Washington telegraph., 1854-08-23
EeZcsraIfin for Tran
sporting Packages.

The Special Committee Of the United
States Senate, to whom was referred .hc
memorial Of Ithiel 8. Richardson. asking
for an appropriation to test the seasibili-
tv of his proposed atmospheric telegraph
have recommended cpnnhancc with tic rn-
quest, and reported biIl authorizing the
construction of tube, under tic suqcrvi-
son of the Postmaster General, on di-
rect line between Washington and Dalti-
more. This was the method pursued to as
certain whether the Magnetic Telegraph in
vented by Professor Morse could be availed
of for the various exigencies Of business
and social intercourse by persons widely
separated. 1t was apprchcndod that the
force Of the electric current would be spent,
or that some unforeseen obstacle would pre-
vent its transmission, beyond very limited
distance, till actual experiment had resolved
the doubt. Aud similar success is hoped
for by the Committee in ihe present case to
dispate the fears Of those WHO predict 4 less
efficient operation through longer line u
tube than that which is exhibited in the
model shown at the Capitol, which they de-
clare works admirably, and seems 10 have
over come all difficulties, and some which
have long been supposed insuperable in the
practicable operation Of the atmospheric TEL
egraph This model is described in the e
port as follows:
at consists Of Horizontal tube of one
inch clear diameter, ono-h half of which il
straight, while the other halr contains curves,
designed to rcpresen the sinuosities of The
tube passing over uneven ground. One
small air-pump, placed near its GENRE. ind
communicating with either end of it, ez-
hausts it at pleasure from left 10 right, Of
from right to left. a piston or plunger,
three inches long, and fitting the tube loose
", but followed bv several de;athcd disks
or washers Of heather, which accurately lit
1t, is inserted in one end Of the tube, sepa-
rated by cutoff; and few strokes Of the
pump produce in the tube a partial vacuum
The cut-od is tnen reversed, and The plum
ger set freee on the side cs tic vacuum. re-
lieved from the resistance of the mir in the
tube, and propelled alone bv the pressure "
the atmosphere, TaaraH EkrunEh ina Time
wholly uuappreciablc bv ordinary means
Mr. Richardson refers ~ 4 stili more
practical test Of the working ana caracity VI
his telegraph, il tube nile long. of three
inches clear diameter, and following lie Gle.
yaions and deprossicns Of an ordinary IN.
graded field and the certificates he pro-
duces show shat nile was traversed by
the piston or plungcr. to which was attach.
ed weight Of several pounds in much les,
than a minute
If the tube be completely exhausted, The
atmospheric pressure being about fourteen
aud three quarter pounds to the square inch
the piston should pass through the exhaust.
ed tube at a speed equal to about six hnn.
dred and thilty-fve miles per hour, modi-
fed by IFS weight and friction. But perfect
vacuum is not TO be attained in practice
1t is asserted, however. by the Committee
;hat such degree Of exhaustion is easily
attaiuable, as viii secure a speed and powei
equivalent TO the propulsion Of fifty tons
two hundred miles per hour. The mails
which now consume twelve hours in pass
ing between New York and Washington
may, in the opinion of the Committee be
carried between those cities in two hours by
the proposed atmospheric telegraph. and at
cost so diminished, that The Department.
might send six sets Of mails where it now
sends one, without increasing it, expenses.
N. O Dctta.