Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XII. MARINE ENGINES. The history of the introduction of vessels propelled hy steam power is too extensive a subject to be entered into in much detail in this book, a slight sketch only will be given which the author thinks may prove interesting to the reader. In 1802 W. Symington constructed a steamboat for use on canals; it had a paddle-wheel at the stern and was driven by a double-acting horizontal engine, the cylinder being 22 inches diameter x 48 inches stroke; it was able to tow two vessels of 70 tons each, at the rate of about 20 miles in six hours. The vessel was only in use a short time, as it was feared the canal banks would be destroyed by the wash of the water. In 1807 Robert Fulton (in America), after having seen Symington's boat in this country, built a vessel and put an engine into her made by J. Watt & Co., of Birmingham; the cylinder was 24 inches diameter x 48 inches stroke; she attained a speed of 150 miles in thirty-two hours. The vessel was 133 feet long x 18 feet wide x 9 feet deep at the hold. In 1812 the steamer " Comet" was built by J. and C. Wood at Glasgow for Henry Bell; she was 40 feet long x 10 feet 6 inches beam, and 25 tons burden. The boat was driven by a table vertical condensing engine of about 4 horse-power; she was used on the Clyde and attained a speed of five miles per hour. Several boats were subsequently put on the Clyde; but on the Thames, owing to the opposition of the watermen, no steamboat was used until 1815, when the " Margery" ran between London and Gravesend. This was the first steamer for passenger service seen upon the Thames; she was built at Glasgow by the firm named above; the burden was 70 tons; she was fitted with one engine of 14 horse-power nominal. Between the years 1815...