Volume 38 (1879) (440 pages)

a ae 3 ie reve te*e "eo *e@ Se I eS SS An JJjustrated Journal of Mining, Popular Science and General News. BY DEWEY & cCoO., Publishers, SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1879. VOLUME ASXVIII Number i. A Practical Traction Engine, (Written for the Press.) The subject of transportation by means of the road-locomotive, or traction-engine as it is called, has occupied the attention of engineers in all parts of the world. lt is believed that California has produced a machine that stands among the best forms of the road-locomotive ; from late tests it appears to be one of the most practicable engines of this class that has ever been introduced. The accompanying engraving represents one of these machines, on three wheels, all of which are propelled hy beveled gearing. The following are the principal dimensions : Boiler—length over all, 10 feet; boiler, diameter of shell, 48 inches; hoiler, thickness of shell, } inch; boiler, fire box sheets, § inch; load on driving wheels, 2,300 pounds; steain cylinders, diameter, 8 inches; stroke of pistons, 12 iuches; revolutions of crank to one of driving wheels, 10; driving wheels, diameter 72 inches; driving wheels, breadth of tire, 12 inches. The boiler is a new and peeuliar miultitubular arrangement, which makes steam as fast as required, from a comparatively small amonnt of water, doing away with considerable bulk and weight. There are two engines mounted ou top of the boiler; the crankshafts are coupled and the cranks are set quartering to avoid the possibility of ever stopping on tho center; the bed plates have the cross-head guides cast solid with the bed; and the cylinders are secured. in sliding hearings fastened by flanges to boiler-bracketa; hy this means the expansion and coutraction of the hoiler is acecommodated, avoiding a considerable strain on the engines. The driving-gears or angle-shafts, are on each side of the machine as shown, and are driven by the beveled pinions on each end of the engine shaft. The angle-shafts ruu in angle hracket-boxes, so that one pair of shafts having beveled pinions run the forward wheel-gears, andthe other pair of angle-shafts also have heveled pinions that drive beveled wheels sccured’ to the rear traction wheels, The forward driving gears are keyed to the outer ends of the forward axle, or driving shaft, more properly speaking, as the latter drives the forward or steering wheel, but at the same time allowing it to be moved in au are of a circle sideways at any angle desired for steering the machines. This is accomplished by means of a ball and socket joint in tbe huhof this wheel. This ball and socket joint is the most ingenious part of the whole machine, and to accom. . plish the work of driving the wheel in all positions, a numher of steel keys are fitted in the Hi ball, aud projecting to work in slots cut in the. ing 35 tons at a speed of three miles per shell or casing of the ball, __ This casing has projecting faces with revolying rings on each side of the wheel, and to these rings are bolted arms on each side running back toa gear segment, operated by a pinion on the end of an upright spindle or shaft with a hand-wheel at the top, just in front of the steersinan’s seat; here the man piloting the machine has control of the throttle valve and reverse lever. This is the firstinstance in which the steering wheel has been made to propel tbe machine; and it can be made to do the work independent of the bind wheels, in case of necessity; as for instance when both hind wheels become mired, or get into quicksand, or deep ruts in the road. This is accomplished by haying self-adjustable clutches on the hind wheel shaft, also for backing ete. all of the traction engines heretofore built, only two wheels have been employed to propel the macbine, but in this invention all of the wheels on which it rung are traction wheels, and more than three may be employed if desired. This machiue was used for a consider. able length of time in the State of Nevada, hauling ore and other freight from mines to mills, etc., running np mountainous roads (where mule teama had Seat used); the grade being in some instances 530 feet to the mile, and hauling ten tons on wagons ata speed of two and one-half miles per hour. After working for one company until their mines gave out, the machine was brought to Sacramento, where it was employed in house moving and other heavy work. The Sacramento Wood Co. have recently bonght a Pacific coast interest in this invention, and have put the machine to a very severe test, showing its ability to haul heavy freight in a successful manner. Capt. J. Roberts, the leading spirit of the company, took this machine up the Sacramento river on one of their steamers, and landing in Colusa county, where clusions: A traction engine, or road locomotive, may be constructed upon this plan, so as to be easily and rapidly manceuvred, hauling a long line of freight wagons on the ordinary roads, and turning without difficulty on a circle suoh as are common at all cross-roads, A locomotive weighing six tons is capabic of haubng 25,000 pounds up a grade of 525 feet to the mile at a speed of 34 miles an hour. The traction-power of the machine tested was eqnal to 30 horses. The coeflicient of traction was shown to be about 0.5; the weight that could be drawn on a perfectly smooth and level road was 175,000 pounds; this is exclusive of the weight of the engine, and the amount of fuel required is estimated at 500 pounds afday. In handling the machine the most experienced and skillful men are required. The difference between the performances of the same engine in different hands was 127. It is estimated that the expense in heavy hauling hy steam is 25% less than the cost of horse-power on an ordinary road. A much The Bodie Claims, The Bodie mines were taken up under United States law, and held as from the United States, But now it transpires that tho United States did not own the land occupied by many of the chief mines; on the contrary, the State ownedthem, and the United States conld not allow any one to hold them either by yearly work or by purchase—in fact, bad no claim on them whatever. The State owns the 16th and 36th sections of every township, She was granted them for school purposes, Owning them she has a right to sell them, This she has done ia the preseut case, and there was no stay in her proceedings, because the 16th section of one township contained some of Bodie’s richest mines. The plat of survey of the land in question was filed on March 16th, 1878. At that time those who were located on the 16th secthey run regular trips back into the country, 2! larger and more powerful machine is now being . tion might have known how they were situated, AN IMPROVED ROAD LOCOMOTIVE, OR TRACTION ENGINE. distance of 16 miles, taking freight from the steamer, and bringiug wheat hack, they loaded six Bain header wagons with 300 sacks of grain, also hauling one extra Bain beader wagon contaiuing a tank in which they took 615 gallons of water, besides 14 tons of coal, making over 24 tons total freight in wagons; tbe machine also carried tanks secured at each side of the hoiler, these bolding 250 gallons of water. Five miles of the road was very dusty, and full of ruts, we had several sloughs to cross, making a very severe test of the traction power of the machine. But if the roads are level, hard and free from ruts, the machine is capable of haulhour. The machine works admirably as to pulling or traction qualities. The machine weighed on the scales—haying steam up and 250 gallous af water in the tanks, also coal in the cab—114 tuna total weight. Capt. Roberts’ Company has plenty of work for a large number of these machines, as they haul freight from various points throughout the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys to their steamboats and harges on the rivers. This traction engine will run over any kind of ground; it can enter any farmer’s field, plow his ground, and at the proper time haul away his grain or other freight, running in any direc. tion without reference to depots or tracks that! at present are so necessary for tbe transporta-. tion business of the country. / From the recent trial of this engine, the constructing engineer deduced the following con-. built for the company by Root, Neilsou & Co., Sacrameuto. The inventor is Mr. R. R. Doan, who commenced many years ago to study the problem of substituting steam power for auimal power on the highways and for farm use. After years of toil and the expenditure of a large amount of moncy, buildiug the machine in several styles, he has profited by the experience, and we believe that he has accomplished the desired result, in the road locomotive represented by our engraving. Cc. W. M Bosweit Fruit Drrer.—We call attention to the advertisement of the Boswell heater! oompany on page 16 of this issue. The principle of deflected heat as applied to drying fruit seems to he worthy the attention of all interestedin that branch of industry. The combined ‘apparatus for cooking, baking, beating, drying, etc., is a great auxilliary to the econ. omy of housekeeping, and the apparatus is also claimed to he the most economical as well as the hest arrangement for drying fruit, etc., that is now before the public. Mr. E. L. Sullivan, an old and well-known citizen of the State, is at the head of the company. Tue Salt River Herald says: Messrs. I. N. Cohen & Co. have received 30,000 pounds of copper from the Longfellow oompany during the past week; shipping 20,000 to the railroad dnring the same time. Work progresses favorably at the Black Jack, Idaho. From that date they were allowed the refnsal of the land for six months. Those six months have passed. The locators bave not purchased from the State. Others have taken advantage of this negligence, and bave bought the land and hold a State title to it. The title seems to be good, and all that Bodie can do is to compromise. The interested mines are: Bodie, South Bodie, South Standard, Red Cloud Consolidated, Belvidere, Bodie Tunnel and Mining Company, Summit, White Cloud, Goodshaw, Aurora Tunnel, Maybelle, Concordia, Noonday, Richelieu, Champion, Sigourney, Mono, Mono and Cross Consolidated, Bodie Hydraulic, Lady Alice Tunnel and Mining Company, ~ Relief Consolidated, South Bulwer, part of the Bulwer Rustler, Dudley, Requizon, Republic, Booker, Humboldt, Double Standard, Jupiter, Glynn, Daily, South Belvidere, and the placer claims of Wm. Irwin, Johu F. Boyd, G. 8. Morton and others. ‘The South Bulwer hag compromised. Bodie stock has been surprisingly low for some weeks past. It has exhihited a deaduess which grew, perhaps, out of some premonition, if not positive knowledge, of this trouble. It will be a great pity if this flourishing town is to receive 2 set: back here ou the very threshold of so promising a career. Mining towns in the first few years of their growth are particularly liahle to such disorders, “But perhaps none other ever received such an aggravating blow as this that has been dealt Bodie. Paciric Coast PostaL Cuances.—Following are the postal changes for the week ending Dee. 29th: Offices Established—Novelty, Kings county, Washington Territory, George B. Boyce, Postmaster. Asbley, Wasatch county, Utah, Wm. H. Wallis, Postmaster. Offices Discontinued—Laplays, San Luis Obispo eouuty, California. Name Changed—Willow Forks, Umatilla county, Oregon, to Pettysville. Postmasters Appointed—Charles Crandall, Altoona, Trinity county; Karl H. Plate, Tyrone, Sonoma county, California. Henry Williams, Sweetwater, Esmeralda county, Nevada. David Somniers, Summersville, Union county; Josbua Pullen, Zion, Clackamas county, Oregon.’ Samuel Egesley, Silver Spring, Salt Lake county, Utah,Tux Little Emma, Democrat mountain, Colorado, was discovered in May, 1877. It has since produced $22,853, 09 net. Tur Tiptop company, at their mill, Gillett, are producing silvor bullion at the rate of $60,000 & month,

a ae 3 ie reve te*e "eo *e@ Se I eS SS An JJjustrated Journal of Mining, Popular Science and General News. BY DEWEY & cCoO., Publishers, SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1879. VOLUME ASXVIII Number i. A Practical Traction Engine, (Written for the Press.) The subject of transportation by means of the road-locomotive, or traction-engine as it is called, has occupied the attention of engineers in all parts of the world. lt is believed that California has produced a machine that stands among the best forms of the road-locomotive ; from late tests it appears to be one of the most practicable engines of this class that has ever been introduced. The accompanying engraving represents one of these machines, on three wheels, all of which are propelled hy beveled gearing. The following are the principal dimensions : Boiler—length over all, 10 feet; boiler, diameter of shell, 48 inches; hoiler, thickness of shell, } inch; boiler, fire box sheets, § inch; load on driving wheels, 2,300 pounds; steain cylinders, diameter, 8 inches; stroke of pistons, 12 iuches; revolutions of crank to one of driving wheels, 10; driving wheels, diameter 72 inches; driving wheels, breadth of tire, 12 inches. The boiler is a new and peeuliar miultitubular arrangement, which makes steam as fast as required, from a comparatively small amonnt of water, doing away with considerable bulk and weight. There are two engines mounted ou top of the boiler; the crankshafts are coupled and the cranks are set quartering to avoid the possibility of ever stopping on tho center; the bed plates have the cross-head guides cast solid with the bed; and the cylinders are secured. in sliding hearings fastened by flanges to boiler-bracketa; hy this means the expansion and coutraction of the hoiler is acecommodated, avoiding a considerable strain on the engines. The driving-gears or angle-shafts, are on each side of the machine as shown, and are driven by the beveled pinions on each end of the engine shaft. The angle-shafts ruu in angle hracket-boxes, so that one pair of shafts having beveled pinions run the forward wheel-gears, andthe other pair of angle-shafts also have heveled pinions that drive beveled wheels sccured’ to the rear traction wheels, The forward driving gears are keyed to the outer ends of the forward axle, or driving shaft, more properly speaking, as the latter drives the forward or steering wheel, but at the same time allowing it to be moved in au are of a circle sideways at any angle desired for steering the machines. This is accomplished by means of a ball and socket joint in tbe huhof this wheel. This ball and socket joint is the most ingenious part of the whole machine, and to accom. . plish the work of driving the wheel in all positions, a numher of steel keys are fitted in the Hi ball, aud projecting to work in slots cut in the. ing 35 tons at a speed of three miles per shell or casing of the ball, __ This casing has projecting faces with revolying rings on each side of the wheel, and to these rings are bolted arms on each side running back toa gear segment, operated by a pinion on the end of an upright spindle or shaft with a hand-wheel at the top, just in front of the steersinan’s seat; here the man piloting the machine has control of the throttle valve and reverse lever. This is the firstinstance in which the steering wheel has been made to propel tbe machine; and it can be made to do the work independent of the bind wheels, in case of necessity; as for instance when both hind wheels become mired, or get into quicksand, or deep ruts in the road. This is accomplished by haying self-adjustable clutches on the hind wheel shaft, also for backing ete. all of the traction engines heretofore built, only two wheels have been employed to propel the macbine, but in this invention all of the wheels on which it rung are traction wheels, and more than three may be employed if desired. This machiue was used for a consider. able length of time in the State of Nevada, hauling ore and other freight from mines to mills, etc., running np mountainous roads (where mule teama had Seat used); the grade being in some instances 530 feet to the mile, and hauling ten tons on wagons ata speed of two and one-half miles per hour. After working for one company until their mines gave out, the machine was brought to Sacramento, where it was employed in house moving and other heavy work. The Sacramento Wood Co. have recently bonght a Pacific coast interest in this invention, and have put the machine to a very severe test, showing its ability to haul heavy freight in a successful manner. Capt. J. Roberts, the leading spirit of the company, took this machine up the Sacramento river on one of their steamers, and landing in Colusa county, where clusions: A traction engine, or road locomotive, may be constructed upon this plan, so as to be easily and rapidly manceuvred, hauling a long line of freight wagons on the ordinary roads, and turning without difficulty on a circle suoh as are common at all cross-roads, A locomotive weighing six tons is capabic of haubng 25,000 pounds up a grade of 525 feet to the mile at a speed of 34 miles an hour. The traction-power of the machine tested was eqnal to 30 horses. The coeflicient of traction was shown to be about 0.5; the weight that could be drawn on a perfectly smooth and level road was 175,000 pounds; this is exclusive of the weight of the engine, and the amount of fuel required is estimated at 500 pounds afday. In handling the machine the most experienced and skillful men are required. The difference between the performances of the same engine in different hands was 127. It is estimated that the expense in heavy hauling hy steam is 25% less than the cost of horse-power on an ordinary road. A much The Bodie Claims, The Bodie mines were taken up under United

States law, and held as from the United States, But now it transpires that tho United States did not own the land occupied by many of the chief mines; on the contrary, the State ownedthem, and the United States conld not allow any one to hold them either by yearly work or by purchase—in fact, bad no claim on them whatever. The State owns the 16th and 36th sections of every township, She was granted them for school purposes, Owning them she has a right to sell them, This she has done ia the preseut case, and there was no stay in her proceedings, because the 16th section of one township contained some of Bodie’s richest mines. The plat of survey of the land in question was filed on March 16th, 1878. At that time those who were located on the 16th secthey run regular trips back into the country, 2! larger and more powerful machine is now being . tion might have known how they were situated, AN IMPROVED ROAD LOCOMOTIVE, OR TRACTION ENGINE. distance of 16 miles, taking freight from the steamer, and bringiug wheat hack, they loaded six Bain header wagons with 300 sacks of grain, also hauling one extra Bain beader wagon contaiuing a tank in which they took 615 gallons of water, besides 14 tons of coal, making over 24 tons total freight in wagons; tbe machine also carried tanks secured at each side of the hoiler, these bolding 250 gallons of water. Five miles of the road was very dusty, and full of ruts, we had several sloughs to cross, making a very severe test of the traction power of the machine. But if the roads are level, hard and free from ruts, the machine is capable of haulhour. The machine works admirably as to pulling or traction qualities. The machine weighed on the scales—haying steam up and 250 gallous af water in the tanks, also coal in the cab—114 tuna total weight. Capt. Roberts’ Company has plenty of work for a large number of these machines, as they haul freight from various points throughout the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys to their steamboats and harges on the rivers. This traction engine will run over any kind of ground; it can enter any farmer’s field, plow his ground, and at the proper time haul away his grain or other freight, running in any direc. tion without reference to depots or tracks that! at present are so necessary for tbe transporta-. tion business of the country. / From the recent trial of this engine, the constructing engineer deduced the following con-. built for the company by Root, Neilsou & Co., Sacrameuto. The inventor is Mr. R. R. Doan, who commenced many years ago to study the problem of substituting steam power for auimal power on the highways and for farm use. After years of toil and the expenditure of a large amount of moncy, buildiug the machine in several styles, he has profited by the experience, and we believe that he has accomplished the desired result, in the road locomotive represented by our engraving. Cc. W. M Bosweit Fruit Drrer.—We call attention to the advertisement of the Boswell heater! oompany on page 16 of this issue. The principle of deflected heat as applied to drying fruit seems to he worthy the attention of all interestedin that branch of industry. The combined ‘apparatus for cooking, baking, beating, drying, etc., is a great auxilliary to the econ. omy of housekeeping, and the apparatus is also claimed to he the most economical as well as the hest arrangement for drying fruit, etc., that is now before the public. Mr. E. L. Sullivan, an old and well-known citizen of the State, is at the head of the company. Tue Salt River Herald says: Messrs. I. N. Cohen & Co. have received 30,000 pounds of copper from the Longfellow oompany during the past week; shipping 20,000 to the railroad dnring the same time. Work progresses favorably at the Black Jack, Idaho. From that date they were allowed the refnsal of the land for six months. Those six months have passed. The locators bave not purchased from the State. Others have taken advantage of this negligence, and bave bought the land and hold a State title to it. The title seems to be good, and all that Bodie can do is to compromise. The interested mines are: Bodie, South Bodie, South Standard, Red Cloud Consolidated, Belvidere, Bodie Tunnel and Mining Company, Summit, White Cloud, Goodshaw, Aurora Tunnel, Maybelle, Concordia, Noonday, Richelieu, Champion, Sigourney, Mono, Mono and Cross Consolidated, Bodie Hydraulic, Lady Alice Tunnel and Mining Company, ~ Relief Consolidated, South Bulwer, part of the Bulwer Rustler, Dudley, Requizon, Republic, Booker, Humboldt, Double Standard, Jupiter, Glynn, Daily, South Belvidere, and the placer claims of Wm. Irwin, Johu F. Boyd, G. 8. Morton and others. ‘The South Bulwer hag compromised. Bodie stock has been surprisingly low for some weeks past. It has exhihited a deaduess which grew, perhaps, out of some premonition, if not positive knowledge, of this trouble. It will be a great pity if this flourishing town is to receive 2 set: back here ou the very threshold of so promising a career. Mining towns in the first few years of their growth are particularly liahle to such disorders, “But perhaps none other ever received such an aggravating blow as this that has been dealt Bodie. Paciric Coast PostaL Cuances.—Following are the postal changes for the week ending Dee. 29th: Offices Established—Novelty, Kings county, Washington Territory, George B. Boyce, Postmaster. Asbley, Wasatch county, Utah, Wm. H. Wallis, Postmaster. Offices Discontinued—Laplays, San Luis Obispo eouuty, California. Name Changed—Willow Forks, Umatilla county, Oregon, to Pettysville. Postmasters Appointed—Charles Crandall, Altoona, Trinity county; Karl H. Plate, Tyrone, Sonoma county, California. Henry Williams, Sweetwater, Esmeralda county, Nevada. David Somniers, Summersville, Union county; Josbua Pullen, Zion, Clackamas county, Oregon.’ Samuel Egesley, Silver Spring, Salt Lake county, Utah,Tux Little Emma, Democrat mountain, Colorado, was discovered in May, 1877. It has since produced $22,853, 09 net. Tur Tiptop company, at their mill, Gillett, are producing silvor bullion at the rate of $60,000 & month,