Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-05-21
Myers Patent Railroad Car.

/ NdIlEVdu CdEs
This is truly novelty in the way of railroad
cars and 1t IS claimed combines many important
desiderata in regard to the transportation of coal
and perhaps lime. too) over our railroads In
deVeloPngthe resources of our immense coal fields,
the great consideration is cheapness in bringing
their products to market, it is the Joint hand
ling and transportation which 90 further to make
up the cost of coal than any thing else. If this
car then, of Mr. Myers, effects all that it is de-
signed to do, it is the zone thing needful for help
ing us to supply of cheap coal. It's construc-
ton IS surprisingly simple; much SO as to effect
considerable saving in the manufacture and great
economy in its after working 1t consists Of two
large cylinders, extending across the width of the
track, enclosed within a frame which rests on
gudyeons IN the centre of each end of the differ
ent cylinders, and working in boxes underneath
The frame. IN the place of axes. The body of the
cylinders is OF wrought iron and the ends boiler
IRON, the latter projecting to sufficient circumer-
ence beyond the body to serve as the wheels of
the car, with felly Tor rim and fange) like 9TH
er railroad wheels. This was the case with the
car which We saw, and which is now at the iron
wharf of Messrs. Pratt Il Bro, Canton; but the
ultimate design is to construct them so as to have
the telly separate, that it nay be slipped over and
fastened upon each end of tie cylinder, and thus
from time to time be renewed, occasion may re-
/ qulre. There will consequently be no break down
in these cars for they are already down with their
whole weight and burden upon the track, and not
upon rickety and costly springs That is one sa-
wing, while the others are thus pointed out by the
Philadelphia Ledger:
1.-The saving ill Myers patent cars is the alb
sence of friction, dispensing almost entirely with
the expensive article of oil, and in the fact that
but about half the motive power is requisite to
move the same amount of tonnage. The wear on
and injury to the rail from their use are less than
that OF any other car, and, while they may be
driven much faster, being close to the road, are
less liable to run off the track. The contents re-
volve with the cylinder, and their abrasion is pre-
vented by the centrifugal force produced by the
usual velocity attained on railroads. and partition
placed IN the cylinder also efectually prevents the
same during the necessary slow motions on the
road The Car has been tested with success on
the Reading Railroad and more recently on the
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Rail-
road
With regard to the latter, the following letter Of
the eng ineer and general superintendent answers
with what success the trial was made:
WILMINGToN, April 22, 1353.-LaWrence Ny
ers, Esq, Philada.-I have the pleasure of sta
ting that your cylinder car, containing four tons
two cwts of Anthracite COAL taken from
Philadelphia to Baltimore on our freight train
! On the discharge of the coal in Baltimore, the
weig ht of coal was found to be the same as when
loaded; no more coal dust appears 20 have been
formed than the coal contained when starting; and
in every partculr the coal presented the appear
ance of ordinary yard coal 1t was found that
the coal moved in the cylinder under speed of
eight to ten miles the hour. after which it became
entirely noiseless. The motion of the car along
the track was steady and easy-curveS passed with
; the apparent of an ordinary car-incuding
some of 600 feet radius of 80 feet, and sew
eral in Baltimore of 60 feet radius in the streets.
Returning from Baltimore, the car was laden
with bituminous COAL and with like favorable re-
suit, the coal being to the eye unchanged in quail
ty and condition The car referred to has dame
ter of cylinder of a feet, wheels 6 feet, weight
. tons l2 cwts., capacity tons 9 cwts. am not
able to express any opinion the most suitable
diameter of cylinder, or how many wheels should
comprise the car, or how arranged clusters, but
: it seems very clear that most. and probably all Of
: the advantages claimed by you from this very nov
: FL and ingenious continuance will be realized; ma
king its application the service of railroads de-
II slrable one on account of economy in first con
s struction, and in after use. Wishing you every
J success, am yours, respectfully,
: j. Il. TRIMBLE,
. Engineer and general superintendent of p, W
= and Baltimore Railroad Company.
: 1t is designed, also, to make experiment short
> " on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, taking tn
bituminous coal from the mines in the Allegan,
region. The opening OF the Georges Greek Goa
Company's road, about the last OF this month, vii
e probably be the occasion of this trial. Should tn
result be entirely satisfactory in regard to soft
er bituminous coal, it will be fortunate thing 70
= those interested in that trade which, though no,
in its incpency is absorbing largely capital an
- enterprise with reference to the future. Already
:! The Philadelphia Ledger states is e. Tiers Myers
y of that city, who is the agent of the patentee
negotiating with parties for the manufacture of tw
- hundred cars, to be used in the coal trade. TIL
&c anthracite coal which was brought on to Baltmor
~ on the car now here, lies in excellent and clea
condition, where it was dumped out with the pit
en- culiar facility belonging to this invention, at tn
D. Messrs. Pratt's wharf
e.