Washington sentinel., 1856-03-22
THE GREATEST WONDER OF THE
AGE WHEN WILL WONDERS



ate and House of Representatives, setting forth
his invention for the transmission of mail
matter" and praying an appropriation of $780,
900, to be used under the direction Of the Post
master General, in testing its value and prac-
ticabilty. We also publish the bill reported
last session by General Shields, then member
of the Senate, and extracts from the report,
&c., of Senator Mallory on the same subject.
We pretend to no mechanical genius-we
know ourself, on the contrary to be sadly de-
fcient in this branch of the sciences; but
really our examination into this wonderful in
vention under the direction and with the as
sistance Of Mr.. Richardson, has resulted in
perfect confidence in its practicability and the
grand results which we believe must flow from
its adoption by the Government. 1t will be
seen, however, that those much more able to
| investigate the subject, and whose opinions are
entitled to much more weight than our own,
have given their entire faith in the invention
We wish we could publish in detail all we
have read and seen in connection with this
wonderful and almost stunning conception,
but space or time will not allow.
The propulsion of tons Of mail matter from
the city Of Washington to New York in an
| hour!
We care not whether the experiment fails
though we have no idea that such will be the
case-the greatness Of the idea, and the insig-
nifcant amount asked, and the fairness with
NH oh bad oh he 81
Congress wastes every day in idle racket more
than the amount required for the practical
illustration of this great principle. We are
not in favor of an indiscriminate expenditure
for testing inventions-we know there have
been many worthless ones-but we do feel so
confident of the success of the Atmospheric
Telegraph that we commend it heartily to
the consideration of Congress.
To the Honorable the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of Ameri-
ca an Congress assembled:
The petition of Ithiel S. Richardson, of Bos-
ton, in the State of Massachusetts,, respectfully
represents, that the petitioner, in the year 1880,
made sundry experiments pertaining to the
propulsion of mail matter through alright
| tubes by means of atmospheric pressure. Your
| petitioner further states that he has been ex-
| perimenting since that date with view of per-
! fecting his invention until he made his appli-
cation for letters patent, and these experiments
! have been OF great expense to your petitioner.
| The patent bears date August 2, 1853. Anti
dated December I, 1852. And he has been
ever since experimenting, with view of car
| rying it into practical operation; and he has
spent large amount of money in these expert
ments. Your petitioner further represents that
his invention is Of immense Importance to the
public, as well for its usefulness and for its
| convenience as for its celebrity in transmitting
intelligence-mail matter-far exceeding the
electric telegraph in this respect
The advantages of this invention are set
| forth in the accompanying papers-report Of
the select committee of the Senate and as it
would be of great utility to the Government in
transmitting mail matter and intelligence, the
petitioner respectfully asks an appropriation of
| $4,000, to be expended under the direction of
the Postmaster General, to enable him to make
practical experiment Of his invention.
]. S. RICHARDSON.
A BILL to test the practicability and useful
ness of /. s. Richardson's atmospheric tele-
| graph.
BE ii enacted By the Senate and House of
Representatives Of the United States of America
IN Congress assembled, That the sum of seven
| ty-hve thousand dollars be, and the same is
hereby, appropriated, out Of any money in the
treasury not otherwise appropriated, to enable
the Postmaster General to test the practical
bity and usefulness Of / 5. Richardson's at
mospheric telegraph, not more than two feet in
diameter, for the transportation of the United
| States mails.
Extracts from the Report Of the Special Com
mittee Of the United States Senate, TO phon
iods referred The Memorial of l. S. Richard
son, on the subject Of his proposed Atmos-
pheyic Telegraph:
"That Ithiel s. Richardson has obtained let
ters patent for what hedenominates the 'atmos-
pberic telegraph but as these terms convey no
distinct image to the mind, and but a very i'm
perfect idea Of the character and design of his
proposition, your committee will briefly state
them.
"'Whateyer differences Of opinion may ex.
list as to the properties of our atmosphere, its
origin, its utmost limits from the earth, its laws
of motion and expansion, sufficient reliable
data are established to enable us to arrive at
correct conclusions with reference TO the prin-
ciples involved in this proposition.
"But, in practice, q perfect vacuum is
neither possible nor desirable; and il is be.
lieved that degree Of exhaustion, very easily
attainable, will be amply sufficient for the &C.
complishment of a. speed and power equivalent
to the propulsion Of fifty tons two hundred
miles per hour.
"'The mail between Washington and New
York is now carried upon railroads in twelve
hours. IL your committee do not greatly err
the same mails may be carried between these
cities in two hours, by the proposed atmos-
pheric telegraph; and the expenditure now ne
cessary for the transmission of one set Of mails
would enable the Post Office Department to
send six sets of mails every twelve hours.
"'Tbe impulse which such frequent rapid,
and certain delivery Of the mails between dis
tant points would give to oil the business of the
country, is incalculable; operating with as
much safety and unerring certainty in night as
in daylight unaffected by changes Of seasons
or weather, and exempt from liability to those
mischances, accidents, and delays, which are
daily retarding the delivery of the mails