The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-07 00:00:00

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ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAYS.

PETITION OF JOSEPH D'AGUILAR SAMUDA AND
SAMUEL CLEGG.

The humble petition of .Joseph D' guilar Samuda and
Samuel Clegg, humbly showetk,
That your petitioners are the inventors and patentees of
the Atmospheric System of Railway.
That this system presents various advantages in regard so
speed, safety, comfort, and economy.
That a very high velocity, higher than any that is prac-
ticable under the common locomotive system, may be attained
by means of this power, the trains being at the same time
considerably lighter by the absence of an engine and tender.
That the tube being thinly fastened to the ground, and the
train linked to it by a strong iron plate, the chance of the
carriages running off the road is greatly diminished, and
thereby the passage of the train round curves is rendered
much safer, the connexion with the piston always tending to
counteract the centrifugal force.
That from the nature of this system, as it is impossible to
work both ways at the same time in one length of tube, it is
absolutely impossible that two trains should ever meet, and
thus the danger of those collisions, of which there have been
so many fatal examples on locomotive railways, is, on the
Atmospheric Line, altogether removed.
That the comfort of passengers is greatly increased by the
absence of tire and smoke and the diminution of noise.
That danger and nuisance to the neighbourhood through
which the trains pass is by the same means greatly dimi-
nished.
That the mode of applying the power obtained by the
Atmospheric System, and the comparative lightness of the
trains, render it much easier to surmount steep acclivities,
and to pass round sharp curves, by means of which, in the
construction of the line, the engineer is enabled to dispense
with advantageous gradients, and thereby greatly to diminish
the amount of earthwork, and generally to exercise a wider
discretion in the choosing of his ground, in order to avoid
local difficulties or accommodate local or public interests
That in cases of passing through a ditlicmt country a con-
siderable saving of expense will result from the adoption of
the Atmospheric System in the construction and furnishing
of a railway ready for working; and that in no case, however
easy the country, will an excess of cost for the construction
and furnishing be required.
That in the working of the Atmospheric System there is a
great saying of expense in all cases, both in regard to the
consumption of fuel, and more especially in the renewing and
repairing of engines and other apparatus, inasmuch as
stationary engines are far more durable, and require much
less repairing, than locomotive, and the wear and tear upon
the rails is greatly reduced by the absence of the engine and
tender.
That this system is peculiarly adapted to the working of
a lime with frequent trains, as the power can, at a compara-
tively cheap rate, be kept constantly ready for action, and a
very large number of people may thus be conveyed at short
intervals at low fares.
That the use of the electric telegraph, to which so much
importance has justly been attached, is a necessary appen-
dage to the economical working of the Atmospheric System,
where it is desirable to have the means of rapidly communi-
cating from station to station, and that the Government may
therefore more readily have the benefit of such cominunica-
tion under this than under any other system.
That the above line has, by the consent of your petitioners,
been adopted upon the Kingstown and Dalkey Line of Rail-
way in Ireland, where it has been worked with regularity and
perfect success for the last eighteen months.
That measures are now in contemplation by the proprietor*
of that railway for extending their line from Dalkey to Bray.
That a Bill was obtained in the last session of Parliament
for making an Atmospheric Railway from Croydon to Epsom;
and another enabling the London and Croydon Railway Com-
pany to make an independent Atmospheric Line from Lon-
don to Croydon.
That various schemes have been promoted by the London
and Croydon, and other Railway Companies, for making lines
of railway
upon the Atmospheric System, some of which are
now before your Honourable House; and your petitioner*
humbly conceive that it would be good for the public in-
terest, as well as a source of profit to your petitioners, that
such schemes should receive the sanction of Parliament.
That your petitioners humbly conceive that they,. as
patentees of the Atmospheric System of RailWav, have been
and are greatly prejudiced by a report new lying before your
Honourable House, entitled, " Report of the Railway De-
partment of the Board of Trade on the Kentish and South-
Easters Railway Schemes," wherein is made, among other
things, the statement following :--
" The question is further narrowed by the exclusion of the
line proposed by the Croydon Company, London, Chatham.
and Chilham, 1."(). 142, which, from the nature of its gradi-
ents, is incapable of sustaining a serious competition with
either of the other schemes.

" The gradients are more severe than have ever been pro-
posed for a locomotive line, 28 planes, extending over more
than fifteen miles of the first thirty, being at an inclination
of one in fifty.
" In their subsequent projects, which are now undir con-
sideration, the Croydon Company equally adopt the Atmos-
pheric System of propulsion. If that system had already
been applied successfully upon any long line of railway, the
severity of the gradients in these projected lines would not
have been considered so objectionable. It is clearly however
impossible for us to assume the success of a system as to
which much difference of opinion exists among railway en-
gineers, and which has not hitherto afforded such proof of
its merits as could warrant us in giving the preference to
projected undertakicgs, the success of which must depend
upon results as yet uncertain, while other projects are offered
to which no such uncertainty applies."
That your petitioners humbly conceive, and are prepared
and willing to prove, that the above quoted statement is in-
correct and calculated to mislead your Honourable House.
That the Atmospheric System, as invented by your peti-
tioners, and used and applied upon the line of railway from
Kingstown to Dalkey, has already given abundant proofs of
its merits, and such as to recommend any projected railway
whereon it is proposed to adopt that system to the favourable
consideration of your Honourable House.
That, although the Dalkey line is only one mile and three
quarters in length, yet the working thereof exhibits every
result which it would be desirable to obtain upon a longer
line; and that an investigation of what has there been ao-
complished will result in the conclusion that every extension
of distance merely involves a repetition of the Axed power,
and consequently a repetition (not an extension) of the effect
produced, mid in no way involves any further experiment
or difficulty beyond thatrat present successfully accornpliihed.
That your petitioners were proposed and °tiered to prove
this fact by evidence before the Board by whom the said re-
port has been presented to your Honourable House; but the
Board did not avail itself of such offer.
That, with respect to the opinion of railway engineers.
your petitioners humbly submit and represent that the en-
gineers who have given opinions adverse to the Atmospheric
System have all been concerned in the invention, or improve-
ment, or working, of the common locomotive system ; that
some of them are the makers of locomotive engines, and ail
of them more or less interested in the prosperity and continu-
ance of the present system.
That, nevertheless, there are some engineers of large ex-
perience in the management of locomotive lines of railway
whose opinions are favourable to the adoption of the At-
mospheric System as invented and applied by your pe-
titioners, but who are wholly unconnected with your
petitioners, or with their patent or the profits thereof, ant
who have no interest whatever in the success of the Atmo •
spheric System beyond that which they feel as scientific men
in the progress of improvement.
That the opinion of these last-mentioned persons, being
free from all suspicion of bias or partiality, is entitled to the
greatest weight with your Honourable liouse, and that your
petitioners have not had the opportunity of producing the
evidence of such persons before the Boars of Trade.
That the opinion in favour of the Atmospheric System is
strengthened by the testimony of all the eminent engineers
who have been deputed by the treign Governments to In-
vestigate its merits, and whose testimony is the more va-
luable as they may fairly be considered entirely free from
any preconceived bias.
That there are numerous Bills now pending before your
Honourable House, for making branches limn, or extension&
of, the main trunk railways now existing. which it is pro-
posed to work upon the common locomotive system.
That great efforts are making by the promoters of such
railways to suppress and defeat the progress of the Atmoe-
pheric Systeme and that, if they should succeed in further
establishing their monopoly of railway communication, the
general adoption of the Atmospheric System is likely to be
postponed to an indefinite period.
That it is desirable for the sake of public interest that the
merits of the Atmospheric System should receive a full and
searching investigation before your Honourable House is
called upon to decide upon the numerous railway Bills
which are now pending, the more especially as the Board of
Trade, by the r(j 2ction of lines by reason of the inferiority
of their gradients, in effect condemns the Atmospheric
System altogether, inasmuch as, one of the main ad-
vantages sought by its adoption being the power of sur-
mounting gradients and using curves unsuited to a locomo-
tive line, no engineer, in laying out an Atmospheric Line,
would incur the expense of obtaining gradients and curves
as good as are required on a locomotive line, and that conse-
quently if where the choice lies between two lines intsnCed
to be constructed on these opposite principles, the preference
is to be given to that which has what are usually termed the
best gradients, the Atmospheric System must in all cases be
rejected. .

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that a Committee
be appointed by your Honourable House to inquire into the
merits. of the Atmospheric System of Railway, and to hear
the evidence of engineers and other persons upon the subject,
and that your petitioners be allowed to attend before such
Committee, and to be heard by counsel, or otherwise, as your
Honourable House shall direct.—And your petitioners will
ever pray, &c.

SAMUEL CLEGG,
JOSEPIII I)'A. SAMUDA.

DEAFNESS.

TESTIMONIAL from John Sawyer, Esq., of Hay-
wood Lodge, Maidenhead, Berks, to Messrs. S. and B. Solo-
mons, 39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. Gentlemen, having
been deaf for some time, I was induced, in the month of No-
vember, 1839, to make trial of your Invisible Voice Conductors,
and, although at my advanced age, at that time past my 77th
year, I had no hope of obtaining any relief, yet immediately I
applied them I could hear the general conversation, and my
hearing has become so much improved by their use, that I Olin
now hear acutely without their aid. I am, Gentlemen, your
most obedient servant, J. Sawyer. 2.11 June, 1842,--From
latethe
s Henryn
13.
Cowper, Esq., of Tewen Waters, netts,:
Messrs,
Solomons:—Gentlemen, having been deft
1 aci
for many years, I was induced to try your lnviseleblce Ns' and
ndoice
Conductors. They enable me to hear persona iein
neeleomtp,aannyi,
Hand
jasaps whichlaeeof youwor haveshipm enosstdtistminectalyr.e
veryT The Sp tale
ex
suit my sight perfectly, the transparency of which is so bril-
liant, year the 22d el
Ptoas:add ,maynd by candlelight, with
t
I reitiuenrnryycoou
Cowper.-
2.d rbest._
thanks,
t greatestl
andealthoughteremainat hsee they
lnenable
d coo hun comfort
have
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et
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s e self.r
vant,
1839.-1 ele.copes. Opera Glares, Microscopes,
me kind of Lenses.—Caution. ion —lll S dB. 1110-12A,:mcd.00nf.Istu,hnte)esai
12A,:mcd.00nf.Istu,hnte)esai
.lone, i 839.-7
and Aurists, are not in any way eonn#eted with
a person of the same name in their immediaet;e.ig.hablourhood.
Nor n any part of the country. To prevent mistakes, ba na-
tions, Ohserve,—Only to be had at 39, Albemarle-street,
Piccadilly, opposite the York Hotel.
for li\n'e theuni-,iree,resitiat nset_,tihe sum of 20
ori,
tobea applied to to tall be risked
the will be
extending the fortifications in ',Malta, more particularly the
lines known there by the name of the (Goloners.—Malta
Paper.
ACCIDENT ON TUE ROYAL CANAL.—FIVE LIVES
LOST.---The passage-boat which was about leaving Longford for
Dublin, yesterday, had her second cabin filled with emigrants, th
friends of whom collected in great numbers to bid them tare-
well. Before leaving the harbour the boat was moved out
from the quay, to prevent any who were not passengers
from getting, on board, and, having been moved towards the opposite
side, the crowd on the bank ran round to get to speak to their friends.
On perceiving this, the passengers simultaneously rushed to the
windows, and the weight being thus brought an on one side caused
the bent to lurch, the water nislied in at the windows, and, in the con-
fusion to escape, we lament to say that five persons were suffocated.
There can be no blame attached to any of the officers of the Canal
Coltman)... The ca astrophe was pureply accidental, and was owing
solely to the anxiety of those on board rushing to one side of the beat
whereby she was over bit anted.—Dublin Evening I'ost.
ELECTION NEWS.—As a proof of the importance
which is attached to the Registration, we may mention that we saw
at the door of a marine store shop, an iron mite, having On it in largo
lettere ths word " Resister."-4PURA