Chapter V: The Modern Steam-Engine

THE SECOND PERIOD OF APPLICATION--1800-1850 (CONTINUED)--THE
STEAM-ENGINE APPLIED TO SHIP-PROPULSION 221

Introduction, 221; Ancient Prophecies, 223; the Earliest
Paddle-Wheel, 223; Blasco de Garay's Steam-Vessel, 1543, 224;
Experiments of Dionysius Papin, 1707, 214; Jonathan Hulls's
Steamer, 1736, 225; Bernouilli and Gauthier, 228; William
Henry, 1782, 230; the Comte d'Auxiron, 1772, 232; the Marquis
de Jouffroy, 1776, 233; James Rumsey, 1774, 234; John Fitch,
1785, 285; Fitch's Experiments on the Delaware, 1787, 237;
Fitch's Experiments at New York, 1796, 240; the Prophecy of
John Fitch, 241; Patrick Miller, 1786-'87, 241; Samuel Morey,
1793, 243; Nathan Read, 1788, 244; Dundas and Symmington, 1801,
246; Henry Bell and the Comet, 1811, 248; Nicholas Roosevelt,
1798, 250; Robert Fulton, 1802, 251; Fulton's Torpedo-Vessels,
1801, 252; Fulton's First Steamboat, 1803, 253; the Clermont,
1807, 257; Voyage of the Clermont to Albany, 259; Fulton's
Later Steamboats, 260; Fulton's War-Steamer Fulton the First,
1815, 261; Oliver Evans, 1804, 263; John Stevens's
Screw-Steamer, 1804, 264; Stevens's Steam-Boilers, 1804, 264;
Stevens's Iron-Clad, 1812, 268; Robert L. Stevens's
Improvements, 270; the "Stevens Cut-off," 1841, 276; the
Stevens Iron-Clad, 1837, 277; Robert L. Thurston and John
Babcock, 1821, 280; James P. Allaire and the Messrs. Copeland,
281; Erastus W. Smith's Compound Engine, 283; Steam-Navigation
on Western Rivers, 1811, 283; Ocean Steam-Navigation, 1808,
285; the Savannah, 1819, 286; the Sirius and the Great Western,
1838, 289; the Cunard Line, 1840, 290; the Collins Line, 1851,
291; the Side-Lever Engine, 292; Introduction of
Screw-Steamers, 293; John Ericsson's Screw-Vessels, 1836, 294;
Francis Pettit Smith, 1837, 296; the Princeton, 1841, 297;
Advantages of the Screw, 299; the Screw on the Ocean, 300;
Obstacles to Improvement, 301; Changes in Engine-Construction,
302; Conclusion, 303.

CHAPTER VI.

THE STEAM-ENGINE OF TO-DAY.

THE PERIOD OF REFINEMENT--1850 TO DATE 303

Condition of the Steam-Engine at this Time, 303; the Later
Development of the Engine, 304; Stationary Steam-Engines, 307;
the Steam-Engine for Small Powers, 307; the Horizontal Engine
with Meyer Valve-Gear, 311; the Allen Engine, 314; its
Performance, 316; the Detachable Valve-Gear, 316; the Sickels
Cut-off, 317; Expansion adjusted by the Governor, 318; the
Corliss Engine, 319; the Greene Engine, 321; Perkins's
Experiments, 323; Dr. Alban's Work, 325; the Perkins Compound
Engine, 327; the Modern Pumping-Engine, 328; the Cornish
Engine, 328; the Steam-Pump, 331; the Worthington
Pumping-Engine, 333; the Compound Beam and Crank Engine, 335;
the Leavitt Pumping-Engine, 336; the Stationary Steam-Boiler,
338; "Sectional" Steam-Boilers, 343; "Performance" of Boilers,
344.

SECTION II.--PORTABLE AND LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES. 347

The Semi-Portable Engine, 348; Performance of Portable Engines,
350; their Efficiency, 352; the Hoadley Engine, 354; the Mills
Farm and Road Engine, 356; Fisher's Steam-Carriage, 356;
Performance of Road-Engines, 357; Trial of Road-Locomotives by
the Author, 358; Conclusions, 358; the Steam Fire-Engine, 360;
the Rotary Steam-Engine and Pump, 365; the Modern Locomotive,
368; Dimensions and Performance, 373; Compound Engines for
Locomotives, 376; Extent of Modern Railroads, 378;

SECTION III.--MARINE ENGINES. 379

The Modern Marine Engine, 379; the American Beam Engine, 379;
the Oscillating Engine and Feathering Wheel, 381; the two
"Rhode Islands," 382; River-Boat Engines on the Mississippi,
384; Steam Launches and Yachts, 386; Marine Screw-Engines, 389;
the Marine Compound Engine, 390; its Introduction by John Elder
and others, 393; Comparison with the Single-Cylinder Engine,
395; its Advantages, 396; the Surface Condenser, 397; Weight of
Machinery, 398; Marine Engine Performance, 398; Relative
Economy of Simple and Compound Engines, 399; the
Screw-Propeller, 399; Chain-Propulsion, or Wire-Rope Towage,
402; Marine Steam-Boilers, 403; the Modern Steamship, 405;
Examples of Merchant Steamers, 406; Naval
Steamers--Classification, 409; Examples of Iron-Clad Steamers,
412; Power of the Marine Engine, 415; Conclusion, 417.