New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-12
WONDERS OF THE IRON CITY.
INVENTIVE GENIUs-sAFETY BY IAfL-THE WEST
INGH0UsE AIR.BRAKE.
tn fhs Editor Of Tribune.

cIangor and dirt and dinginess I'm all their fantastic
shapes whether this natural human familiarity with
the crude elements confirms the Darwinan philosophy
OF our origin not, unpreparod 20 says but the
aversion Of tho OF feow-croatures to any
controversy with dirt goes far TO show that thore must
be IN fascinating affinity between ourselves, animate ana
| our Mother Earth, inanimate.
The presence OF your correspondent In this famed city
OF smoke OF ron OF noise OF SCOT OF dirt induces these
| random reflections and II did not love and honor
Pittsburgh for her earnest practical illustration OF the
incalculabc importance of production in contrast to
that system which dscourages production and adyo-
Gates the bankrupting policy OF consumption first, pro-
duction aferward, 1 might be driven to some very
| gloomy criticisms her dark sky sooty sideways
\ dngy walls, and universal allabsorbng dirt.
But no patriot who loves his country and the happ
ness its growing. n6owlng generations moro than
sefshness contemplate these countless bechvcs or
skilled labor-these multitudnous works" where every
conceivable device and instrument that inventive genius
has given TO the epoch IL deity wrought were from
chaOs--wthOut a sensation OF Teverental awe. Few
scenes cheering to the live cosmOpolite than
broad harbor threaded and nteraced by the tracks Of
the coming and departing vessels; for where consrmp
and production permitted to adjust themselves
naturally and normally without undue stimulus, COM
is fair index OF public prosperity. But there is
one by far fascinating TO than commercial
Iife that H. productive manufacturing industry The
former suggests diminutOn; the latter, augmentation;
the one at the best bat negatye the other, positive.
And here find dear old dirty, thriving enterprsing,
smoky PIttsburgh-a vast complex, active productive
establishment, rife with the impulses OF progress ecm-
ing with the results OF ingenuity and skill
wish could discover crisp words in which TO picture
TO you the many of day'e ramble among the
manufactures of Pittsburgh. Despairlng OF this select
one splendid sample OF what abounds, and give You
sketches and facts concerning the most interesting
OF tho devices which I process Of manufacture
hIre to-lov In max thA md of IN Of
works" which cling 10 the sides of tina Allegheny and
Monon gahca hills and encompass She city, friend suS-
gcstcd that l stop and see the
wEsTISGHoUsg AIR-BRAKE.
My first impression of Grbrakc crude enough.
But found there invention scientific in all its fea-
tures-a device ingenious and yet so simple that it
shames you for not concoIyng it yourself while it ILLS
you with anaz mcnt and gratitude. The subject of an
accdent-preycntng car-brako l imagine to be one Of
great interest TO your readers for the millions who
demand safety in railway travel have long recognized
THE TRIBUNE their foremost champion.
What "a the Westinghouse ar-brakei All have heard
OF IL. Few, perhaps, have comprehensive idea Of it,
Every person who travels. who is interested in the
safety OF any who boards passenger railway train
is deeply. personally Interested In this wonderful car
brake.
DESCRIPTION or TIFF BRACE.
the right aide of the locomotive and ia full view Of
tho engineer air-pump +, fastened tho locomotive
frame. 1t propelled by drawn from the boiler,
IS oefaong and Is mOtonoSs only when the expansive
Of the compressed the reservoir which hangs
beneath tho "a cylinder of boiler iron suitable tho
dimensions of the locomove becomes equal to that OF
tho steam. Thus the pressure Of steam increases the
arpump works and the expansive f0rce OF compressed
air is augmented When the steam Il high and the pos
siblc demand for great fOrce OF the brake c0nse
queny increased, tho pressure OF steam and air in
the reservoir must correspond This relation of expan
siye force ia always maintained Pipes 10 cOsssy the
compressed air extend from the reservoir beneath the
locomotive cab back under the whole train. Midway
beneath each Is fixed cylinder, with piston CON
tryed TO act directly tho lever OF
tho ordinary mandrake and does not pre-
vent tho of the latter brake in conunc
ton with the arbrake. separate from it if required
The continuity of arpe between the IL preserved
by heavy rubber hose connected by most ingenious
brass coupling devised that when coupled valves are
OPEN ana the compressed air from the rosor-
unmpeded to exert its force; ii any arc de-
tached thereby sun1eng tho connecting pipe after the
force has beenapped tho coupling accommodates itself
to the exency by unOinting, valves instantly close
prccudng the escape of the compressed air and the
brake remains effective each separate Whcn the
engineer applies the brake Cby opening valve and
permitting escape OF the compressed from the
reservoir through the conducting ppcsJ its f0rco IA
excrtd simultaneously and equally upon every wheel of
the train Tue engineer Ia entire con.ro OF thn quantity
force exGrted, and graduate to satisfy the DC
mllI
oRIGIy AND FIRST PfAcTIcAL TESTS.
Tho inventor. Mr. G5Jrsr WcstiuE hoIse, is man
youug in years n native OF NV York. When a boy he
the theory OF the brake, AMI more nearly
fcctad it "a grew manhood Not unlike most great
inventors he lacked the money TO experiment upon AMI
practically introduce his invention. Conservative old
fogy gentlemen controlling railways replied with an
aud negative shake 81 the heal when asked 10 give
the brake a trial I remember the reply of a Railway
manager IS years ago request that he substitute
srfacng caGcoupler for the man-crushing in
Paddles are" BIt coming 10 Pittsburgh, Mr. Westing
house found live, sag,cious young OF capital. who
foreca ting the innImerabe benefits both to the travel
Ing public and railway companies which this improve
ment destined to secure stepped unhesatingy for
and enabled the inventor to realize the glorious
dream years The widcawake railroad officers OF the
network Of trunk lines centerng here always ready to
improve the modes OF transportation their rail-
gave every cement for fair trial OF this
new AMI curious device. That was two years ago In
the Spring Of 1869 patent Issued and, satisac
tory pump having been obtained after encountering
many difficulties. complete brake placed a
train Of the Panhandle road. The eagerness OF the
young and enthusiastic inventor may be imagined The
hope OF years hung in balance Would the first test
prove "a flurei The train dashed out Of Pittsburgh
the bridge MOnOngahea River the suspense
could be longer endured. There, above the pure
swiIliDg mountain waters the first test made II
was surprising, joyous SUGGEST And with the
hemence Of shout in voices matching Forests there
upon the air the familiar quotation: ." In the
bright lexicon OF youth there, .uci cord fail ;"
INTRODUCTION.
Very soon thereafter manufacturing company
organized, with Mr. George Westinghouse, Mr.. Ralph
Bag4!cy. and Mr. Robert Pitcairn as officers Brakes
were made and new trials hal These attended by
uninterrupted triumphs. The Pennsylvania Central
Railway the first to adopt substitute for all
other brakes, equip with the Westinghouse its
tire passenger service.
Responsive that natural impulse Of pro yressve
10 nj IL ihnrln