet another consideration
influenced the directors in its favor, which was this:
Should an accident occur on any part of the railroad
worked ty stationary engines, a suspension of work
along the entire road would be involved in the conse-
quences ; accidents arising from the fracture of any of
the chairs, or from any derangement in the working of
any of the fixed engines, would effectually stop the
intercourse along the entire line; while in the use of
locomotive-power an accident could only affect the particular
train of carriages drawn hj the engine to which
the mishap might occur. " The one system," says Mr.
"Walker, in his report, " is like a chain extending from
Liverpool to Manchester, the failure of a single link of
which would destroy the whole ; while the other (the
locomotive system) is like a number of short and
unconnected chains, the destruction of any one of which
does not interfere with the effect of the others, and the
loss of which may be supplied by others with facility."
However, to determine the matter, a prize was offered
by the directors of £500 for a locomotive which
should be produced by a certain day, and perform a
certain duty, as follows
:
1. The engine must effectually consume its own smoke.
2. The engine, if of six tons' weight, must be ahle to draw after
it, day by day, twenty tons' weight, including the tender and
water-tank, at ten miles an hour, with a pressure of steam upon
the boiler not exceeding fifty pounds to the square inch.
3. The boiler must have two safty-valves, neither of which
Digitized by Microsoft®