Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-07
Con MUSICATED.
Steam Car Brake.

ters of business nature that arise for con-
sideraton before the Directors Of our Rail.
road Companies: but there are some subjects
that come home 10 the personal security of
all men, and have an interest which justties
their fullest publication. Of this nature, is
the resolution of the Directors of the Manas-
sas Gap Railroad, at their late meeting, (Oc-
tobcr 2lst) authorizing the application of
SAITH STEAM CAR BRAKE" to the passen-
ger trains on their road
was present on the occasion, and was
forci5ly impressed BY the whole scene which
without further preface, propose 10 lay be-
fore your readers. All the Directors were
present, when Mr.. \. j. Marshall was re-
quested TO explain the nature Of his applica-
ton. That gentleman's explanation, utter
ed in u conversational tone, was as follows:
'.Gentcmen | have no set speech with which to
bore you; and yet the subject | ask you 10 con-
Slder, !. oil such grave Importance 10 the public,
and TO your road, and to the whole Railroad sys-
tem and involves considerations of official obliga
ton your part. that will render il difficult for
me TO maintain conversational tone III the eX
planatons have 10 make | wish to avoid the
ahsurdity OF making speech to 50 small an au-
dicncc aud. therefore, pray you, gentlemen, to in
terrupt me at amy point with questions TO gain
information.
| have been engaged for some three years, in
connection with Mr.. Thomas ". Smith, and other
gentlemen of high inventive talent. and eminent
mechanical skill, in IN effort to supply perfect
system of Brake to the Railroad world. Ii has
been more than quarter of century since travel
by Railroad commenced. aud now all other modes
OF transit abandoned wherever Railroads can
bcintruduced. BRAKES are Indispensable 10 safety,
and you are aware from recent experience on
your own road. that the existing hand brake. used
on your own. and on all the roads of the country,
is absolutely inadequate to the exigencics which
ncidcn; 10 all locomotion of Railroad trains.
Ii the lessons of time ana of Saddest experience
have not been thrown away upon unthinking
public, one fact can be better established than
that the present system Of brake is unsafe, unre-
liable, aud Inefficient on sudden emergencies OF
danger.
The defects of the hand brake are palpsble to
the most superficial obsery alton. Itwants prompt
moss Of application. 1t wants power when sp.
piled Ia eases VI collision. when trains approach
each other II high momentum, time. 3 moments
time, Is traught with the wreck OF human life
! Could the hand brake be instantly applied. and
applied with an adequate power, the sacrifice
would be saved: but the vital defect OF the ,ystem
just said. is want Of promptness, want ot power
4 The precious moments lost aud the details Of
the dreadful slaughter announced in the pa
perS. under the deccptious head of Sad Railroad
Accidcnt,"'
Gentlemen, you should not deceive your
selves; especially you should not deceive the
public on So grave a subject. These dread
iul collisions, whether with opposing trains,
or whether with sudden Instructions on the
track, are wrongtully called "accidents." =.
They occur, because there is no retarding
power on the train adequate to check tho
terrible momentum. The hand brake is of
too feeble force it is too slow in its action.
The fatal result is, therefore, due to known
causes; and should be ascribed as "inci.
dents" 10 Il defective system. You should
not cover up the fact, that these butchercs
result from fatal deficiencies of the present
brake system. Let them no longer be called
"acctdsmtS,' they are rs just said the appro-
pirate "mciic"ts" Of Il deceptive system.
\ perfect knowledge of the defects of the
system, is indispensable to any effective
amendment. have, therefore, dwelled or
these cardinal defects of the present system
of brake that you may appreciate the ad-
vantage of operating brakes by steam power
instead OF by hand power. Steam, it it can
be brought To operate on the brakes of train,
you will see at Il glance, would obviate these
fatal defects Of the hand brake. Steam is
instant in its action, and almost boundless
in its force. Ii mechanical skill, and inyen.
tive genius have SO equipped the brake ar
| rangcments of the rail cars ~ that the En-
| gineer can invoke this potent agent in retar-
! dation Of the train, the end has been
accomplished, and perfect brake, free
from all the defects Of the present hand
I brake. and endowed with all the prompt
ness and energy called for by the emergen-
cy, has been furnished.
| | am here, gentlemen, to offer you for
adoption on your road, such brake. 1t is
an invention which has cost not DAYS or
weeks, or months, but years OF earnest and
profound thought, and anxious study Oh
the part Of those whose associated efforts
have perfected the plan. | shall not here
trouble you with u description OF It's ma
chlncry that more properly belongs to the
Engineer department. shall only state
the facts which this Steam Brake has estab-
lshed, and which ough Ia control your
judgments on this OCCASION. Ii is sufficient
that | convince YOU that new and su-
perior brake power has been discovered
that II power adequate to the dangers Of high |
momentum is ut length in the reach of Rail |
road Companies, and am confident that u |
sense of obligation to guard the public safe
ty and 10 guard the interests and property !
of your Stockholders, will impel you to d.
rect this improved power to be applied To
your passenger trains
am here now 10 satisfy you that such
powers OF rctardation have been invented |
and are now rendered to the Railroad world
for their adoption, and | can best do this BY
a simple detail of the actual results, achiey
ed in IN experience Of more than IL year.
during which this Steam Brake has been in
use on one of the trains leading from Bos-
ton to Saxonyille. now lay before you
the following testimonial from the officers of
the Worcester Railroad.
I'VE, the undersigned. officers and other en-
ployeeS of the Boston and Worcester Railrosd, |
having witnessed the action Of .'SMITH's SlEAA 4
CAR l5EAKg" on the Saxouyillc train, where it has
been in use for many weeks, making about fifty |
.toppages daily, hereby testify to its quick, easy
and cticctv. sction-that il Is simple and strong in
it, Observation-Disclosures with nothing-rcquires
nc extra handling or coupling, and leaves The hand |
wheel free TO be used tor switching, other
.ional purposes without danger or Inconvenience
L. H. Phillips, Superintendent.
+. W. Rdgway, Depot Master.
4. ;. Adams, Master of Machinery.
~ lurS h,,n