Proposes Vertical Wheels with the Size of Cylinder and presses for
Money Arrangements.
Second River, _Sept. 6th, 1798_.
Dr Sir,
I have your two letters of the 31st and 1st inst. before me. Since
writing you the 27th, I made an experiment in order to ascertain as
nearly as I could the power of the engine, and put on your wheels.
This was done by laying the vessel on shore stern foremost so as to
leave the wheels entirely out of the water. The Engine was then put to
work at the rate of from 40 to 45 strokes and wheels turned from 160
to 180 revolutions per minute. When the water first entered them it
was thrown out with great violence; but before it got any considerable
depth in them the motion of the engine was impeded and in a short time
entirely stopped. By this experiment I was fully convinced that the
wheels would require a power far greater than this engine possesses
and that any attempts to proceed with the power we have and the
present wheels would be fruitless. I was also farther convinced (by
getting men whose strength was ascertained to turn the wheels by hand
before the operation of the engine) tho’ she has her full power and
indeed considerably more than as first mentioned, I expected we would
have. Now, Sir, to proceed with the experiment you recommended of
closing the openings with doors will be doing nothing more than what
we have already done by the last trial. I would therefore recommend
that we throw two wheels of wood over the sides fastened to the axes
of the flys with 8 arms or paddles, that part which enters the water
of sheet iron to shift according to the power they require either
deeper in the water or otherwise and that we navigate the vessel with
those until we can procure an Engine of proper size which I think
ought not to be less than 24 inches cylinder. The Barometer to
ascertain the exact power of the engine has not as you observe been
left to depend entirely on Mr. Van Ness, although I looked upon him as
your Representative according to the tenor of your own letter; but Mr.
Mark and Mr. Speyer have both been on the search for one and have not
yet succeeded. The copper pipe for it is made and we will I believe be
obliged to wait for the glass until we can get it from the glass house
above Albany. I have requested Mr. Speyer, who has gone up to the
Oneida country, to call on Mr. Dezang for that purpose. If you know of
any to be had in New York please to inform me and I will immediately
get it.
As to your charge of my want of candor and my possessing too much
distrust, those Sir are charges which have never before been laid to
me and which I feel perfectly free from and I will recommend to the
Chancellor to meet me in future upon equally candid and fair ground. I
can assure him he shall never have reason to complain of me on that
score again.[2] We have as you observe put our hands to the oars and
ought not to look back until we reach port. This I am for, Sir, with
all my heart, and firmly believe that with this determination we have
nothing to fear, as I think, _with the wheels I have recommended_,
that the State patent may be secured. We will then have time to
prepare for your wheels, and if they should not have the effect you
promise us, we can then adopt such other plans as we may together
think best. No bad consequences need be apprehended from what I
communicated out of your letter to Smallman and Stoudinger as they are
as anxious for the success of the business and your good opinion as I
am. As to altering any of the wheels in the way you propose I cannot
approve, as the alteration will be attended with considerable expense,
and as I believe any alteration we can make with our present small
Engine will be inadequate to driving the wheels to any advantage. In
this the Chancellor will agree with me when he considers that when the
Engine making 30 strokes per minute the horizontal wheels make 120
revolutions by which 3/4 is taken from the power to afford this.
I sincerely hope that Mrs. Livingston may soon recover from her
accident so that you may not be detained long from thoroughly
investigating everything appertaining to our present concern.
I am, dear Sir, &c., &c.
N. J. ROOSEVELT.
N. B. I have not, upon overlooking what I have above written, been so
particular in my objections to your proposed alterations as may be
agreeable and will ask for a little of your patience. See how the
alteration of the wheels on the connecting rod by being smaller will
operate. They will most certainly shorten the stroke of the engine.
This therefore cannot take place unless we alter the wheels round
which they move accordingly, which may be done. At the same time in
doing it we shall be obliged to lengthen the spindle of the horizontal
wheels and disturb the wooden work the whole of which will be attended
with considerable expense and require a second alteration when we come
to operate with power equal to what those wheels will require, and
indeed, why should we go to any expense in alterations which can do us
no service; as I clearly saw from actual experiment that about 1400
pounds will be necessary to be applied directly to the wheels
independent of friction, which is equal to an engine of 24 inches
Cylinder. An Engine of this size I find has 5424 pounds power
independent of the friction of the machine and I think power enough
for the air pumps (perhaps something more.) This I cannot however
ascertain until I get a barometer and try our present engine, which I
believe perfect. I was about trying the power by weights but found
difficulties which I have not yet been able to get over, as her power
is equal both ways, and to bring the weight only to the connecting rod
would tear everything to pieces.
Yours, &c.
N. J. ROOSEVELT.
A plan of my substitute which may not be quite correct, as I do not
understand anything of drawing.
N. J. R.[3]