New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-19

with the current of air. will not be mpeded in their
course by the resistance of the atmosphere The
tubes will be constructed very little larger than
the spheres, to allow them free passage metallic
rail or plate will be placed Toad-bcd on the bot
tom of the tube of a suitable width and slightly
concave to adapt it to the cOnvexty of the sphere
| From these explanations, it will be seen that the
| invention consists in employing hOlioW Spheres or
Globes Nth the load 10 be transported inside. operating IN
| Pneumatic Tubes
| Itisunnecessary to enter into details of cOnstruc-
ton and management. Suffice il to say, that lines OF
| Pneumatic Tubes can be cheaply and rapidly con-
structed through all parts ofsthe country. Straight
lines should so far practicable, he preserved; but
ascents are of but little consequence rs the spheres
when in rapid motion. will overcome steep grades.
The tubes may be placed under orNover ground, but
better over raised some fifteen feet i'll the air, and
supported on posts or piers. Wood is the best ma
teral with which to construct the tubes it would
not expand and contract with the heat and cold like
iron while it would be far cheaper. Narrow plapks,
tongued and grOoved, properly seasoned ana satur-
ated the joints cemented, would furnish the best
kind of material. BY system of way-statlons and
relays of powerat proper distances the Lines of Tubes
can be made to connect the towns and cities OF the
entire country effectng rapidly and cheaply trans
portation to and from all parts of it,
COMPARISON OF TIE WHEEL. AND SPHERE.
Having now presented. 4 general and practical
idea of the system, let MS examine the
Principle on which it is based and compare it with
that which underlies the one now in use. By this
comparisons it will be seen that the system com
prses the old within itself and is the completion of
it that it is the whole of which the latter is part
or fragment. To render this clear and evident We
Will compare the two forms in which the principles
are embodied, namely, the Sphere and the Wheel.
WHAT Is WHEEL 1t is a section of the Sphere.
Cut slice of any given thickness through sphere,
and a wheel is the result. Take two such slices
sections and hold them upright and together by an
axle-tree and the primary element of all wheeled
vehicles is obtained. Place box on the aXetree to
receive and carry the load and the simplest form of
the vehicle of transportation now used-namcly, the
CARTS produced. The wheels, placed at a certain
distance apart, furnish two points of support and
balance the vehicle which enables Il to pass over an
uneven surface Four wheels balance in front and
rear in addition to sidewise. Eight or more wheels
are used on railroads to enlarge the capacity of the
box, and to divide the weight on the rails. These
various combinations are but different forms of the
same thing, that is, sections of spheres held in a
vertical position by axletrees with boxes resting
the latter.
WHAT Is A SPHERE' 1t is a Whole, composed of
circles in all directions Comparing it to the
Wheel in order TO explain the relation exist
ing between them, it may be deiincd-an Integral
wheel AS a unit, made up of circles or peripheries
of wheels equally distant from common center it
possesses equal sides which, balancing each other
render the sphere self poised that it stands up
| right without the aid of axle support Possessing
| this property, it may further be defined, Self
! balancing wheel. Rolling its periphery as it
moves, and without the aid of the real AK lie, there Is
no rubbing hence no friction, neither at
! the center nor the circumference. so that it may
! be still further defined a FriciiOnleSs wheel.
| Uniting these properties, it may then be termed
excepting up the comparison instituted INTEGRAL,
! SELF-BALANCING FEICTIoNLEsS WHEEL, which is
constructed hollow to fit it for the purpose Of trans
pOrtation.
If we consider the two yehicles-the Wheeled and
| the Spherical-in their relation to each other. we
find that the former is composed of parts Of the lat
ter; hence less complete, and a consequence less
perfect. These parts, resulting from the sub-di-
vision of the sphere recOmbned with axle-trees, ell
able them to DO used the natural road-bed fur
nished by the earth, which was the cause Of their
being early resOrted to. From this, we that the
Sphere is to the Wheel what the wde is the part;
that it is more complete and higcfih its construc-
ton which gives il superior qualities rs a vehicle of
motion. The Sphere, in addition, acts as unit in
moving. If it varies slightly IN ITS course, III Nales
as but single body; while the wheel. if it varies on
its track draws its fellow wheels with IT, so that the
imperfection Of part is communicated to the whole;
this fact renders a very exact mechanical construc-
tion of wheeled vehicles necessary to permit any
great rats< speed and renders for the same reason
! high yelocites impossible
The vast superiority ID lle Sphere as vehicle of
motion cannot be doubted~sf he ease. precision and
rapidty, with which it can be mkde to move fit it
above all other forms as an instrument Of lOcOmO-
| ton The only feature that, on a first inspection,
may seem strange is the carrying Of the load inside.
But taking Nature again teacher, we find that
| in her higher animal and other organizations, the
load inside-whatevcr its nature-is the simplest and
most convenient mode of carriage The planets them
| selves may be said TO carry their loads inside.
Spheres or globes rolling OH smooth surfaces will BE
found also the most gentle method of transportation;
that is the freeSt from jolt, jar and shake which is
very important in the transportation of delicate
| tices such as fruits and many varieties Of wine.
spoiled by the shakage Of the present mode of car
rage. In Europe. many fine wines cannot be sent
! from the place where produced, owing to this
! defect.
! The vast economic problem Of a system Of rapid
! and cheap transportation is we hold, solved
! by the invention now brought forward. Viewing
the system il DroDOses from historical well IA