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NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



THE SPLENDORS OF THE SETTING SUN. 



BY T. C. FESSEKDEN. 



Sol slowly sinking down the steep of heaven, 

 ^V'ith softcued splendor greels the musing eye ; 



Resigns his throne to " sober suited even," 

 But decorates, while he deserts, the sky. 



His noon day beams, insufferably bright, 



Are now succeeded by a milder blaze, 

 And every slanting filament of light 



Heav'a's kind and cheering tflluence conveys. 



Now let me wend my solitary way 



AVhere groves and lawns present alternate charms ; 

 Gaze on the glories of the waning day, 



Till night shall fold me in her dusky arms : 



Mark how the clouds now seem like molten gold, 

 And now like snow banks hcap'd on hanks of snow ; 



Now dash'd with azure softer hues untold. 

 Now shift and kindle to a furnace-glow ! 



Compared with these, what is the pride of art ? 



Your petty palaces, and pigmy spires — 

 The paltry pageants of your noisy mart — 



And all the city-connoisseur admires ? 



Should the whole race of man unite as one, 

 ^fo celebrate some glorious festal day. 

 The simple splendor of the setting sun. 



Would far transcend their most superb display. 



From the London Museum for April. 

 MR. PERKINS' STEAM ENGINE. 

 We have no recollection of any invention 

 connected with the useful arts having produced 

 80 great a sensation among scientilic men, as the 

 improved steam-engine of Mr. Perkins. It is 

 not surprising that manufacturers, whose inter- 

 ests are entirely involved in the construction of 

 engines on the lower-pressure system, should 

 look with some degree of scepticism and jealousy 

 towards the bold invention of Mr. P. ; nor that 

 they should raise doubts in the public mind as 

 to the imminent danger to be apprehended from 

 the use of high-pressure engines generally. But 

 in the present case, many scientific men, totally 

 unconnected with manufactures, seemed disin- 

 clined, in the first instance, to admit the possi- 

 bility of the improvements suggested by Mr. P. 

 being reduced to practice. 



Notwithstanding the superior economy and 

 increase of power in high-pressure engines of 

 the usual construction has been gradually intro- 

 ducing them in various manufactories, where 

 the proprietors take th» precaution of employ- 

 ing only men of intelligence to superintend their 

 concerns ; the enormous increase of power as- 

 cribed to the engine of this gentleman's inven- 

 tion seemed pertectly incredible, until he pro- 

 duced conviction by the actual test of experi- 

 ment. As we have had an opportunity of wit- 

 nessing the operation of this beautiful invention, 

 we shall give our readers as good an outline of 

 its construction as we are enabled without the 

 aid of a plate for reference. 



Mr. P.'s invention is founded on a most in- 

 vnlualile discovery — that water is capable of 

 enduring an elevation of temperature even to a 

 red heat, or perhaps an indefinite extent, by 

 being subjected to a very high degree of pres- 

 sure ; which pressure, while it permits the ex- 

 pansion of the molecules of the water as ujlaid, 

 prevents their further expansion, or the liquid 

 assuming the gaseous torm of steam. 



The profound science and resolution, requi- 

 site to manage experiments of this dangerous 



character, can only be appreciated by those 

 who have devoted some attention to chemical 

 subjects. This gentleman, however, has united 

 to this discovery respecting the laws of expan- 

 sion, the most simple and beautiful application 

 of mechanical science, in the construction ot his 

 new steam-engine, which is briefly as follows : — 

 Instead of the boiler of the ordinary engines, 

 Mr. P. substitutes a cylinder, which he terms 

 the generaloT. This cylinder is made of gun- 

 metal, (the most tenacious and least liable to 

 oxydation) of about three inches in thickness, 

 closed at both ends, with the exception of a 

 valve in the top, opening outwards ; which 

 valve is loaded with weights equal to the state 

 of the pressure from the expansion of the heat- 

 ed water within. The cylinder is placed -ver- 

 tically in a c^'lindrical furnace ; consequently it 

 becomes surrounded on all sides with the tire, 

 and soon acquires a temperature of 400 or 450 

 degrees Fahrenheit. The production of steam 

 is effected by an injecting-pump throwing in 

 water at one part of the generator, which dis- 

 places through the valve an equal volume of 

 hot water from the generator. The water, at 

 420 degrees, passing into the induction or steam- 

 pipe, instantly expands into steam, communi- 

 cates with the working cylinder, and gives mo- 

 tion to its piston, which is placed in a horizon- 

 tal direction, for the more convenient applica- 

 tion of its powers to machinery. The recip- 

 rocal action of the piston opens and shuts the 

 apertures of the induction and eduction pipes, 

 by means of rotary valves, as usual in some oth- 

 er engines. But the operation of generating 

 and condensing the steam is effected so instan- 

 taneously by this engine, that the piston per- 

 forms aboot 200 strokes in a minute, when the 

 engine is at full work. Indeed, considering the 



small extftnt of ourt'acc, tlicpi^nrci uf tliia v-i.^w.^ 



is almost incredible, the generator containing 

 only about eight gallons of water, and the work- 

 ing cylinder not exceeding two inches in diam- 

 eter, with a stroke of the piston about 12 inches 

 in length. The piston rod gives motion to a 

 crank and fly-wheel similar to other engines. 



A most decided improvement is also made by 

 Mr. P. in condensing the steam under a very 

 great degree of pressure, and at a temperature 

 of about 320 degrees, and in this state returning 

 into the reservoir for the successive supply of 

 the generator. In consequence of this econom- 

 ical arrangement, the space oecupie<l by the en- 

 gine with all its appurtenances, does not exceed 

 an area of six leet by eight. The present mode 

 is calculated as equal to a lO-horse power; and 

 Mr. P. considers the whole of the apparatus of 

 sufficient size for a 30-hnrse engine, with the 

 exception of the working cylinder and piston. — 

 The consumption of coal for this engine is with- 

 in two bushels per da}', when at full work. 



All risk of accident is effectually provided 

 against, by the following ingenious contrivance. 

 It should be remembered, that owing to the 

 small extent of surface exposed to the expan- 

 sive force of the steam, and the latter being 

 generated only in suflicient quantity for each 

 succeeding stroke of the piston, there is much 

 less liability to accident from this engine than 

 in most other high-pressure engines. To pre- 

 vent, however, the possibility of such an event, 

 the induction pipe, in which the steam is pro- 

 duced, is calculated to withstand an internal 

 force of 4000 pounds to the square inch, and it 



^ 



is also provided with a thin copper tube, whi< ' 

 is calculated to burst at a pressure of IOC, 

 pounds ; while the pressure onder which M 

 P. works the engine, does not exceed 5C ; 

 pounds on the square inch. 



In order to demonstrate the perfect safety i 

 the operation of this engine, notwithstandic* 

 this immense internal pressure, Mr. P. in his p^ 

 lite eflbrts to satisfy the scruples and fears 

 his numerous scientific friends, has, on sever 

 occasions, urged the power of the steam till 

 btirst open the sides of the copper tube witho 

 occasioning the smallest risk, either to tl ' 

 spectator, or to any other part of the apparato 

 This mode of allowing the escape of the stea: 

 by rending open the sides of the ball, (which 

 made of a determinate strength,) is probab 

 superior in the certainty of its operation to ar 

 modification of safety valves. 



It is also a very remarkable fact that \\ 

 steam which escapes in this case is not by at 

 means of that elevated temperature whic 

 might have been expected from its prodigio 

 expansive force. This fact seems to involi 

 some points connected with the doctrine of I 

 tent heat, or the conversion of fluid into gas 

 ous matter, and vice versa, with which we ar 

 at present, but very imperfectly acquaiote 

 We understand Mr. P. is further engaged 

 some very important enquiries on this most i 

 tricate branch of natural philosophy. 



The improvements of Mr. P. in the stea 

 engine, we cannot help considering as one 

 the greatest triumphs of art, even in this hig 

 ly inventive age. It will, in all probability, ■ 

 feet a greater revolution in operative maoufc 

 tures, than even the first introduction of t 

 steam-engine bj' Bolton and Watt. 



We have not heard any comparative estimf 

 o( the price of Ml. P.'s "tug-ines, but we appi 

 bend their original cost will be very considi 

 ably lower than that of others; while they c 

 be worked with 1-lOth part of the fuel, and ( 

 cupy only a fifth part of the space requir 

 for those of the low pressure constructit 

 The latter point is one of the highest impc 

 tance, in situations where manul'acturers « 

 limited tor room, as in the metropolis and otb 

 great towns. 



The very superior economy of these engin 

 over all others, not only in the consumption 

 fuel and water, but in the weight of materia 

 must also render them peculiarly adapted f 

 loco-motive engines ; and we entertain lit' 

 doubt that steam carriages will, ere another 

 years have elapsed, become as generally ado] 

 ed among us as steam vessels are at the pn 

 ent. And when we take into consideration t 

 immense saving in the consumption and tonna 

 of coals, we are of opinion that Mr. P.'s invt 

 tion will infinitely extend the use of the stea 

 eusine in navifration. 



;l 



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