American Life Histories
Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project
1936-1940

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'Portable Steam Engine'
(Alabama)

Tom's note: This was another handwritten 'life history.'  It seems out of place in that it is simply a transcription from a magazine article which was over 80 years old, and it doesn't mention specifically anyone's life or even a connection to Alabama.

The world is growing wiser and larger every day. People have found that in most varieties of hard labor, it is easier to employ the action of the elements than it is to drudge and toil themselves. Hence it is that the steam engine, which is after all that has been said by the inventor of the carbon and caloric and static pressure engine, the only reliable power which can be used in any and all places - is being applied to almost every conceivable variety by manual labor. It is compelled to spin to weave the hammer and drive the plane; it has been harnessed to the car, and hitched to the plow; in short. All the tedious drudgery which our forefathers performed with their own muscles and sinews is now done to a greater or less extent by this ready slave of the human intellect. Muscles tire, but the steam engine never grows weary. So long as it is supplied with food and drink, and properly cared for it will exert its ceaseless energies night and day without rest or sleep, obedient to the slightest beck of its guiding spirit, the engineer.

Hence the want of small portable engines is seriously felt by the public. The farmer wants them to thresh his grain and cut his straw, to saw his wood and as soon as they are properly constructed to draw his plow. The mechanic wants them for the various operations of his workshop, the manufacturer in a similar way wants those that require but little room and can be easily moved about as he may change his residence, and we hope to see the day when they will be made so cheap and portable that almost everybody will have their steam engine, that it will become almost a necessity of the household.

The engine and boiler, with their [?], which are represented on this page is intended to supply to some extend this growing want. As our readers will perceive, it is all in [?] to kindle a fire and go to work. We shall not [?] far insult our readers as to give a detailed description, although our engraver from the force of habit we suppose, has carefully lettered this engraving, but [?] present it in answer to inquiries which we are constantly receiving related to such engines. Our readers can see it and judge for themselves, whether it be what they want. All further inquires should be addressed to the Manufacturers, Harold & Bradford, Watertown N.Y., or to their agent, S. [?]. Hill, in that city.

Hale County
Vera K. Henry
An article taken from "Scientific American" dated December 3, 1853

Text from: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection