AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 575 



" The cause of the oscillation of locomotive engines at high ve- 

 locities, and a method of correcting it;" and " Iron for build- 

 ings." 



Mr. Holley was asked to prepare a paper on " The history of 

 the steam engine." Adjourned. 



JOHN W. CHAMBERS, 



Secretary pro tern. 



March 12th, 1856. 



Present — Messrs. Samuel D. Backus, President Pell, Edwin 

 Smith, Chairman of the Boai-d of Managers of the Fair at the 

 Crystal Palace, Charles Turner, Esq., also one of the Managers, 

 Mr. Cowdin also, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Tillman, Mr. Holley, Mr. 

 Secretary Leonard, Mr. Chambers, Mr. Butler, Mr. Stetson, and 

 others — twenty-six members in all. 



The regular chairman, Samuel D. Backus, in the chair. 



Henry Meigs, Secretary. 



Chairman — The question before you is, " The cause of the 

 oscillation of locomotive engines at high velocities, and a method 

 of correcting it.'' 



President R. L. Pell said — When we consider what the intro- 

 duction of the steam engine has done, we have but little difficulty 

 in suggesting that this great invention may be destined to achieve 

 objects, the magnitude of which we cannot now form the remot- 

 est idea. All persons who obtain facts relating to this great 

 motor, should record and publish them for general information 

 and the benefit of mankind. The subject this evening is "The 

 cause of the oscillating motion of locomotives at high velocities, 

 and its remedy." Oscillation in a locomotive is caused by the 

 unequal concussion of the pistons when they reach the dead 

 parts of the stroke which causes the frame work to vibrate trans- 

 versely several inches from its place alternately at each end, as 

 if working backward and forward on a pivot in the centre. Our 

 bodies are kept upright by a counteracting motion. When we 

 walk, our right hand follows our left leg, and our left hand is 

 thrown back with our right leg, thus an equilibrium is obtained, 

 and upon this principle a Mr. Heaton, of England, prevents 

 transverse oscillation in locomotives, which sometimes throws 

 them off the track. He illustrated his plan by a working model, 

 which was driven at a velocity of forty-two miles per hour, and 

 the oscillation taking place from the unequal concussion of the 



