The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-02


This tunnel was purposely constructed with
several curves, and with sleeper ascent from
each end towards the centre than is to be found
on any railway. The fan-wheel and disk, by
means of which the air is exhausted or forced
into the tunnel are constructed on the same
principle as in the pnematic despatch at Bat
tersea Fields, already described The carriage
will accommodate thirty-fve persons, who
enter through sliding doors of glass at either
end Attached to it is an iron framework, alittle
smaller in dimensions thant tunnel, and pro-
jecting from this on all sides is heavy brush of
bristles, which fits closely to the sides of the
tunnel, thus preventing the escape of the air.
When the carriage enters the tunnel, 1t passes
over a deep air-well, covered with grating Up
this well the disk forces a strong current of
air, Immediately closing the iron doors, which
operate like lOck-gates, at the end The air
then accumulates in the space between these
doors and the carriage, until the pressure is
sufficiently strong to force the carriage, with
its living freight, up the inclined plane.
Arriving at the summit, its own momentum
carries it to the further end. When the car
riage is ready for the return journey, the air
is exhausted by the revolution of the disk
being forced through large side-aperture, as
the doors are still kept closed. The vacuum
thus created in front of the car causes
it to start from the ordinary pressure of the
atmosphere III Illt rear, anu Will SlOetO
rapidity it shoots up the inclined plane as
before, and is carried down the descent by its
own momentum, the doors flying open in
time to permit it to emerge once more into
the daylight. With an atmospheric pressure
of but two ounces and half to the square
inch, the distance of six hundred yards is
performed in the momentary space of fifty
seconds.
This Sydenham Pneumatic Railway was
ha aVniraT+ yry,;o
has attended it, however, has emboldened the
projectors to construct
| A Pneumatic Railway under the T names.
The Waterloo and Whitehall Pneumatic
Railway Company in which Mr.. Rammell has
a leading interest, has been chartered for this
| purpose The tunnel, the construction of
| which has already been commenced is a
branch of several pneumatic lines now in pro-
gress The tube is in sections of two hundred
! and twenty-one feet, and is thirteen feet in
| diameter. 1t will be made of wrought-iron,
| three-fourths of an inch in thickness, encir-
i cled by three courses of brick, bound by iron
| hoops besides which it will, after being laid,
| be lined within with brick. The entire tunnel
| will be fve-eighths OF mile in length, and will
| be sunk in position as soon as the sections OF
iron are completed.
The Proposed Pneumatic Despatch in
| New York city.
The necessity for the economization OF space
in a crowded city like London is so apparent,
that it is not to be wondered at that the pneu-
matte system was first put into practical opera
ton there. In this country there are, per
haps, no cities in which it could at present be
made available, with the exception OF New
York. The peculiar confguration OF the land
on which the latter stands, however, renders
the economization of space above ground OF as
much importance as it is in London; while
the great length of the built-up portion OF the
city, resulting mainly from its necessary mar
rowness, makes the saving of time by rapldity
of motion of almost equal consequence. Peri
odically the wise men of the metropolis take a
serious look at their situation, and enter into
an earnest discussion of the most feasible
means Of securing the relief which they SC
greatly need.
The passenger traffic, by omnibus, and
street cars, between the upper anc
lower portions of the city is enormous; but Sc
inadequate, uncomfortable, and expensive arr
these means of transportation that multitude
prefer to make the journey on foot. With re
spect TO the transportation Of goods the figure
= are quite as large as those shown by the pas