VESSEL WITH SAIL-WORKED PADDLES.

Sir, I beg leave to offer to your notice, a plan for propelling a vessel by paddlewheels, worked by wind. The advantages proposed are:-safety, the power of working the vessel, if not in the wind's eye, yet so near the wind, that no other power but steam will effect-great saving of expense- machinery, peculiarly fitted for merchant-vessels, from its convenience and the small space occupied-and greater power of motion.

The particular means by which it is proposed to work the paddle-wheels, is by the worm, or spiral screw, applied to a cylinder, by the enlargement of which, a proportionate increase of power is obtained over the axis of the wheels. The vertical cylinder, with sails and the machinery, except as regards the enlargement of the circumference, or periphery of the worm-screw, are all of the oldest kind, and well-known in mechanics.

The accompanying sketches, with the following explanations, will, it is hoped, sufficiently develope the proposed plan.

Fig. 1 is a side view of a vessel on this new plan, with so much of the interior laid open as exhibits the requisite machinery.

Fig. 2 is a plan on a larger scale, of the central part of the vessel.

A is a worm or spiral screw, on a drum or cylinder, affixed to the spindle or axle of the paddle wheels. B an oblique cogged wheel, to work on the worm or spiral screw. Ca small common cogged wheel, affixed on the top of the oblique cogged wheel, to which a multiplying wheel, worked by the capstan, may be applied, to work the paddles in calm weather. D pinions or standards, for the axle of the paddle wheels to work in, to brace the drum or cylinder firm up to the action of the oblique cogged wheel.

E the sail cylinder, attached to a spindle or shaft turning the oblique cogged wheel to act on the worm or spiral screw. The sails being smaller at top gives the whole a cone like appearance. N (fig. 3) is a platform at the foot of the sails, to which they may be fixed, or set by a rope run through a hole, and fastened to belaying pins attached to the projecting part of the drum or cylinder. If the sails are put up in a fixed position, then ropes to set them will not be required. ́ I is a damper to stop the mo

tion, similar as in cranes or other machinery. It is proposed here to act on a drum or cylinder affixed to this part of the spindle, to add to its power by friction. K a strong transom beam or beams for the shaft or spindle to work in below, to give it support and security. La stout block on the floor of the vessel, to support the spindle and containing a socket for the end of the shaft or spindle to work in. M the shaft or spindle running through the sail cylinder, to work the oblique cogged wheels, &c. To maintain which, if necessary, four poles may be set up with stays forward and aft, and on each side the vessel, leaving a socket at the top for the spindle to work in, to keep it straight and steady.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the platform at the foot of the sail-cylinder to stretch or set the sails; and showing the oblique position in order to catch the wind, and always work in one direction, that will propel the paddle wheels to move the vessel forward.

The following observations may be made. It is calculated that the paddlewheels should be moved round not less than four or five times in a minute: and the proportions of the worm screw, the oblique cogged wheel, and the rotary motion of the sail cylinder, should be all calculated accordingly. I suppose the sail cylinder may move almost as many times. Should the rotary motion become too great from the violence of the wind, it may be reduced by one or other of these methods-by taking in a portion of sail, by compressing the spread, by unshipping some of the sails, or by shrouding up a portion of the sails, by means of a case held open by hoops and hauled up or down by pullies in the frame work.

As to the construction of the machinery, the sails may be made either to stretch on a lattice like windmill sails, but placed vertically down the cylinder, or of thin wood strengthened at intervals by laths, or very thin sheets of metal. They may be fixed, or moveable on pivots, or hinges, and made to shut up or open; and be set by means of the ropes previously mentioned at the foot of each sail. If the sails are made to be in a fixed position, they might be contrived to ship or unship, so as to take off, and diminish the power in case of strong winds. If the fixed mode is

clothes-the collier is kept at a distance from even his brothers-potter, printer, or painter. Every one shrinks from being seen associating with this extremely useful member of society. It would seem as if they were even excluded from all share in the general sympathy of mankind. No sooner is there a report of an accident on a rail-road, or by gaslight, steam-boat, coach, or cart, than with the greatest propriety there is immediate excitement, and with anxious care the subject is investigated-while an explosion in a coal mine, which may cost the lives of numbers, is passed over with indifference, as a thing that cannot be helped, and if it were, which is not worth caring for. The fall of the Brunswick Theatre occupied a longer investigation before a jury than all the accidents which have happened to collieries in all the mines of England.

That the

investigation of accidents in coal-mines has not produced any benefits to the collier, may be supposed to result from men fearing to encounter the danger, because not in the habit, of visiting coal-mines. Let Government adopt a similar course with the coal-viewer, as was at first done in the case of gas-lighting, and levy a tax on each explosion, and there quickly would scarcely be one known throughout all the mines of the kingdom. Then, should such an occurrence take place as that at Newbottle, where what is called technically a pocket of inflammable air (the quantity of carburetted hydrogen which issues forth from a pot-hole, or breach in the roof), exploded with a force which knocked down a few of the flimsy dams and doors, stopped the circulation, and caused a state of rest in the mine that suffocated several horses, and seventy-six human beings-we should not then be told-as the writer was by a ground-bailiff" that the men were not burned; that the gas was not sufficiently strong to do it; and that they were only knocked about!" Neither upon a common, and therefore disregarded occurrence of an explosion, by which, as in one instance, 100 hapless victims are destroyed in the flame, shall we be audaciously told, that "the parties themselves (by death precluded from contra. dicting the assertion), were solely in fault; that they have a delight in igniting the gas; and a propensity to destroy themselves!" In all such instances, the

multitude would not hesitate to call the affair a murderous one. Were the nervous philosopher who talked in this strain once to summon up courage to enter into a mine, he would witness that the m mention of fire unnerves the strongest arm; not from fear of death-the common lot but from dread of previous sufferings.

Only because here needful for illustration, do we mention, that coal is composed of earthy matter, carbon and carburetted hydrogen, divided into parallelograms about 30 inches wide, and in its whole extent in the same direction marked by a wood-like separation ; which, for distinction sake, as opposed to the part presented (or face) is called a back, or because by it the man more readily separates or cleaves off his portion of work, sometimes called the cleavage. In most of the bituminous coal-fields of Britain, some part is found to be continually, and other parts never, liable to explosion from the gas or inflammable air. And this is particularly evident in those near the 90-fathom dyke of the north-the beds in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Staffordshire. The investigation of this subject has led to an ascertainment of the cause-that a fault or dislocation runs across the lineal direction of the coal-bed. And wherever such a fault intersects the coal backs, or cleavages, there will inflammable gas accumulate, and render the mine dangerous; but no danger will ensue from any number of faults, whose direction corresponds with and does not cross the backs or cleavages. In the latter case, there is a communication of the coal with the strata up to the surface, as may be proved in the harmless beds near Manchester and St. Helens. In the former the communication is thwarted, and the gas is dammed up; hence, in the Staffordshire great coal formation, where nature has thrown the measures down in an easterly direction below the fault, there is danger from explosions; but, on the other side, above the fault, in an area of near 40 square miles, towards Henley, Wolverhampton, Darlaston, and Walsall, the district is free from this danger. In all such dangerous mines, from each of the cleavages or backs intersected in the workings, whenever the air of the atmosphere is either naturally light, or not sufficient to keep it pent up, issues forth

the carburetted hydrogen, generated in the coals; and this with such velocity and quantity, as from some blowers would equal several hundred barrels each minute. This hydrogen, bulk for bulk, has only one-third the weight of atmospheric air, and even when well mixed therewith, requires for its lowest degree of non-explosion, 14 volumes of air to 1 of hydrogen; but being of extreme levity, in any number of volumes of air if at rest, it will separate in the upper space, and form a stratum which will explode on the introduction of open flame, and if not adequate to cause a great devastation, may induce suffocation, equally fatal to all animals in the mine.

In quarrying the coal, the method adopted in most collieries is to commence at the lower side, for the readier removal of the article itself, and that the colliers may not be impeded by water. But the arrangements, (according to the plan supplied by Mr. John Buddle, mineagent, of Newcastle, to the Transactions of the Society of Arts, for 1816), present such an extraordinary form as might induce an opinion, that the design was, not to raise coals for combustion, but to form a remarkable cemetery, similar to the catacombs; or a resem blance to the city formed in the rock in Upper Egypt. Although it cannot be unknown that coal is the basis of our hopes for superiority in manufactures, we find a vast waste of life, of capital, and of material; which though not immediately affecting ourselves, is undenia bly a robbery on the patrimony of posterity. The mine, in the area of a mile, has passages 235 miles in extent, of rail. roads, boards, and headways, 12,000 dams, numerous doors and trappers, and brattisses. In forming these passages, for 147 miles of the distance, two out of every twelve feet of the coal is carved off into slack, all of which is, at great expense, brought out to be burned on the bank. In the same coal, 6 feet high, an extent of many miles is cut 4 yards down the sides, with two yards under, merely that a mass of coal of two yards area might be obtained. A number of pillars of coal are left in the mine to support the roof, and which are designed to be quarried out at some period long subsequent, when sunk into the seat, or floor of the mine. See Mr. Buddle's statement in the Report.

As from each cleavage or back during

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the time the air is light, the hydrogen constantly is issuing, there is an absolute necessity for some method of ventilation to neutralise its effects.

The long-practised method of ventilation employs a current of air to mix with and carry away the gas, and which is thus stated in the Report for 1814, of the Society at Sunderland for preventing Accidents in Coal Mines:

"The only method we are at present acquainted with for preventing accidents by fire, is, a mechanical application of atmospheric air to the removing or sweeping away the inflammable gas, as it is generated in the working of collieries, or, as it issues from the several fissures which the workings intersect in their progress."

To accommodate the works to this method, they are subdivided into fourth, or eighth parts; and along 58 or 28 miles of these passages the current of air is required to travel, and sweep away the gas, as it issues forth, until (if the expression will be allowed), this current can no longer sustain the burthen imposed on it, as it escapes to the surface, because fully saturated with hydrogen, heightened also in temperature, and with the azote and carbonic acid gases generated by respiration of the men and animals, and now at the lowest point non-explosive. current in this deleterious state, in the works, in addition to the liability to explosion, is injurious to the workmen; the temperature being in a ratio with the quantity of hydrogen, azote, and carbonic acid, and the combustion of the oxygen by the candles; and so frequently does it affect them with head-ache, and nausea at the stomach, as to incapacitate them for long-continued exertion; so that to terminate their sufferings might even seem an act of mercy.

The

In the Report of a Committee of the House of Lords, in 1831, Mr. Buddle says, a work under his care required 18,000 feet of air per minute, to keep it free from explosion." This requires a little examination only, to prove, that this diluting method is alike weak and inefficient. Suppose the several cleavages intersected in the works, send forth 1000 feet each minute; these would, on the lowest estimate, need 15,000 feet from the 18,000, to preclude explosion; and there remains 3000 as a reserve for contingencies. We will admit this to take place in the morning at 6 o'clock, when the men commence work, and the baro

metric pressure is 28 inches or 31°. Here is no method of reserving the redunant 3000 feet; and we are supposing that only that quantity of gas issues forth, which is equivalent to overcome the resistance of the atmosphere; any centre quantity generated, remaining pent up in the fissures, yet ready to escape. But, only reflect one moment, what must be the consequences, should any obstruction retard the eirculation (as a fall of part of the roof, and similar accidents) or if the atmospheric pressure be diminished to 26 or 28 inches. In one minute the surplus 3000 feet would be appropriated, the generated hydrogen would issue forth in greater quantity into a medium yet more rare than before; and, at the very instant when greater force is required to counteract the hydrogen-then most fatally is this system completely feeble.

Reasoning on these consequences, led Mr. James Ryan, in 1806-then residing on the Tyne-to regard the diluting system as opposed to the safety of the collier. On proposing a different system, he was referred to Mr. Buddle, who demurred to try it, because then the explosions were not frequent, and he had himself a method in contemplation to prevent them. Mr. Ryan came from the Tyne to the south of Staffordshire, and there, in 1808, by his new system, managed and held completely in check, this dangerous scourge of the collier. Singular, indeed, is the fact, that this extraordinary discovery one of the most important of the 19th century, and which should have secured the meed of fame and credit to the inventor, should have remained disregarded by the philosophers of the day, and even have proved a source of malignant injury. The explosions in the north increasing in 1815, Mr. Ryan was invited to give his opinion of the cause and the remedy, and exhibited to gentlemen, vouchers for the efficiency of his method; but a committee, of Messrs. Buddle, Hill, and Hodgson, being sent to Staffordshire, they objected to Mr. Ryan accompanying them, and gave him £40 to remain at the Tyne till their return. These committee gentlemen, after descending only one coal pit at the Buffery Colliery, and one at Netherton, and seeing merely two or three mercenaries of a nobleman, returned to the north, objected to Mr.

B. being present while reading their report, which was to the effect, that on most respectable authority (which they dared never yet name) Mr. Ryan's system of Ventilation had failed for want of merit.

When Mr. Thomson (in 1827) the gentleman who employed Mr. Hill enquired why the committee would not meet Mr. Ryan, he received one of the most philosophic reasons possible to be given in answer, "We will not-he is a necromancer; he has some shells in bottles, which he exposes to the sun, and then sends them underground." No doubt Mr. R. is a great wizard, and deserves condign punishment equally with the hapless witch in former days burned at Newcastle, because that she had used sulphur, as was discovered by the peculiar art of the witch-man. What merit then is due to the great sagacity of the detector of Mr. Ryan's deeds of darkness, in taking phosphoric light where no other could be used! The sagacious gentleman should have discovered similar necromancy in the process, of the gentleman who supplied Mr. Ryan with the bottles one of the principal practical philosophers of whom Britain proudly boasts, the philanthropist Allen; and then have required him to bear the consequence of his demerit in benefitting his species; but no dread of this gentleman's connection with the bottomless pit is suspected by persons who obtain similar witch-bottles of Canton phosphorus, at No. 2, Ploughcourt, Lombard-street, London. Could the fact of such ignorance of common chemical preparations have been credited, as belonging to a person on whose knowledge solely, must depend the security of the lives of scores of colliers; and under whose direction was the Felling Colliery, when the explosion destroyed 101 workmen? But this person gave the astonishing statement to the jury on that occasion, that when he went down into the mine in the morning it was quite clear of gas; and, on its perfect freedom from gas, another viewer congratulated him! What a deceptive state of an inflammable mine! And where they might have trembled, had they one moment reflected, that although it does not constantly appear in the works, yet never is the generative process of the hydrogen extinct; there only needs for