New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-24


BILE causes, aud in no degree from those
within mortal control. Science is not an
accident, but is the highest and subhmest
physical development of divine law; so
that it must unfold in series, as it has done
heretofore, beginning with the era of ami
NAL power, when horse boats, and all like
visible motors, were in operation; passing
thence to water power, and aterward to
steam, as a motor. The latter having been
ruled ont on street railroads, they await
the next. In the order of nature, or in
other words of science, it is air. What may
be done in the cause of ammonia to change
the order Of this progress remains to be
seen. If perseverance unsurpassed, and
an ability that admits of no question, will
suffice to break it down, we have every
reliance that our friend DR.. Lamm, is the
vicegerent chosen for the work. His run
of some days ago was not only satisfactory,
but impressive, and has left him q reward
of merit in the appreciation of all who saw
it, and who know him.
We are not going to say that there has
been less ability or diligence shown by
our pneumatic friends than by the ammo
MAN, but there has been less-some-
thing. It may be that the unfortunate
stock business, which means the art prac-
ticed by its professors of subjecting every
thing convertible to false tests, and de-
preciating it to false conditions, has been
the sole cause Of the unpropitious appear
pearances, by reason of which it has dis
appeared from the brokers lists. If SO,
the evil has cured itself, and the affairs of
the company are left, at least for time,
without such questionable help as buck
steering affords. Although a stock COM
pany, it need not hereafter be battledored
by these players-let its holders hold and
help each other to do so, and not permit
few shares to 60 into the market, giving
sordid appearance to the operations Of the
company, with which, indeed, it or is
mass OF holders have nothing to do.
The prospect of any successful company
in this cause Of propelling street cars is
very grand, and has lately much improved.
In New York the Elevated Railway is at a
stand for want of a motor, the inezbaust-
ible rope or wire method having exhausted
the patience of the company. II is worth
nothing to-day, but if so supplied will be
worth countless millions. In the extrem-
ity of its disaster a scientific friend lately
came to its relief, and read before the
Society of Inventors of that city a paper on
the subject of comp ressed air as motor,
developing method of adaptation so i'm
practicable as to excite the risibles of our
more experienced scientists in the pneu-
matte Interests of New Orleans. There
can be no doubt that New Orleans has the
call, and although We have not heard that
ammonia has inspired any parodists in New
York or elsewhere, there can be no doubt
that if it should, they will come to like
grief.
Here is the theatre of promise, and
while DR.. Lamm is pressing on to new
Mr.. Roberts, of the rival in
terest, is making new tanks with ma
terial much improved, and awaiting ma
chinery from the North for building
rapidly and in great perfection the air.
engines to be applied in propelling cars
on the plan patepted. If success be pos
sible to both these enterprises, each has
our unqualified good wishes. And we
have no reason, beyond the general rea-
soning we have expressed, for expecting
more from pneumatic power than from the
other. 1t is in it's legitimacy. The strug-
gle Of ammonia IS like that Of an illegitimate
pretender without a drop Of royal blood
contendiDg with the heir royaLfor king
dom. Yet in political history these have
sometimes prevailed. How in science?