Washington sentinel., 1854-02-24
O. o m m INIT ate6
The Atmospherlc Package Telegraph.

The Atmospheric Package Telegraph.
The present century is, emphatically, one Of
progress moral, physical, and political The
world is in transition state; the almost invisible
molecules of matter are perturbed; theyseparate
and combine again. Almost every great dis
covery or new application of an old principle
has been received with hesitation or utter dis
belief, and many that have met with the most
violent opposition are now entirely successful
and accredited. The discovery Of the circulation
of the blood by Harvey, that of vaccination
by Jenner, and of the application of steam to
propulsion of vessels by Fulton, met with op-
position, and their authors were exposed to
public derision and contempt. The invention
Of which propose to speak may encounter
similar incredulity; and yet see no reasonto
doubt the success of the practical application
of atmospheric pressure to the transmission of
merchandise, through partial vacuum, at an
astounding velocity.
I had the pleasure, a few days since, of ex-
amining model Of the atmospheric telegraph,
which had been placed, by Mr.. !. S. Richard
son, the patentee, in the room of the Senate
Committee on Pensions, for the purpose of elu-
cidating the principles, and of demonstrating
the modus operandi, of his ingenious invention
1t has already been examined by many compe-
tent and intelligent persons, who invariably ex-
press themselves as pleased with the apparatus
and It's operation. 1t has also been critically
examined and favorably reported on, by distin-
guished gentlemen connected with the first liter
airy and scientific in stitutions of this city and
Georgetown.
IF we look around us it will be perceived
that means for transportation have been pro-
vided by nature far superior to any now ordi-
narily applied. Force is not only provided for
propulsion of hundreds of tons of freight, at
velocity more than ten times greater than has
heretofore been attained upon the ordinary iron
railway, but means are also provided for check
ing the progress of that immense weight so
gradually and securely as to prevent any per
ceptible concussion.
any power, but to employ it more economically
than in other modes Of transportation.
The amount of resistance which the air offers
to the passage of a large body, moving with
considerable velocity, is greater than is gener-
ally supposed. With the view of solving
some difficult points, DR.. Lardner,x in the
years 1888 and 1889, instituted series of
interesting experiments upon the railways
of England and he states as the result of
his experiments, that at high speeds the Re
sistance of the air forms the main obstacle
against which the moving power has to act.
We cannot doubt that even ordinary speed is
sufficient to render the atmosphere formida-
BILE source of resistance, and even at an aver
age velocity, it abstracts from the moving
power no inconsiderable portion of its efficacy.
Suppose we desire the transportation of
package measuring two feet square; it's accom-
plishment would be an utter impossibility with
out removing the atmosphere in addition to the
weight of the package. If the package be pro-
PEELED through the air at velocity of one hun
dred miles per hour, we would find the resist
ance to be one hundred and twenty-eight
pounds but if at the rate oftwo hundred miles
per hour, then the atmospheric resistance
would be FIVE hundred and twelve pounds The
rule is, that every time the velocity is doubled,
the resistance is of course squared. If now we
take the velocity to be eight hundred miles per
hour, then the resistance would be, necessarily,
eight thousand pounds as the minimum.
In the mode Of transportation now proposed,
the atmospheric resistance will be avoided, and
as the normal pressure of the atmosphere is
sufficient to carry along any amount of weight
that can be moved by any conveyance now in
use, the ultimate success of this invention is
obvious.
Mr. Richardson's contryance ingeniously
and effectually prevents the creation of any cal
culabe friction; and at the same time, in the
most successful and beautiful manner, the load
is carried up to station without any percepti-
BILE concussion.
The operative model of this new application
Of pneumatic force, now on exhibition in the
Capitol, is about thirty feet in length, and con-
sists of a cylinder composed of block tin, with
stations Of brass metal The plunger consists
of suitable iron shaft, with leathern buffers
upon the front end, and two disks of the same
material secured in their respective places by
small and compact brass disks to this plunger
is attached a small bag, capable of containing
two or three sheets of paper. The operator
then places the plunger with the bag or pack
age attached thereto, in either end OF the tube,
and, after the air has been partially exhausted
by the usual apparatus, turns the check-plate,
and the plunger, with its burden, is instanta-
neously carried through the cylinder with the
most inconceivable velocity. The moment the
package arrives at the middle station, ayalve
opens and causes an alarm-bell to be rung, the
station-box is then opened to show that the
package can be stopped at any desired point
and the contents changed. When the check
plate ofthe middle station has been turned bythe
operator the plunger with its burden, is sent off
again with great velocity butnot with the same
effects at the end (for as we stated above, par
tial vacuum was produced the momentum ofthe
plunger condenses the remaining air, and, when
that is condensed to the density OF two atmos-
pheres, valve is elevated by this pressure,
and the air escapes. If the air is permitted to
escape rapidly, the plunger comes up fast;
and if the air escapes gradually or slowly, the
former arrives slowly The velocity Of the ar
rival can be either diminished or augmented
at the will of the operator. In regard to what
material would be most suitable for the con-
struction of cylinder adapted to practical
purposes, we would state that this subject has
engaged the serious attention of skillful and
competent engineers, who, upon mature delibe-
ration, have concluded that wood is the best
and most appropriate material. Mr.. Richard
n - IL. l~..sx l. Il.