House of Commons, Great Britain

“ You say that the evaporation of nine gallons of water is equal to one horse power; does it not make a difference according to the pressure?—This is a point unsettled at present by Engineers; some advocate high, others low pressure.
You have stated, that if you wished to increase the power of your Engine, you would increase the weight of it, and decrease the size of the wheels?—It might be done either way; the union of the two is not necessary as far as regards the intensity of power; quantity of power must be produced by an increase of weight, or by some increased or rapid formation of steam. ”

“ From experiments which I have made in connection with this subject, I am led to believe that the bursting of boilers is not always occasioned by pressure of steam. I have discovered that at a certain degree of temperature and under certain circumstances, when water is decomposed, that the hydrogen is often formed into a new state of combination with oxygen and nitrogen gas, which compound is exceedingly explosive; so much so, that I believe scarcely any provision that we can make in the shape of a Safety valve, would protect the vessel. ”

“ Would not that stream of water act as a safety valve?—When there is water it is sufficient, but when water gets down in any boiler there is no safety valve that will protect it, and hence arise the inexplicable accidents that have occurred frequently in steam boats; the size of the boiler is the only protection without the safety alloy. ”

“ I have always entertained the same idea as I do at present. Imperfections will exist in the machinery; but I conceive that the main points of difficulty have been removed by the experiments I have made, and that all those now remaining are practical difficulties, which will be removed by further experience ”

“ Do you conceive that there can be no mode of escaping that by any smoke-consuming apparatus?—I know of no mode that is likely to succeed, nor do I conceive that it is possible to make such a combustion of coals that is likely to consume all the sublimated or volatilized matter; the consuming of smoke or the combustion of smoke is prevented principally by the particles being mechanically mixed with or surrounded by carbonic acid gas. ”

“ If your Carriages were brought into general use, would you suggest that two safety valves should be required, one out of the reach of the Engineer to prevent accidents occurring from racing, or other causes which could induce the guide to increase the pressure of Steam?—I should recommend one being locked, and an Inspector being appointed to examine it every journey. ”

“ The want of water in a boiler is favourable, in which case the temperature is raised and the compound formed; the bursting of boilers I believe frequently takes place, from this compound coming in contact with substances that will decompose it, and perhaps I might mention this fact, as it is a very interesting one, namely, that boilers often burst when the valves are known to blow at a pressure very considerably lower than the boiler has been proved to. ”

“ The snow is pressed strongly under the wheel, becomes almost immoveable, and furnishes a good fulcrum for the wheel; a little preparation only is necessary, and a very little is sufficient to overcome any moderate obstacle of that kind. May I be allowed to give in to the Committee a scale of what I conceive to be an equitable toll on Steam Carriages? ”

“ On ice, a very little roughing of the wheels is necessary, in the same manner as you rough horses, and little power is sufficient to propel the Carriage, because under those circumstances, the power to draw the weight is very considerably reduced, and therefore the full power of the Engine is not necessary to be exerted: in deep snow, there certainly is great difficulty ”

“ In what part of your Engine is your safety valve situated?—It is situated at the option of the Engineer; frequently in the steam pipe leading from the boiler to the Carriage, most generally; so that the steam as it passes through that pipe may lift the safety valve, or it may go to the Engine, as the state of pressure shall determine. ”

“ I have provided for all those casualties, distant as they are, by making the valves of the Engine only remain in gear when the guide is in his proper situation; the moment he is thrown off his seat, by accident or otherwise, the Engine instantly stops. ”

“ On the Paddington Road, a distance of five miles only, there are upwards of 1000 horses employed at this moment. Throughout Great Britain it is almost impossible to say how many horses are employed, but should perhaps be within bounds if I were to say millions, in posting and stage coaches. ”

“ I would wish to state, in connection with my former Evidence with respect to fuel for working slowly heavy Carriages, that my opinion was founded on some peculiar laws of momentum lately observed; it is well known that one Engine, when worked at a given rate, works expansively ”

“ Or if we take 1s. per mile per horse power, it will be about the same. The expence of fuel for the Steam Carriage will be, on an average throughout England, about 3d. In some coal districts it will not exceed 1d. ”

“ Would not the motion of the Carriage and the current of air that is produced by going quickly through the air, give great facility in the application of a smoke-consuming apparatus?—If the consumption of smoke depended on the presence of oxygen gas or atmospheric air which contains it, I think it would ”