The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-23
A NEW MOTOR.
street Car Run by C0mpressed Atr-The Fra
Of Three Gent Fares at Hand.

The Chicago Republican OF the 2lst instant says
tion, II not in all locomoton, had arrived, with the
invention and practical application in Chicago, on
Saturday last OF Myers patent pneumatic street
car. The problem how to convey passengers through
large cities without the expense OF horses or the
danger and inconvenience OF steam engines has
been studied with great interest not only by those
connected with railway management, but by the
metropolitan public at large, almost every member
Of which knows the question OF transportation To
and from work to be an essential element of the
supreme question OF bread and butter itself.
THE INVENTION.
After a series OF experiments, Mr.. Myers achieved
the object for which he aimed, and upon october 9,
1s70, received patent upen his pneumatic street
car.
The compressed air is contained in four tanks
built into the room OF the car Three OF these tanks
are for general use, while the fourth contains re-
serve, to be used only in cases OF necessity The
tanks are built OF "copper" capable OF holding n ALL
150 cubic feet OF air. and Of wthstandng $50 pounds
pressure to the square inch. The number and size
Of tanks be increased lessened, according TO
the distance required to be run.
The machinery, consisting of two small engines
similar in construction to the ordinary steam en-
gne, but simpler Is situated under the Seats at one
end, and connects with The axle at the opposite end
by a crank movement.
HOW 1T IS WORKED.
The engines are controlled with small lever
Same as locomotive), which can be used at either
end Of the Car, as is required The direction OF the
car is sreversed by simple contrvance attached to
the piston rod, and may be controlled like the
throttle valve, from either end
THE TRIAL.
On Saturday afternoon last a trial OF the pneu-
matte car was made, from the hyde Park dummy
station, on the Chicago City Railroad.
Thirty passengers got aboard aud, with slight
turning OF the lever, or the trial trip. The
first mile, which was little up grade, was ran in
minutes and 40 seconds at an expense OF 40 pounds
OF air. After running three miles, and with but
twenty pounds OF air remaining in the tanks, the
engines were started readily as at rst and still
continued to work when the gauge indicated but
three pounds. The entire distance made was three
miles and quarter, ana the time required trine
over thirty minutes. The greatest satisfaction was
expressed by all present An opinion that 1t would
REvoLUTIoSIZE THE sTREET-CAR BUSINESS
was freely expressed by everybody, and certainly
with good reason. The additional expense OF fitting
up with the necessary fixtures, together with
the machinery for supplying the air, would be COM
pensated for by the fewer number of required
to do the same amount Of work; the time made Dy
the pneumatic car being much quicker in fact, as
fast as safety will permit. Then again, the large
humber OF horses requiring feed, care, aud driving
could be disposed OF at less than half their COST an
more than meet the expense of the change.