The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-10
A NOVEL EXPERIMENT

TRANSMISSION OF GOODS ON THE PNEUMATIC ppIscrp,r
From the London Mechanics Ma1azinel
on wednesday some experiments on rathar
large scale were made on the RIGHT hank of ~
Thames and Immediately below the railway bridge
battersea, with view to testing the efficiency Of
1pPansmitting goods and parcels proposed by the
rheumatic Despatch Company. The mechanical
arrangements in connection with the experimentaI
line OF cast-iron tubing-which, like huge black
snake. stretches for more than quarter Of a mile
along the river side,are few and simple. Under
temporary shed high-pressure steam engine of
thirty horse power, made by Watt Co., and
having its cylinder placed at an angle of forty five
degrees, is erected, and it gives direct motion
through the medium of a crank to a large disc of
sheet iron. '0 VI
The disc runs on tubular bearings. and narrows
from about feet inches in breadth at its centre
to inches at its circumference, its diameter beno
10 !eet. Its interior contains simply four arms to
which the sheets of iron are fastened and which
serve as fans or exhausters Through the hollow
bearings, upon which the disc is made to rotate at
speed of from $50 to 200 revolutions per minnie
communication exists with a vacuum chamber be-
oW ana oy the laws OF centrifugal action the latter
IS speedily exhausted, to certain extent. of air
The speed, in fact, of the disc determines that ex
tent, and water barometer registers it. The air
rushes out with considerable force from the peri
phery OF the disc. Between the vacuum chamber
and the pneumatic tube, which is feet o inches
high, by feet inches in breadth, and trans
verse section OF which resembles that of the
Tunnel, there are fitted valves with hand levers for
opening and shutting them. These NAV be said 70
comprise the whole of the motive and nronalIinr
agencies OF the pneumatic system.
The tube has been laid down in Battersea Fields
IN such manner as to test severely the practics
bllty OF the scheme. 1t has several yery sharn
curves and steep gradients throughout its length
ana Is socketJolnted, so to leave its interior
winch IS just as 1t came from the sand free from
obstruction. The carriages five feet in length
OF sheet iron, and each runs upon four castiron
wheels OF eighteen inches in diameter. The rails
spkI Ill
and require, therefore, no 'layng" but that which
the setting of the tubes themselves gives them 4
Jew strips OF vulcanized inda-rubber screwed
round the circumference of the fore end of the car
means closely fills the tube In fact there ia f,II
three-eghths OF an inch clear between the exterior
OF the piston and the interior of the tube
Ihere is no friction. therefore; and, singular to
say, the leakage OF air does not interfere with the
speed of transit. This can only be accounted for
by the large-end area which the carriages have in
comparison with the small area of leakage space
ana a the comparatively low vacuum required On
w ednesday last the first experiment made was nv
LOADING carriage with one ton of cement in BAGS.
ana entering it into the open end of the tube
Upon given signal the engineer to the company
caused tne starting valve to be opened, the water
barometer showing column of seven inches in
height and the disc running the rate of $50 reye
lutions per minute
In fifty seconds after, the carriage wih'its con-
lents iound It's way into the engine house, through
III
and then ran forward on rails to a butt placed tn
stop Its progress. Next two tons weight were
paced IN one OF the carriages and its transit occu
pied eighty seconds, under similar circumstances
The vacuum was now lowered until the barometer |
guage showed two inches of water only, and liv-
ng passenger, in the shape of not very handsome
log' was placed with one ton weight of dead stock,
20 carriage. The signal was made by the work |
men at tue open end of the tube, the communcat- |
ng valve was opened and in one minute and half |
ne arrlage and its four-legged guard were in the
hglne mouse, the latter apparently not at all the
worse for the exhausting process to which he had |
'een subjected.
The NEWS OF THE BULL RUN BATTLE IN CANADA.
The correspondent of the New York World.
writing from Montreal under date of August G. |
avs: ....
In my former letters l have frequently alluded
o the deep interest in, and sympathy with the
,ederal cause which prevailed throughout the pro-
ince In the present struggle for the maintenance
constitutional Government in the United States. |
regret to say that the articles which have appear
d in the New York Herald, as well as the Times
no other journals, with reference to the attitude
ngland has assumed in relation to the Southern
abelon, and containing threats of the invasion of
anada, nave had most injurious influence in
banging public sentiment, and DESTROYING the
ndly feeling toward the United States people,
nd awakening sympathy with the Southern |
bels. The telegraphc news of the Bull Rull
anic was received at the Merchants Exchange
18th feelings almost of exultation, and strong ex-
essions of contempt at what was called the cow
dly flight of the grand army.
During the last seventy years the State Depart
ent mas collected upwards of three thousand vol
mes OF french, American, Spanish, English, Chi
q 6ia mu sra Acsn newspapers. The majority of