New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-23
THINGS IN NEW-JERSEY.

Correspondence OF The " Y. Tribune
TRENTON, Jan. 20, 1860.
Our Legislature, now in possession OF the Disun'
ION Democracy, have been carrying thugs WIN
high hand since the session commenced Inc De
mocracy in the House, lacking two votes 10 become
he majority. bought the souls and bodies OF two
men who were elected as Shanghai Americans 10
Camden Co, by giving themtw or three contempt
bic offices, and thus became the ruler They
mounted a high horse at once, by expellng en- OPP
position member without moment of inquiry into
the merits of bis alleged disqualification, and would
90 even greater lengths, but that they have hoiy
fear of IN Opposition Governor. Then there are
gympOns in the Senate OF that body insisting on the
reappointment of the old Chancellor, partisan OF
the Iankest kind. For over year that 0fhce mas
been vacant because Democratic Senate refused
to confirm any other nominee. As oil mortgages
are forec.Osed in the Chanceiors Court, that whole
business has been brought to a dead halt. Inc II
Sherifls in the State are complaining loudly thaC
they have nothing TO do sales, no business worth
following, and that their term OF office is running
out without paying them. Other great interests
are suffering grey0us wrong from the same cause
No Injunction can ISSUE no decree be made, no de-
csion given The Court of Chancery is dead, and
there is no tribunal to take its place
But matters of deep interest, of different char
acter, are going on in another part OF the State
was present at recent series OF trials on the Gen.
trail Railroad of one of the most extraordinary
novelties in modern railway engineering. A loco
motive weighing 81 tuns, had been fitted with an
apparatus for magnetising the wheels invented by
Maier Serrill. The purpose of magnetlslng the
wheels is TO secure their proper adhesion TO
the track, now accomplished only by enor-
nous weight, accompanied by corresponding
expense of engine and great wear and IN
Jury TO the rails. The new apparatus converts the
wheels into magnets at the pleasure of the engineer
Being thus converted, they hug the rails exactly as
if heavily loaded. The result is obvious and most
important-the wheels of very light engine viii
no longer slip on the rails when dragging heavy
train. Heavy engines may therefore be dispensed
with and light ones substituted, costing and con-
Stunning less and Ices destructive to the rails
Numerous parties interested in railroad matters
were present at these trials. Ii was demonstrated
that magnetism increased the adhesion OF the
wheels nearly 20 per cent, without adding pound
to the weight IL was shown that the power re-
quired TO slip the wheels of twenty-one tun en-
CINE was equal to what would have been necessary
to slip them if the engine had been loaded with a
dead weight of eighteen tuns more than her Owa
weight Yet the driving only were magnet
lied The apparatus which aecOmpishes this GU
riOus result is light simple and cheap, not likely to
get out of order and be attached to any new or
old engine IL Will enable light engines 10 draw
loads as great as much heavier ones do now, and to
make time when rails are stiffening with ice as no
sand will be needed hereafter. Fewer engines will
be needed to do the same amount of business,
bridges will not be so frequently broken down,
sleeper grades can be assembled, and the whole su-
peTstructure saved the destructive wear and tear
which modern locomotive monsters are known TO
occasion. The trials witnessed were remarkable.
When the magnetism was turned off the wheels they
slipped round freely, and the engine stood still.
When it turned on, the drivers instantly stopped
slipping and took hold of the rails with astonishing
tenacity. Engineers looking on were loud in their
admiration, and referred TO various times when the
use of such an apparatus would have saved them
from sundry disasters from slippery rails.
] be wheels magnetised by the following simple
c0ntrivance The front drivers are surrounded bya
coil of copper wire tTansyersely consisting of some
eco turns, making a helix six inches high by three
thick all the wires being insulated from one another
and made proof against damp. Each end of the
helix is supported by the engine and through it the
wheel plays, the helix being curved to the shape of
the wheel, and fitting up within half an inch Of it,
wire connects the outside of one coil with the
inside Of another. The hellxes nre connected to a
battery the engine. In the circuit of the current
within reach of the engineer, is placed closer, by
which, on turning handle in one direction or
another, the wheels Inagn tsed one or both, as
may be desired. Various other accessories Are pro-
yided, not necessary to describe.
At first sight the invention appears TO be quite sue
cessful one. 1t has been applied to engines on the
Central Railroad, ana performs admirably, an en-
Gne weighing q tuis dong az much work as one of
70 tuns. If proved by experience to be a really
good thing, it will save millions OF dollars for Amer
can railroads.