ISSG. 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



595 



Having witnessed and assisted in the whole op- 

 eration oi' blowing up the stores that were destroy- 

 ed — we have the most thorough conviction that no 

 other human means, but that of powder in the 

 manner resorted to, would have checked the pro- 

 gress of the flames. 



Broad street, and Pearl street, west of Coenties 

 alley were, beyond all perad venture, saved from 

 conflagration, by the blowing up of the stores in 

 Garden street, that in Pearl street, and those in 

 Stone street. The eflect was so manifest, that 

 none who witnessed it can doubt about it. Not 

 less clear is our conviction, that a much earlier re- 

 sort to powder would have been successful in pre- 

 serving millions that, lor the want of it, were sub- 

 sequently consumed. 



It may not be uninteresting, or without use to 

 state the mode of proceeding adopted in blowing 

 up the stores. Two barrels of powder, generally 

 of 100 pounds each, were taken into the cellar of 

 the devoted building;, and placed about the -centre 

 of it, at a small distance apart: the heads of the 

 barrels were then knocked out, and a train, by 

 means of planks, or lono; pieces of calico or linen, 

 of which too many were lying about in the streets, 

 was formed from the barrels to the exterior of the 

 cellar door; on this, straw, of which the crates 

 from the crockery stores supplied enough, was 

 laid, and sprinkled plentifully with powder; the 

 doors were then closed, and all persons desired to 

 retire from the vicinity of the building, except the 

 one who was to fire the train. This was done by 

 laying a burning brand on the straw projecting 

 from the cellar way, and on which, tor a loot or 

 two, no powder was sprinkled. After a few mo- 

 ments of intense suspense, a sudden flash, a rum- 

 bling explosion, a slight tremor of the earth, the 

 audible shivering of glass windows for a hundred 

 yards around, a dense cloud of sulphureous smoke, 

 and a shapeless heap of ruins, told how well the 

 work had been done. The eflect of these explo- 

 sions was not to project any thing at a distance, 

 for in no one instance probably, was a fragment of 

 any size thrown from the buildings; but rather as 

 it. would seem, to lift up and expand the walls — so 

 that beams, floors, merchandize and roof all fell 

 in at once, and upon them and covering them up, 

 the walls themselves. Hence, it was immediate- 

 ly perceived that ihe danger apprehended by 

 some, of killing and wounding many persons by 

 the materials which such explosions would, i( was 

 supposed, scatter far and wide, was not incurred, 

 and that moreover from the compact heap in which 

 the ruins laid, little or no additional aliment was 

 afforded to the flames. Greater confidence was 

 therefore felt in having recourse to such an expe- 

 dient. 



GUE A.T AND DiPORTAXT IXVEXTIOX. STEA5I 

 SUPERSEDED. 



[Who would liave imagined that when Homer con- 

 ceived and uttered the fiction of Eolus' compressing 

 the winds in leathern bags, and giving them to Ulysses 

 to be transported wherever he pleased, thus imprison- 

 ed and dormant, to exert all their fury when after- 

 wards let loose, that he was describing nearly the pur- 

 port of the specifications of the patent right stated be- 

 low? But however striking and amusing may be the 

 resemblance, we admit that it will not do to laugh at 

 all new discoveries thai seem to invite ridicule, for 



if this test had been permitted to govern the judge 

 ment of the world, the invention of steam navigation 

 and steam carriages would have remained, as they 

 were deemed at first, mere subjects for laughter. The 

 splendid results of these once derided schemes, and 

 many others, by which the world has been as much 

 benefitted as disappointed, should make us hesitate in 

 pronouncing the impracticability of any, however ri- 

 diculous they may appear at the first view.] 



From the Cincinnati Whig. 



Our ingenious townsman, Mr. Alex. McGrew, 

 has invented a mode for obtaining and applying 

 power for the purpose of propelling cars upon 

 rail roads, and boats upon canals and rivers, which 

 we deem of the utmost importance, and which, in 

 our opinion, must sooner or later, in a great mea- 

 sure supersede the use of steam. The power is 

 derived from condensed air. obtained and applied 

 in a manner so cheap and simple, as to render the 

 expense a matter of little or no consequence. Air 

 used in the manner proposed by Mr. McGrew, 

 has advantages over steam, in many essential par- 

 ticulars. It is infinitely less liable to explosion: 

 but in case of such an event, its power to do mis- 

 chief is greatly diminished, because of its being 

 unconnected with boiling water. It is likewise 

 much more safe in consequence of its not involv- 

 ing the slightest danger from fire. Where cars or 

 boats are propelled by steam, there is constantly 

 danger from this source, and numerous instances 

 of immense destruction of life and property have 

 therefore occurred from that element. The annoy- 

 ance, too, arising from the sparks and smoke of 

 steam cars, is very considerable to the traveller, 

 but will be wholly avoided by the use of condensed 

 air. The great and overwhelming superiority, 

 however, of the use of the latter over the former 

 element, consists in its economy. Air may be 

 condensed and used upon the plan under conside- 

 ration without scarcely any expense, except that 

 which is incurred in the first instance in preparing 

 the receivers and machinery. 



We have witnessed, by the politeness of Mr. 

 McG., the practical operation of this invention, and 

 we are fully convinced of its entire success. Mr. 

 McGrew has exhibited his plan and practical mo- 

 dels to several of the most distinguished engineers 

 in the United States, all of whom concur in deem- 

 ing the invention of the highest possible impor- 

 tance, and declare their belief that it will almost 

 entirely supersede the use of steam. The inven- 

 tor has taken out a patent, and as the schedule fur- 

 nished at the Patent Office by Mr. McGrew him- 

 self; and which is attached to his letters patent, 

 gives a full and clear explanation and description 

 of the invention, we have obtained, and herewith 

 submit a copy of it to our readers. 



Copy of the Schedule. 



"To all whom it may concern, he it known that 

 I, Alexander McGrew, of Cincinnati, in the coun- 

 ty of Hamilton, and state of Ohio, have invented 

 or discovered a more economical mode of obtain- 

 ing power for propelling cars upon rail roads, boats 

 upon rivers or canals, and effecting other objects 

 where such power may be wanted for the purposes 

 of transportation, than has heretofore been adopt- 

 ed- and I do hereby declare that the following is 



