Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-06-19
DONE ESTSC.
From the Richmond Compiler


Railroads, is which deserves and will unques,iona
bly, receive the calm and dspassionate consideration
not only of scientific men, but of all who feel
rest IN the advancement of science The friends In
ternal improvement should give it their patient at
tenuon Its novelty may startle them but what great
suggestion IN any did not at first excite doubt of its
feasibility! Witness the fate of Fulton and Oliver
Evans They were deemed insane and visionary, in
their day. but they ranked amongst the wiscst
men of country, and the sigh of regret often es.
capes at the ingraude and duness of their country
men.
Mr.. Heron may expect to combat with incredultv
ignorance, and personal rivalry but still he will find in.
elgent men disposed TO consider with impartial dis
position the merits of his scheme. We pretend but
little science, but confess struck with the fea.
sbity of his plan. We think deserves examination
and glad find that Engineer high in the es.
umaton OF the public not only gives Mr.. Herron's
views fair and liberal consideration seems disposed
to concur in the principles upon which they based
In tins era OF improvement every man who make
even the slightest addition the cause of science
should be encouraged to the fullest exerton of his IA
culties for the public veal.
HYDRODYNAMIC RAILWAY,
Or the application Of He poeer Of Roers Tie rapid and
cheap transportation Of produce and merchandise
1t has long been with me matter of doubt, whethe
the water used in the ockage of canals many
cases an injudlcous application of valuable power; as
In the case OF canal located along the valley of great
river having considerable fall in its bed like that of the
river James, which has 1922 feet fall from Covngton to
ude water or about 414 feet mile rendering least
one lock necessary for every two miles in the average
On investigating the subject, find that the water
power OF the river of itself equal the transportation
OF greater quantity of tonnage than be passed
through the largest Canal and this with the asonisl
ing rapidity peculiar 10 Railroads
will therefore lay before you, in succinct n man.
ner as possible, this new though simple deduction of
science
The locks of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal are 100
feet long, 10 wide, and say take of the APP
proved hit, feet, the prism of lift will then contain
$4,000 cubic feet of water which will weigh $50 900
pounds Every time the lock emptied this quantity is
transferred from superior to inferior level If the
valves opened simultaneously | AM informed that
the lock can be filled and emptied in little than
two minutes but say that it takes three. Now this
ter is power, and if it applied properly con-
Ftructed breast wheel where the fall of water is
greater, to ptchback, should have four-fths of
available to set any machinery think proper in mo-
ton Let it be applied endless chain rope pass.
ing suitable rollers along the line of a RAILWAY aE
ter the manner of the stationary system of
we shall have power Railway entirely free from
the objections that fairly be urged the stationary
steam engines, of the necessity Of keeping up the fire
and steam, &c.
When the stations two and half miles apart one.
twentieth of the power according to Tredgold, will be
expended in moving the chains; but will allow tenth
OF the power to effect this object two mile stations
the chain being worked but for mile.
We have then the four-ffths of $50 900 pounds (the
onc-it being lost in the application to the whcels
equals 100000 pounds which, falling 3 feet in three
minutes, IS equal to 1918 pounds moved half mile in
the same tme which is at the of 10 miles an hour
Deductng from this the one-tenth, that part lost in
moving the chain leaves 1867 pounds And as 10 pounds
are equal TO the transportation of ton with the com.
mones railway wagons, it follows that the above pc e
is equal to the transportation of I63 tons over half
mile OF the road, while boat would be passing through
the lock OF the CANAL it will transport 81 tons over
miie OF the road in the time, which is the rate
But the maximum rate Of transportation on canals is
IL miles an hour and as the is to the
we shall at this rate he able to transport G54
water wsuld be at the rate Of 666 feet per
second James River, even at Covngton, in dry sea-
son. yielded nearly three times this quantity, appears
from the Report of Mr. Crozet, who measured Jack
son river and Dunops creek in August and Septen-
Der 1926 The mean of thgrasults obained bv this on
gneer, is Ia cubic feet per second $3.50 per
mnutej and we have this quantity with T. feet fall per
mile, the average down to Paonsburg; before reaching
no fIp gplttf aott
bed and descend the river although have less
fall per mile, have at least six times the quantity of
water to compensate for it, and the fall is still about 9
feet per mile
The heavier trade being descending will add to the
effect Of this power; but dscgarding this favorable cir.
cumstance, emitting the decimals in the fall per mile,
and taking the minimum quantity VIC have 1866 cubic
feet OF water, equal in weight 10 G66 900 pounds which,
permitted, will of course fall the feet in minute
and IS therefore equal to $50 600 pounds falling one
foot Deducting one-iith for loss in application leaves
depend the velocity at which we would travel Saw
that shall be 10 miles an hour, which ESQ feet per
minute.
Dividing 1929 600 by ESQ., the quotient is 23s lbs
moving with the velocity of ten miles an hour!
From OBS deduct the oneenth part for that lost on
mile stations, in moving the CHAIN rope and dividing
the rcmainderb by 10 for the friction per of the car.
Tiages, and have 3S tons transported at the rapid
rate of 10 miles hour
And each and every mile furnishes it's own moving
power It follows that it equivalent keeping this
quantity in motion on each mile throughout the line at
the same time And as the distance from Richmond 20
Coyngton is PSI ~ miles this may amount to the enor.
quantity Of o. 23G tons; or to the transit and deli
very Of 1916 tone hourly
Having thus demonstrated the amplitude ofthis mov no
power to an extent probably far beyond demand we
shall be able to make on it; which will be better under.
stood BIZ the general reader from the fact that but
teen hours would be equal 10 the transportation Of n
greater quantity Of tonnage Than passed over the whole
baltimore and Ohio Railroad in aycar ending Both
SePcmber, 1888 II now remains 10 show that il can be
employed at reasonable expense.
The expense Of erecting works for hydrody namic
transportation, will depend their scale or nifude
and on the greater less permanent character of the
materials used in their construction also on the extent
TO which would employ the motive power viii,
regard 20 the latter however 10 should be observed bat
obtain it cheapy, and in such excess as 10 obvi.
ate, 10 great extent The necessity Of expensive grading
The adaptation Of fixed power unduatng surface
oiany degree Of slope, renders IL peculiarly applicable TO
mountain localities by its means we can cross the
bends of the river thus shortening the distance while
canal or even ordinary railroad for locomotives
should be conducted round them
Another important advantage derived from the en-.
ployment OF this cheap power IT, that can substitute
for the iron rail- broad granite tramyyaV similar 10 st
although will cost per mile in the first instance
yeth will have great permoncncy Compensate for dis
Bot the most important advantage 10 be derived from
the granite tramway h. that any may bring his ovu
tarm-wagon, and, leaving his horses behind him be
drawn ~ market at rate Of 10 or 20 miles an bour
which would be IN loss time than would be spent IN
passing The locks Of canal Thus icing the work en-.
tfely from the odous charge Of monopoly brought
y against railroads.
n To form estimate Of the cost Il will he neees.sry
70 supso he works adapted definite sfao,gt ~
trade Say chat 81 shall be- to he delivery Of 100 IONS
- roi Board Of Pebble Works psre lo5