The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1856-01-30

From the Public Ledger
One Hundred and Fifty Niles an
Hour,

One hundred and Fl1Cy Mlles an
Hour.
Less than thirty years ago, an eminent
natural philosopher demonstrated, as he
thought, that it would be absolutely impos-
sible to travel by railroad at any speed that
now is considered reasonable. Ii it were
possible to construct machinery powerful
enough to travel at the rate Of forty miles
an hour, the rush OF air would, he supposed,
be so great as to render it impossible for
any living creature to bre athe. And yet
royal trains now travel with ease in England
as much as seventy miles an hour without
danger and withou. Inconvenience to PISS.
sengers. Will the next twenty .fye years
produce any material increase of speed in
travelling; and if so, what will be the result?
We see no reason 10 doubt, that the
highest actual speed yet attained may BIZ
doubled. A year or two since, when it was
talked Of as a thing within the reach of ul-
innate possibility, that n hun Ired miles an
hour should be reached. the idea was ridi-
culed as absurd But at the lave exhib-
uon of Industry. at Paris, a locomotive
weighing sixty tons was produced, with ten
feet drive wheels, the construction of a
Flench house, and said to be capable of at
tanning peed of u hundred and fifty mi es
an hour. Such, indeed, is its construction,
as 10 be safer than ordinary engines al the
usual rates, as the center OF gravity Is pla-
ced lower, SO as to be less liable to get off
The track. The science Of France and Bel
gium seems now TO be applied so successful
ly to practical purposes as to bid fair to lead
that Of the whole world.
We do not believe, however, that such
an engine as that described, would attain
The speed in question, as it would obviously
require the driving wheels to make almost
five revolutions in second, to arrive at
this point. But there is no absurdlty IN
surprising the possibility of this speed bei'
reached with larger, heavier engines than
those at present conceived Of, and dri-
wing wheels in proportion. II is to this
point that attention will have now
chi, fly 10 be directed. That a wheel OF
sufficient strength can be constructed OF q
much larger siz. than any yet made. wa
have no doubt; who shall say how much
larger, before expansion must stop in that
direction? Such wheels on our present
roads. would no doubt. at high rates O
speed. be liable to get of the track. Bat
there are ways in 7hich ,his danger can b'
obviated, without any material Increase !,
friction. The rails could be placed further
apart and so elevated as to let the chic
weight come absolutely below and between
| the rails, SO as to render accidents almos
impossible.
PROFESSIONALLY this would greatly in
crease The expense Of the construction 0
roads at first. but we doubt if it would ult
mate'y. The question just POW, however
is whether. perfectly regardless of expense
1t would be possible to construct locomo
tive to move with safety at from hundred
10 a hundred and 6fty miles al hour. lie
THAT point be once settled. and its economy
will soon be demonstrabe in many cases
even if ii involves lines Of railway withvu
curves.
But it is said that the great practice
| question. afler all, must be. ''Will it pay?
That it would involve great extra expense
beyond doubt. 1t would be utterly on
of the question to have crossings OF commo
roads that did not go above or helow such
track. The whole would have to be fence,
I'm on each side. in addition 70 other thing;
before mentioned. But still we believe
wcnld pay. 1t wouli. for instance, on .
most every line, save tbs necessity for
double track. Between New York and th
city, Forinstaace. the time would be SO sbol