Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-07-06
lie CheVaI mechanIque-A Wonderful
Invention.

&c VneSal meehanique-A wonderful
Invention.
The following description of new
invention now on exhibition at the
great ''show" in Paris, we clip from a
private letter published In the Charles
ton Courier of the 7th of June:
ST was fortunate enough to be pre-
sent yesterday evening at a private view
of this wonderful invention. The
throng at the exposition is so dense in
the day time that any attempt to work
it during the exhibition hours was inn
possible. Through the kindness of nj.
de NJ, whose acquaintance made in
1858, when he was attdche at Washing
ton, formed one of 80 persons proyid-
ed with special permits. On entering,
groups of the Cent GG1-deS made me
think the Emperor was present, but /
did not see him until the middle of the
exhibition. 7 saw, among the curious,
Nasmyth, of hammer celebrity, and
Whitworth, arm in arm with Howe, of
sewing machine notOriety. az.
'The iron-horse bears no resemb-
lance to its equine namesake. Imagine
trunk-shaped box about seven feet
long, and wide enough for man TO
saddle, and about five feet high; the
whole concern mounted on five wheels;
the wheels concealed, however, under
the machine. 1t is covered with leath-
er, and has a saddle, only the saddle is
very high in front and back, SO that
there is no chance of being endorsed.
In front is a steering apparatus of the
simplest kind two silk cOrds-and just
before the saddle a steel bar, which
regulates the speed. LII you pull it up,
YOU start the machine; pull it higher
up, you increase the speed; If you de-
press it, you slow until point is reach
ed. when the apparatus stops.
"The inventor, quite a young man,
commenced winding up the machine
with what seemed to me to be crank
motion, and as L distinctly heard the
click of the rachel, L therefore suppos-
ed it was worked by coiled spring,
but I have reasons since to think that
| was mistaken. Isuppose it took two
minutes to wind it, when he mounted
it, and started it by pulling mp the steel
bar. 1t moved gradually of, SO that
for the first minute [ could walk along
side of it, but presently it started at
the speed of fast horse, and IN no
ment more was lost, going round the
curve of the circle.
al suppose you know the grand ex-
position of a series of concentric rings,
each one devoted to peculiar branch
of industry. The one the machine was
running on was the NitmerO Q3IetTO,
section del MecaniqueS and is among the
largest, measuring some yards more
than an English mile. 1t seemed to me
be incredible that he should have per-
| formed the circuit in two minutes II
seconds. A hearty clapping of hands
| greeted the machine as 1T came career
ing on, and gradually stopping with
out any apparent trouble.
az noticed the Emperor, generally
tacticurn, loud in his applause, clap
ping his hands as Justify as | did, and l
was assured by M. de nj. that he had
never seen his majesty on any occasion
before show the least sign of common
dation. The inventor then said that
he would put it up to its speed, but TO
do this he must give the machine a
start, He then wheeled round, and just
like a Jockey starting horse. got 1T up
to it's maximum; as he passed us he
seemed to be flying. The circuit was
made in IS seconds. A new salvO of
applause met him as he brought the
machine to where the Emperor was
standing, and must say felt some
lust emotion when the Emperor took
the Legion of Honor from his button
hole and placed it on the young inven-
tors breast"
IN. told me that its endurance, if I
may use the term, was extraordinary;
that at its highest speed it would keep
on going for four hours. / was led to
| believe that the mechanical power was
sec ondary in 1t, and that "a galvanic
battery was the real motive power. IL
is rumOred that IA battery of constantly
| increasing elements sustains the mo-
ton. Anyhow the secret is we'll kept,
the Emperor having, with the inventor,
the only knowledge of 1t. nj. also told
me that at Vincennes a battery of art
illery was to be moved with it, instead
of horses.
81 may add that saw four persons
mount it, and it moved much more
rapidly than would a carriage. An in
teresting experiment was made as to its
capability of going over rough country.
Several loads of dirt were shot on the
floor, and it passed over it with appar-
ent ease. One thing | remarked was
that there was perpendicular play in
the wheels, and that as a difficulty was
surmounted, one wheel wOuld be high
er than the other, whilst the body was
on the same plane.
81 think that it has been placed pur-
posely la a retired part in the expOsl-
ton before this exhibition, so as not to
attract too much attention and i learn
this morning that the secretary of war
has had it removed from the exhibit
ton.
"The inventors name is Victor de
Nardea.