Though they were profiting by his invention, they were unwilling to pay him anything, and they succeeded in having his bill in Congress defeated.

It was a hard blow for the struggling author and inventor.

His income cut off, he was obliged to reduce the scale of his book "and to omit many of the illustrations he had promised." He wrote the sad story into the name of the book.

It came out under the title of "The Abortion of the Young Engineer's Guide".
Four years later, when Congress restored and extended his patent, Evans felt that better days were ahead, but, as said already, he was too far ahead of his time to be understood and appreciated.

Incredulity, prejudice, and opposition were his portion as long as he lived.
Nevertheless, he went on building good engines and had the satisfaction of seeing them in extensive use.