Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-09-08

subject.
AFFLIcTNG CALAMITY.-Our late papers bring us
the udings OF an affecting event, which recently hap
pcned at Albany. The particulars as we gathe them
are these. 1t appears that an insane man named Ca
venah, his way to the asylum at Hudson, un-
der the charge of a couple Of individuals, and that
when he reached the draw of the State street bridge
he became refractory. Ills struggles attracted to-
gethera large crowd upon the BRIDGE until the weight
becoming too great, the support gave way, and up
wards of eighty persons, surrounded by horses bag
gage wagons, carts, &c. precpated into the ca
nal basin twenty feet below, and into twelve feet
water. Every effort was made for the rescue of
those struggling in the wafer but of the number fall
ling, at least twenty are ascertained to have been
drowned, and some others reported as missing. II
is seldom indeed that the press is called upon to re-
cord an event, so affecting in its nature as this.
RAIL RoADs--Perhaps of all the different modes
of travel. none offer so many advantages in almost
every point OF view do rail roads Whilst thew
possess every recommendation that belongs to any
and every other means transporting passengers and
freight, they have the additional recommendation of
speed, which no other mode has yet attained,
and which, in the present 60 ahead age renders them
peculiarly valuable. OF the different systems of
internal improvement entered into by the several
states, or by companies, generally speaking, none
have proved profitable as have the rail roads, and
Judging from indications, we should think they were
destined to hold the first place in public enterprise
over all ether works of Improvement Every year
furnishes additional proof of their utility, and adds
to the already great number of miles of American
rail ways. Notwithstanding however the many adj.
vantages already possessed we doubt not the time
viii arrive and shortly too, when rail roads will be-
come additionally valuable, from inventions, which
wmlstthey make, theroads more easy ofconstruction
and reduce the expense attending them, will also
cause a corresponding reduction in the prices of
freight and transportation and afford greater security
for the lives of passengers.
We published the first page Of paper of last
week. short article, under the head of 'Atmosphe-
ric Railways relative 10 some experiments which
had been tried in Europe, to do away altogether with
the power of steam. The article, we presume as it
stands will fail to convey even general idea to the
mind of the reader, of the mode of operation but we
recoect having seen somepace a more detailed ac-
count and as 1t now occurs to us, the principle is
about as follows Tubes are laid along the line of
the road, fttedtogeher air tight; into these tubes
piston Is fitted and the air is exhausted from the
tube by means of an air pump when the pressure of
external air naturally forces the piston along through
the vacuum; to the piston the rail car is attached
and of necessity moves with it. The air pumps are
fixed at such distances On the road as circumstances
demand These we believe are the general prnci-
pies; of the many minor ones, doubt of import
ance, we are unarquainted. The experiment, it is
said proved entirely successful, and demonstrated
the practcability of roads being constructed on that
principle. Surprising for q moment and it is a very
supposable case, that this mode of propeng rail
road cars, should into general use, what re-
volution in this particular; would be effected The
steam engine, with its complicated machinery, would
be superseded by the simple operation oftie air pump
and the almost hundreds ofmen now necessarily en-
ployed every line, would give way 10 the few re-
Quired TO conduct this operation. The attending ex-
pense, comparatively speaking, would be almost no.
thing and the consequent reduction of the prices of
passage and freight, whilst it would render the mode
of travel open TO ALL would give it place at once
far ahead of any Improvements or inventions yet dis
covered There is too, another thing about it, it was
further demonstrated by the experiment tried that
car could be elevated inclined plane at almost
any ordinarily required angle. Any person who has
travelled on many ofthe lines of American rail roads
Will see at once the importance ofthis, in doing away
the necessity for either tunnelng or for the employ
ment of the immense stationary engines which arc
somtimes used. If a car be elevated on an inclined
plane, by the use of only the ordinary power employ
ed, how many routes that are now deemed imprac-
tlcab!e of improvement would then be proved and
how little the expense comparatively speaking that
would attend such improvement. Upon the whole,
Judging from the developments and Inventions that
are continually taking place, we should not be sur
prised if the era of seam young as itis were des
H. 49, Ill
less expensive less dangerous but not less powerful
agent.
A Baptist meeting house was CONSUMED by fire at