The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-03-04

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fly Oh their smooth aud even track, on
which no particle of dirt or dust exists
10 impede their motion, ,asId no resist
ence of the atmosphere is to he over.
come. The pressure ON q sphere six
feet in diameter, under q complete ex-
haastion, Is about g., 600 pounds. Now,
when the spheres are once in motion,
less than one hundretf pounds will pro-
pei them with all the velocity required.
When we consider this fact, we can
conceive the ease with which current
strong enough to drive them can be es-
tablished. In the Pneumatic tubes oi
London, ten tons are carried on the
little cars within them forty miles an
hour, with pressure OF six ounces to
the square inch. TN complete ex-
haustiOn the pressure is fifteen pounds. J
If this pressure of six ounces is suffi-
cient to overcome the friction of car
wheels, and of an air-tight fitting pis-
ton that drags the ears, it is easy to
understand that a very trifling pressure
will suffice to propel the spheres (which
are rolled, not slid-On their clean and
smooth track.
To form an estimate of the velocity
with which the sphere will move, we
may safely calculate it, at double that
attained BY the locomotive running at
its highest speed, which is from IS to
100 miles an hour. This would give a
velocity Of from 80 to 40 miles an
hour for the sphere-an estimate that
is not exaggerated. t@-.
The spheres will be stopped by a sue
cession of brades OH springs, padded to
prevent abrasion of their surfaces, and
by reversing the current of air, present.
ing an air cushion against which the
spheres will he brought gently to
stand. -, zs,..r7 -s.
1t will be thought by some that the
objects inside the spheres will be bro>
ken and ground up. This is an error.
The centrifugal action will keep every
thing in its place; besides, they will be
packel tight. All VI -
COMPARISON OF THE OLD PRINCIPLE
AND THE NEW.
Having given a general idea of the
new system, we will point out briefly
the principle OH which it is based-its
the0ry-and compare it with that now
in use. To render the subject more clear
we will compare the forms in which
the two principles are embodied, name
ly, the sphere and the wheel.
What is a wheel? 1t is section of
the sphere. Cut slice OF any given
thickness through sphere, and a wheel
is the result. Take two such slides or
sections, and hold them upright and
together by an axeltree, and the pri-
-, <,f ~l
is obtained. Place box on the aXel-
tree to receive and carry the load. and
the simplest form of the vehicle of
transportation now -used-namely, the
CARTS produced. The wheels, placed
alta certain distance apart, furnish two
points of support, and balance the ve-
hicle, which enables il to pass over an
uneven surface. Four wheels balance
i'm front and rear i'm addition to side
wise. Eight or more wheels are used
on railroads to enlarge the capacity of
the box, and to divide the weight OH
the rails. These various combinations
are but different forms of the same
thing; that is, sections of spheres, held
i'm vertical position by an aXeltree,
with boxers resting OH the latter.
What is sphere? 1t is a whole,
composed of circles in all directions
Comparing it to the wheel. i'm order to
explain the relation existing between
them, it may be defined an integral
wheel. AS unit, made up of circles
or peripheries of wheels, equally dis
tant from q common center, it possess
ses equal sides, which, balancing each
other, render the sphere self-pOised, so
that 1t stands upright without the aid
of axle support. Possessing this pro-
perty, it may further be defined a self
balancing wheel. Rolling on its peri
phery as it moves, and without the aid
of the real axle, there is no rubbing,
hence no friction, neither at the center
nor the circumference SO that it may
be still further defined a frictiOnless
wheel. Uniting these properties, it
may then be termed (keeping up the
comparison instituted) an integral, self
balancing, frictiOnless wheel, which is
constructed hollow, to fit it for the
purpose of transportation.
If we consider the two veEicles-the
wheeled and the spherical-in their re-
latiOn to each other, we find that the
former is composed Of parts of the lat
ter, hence less complete, and as a con.
sequence less perfect These parts,
resulting from the subdivision of the
sphere, recombined with aXletrees, en-
able them to be used on the natural
road bed, furnished by the earth, which
was the cause of their being early
resorted to. From this we see that the
sphere il to the wheel what the whole
is to the part that it Is more complete
and higher in its construction, which
gives it superior qualities rs a vehicle
of motion. The sphere, in addition,
acts as unit in moving. II it varies
slightly in its course, it varies but as q
single body; while the wheel, if it va
ries OH its track, draws its fellow wheels
with it, 50 that the imperfection OF q
part is communicated to the whole; this
fact renders a very exact mechanical
construction Of wheeled vehicles neces-
sary to permit any great rate of speed,
and renders for the same reason high
velocities impossible. -
AS simple as the new principles and
the vehicle of motion il employs may
at first appear, they will realize the
great results anticipated. The sphere
Is the simplest and most perfect form
of body and the most that can be found
in nature for rapid, easy and regular
motion. Made hollow SO as to carry
its load inside, and used as pneumatic
tube which furnishes it u perfect road
bed, 1t solves the problem of system
of Transportation that combines the
greatest economy, with the greatest
velocity. 1t fulfiils all the conditions
of a perfect system Of locOmotion, roll
ing frictionless on its periphery; run
ming smoothly and evenly on its clean
and protected track; balancing itself
by its rotary motion moving with the
precision of bodies that create for them
an exact center of gravity by revolving
rapidly OH their axes, or single body,
undisturbed by connection with other
bodies; and doing its work without the
aid of accessory and complex parts,
such as wheels, axles springs, bolts, &c.
With its aid, man will obtain CONNER
cial control of the continents of the
globe, and command at will the resour-
ces of all their regions.
Glancing at some of the general ad-
vantages it will secure, it will bring the
fruits of Florida, Alabama and the
South generally, to the North I'm a few
hours, fresh as gathered, and the meats
from Texas to the seaboard the same
day, in perfect condition. 1t will pro-
duce the effect of locating practically
our manufacturing towns and cities by
the side of the beds Of coal and the
mines of ore which their industries re-
quire. 1t will deliver the morning
Journals of our cities hundreds of miles
distant in time to be morning journals
of the same day. 1t will solve the vex-
ell question of free trade and protection
in new and unexpected manner, and
will raise the country from the coHdi-