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

mechanical point Of view it is the introduction OF
new principle in, and tho commencement OF a new
method of locomotion and transportation
A few more explanations Of details VIII complete
the description of the system.
The Tubes do not require to bo buit as may AT rst
be supposed, with any very great degree OF strength
as the pressure of the atmosphere upon them VIII De
trining. Not a hundreth part OF a complete exhaus-
ton of the air will be necessary to establish cur
rent strong enough to prope the spheres with all the
speed required. The real strength needed Will be
secured by resting the tubes on line Of beams.
The Spheres on arriving at their places Of destna-
ton. will be stopped by succession of brakcs.on
springs. padded to prevent abraSon and by royers-
ing the current of air. creating air-cushon.
against which the Spheres are gently brought TO
stand.
The velocity at which the Spheres will move may
be safely estimated double that which Is attained
by the locomotive at its highest speed; this would
give a velocity of from $50 to 200 miles an hour
which estimate will be found no exaggcration.
1t will he thought by that the objects inside
the Sphere will whrl with it and be broken. This is
an error High rotary motion, with its centrifugal
action, will keep everything in its place Besides, the
Spheres will be packed tightly. Unequal loading, TO
a moderate extent, will produce no effect, as the
Spheres in their rapid revolution equaze weight and
establish perfect center of gravity.
The mechanical means of eXhausting the air in the
lines of tubes so as to establish promptly a cur
rent is discovered, and be easily applied to the
largest tubes The offer is made to construct a ma
chino that will empty 100000 cubic feet of air per
minute, which is more than sufficient for any wants
now anticipated.
The construction OF pneumatic tubes above ground
described, of large size (scyen to eight feet i'll
diameter, with the equipment of Spheres, will cost
il is estimated $4,000 mile the right of way not
included.
To form a clear conception of the new system of
Transportation in practical operation. let the reader
picture to himself Line of the Tubes running from
New-Yor1 to Philadelphia, supported on framework
or piers Then let him imagine the hollow Spheres
little less in diameter than the Tubes to clear
the sides in rolling-paced in the mouth at one end
and the air exhausted at the other by an air-pump
worked by steam AS soon as the exhaustion
Of the air is effected to some extent, its
equilibrium in the Tube is disturbed, and a
current then sets in, which, striking the Sphere
and with force proportional to its diameter
carries it rolling to its destination. In the pneu-
matte tubes of London 10 tuns carried 40 miles
hour with pressure of six to the square inch
(lhe pressure under complete exhaustion, is 10
pounds to the square nch) If this pressure of six
ounces sufficient to overcome the friction OF the
carwheels and of alright piston that drags the
cars. it is evident that pressure vastly less will be
sufficient TO prOpe the spheres (which rolled not
slid with great Velocity their smooth, concaye
rail. The pressure on a sphere of six feet damater
under complete exhaustion is about $1,000 pounds.
Now less than 100 pounds will be sufficient to drive
the spheres. The with which a current strong
enough TO roll them at high rate Of speed can CON
sequently be easily conceived. 1t is also evident
that ocomotion aud transportiOn on other plan
can be effected with so little power.
With these explanations, minds accustomed to the
examination of principles and abstract facts, can
form conception of the system, and a judgment of
its practicability and value.
GENERAL RESULTS THAT WILL Be ATTAINED.
In closing, we will glance at some of the most gen
| eral results, which are, we believe, to follow
from the introduction Of this new system of trans
portaton. 1t will do for the exchange Of products
what the magnetic telegraph does for the exchange
of thought that is it WILL for all practical purposes
of commercial exchange, annhilate space, and place
the industry and commerce of the world in possession
Of the means of universal and rapid communication.
By it, the temperate and tropical regions will be
brought into close proximity and their products
exchanged in their natural state the mountain re-
gOns Of the world will be penetrated and their now
inaccessible treasures reached; tho deserts crossed
and the outlying regions of the earth at present
severed from Intercourse opened to relations with
the great ceners As Nature I'm her storehouse Of ele
ments forces, and principles, has reserved TO man
! the means of cfiecting the instantaneous transmits
sion over the globe of his ideas So we believe she
has reserved TO him the means of ellectng in a man.
ner relatively as efficient the exchange of the pro-
duets which his wants and industry require. She
has no more left mankind without the agents or Or
gans it requires for accomplishing its industrial and
commercial destinies, than She has left the indiyid
nal man without the organs he requires for the exer
else Of the functions Of individual life.
An age that has seen the Atlantic Cablel laid the
Sucz Canal dug, the Pacific Railroad built sboulJ
have contracted ideas of mans Industrial powers
and capacity. Great lines of Pneumatic Tubes could
lie easily and promptly constructed over the import
ant parts of the earths surface; they could be con-
sfuctcd north and SOUTH between the zones so as TO
bring them together they could be run through the
mountain regions of the earth, where Nature has
laid up her greatest stores of mineral wealth. and
where tho railroad cannot 90 they could be carried
over great marshes, in which it would be necessary
only to drive a comparatively few piles; they could
be carried across deserts. which would offer seri-
Gus obstacles 10 their construction working they
could be used in sterile regions, destitute of wood
aud water. where the railroad cannot DO worked II
constructed