Jasper W. Rogers

1841 'To the Editor of the Freeman.
Nottingham-street, Friday, Sept.10, 1840[1841?]
Sir - Having accomplished what has been stated by a large majority of engineers to be an impossibility, permit me to give you the facts of a trial made this day with one ot the Steam Carriage Company's engines, built by me here, under the patent of my partner, Sir James C. Anderson.
At the request of Mr. Thomas Motley, an English engineer of eminence, a loaded waggon, the ascertained weight being five tons, was attached to the engine, in order to prove its power of draught, particularly upon hills. The route agreed-upon was to pass over Ballybough-bridge, proceed the Clontarf-road, and return, passing again over Ballybough and Newcomen bridges, thence into town through Sackville-street, and return by Eden-quay and the Strand, to the station, at the rate of four or five miles per hour.
I beg to say that the engine fully accomplished its task - the rise on one part of Ballybough-bridge being proved by level to be one foot in fifteen! and over Newcomen-bridge one foot in twenty!
It having been so long received opinion, and seemed to be a fact, that locomotives could not ascend heavy hills even without any weight in draught, perhaps I may not be considered improperly intrusive to give the result of a trial which has fully overset one of those principal theories, the industrious promulgation of which, amongst others equally fallacious, has been the means made by many ; and which, had they not been so retarded, would long since have accomplished locomotion on the common roads of all civilised countries.
Permit me to add, that the weight in draught of the waggon. &c., exceeded by some cwts. that of the engine, including water, &c., another fact proved in opposition to almost every writer on the subject.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Jasper W. Rogers.'

1847 Published several books / tracts about the plight of Irish Peasantry.

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