| From the Wilmington Journal |
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| August 19, 1862 |
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| The Locomotive "Victory" |
| The mechanical enterprise and skill of the
"Macon & Western railroad repair shop," at Macon, we had
gratifying evidence of, a day or two ago, in seeing the handsome
locomotive "Victory" on one of the railroad tracks near the
depot in this city, proudly challenging, as it were, the critical
examination of our experienced machinists, while it was commanding the
admiration of our citizens; for though they, as well as ourselves,
have seen more powerful engines, none have been seen more bright, a
more beautiful "machine." We learn that the work on this was
commenced about eight months ago; that it was done in the "Macon
& Western railroad repair shop;" and that, with the exception
of the bell, safety balance, steam gauge, and water gauge, it was
completed in that shop; these, too, would have been made there, but
for the fact that they were already on hand. We also learn that the
brass mountings of the engine were cast at the foundry of the shop in
Macon, by a Macon made mechanic. All this is highly creditable to the
machinists of the shop, where the "Victory" was constructed,
for, if we are correctly advised, and we believe we are, there is no
locomotive shop in America, that does all the work, or finishes all
the material, of a locomotive -- the brass mountings, wheels, axles,
etc., being all purchased for their machines. |
| The "Victory" weighs 23 tons,
and cost a little over $8,000. She is now being run by Engineer Joe
Hartman, and was constructed under the supervision of Mr. E. Crockett,
the master machinist of the shop. |
| We see in this evidence that the South can
go on and build her locomotives. She possesses both the mechanical
skill and ability to do so. If she will only be energetic, and
persevere, she will achieve another victory over the North as
important in its results, as victories won upon the
battlefield. The machinists of Macon have shown what they can do.
Those of Atlanta have already demonstrated their ability to turn out
work of the same description. Savannah, if she has not already done
so, can with her machinists do the same. Let us then have no more
Yankee locomotives after this revolution is ended and our independence
won, but let us construct them at home, in Georgia, and thus achieve a
victory in mechanics over the world, and especially over the North. |
| Atlanta Intelligencer |
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