New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-11-10


Cars, Brakes. &c. For instance, Mr.. John
W Richards of this City has recently patented
an invention whereby the Engineer personally
applies the brake to every car in his train BY
mere motion of his foot, which brings steam
power from his engine TO bear upon each 10Y
means of connecting-rod running under the
whole,) so that the moment an obstruction on
the track, a train ahead, or any other cause OF
danger is seen, the whole power Of the engine
may be employed to break up the train. This
invention dispenses entirely with brakemen,
whom it is usually impossible that the ensi-
neer should apprise of the need of their ser
vices until the danger is past or the crash en-
countered Mr. Richards invention has other
good points, but this is the only one we remem-
Der with sufficient distnctness to attempt
description.
Another invention {by citizen of Rome,
\. Y. whose name We do not now recollect,)
seems worthy of attention. Ii consists OF an
elevated rail running along the center OF the
road and fitting into groove in the bottom OF
each ear. This would interfere with the cow
catcher now in universal use, and We do not
believe it will ever be generally adopted, bat
on sharp curves, yiaducts, entertainments, &c''
we think it would contribute greatly to secur-
it's from running off the track. And either this
or solid structure of the strongest mason
work on the sides of every embankment and
vaduct ought forthwith to be provided. The
time is not distant when men will marvel at the
temerity eyinced by engineers and passengers
in the infancy of Railroads.
Mr. Thaddeus Seleck of our City proposes
remodeling of the Car to obviate disaster from
Railroad collisions. He would build each Car
or Locomotive as follows:
The platforms Of the Cars are framed that each
end makes an angle of about i5o with the sides or with
the direction of the road and the frame OF the LOcOmO
tive makes a similar angle Tne acute angle Is on the
rioht OF the moving Car Locomotive in case, there
fore OF the impact Of trains each Locomotive wAl
be thrown 10 the right of the direction In which It was
travelling The momentum OF the following train, II Is
evident will have the tendency 10 throw the Tender 10
the left and the forward end OF the Baggage Gar 10 tue
right OF the same direction Ii the force OF the coils
ion very great IL possible that the disturbance may
extended 10 the Passenger Cars, but would rarely
hgpien that more tuHn the LOCOMOTIVE, 'Hiti anu
Baggage Cars would be seriously affected 40 TO be
thrown from the track More usually the force OF the
blow would be expended on these bodies stopping
gradually the motion OF the other portions OF the train
We can imagine cases of collision where this
plan would but augment disaster by throwing
one of the trains off yiaduct or down pre-
cipitous track and thus doing more harm than
would result from direct and vehement coll
lisiOn On the whole, however, we commend
Mr.. SIS invention to the earnest regard OF men
interested in Railroads.
III COmton-Great improvements have
recently been made in respect to the comfort OF
Railway travelling, but there is ample room for
more. 1t is absurd that one hundred thousand
persons should be jolting and nodding endwise
in cars every night when they might just as
well be lying at full length in berths. There
should be entirely different cars, or at least
different car furniture, for night and day res
pectiycly. Almost every one would sleep
little i'll q berth ON board car, and even
though he did not sleep, he would be rested by
the change of posture. Getting into car at
midnight ought to convince any one that Rail
way travelling has not yet cut its eye-teeth.
Ventilation is one of the most pressing
wants yet miserably satisfied in cars. He who
is so questionable as to object to breathing
the tainted exhaatlons of other mems lungs
must maintain a resolute quarrel with the
great majority of his fellow passengers in car,
and often, alas with the ladies' Yet fresh
air is one of the few things We are willing to
fight for rather than dispense with, and the
consequences are often most unpleasant We
dislike strife we are not partial to a north
easter or a Northwestern; but, ladies breathing
is not matter of choice with us and on the
only point where choice is practicable
air or foul-we must stand up for our lungs
even at the sacrifice of our pOliteness. This
is sore alternative, but what can we do
There ought to be ample provision made for
ventilation in the building of each car 1t is
absurd to expect forty or fifty human beings to
breathe through hole in the roof of a car not
bigger than stOye-pipe, and generally checked
or oyerlad at that. A company should be in.
dicted that would tolerate such car Wheth-
er the Ventilating cOntriyance known as
Paine's is the right thing or not we do not de-
eide though it has seemed to us, on nasty ex-
animation, great Improvement on the abomi-
nations it seeks to supplant But gentlemen
Directors whatever may be the merits of this
particular device, We charge you to give US
Ventilation in your cars, and enough Of it,
There can be no difficulty in the premises, and
opening window is not the thing at all, es-
peciaIly in winter. Have your ventilation thor
ough, and entirely beyond the control of passen.
gers-and let it be provided soon