A history of the growth of the steam-engine . ation. Thomas, Lord Dundas, of Kerse, had taken great inter-est in the experiments of Miller, and had hoped to be ableto apply the new motor on the Forth and Clyde Canal, in STEAM-NAVIGATION. 247 which he held a large interest. After the failure of theearlier experunents, he did not forget the matter ; but sub-sequently, meeting with Symmington, who had been Mil-lers constructing engineer, he engaged him to continuethe experiments, and furnished all required capital, about£7,000. This was ten years after MiUer had abandonedhis scheme. Symmington co
A history of the growth of the steam-engine . ation. Thomas, Lord Dundas, of Kerse, had taken great inter-est in the experiments of Miller, and had hoped to be ableto apply the new motor on the Forth and Clyde Canal, in STEAM-NAVIGATION. 247 which he held a large interest. After the failure of theearlier experunents, he did not forget the matter ; but sub-sequently, meeting with Symmington, who had been Mil-lers constructing engineer, he engaged him to continuethe experiments, and furnished all required capital, about£7,000. This was ten years after MiUer had abandonedhis scheme. Symmington commenced work in 1801. The first boatbuilt for Lord Dundas, which has been claimed to havebeen the first practical steamboat, was finished ready fortrial early in 1802. The vessel was called the CharlotteDundas, in honor of a daughter of Lord Dundas, who be-came Lady Milton. The vessel (Fig. 75) was driven by a Watt double-acting engine, turning a crank on the paddle-wheel sectional sketch below exhibits the arrangement of the ^:mh. Fie. 75.—The -Charlotte Dundas, 1801. machinery. A is the steam-cylinder, driving, by means ofthe connecting-rod, JS G, a. stern-wheel, £JM I^ is theboiler, and G the tall- smoke-pipe. An air-pump and con-denser, IT, is seen under the steam-cylinder. In March, 1802, the boat was brought to Lock No. 20on the Forth and Clyde Canal, and two vessels of 70 tonsburden each taken in tow. Lord Dundas, William Sym-mington, and a party of invited guests, were taken on board, 348 THE MODKRN STEAM-ENGINE. and the boat steamed down to Port Glasgow, a distance ofabout 20 miles, against a strong head-wind, in six hours. The proprietors of the canal were now urged to adoptthe new plan of towing ; but, fearing injury to the banksof the canal, they declined to do so. Lord Dundas thenlaid the matter before the Duke of Bridgewater, who gaveSymmington an order for eight boats like the CharlotteDundas, to be used on his canal. The death of the Duke,however,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookidc, booksubjectsteamengines
