, 1854-11-11
The Atmospheric Telegraph.

Our readers will remember that Il was
announced some months ago that Mr.. l.
s. Richardson, a real ingenious Yankee,
had invented the swiftest letter carrier yet
known one that would throw post bags,
railroads, and pigeons entirely into the
shade. The matter having been brought
before the Senate Of the United States, a
special committee was appointed to exam
inc into the merits Of the invention, and on
the 29th Of last June, Mr.. Mallory, the
chairman thereof, read his report, and
very favorable one it is. l. S. Richardson
Is henceforth to be the American man Of
letters and these documents are TO pro-
gress at speed almost fabulous.
1t is well known, probably, that the in
ventiou consists of tube of any desired
length, and Of uniform diameter, in which
a piston, or more technically, plungsr,
moves freely, yet so as to be air-tight.-
This plunger Is so constructed as to be the
mailbag, and when the air is exhausted
from one side by stationary force, as a
steam engine, the plunger moves toward
the point Of exhaustion with fearful rapid
ty. According to mathematical caleula-
ton based on the momentum Of falling
bodies, this bundle of letters or papers
should move at the rate Of six hundred and
thirty-fve miles an hour; but if we allow
good deal for friction, and the usual dis
erepancy between theory and practice, we
may be satisfied with a speed Of two hun
dred miles.
1t seems that this is not the first attempt
70 employ atmospheric pressure for mo-
tire power. In 1910, Mr.. Medhurst,
Dutch engineer, proposed to carry mer-
ehandise and letters through a canal six
feet high by Eve feet wide, containing
road Of stone or iron, by the alternate com
preston and ratification Of air. Mr. Pink
rs, an American engineer, also speculated
on the same subject and about thirty
years ago, John Valance, of Brighton,
England, proposed plan, which excited
some derisive wonder, of transporting mails,
and even passengers, through air-tight cyl
inders Of sufficient magnitude to allow wag-
ons and cars to be propelled through them
by atmospheric pressure.
About the year 1888, public attention
was arrested by the successful experiment
at Chaillot, England, with what was called
the atmospheric railway and subsequent
y, about the year 1910, railway of this
sort, nearly two miles in length, was estab-
liShed between Kingston and Dalky, for
the transportion of mails and passengers.
This was followed by one in France. The
mechanism of these, if we remember right
ly, was as follows track like a common
railroad was built, and along the centre Of
this, about two feet above the level of the
road, ran flexible india-rubber tube, with
slit all along its upper side, and yet air
tight on account Of the elaeticity of the
material. In this tube was carefully fit.
ted piston, with a rod running from it, two
or three feet in the tube, aud then turning
up ct right angles, passing through the
slit, and attached to the car. When the
air was exhausted in front Of the plunger,
it moved forward, drawing with it the car
or cars, while the slit was closed just be-
fore and behind the connecting rod, by
elasticity and atmospheric pressure.
Some ten years since, Mr.. W. II. James
. son Of the Mr.. james who was SO hon
orably identified with the origin of British
railroads, proposed a plan for carrying
mails and small bundles very similar to Mr.
Richardson's. His machinery consisted o.