Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-02-09
The New Yorl, Atmospheric RairOad.

This novel method of transportation,
this immense human pOp-gun which
the learned and wise have decided is to
benefit New York city so much, is now
being rapidly constructed. Little has
previously been said of it, for the COM
pany, opposed to cheering before they
got out Of the woods, kept quietly at
work and transacted their business in
an unOstentatiOUs manner. Their reti-
cence and modest retirement was inn
mediaselY recognized as Outraging the
venerable characteristics of the city,
and the press therefore came down on
them.
The company was originally Organiz-
ed with a charter permitting them to
lay pneumatic tube down Broadway
for the transmission Of packages and
bundles; but additional tubes for the
transportation of passengers were soon
suggested and adopted. The eXcava-
tiOns are made with a circular knife,
forced through the soil by two hydraul-
ic pumps. The pumps are worked by
hand, and only four men are engaged in
eXcavating. The mason work follows
the shield and keeps it pace, and the
masonry is never more than six inches
behind the shield. There is no chance
for any earth to fall from the interven-
ing distance, and thus everything is rem
dered secure. The mason work is q per-
feet circle, executed by skilled masOns,
and of a thickness Of nine inches, Of
bricks on end, closely cemented and ac-
eurately fitted.
A substantial floor eighteen inches from
the lowest point of the bottom arch, will
be laid, and on this floor VIII be laid a
Aror Of, e.
three feet. The car traverses this track
and is to be made of wood and light
iron. 1t will seat eight persons, and the
fare, though not fixed, will be nominal
probably ten cents. The car, it should
be understood, will be closely fitted to
the tube, so that no air can escape
The car resembles a box made in the
shape of an Old-fashiOned wagon top
and has attachments and running gear
of the lightest description. AS many
cars as the public demand calls for will
be provided. Besides the car a small
tube of the diameter of two feet, made
of iron, viii run through the entire
length of the tunnel for the transporta-
ton of small packages, in the tube, be-
tween the tracks, on the bottom of the
tunnel.
With reference to propelling power,
some interesting statements were made
by the New York Herald. The engine
is manufactured by a prominent engin-
eer-Of eighty-hOTse power, a model of
compactness and symmetry. The en-
gines will be situated in the cellar of
Delvin's store, together with the boil
eTs. The blower is the main feature of
the whole affair, and will be the lungs
of the travelling public. Root is the in
u I'll,
forces the air behind the car into the
tunnel by two sectional fans, and sup
plies $4,000 cubic feet q minute, and is
one of the most powerful in the world.
1t does not work on the vacuum pIinci-
pie. Such a force will propel the car
one hundred miles an hour. No sound
takes place in the tube, as there will be
no resistance in front of the car of any
moment. The air, therefore, cannot be
compressed, because Of a free outlet.
The line will be broken into sections,
and there will be OppOrtune stations at
convenient points. Each blower will
have its own stated work to do, and as
two cars going in opposite directions
can not be placed upon the track, the
time tables will be computations Of eX-
treme nicely. No danger can be appre-
hended from the application of the
pressure principle, which is superior to
its antipOde, both in safety and power
The blower is now being placed in pos
itiOn, but the engines are not yet COM
pleted, The boilers, which are Of a new
design, are being made at Boston
There will be no conductors on the cars
but at the stations. The cars, which
are to be elegantly furnished and light
ed by gas, will be well ventilated, and a
delightful nook wherein to travel with
a velocity second only to Tightening. It
will take ten years to complete the
work in all its phases and branches.