Middletown transcript., 1870-03-05
A New Invention.

Quite a revolution will probably be
made in the transportation of produce, and
of many descriptions of merchandise, and
possibly of the mails, by newly invented
system of sphere locomotion, patents for
which have been obtained in this country
and Europe. The invention consists in
the application of the sphere instead of the
wheel to the Pneumatic Tube tracks. We
use this word for want of more express
sive one, TO describe the tubes which
are now in established use in London
for the transportation of mails and pack
ages, atmospheric pressure being used in
stead of steam as locomotive power.
At present a line of rails is laid within
the tubes, on which cars run. A decided
saving of propelling power is thus effec-
ted, and the tubes running under ground
afford every facility for rapid transportation
through crowded districts.
But there is still the same difficulties
arising from axle friction, wear and tear,
breakagc and other causes which are neces-
sarily inseparable from wheel locomotion.
1t is now proposed to do away with the
wheeled car and the rails, and to use the
hollow sphere as the vehicle of transporta-
ton. These spheres can be of any diam
eter, from two to ten feet, and will be
made of cast steel, turned with precision
SO as to roll smoothly. They can be load
ded with grain, oil, meats, and, indeed,
anything else which can be packed tightly
and distributed so as not to disturb the
centre of gravity too much. The Pneu-
matte tube will furnish smooth and solid
passage way, free from dust, dirt or other
distractions, and protected from rain and
snow. Tubes can be cheaply constructed
above ground, supported on posts and
piers. They can be made of wood, the
planks being tongued and groved and the
joints cemented
This need not be unusually strong, as
the atmospheric pressure required to move
the spheres, at velocity more rapid than
that obtained by the steam engine, would
only be few ounces to the square inch.
Indeed, when the system is perfected, the
sphere will probably be projected at double
the speed of the fastest express trains.
Already in London ten tons are projected
forty miles an hour by pressure of six
ounces to the square inch, the pressure
upon the atmosphere under complete ex-
haustion being, as is well known, fifteen
pounds to the inch, The difficulty of
stopping at the points of destination will
be overcome by succession of brakers or
springs, and by the creation of air cushions.
The system is, of course, in its infancy
1t is impossible, however, to predict tho
great results to which it may lead 1t
certainly strikes one as being a vast i'm
provement on the present pneumatic sys-
TEN, and when experience has taught the
proper method of loading the spheres care
fully, so as not to disturb the centre of
gravity, and not to injure the cargo. no
matter how delicate, we can have perisha-
BILE fruits of the tropics, game from the
praires, gold nuggets from California and
newspapers, letters, and even greenbacks
and stock certificates, shot through to us
from all points of the continent with a
speed and safety which we cannot hope to
obtain by the present system of steam and
railway transportation.