farmer and a mechanic, and the boy, William, was early associated with him Correspondence. THE INVENTION OF THE LOCOMOTIVE. in the labors of the farm. He soon gave TORONTO, June 15, 1885. evidence of considerable ingenuity, and MESSRS. EDITORS: It is some years became skillful in useful inventions. A since I wrote anything for the JOURNAL, monument of his early industry is to be and as I see so many articles relating to found in the square apartment, twelve the first inventor of the locomotive, I feet each way, with fire-place and all will give you my opinion. There are complete, yet to be seen at the back of two articles in this month's JOURNAL Bellow Mill house, hewn out of the solid giving the names of the supposed first rock. The wonder of the district, howinventors. The one is from the San ever, was a wooden horse, the product Francisco Chronicle, and giving the name of his youthful mechanical genius, which of David Mathews as the first inventor. he used on occasions to ride to the vilThe other is from the pen of Brother lage, about two miles off. He came to Angus Sinclair, where he claims the be associated in the work with his father, name of Oliver Evans. Brother Sinclair but on reaching maturity his ability and myself differ somewhat as to the in-came to be known beyond the precincts ventor, although we are the same in the of his neighborhood, and procured him main, when he says no single man can the erection of a bridge over the river justly be credited with the invention of Nith, in Dumfriesshire, a very handthe locomotive, but the genius and ex- some, and subsequently found to be a periments of many. The English in- very durable, structure. ventors are Stephenson, Trevithick, Hackworth, Hadley and others, while the Americans are Evans, Cooper and Mathews. All these men deserve a share of the credit of bringing it into practical use. But there is one we have missed who, in my opinion, is entitled to the name of being the first inventor of the locomotive. His name is William Murdoch, a native of Scotland, and, if my memory serves me right, Brother Sinclair is a native of the same country. However, I have read the treatise on locomotive running by Brother Sinclair in the columns of the Chicago Railway Age, and must say it deserves a place in the library of every mechanic as well as every locomotive engineer. The occasion of his going to England was the simple desire to be associated with his countryman, James Watt, of whose great invention of a separate condenser he was enamored. If we keep this in view it will furnish us with a reason for much that would be otherwise inexplicable in his subsequent relations with the firm of Boulton & Watt. Will iam Murdoch's appearance at Soho was in the year 1777. He was then in the twenty-third year of his age, and was favored with a prepossessing manner. He immediately entered into a two years' engagement with the firm of Boulton & Watt, of which James Watt was a partner. In return for the services he was to render he was to receive fifteen shillings a week when at home, seventeen shillings when from home, and eighteen shillings when in London. I will now give you a short sketch of the life of the first inventor of the locomotive, in my opinion. The inventor of gas lighting was William Murdoch, who He applied himself with a will to his was born on August 21, 1754, at Bellow work on hand, and displayed in its perMill, in the parish of Auchinleck, Ayr- | formance a skill and energy that gained shire, Scotland. His father was both a him at the outset the esteem of Watt. The presence of William Murdoch in the erection, alteration or repair of an engine lifted a load from the mind of the latter. He is frequently alluded to in Watt's correspondence with Boulton. Whenever any work had to be done requiring more than ordinary attention, Watt specially desired that he should be put to it. “Let William be sent for from Bedworth," he wrote from Cornwall, in 1778, "to set the patterns for nozzles quite right for Poldice." Boulton wished to send him to Scotland to erect the engine at Wanlockhead, but Watt would not hear of it. William was the only man he could trust with the nozzles. Then William was sent to London to take charge of Chelsea engine; next to Bedworth to see to the completion of the repairs previous to the final trial; then to Birmingham to attend to some further special instructions of Watt, and finally to Cornwall, to take charge of the principal engines erecting there. | parent of all subsequent efforts in the William Murdoch resolved on trying his locomotive under more favorable circumstances than were to be found in the inside of a room. The place selected out doors for this purpose was the straight, level foot-path leading from his own house to the church, which was situated about a mile distant. The time was From the time William Murdoch en- night; it was dark. The engine was put tered on his duties in Cornwall until he into position, the lamp was lit which had mastered the defects of the engines gave heat to the little boiler, and away in process of erection and had them put went the wonderful machine, with the in working order, he allowed himself lit- inventor in full chase after it. The partle rest. When the engine at Wheal Vir-ish clergyman was also abroad that gin was ready for starting the people of night, and coming along the avenue he the house at Redruth in which he lodged perceived the noisy, unsightly object were greatly disturbed by a strange noise | rushing on with a snort and a puff as if in his room. Several heavy blows on the floor made them start from their beds, thinking the house was coming down. They rushed to his room, and there was he, in his shirt, heaving away at the bedpost, in his sleep, calling out: "Now she goes, lads, now she goes." bent on mischief, and mistaking it for the "Evil One" in person, he startled the night air and the inventor, too, with loud cries of distress. The idea of a locomotive had been suggested to Watt many years before by his friend Robinson; and Mr. EdgeThe year 1774 was an eventful one in worth, to whom even the idea of a railthe history of the steam engine. Will-way had occurred, labored at a later peiam Murdoch's successful completion of a small working model locomotive, satisfactorily proved that steam could be applied in propelling wheeled vehicles. It was the small beginning, and was the riod with great zeal to indoctrinate Watt with his views on the possible application of steam power in the driving of carriages. Watt could not be persuaded to regard the idea seriously. He remon started with William Murdoch for occupying his time in the pursuit of an impracticable scheme. He said: 'Let Lymington and Saddler, and such idle dreamers fritter away their time, but let William attend to the work on hand." Watt's very decided opinion on its worthlessness did not, however, prevent him from including in a specification dated 25th of August, 1784, the plan of a locomotive, in which he contemplated the employment of steam, either in the form of high pressure or low pressure, working the pistons by steam only, and discharging it into an air-tight condenser made of thin plates of pipe with their outsides exposed to the wind, or to an artificial current of air, thereby enconomizing the water, which would otherwise be lost. which they were to provide the requisite capital, and William Murdoch was to be entrusted with the care of the manufacture of the locomotives. In 1798, when it was understood he was about to leave Cornwall in order to take charge of the working department of the extensive works of the firm at Soho, the mining proprietors, whose respect and esteem he had succeeded in maintaining unbroken during his nineteen years' stay among them, used every kind of means to get him to remain. With his usual indifference to money, he refused their tempting offer of one thousand pounds of a yearly salary. This was the exact sum he received from the firm of Boulton & Watt twelve years afterwards, with the standing of a part ner. Such was the life of the great inventor, and it seems to me he was nearly twenty years ahead of all others. I have in my possession a volume of the Glasgow Mechanics' Magazine, wherein it says that Dr. Ure gave a lecture to Mr. Cross's children and exhibited a model of the locomotive engine at Professor Anderson's institution. The boiler is made of sheet copper, and the engine, which is brass work, is placed at one end of the William Murdoch had ere this completed his working model, and thereby demonstrated the practicability of a locomotive. He was now determined upon making the experiment on a large scale, and with this intention solicited the cooperation of Watt and Boulton. His proposals encountered the strongest opposition. It was contended that the disputes, which still continued, in connection with the original patent, had entailed serious troubles, and that the out-boiler. The size of the model is only lay before it became remunerative was very great. It was thus inferred that the prosecution of the locomotive, were it ever shown to be practicable, would entail both greater trouble and expense than they would again willingly incur. | make the engine travel off with a numHe was not to be deterred from his purpose so easily, for had not his strong practical sense and matured scientific experience enabled him to forecast the brillant future of his much-maligned little machine? He could not bear the idea of throwing it up, but resolved on applying elsewhere for the needed assistance. Rather than having this take place, Boulton and Watt agreed to a partnership, in five time larger than the drawing, and I have the drawing in my possession. When the engine is to be set at work the furnace is charged with ignited charcoal, which soon raises enough of steam to ber of loaded wagons behind it round the lecturer's table on a circular board eight feet in diameter. Such is the history of the early days of the locomotive as far as I can learn. The locomotive developed at a moderate pace and its growth attracted more attention than its inventors in its early days. Fraternally yours, ROBERT PEARSON. MODEL FARMS. dwelling house and barns of this famous MESSRS. EDITORS: Having been in- place. And well may it be called famvited by Colonel James Young, of Mid- ous, for at this point a scene of indedletown, Dauphin county, Penn., to scribable grandeur bursts upon your asvisit his famous farms and write a sketch tonished vision. A small world, so to of them for our JOURNAL, I left Phila- speak, lies at your very feet. From this delphia on Tuesday morning, June 9th. point you can look into five different The train arrived safe at Middletown on counties. Looking west you see the time at 10:46 A. M. Mr. James S. Young, counties of Cumberland and Perry, Jr., met me at the station, with in- and southwest York county, and east the structions to show me every possible celebrated county of Lancaster, which is courtesy in regard to my visit. He said called the "Garden of Pennsylvania, we would visit Locust Grove and Sunset and Lebanon, which is also celebrated farms first. The first mentioned place is for its valuable beds of ore. At your left, plainly seen from the P. R. R., which looking west, flows the bright and silvery passes just in front of it, and the numer- Susquehanna, and in front lies the ous houses, barns, sheds, etc., which it borough of Middletown, alongside of contains give it the appearance of a which runs the Swatara Creek. Six small village. The dwelling is a speci- miles beyond you see the busy town of men of perfect neatness; everything Steelton, where the great Bessemer steel around it indicates the finest taste that works are located, known as the Penncould be displayed for a farm residence. sylvania Steel Company, and on the opThe barns are things of beauty, painted posite side of the river you see the vilwhite, with green shutters, and the doors lage of Cumberland, in Cumberland are painted a bright red, which makes a county. Harrisburg, the capital of the contrast of such a lovely character that | State, which is eleven miles distant, can it must be seen to be appreciated. Here be plainly seen on a clear day; also the are immense corn cribs, chicken house, Cumberland Valley Railroad bridge, and a large building for making cider. which spans the river at that point; and All the apples from the other farms that in the background, fifteen miles away, are to be used for that purpose are you can see the range of the Blue Ridge brought here. Nothing is slighted in the Mountains, standing as it were like silent building line, no matter how small, it re-monitors of the scene. Looking southceives the same care and attention. And the bright morning sun shining down on this miniature village with its beautiful buildings, fences all whitewashed, gates red, and surrounded by acres and acres of waving wheat and oats, is certainly lovely in the extreme. The next thing in order was the visit to Sunset. It was an elegant ride along the country road, as we ascended higher and higher, past the fields of waving grain that appeared to bid us a pleasant good morning as they were swayed to and fro by the morning breeze. We finally reached the top of the hill upon which is located the west, skirting the banks of the Susquehanna, you see the York Hills; and Poplar Island, in the middle of the river, lends additional beauty to the view. For me to attempt to give you a correct description of this really magnificent sight would simply be impossible. Mr. Young told me that his old friend, the Hon. Simon Cameron, ex-United States Senator, comes here in summer time, and will sit for hours and look on this splendid panorama of mountains, river, hills, dales and towns, and endless fields of waving grain, and he says it surpasses anything he has ever seen, and we all care is taken to keep the milk perfectly clean. The milk is all sold in Middletown, as Mr. Young makes no butter only for his own use. Every animal is named, and each have their separate and distinct stall. Besides his beautiful barns on this place you will see spacious corn cribs, engine and boiler house, which is used for threshing and cutting food for the cattle, which is all cooked for the know he has traveled extensively both in this country and Europe. Noted men have visited here from different parts of the world. A noted Scotchman said it was the prettiest sight he ever witnessed. There is a peculiar feature about this place which is worthy of special notice. When Mr. Young bought it some of the fields were covered with large rocks, which made it impossible to utilize the ground unless they were removed. Dur-stock in winter in large vats prepared exing the panic he gave employment to men by blasting these rocks, which he used for making roadways and building stone fence. Some of the people said he was a fool, but to-day, in place of rocks, you see acres of wheat, were was once nothing but a barren waste of land. The dwelling house on this place is over one hundred years old, and the sides of one room are painted in what appear to be water colors, in figures similar to our wall papering of the present day, and great care is taken to keep it from becoming defaced. pressly for that purpose by steam from the boiler. This place is most handsomely situated on the right of the P. R. R., going west, surrounded on all sides with its seeming endless lines of whitewashed fences and glaring red gates, which greet your eye in all directions, making it look, so to speak, like a "paradise on earth.” Mr. Young has just had a large framework erected, forty feet high, upon which is hung a bell weighing five hundred and twenty-four pounds, from Mr. Henry McShain & Co., Baltimore, which can be heard over all the farms. This is We bid adieu to this delightful spot used for calling, and the time to begin and soon found ourselves back in Mid- work. The tone of the bell is C natural. dletown, where we were received by Col. Mr. Mitchell Miller, the superintendent Young, Sr., in a very cordial manner, of Mr. Young's possessions, lives on this and his first question was: 'What do place, and Mrs. Miller, who is the mothyou think of the view?" I could sim-er of the superintendent, and also sister ply say it is grand. We were then enter- of Mr. Young, controls the household tained at dinner, after which we started affairs. This very kind lady treated us for Oak Dale, or the homestead, as it is splendidly by giving us pure unadulteratcalled, and sure enough it is a home-ed milk and delicious cake. stead. Surrounded by the most magnif- Pardon me while I tell you an incident icent barns, which are painted so beauti- about this lady. She is a staunch Demful, with their elegant green shutters and ocrat, while her brother, Col. Young, is flaming red doors and splendid steeples, a firm Republican, and for years he has make them look more like churches than given Pennsylvania's Republican Govdwellings for the magnificent herd of ernors their annual dinner on this farm. Jersey cows and calves which the pro- So when the tidal-wave of political revoprietor is so proud of. Here you see lution put our present Democratic adcows ranging in value from $500 to ministration in power by the election of $1,000. We were shown one animal the Mr. Pattison, she claimed a dinner for mother of which gave thirty-six quarts him, and she had the satisfaction of givof milk a day. Mr. Young has the cowsing the Governor of her choice a good groomed twice a day, and the utmost inner. |