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[Page 62]
7 Novr. 1829
According to this Statement we should divide 375 Pounds the Power of a Ten Horse Engine at ten Miles per Hour by 8 Pounds, the friction & resistance of a Ton and we shall have (375/8) 46.875 Tons for the gross Weight the Engine ought to move at ten Miles per Hour - and if from this we deduct the Weight of the Engine (4.25 Tons) we shall have remaining 42.625 Tons for the Weight which the Engine ought to have taken after it supposing the Friction & resistance is really reduced to 8 Pounds per Ton. Now this is ten Times the Weight of the Engine.
[Page 63]
I am therefore completely at a Loss to comprehend the Reasons which governed the Directors when they assigned three times the Weight the Engines Locomotive, as the Load which they were to draw after them at a Velocity of ten Miles per Hour – as the work to be done by each Engine, in competing fort the Prize of 500 Pounds.
It is quite clear that the weight of the Engines is no [illegible] whatever of their Power [illegible] as, three times their Weight was to be their Load as determined on in the Original, Conditions & Stipulations issued to the Public – I considered we had no power to make any alterations, in that respect – and the Ordeal we determined on, was merely to put the Engines to the best [illegible] of under those Circumstances.
