The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-03-15
A Novelty.
CARS WITHOUT WHEELS GLIDING OVER
A REVOLVING TRACK.

The demand for quick transit in New
York City has brou ght out many inge-
NOUS inventions. The latest is that of
General lmboden, OF Richmond, Vir-
sihia, which can scarcely he described
without illustrations. Tho structure
or carryingway is to be wire suspen-
sion bridge, running the whole length
OF the city, supported by iron columns
one hundred feet apart, twenty five
feet high, resting upon granite pedes-
tails on the line of the curb-stones on
both sides of the street. A light orna-
mental iron arch springs from the top
OF these columns, and, spanning the
street, supports the iron piers over
which the wire cables are stretched
One of these cables is over the axis of
the street, the other two are halfway
between this and the supporting col
umns. Immediately under these ca
bies, and attached to them, are the
glides to which the tracks are suspend
ed-one for the down trains, and the
other for the trains going up town.
The track or roadway is lie most strik-
ing novelty of the invention. 1t is
composed of pairs of rollers similar to
car wheels, secured upon a suitable
axle, which revolves upon ordinary
friction rollers. This rotary track has
it's wheels ten feet apart, aud under it
the cars are suspended by rails thirty
two feet lcng, that glide over the roll
ers with perfect freedom and safety.
Six strong elliptic springs connect these
rails with the cars, and will insure a
motion almost as soft as the undula-
tons of Il boat. The motive power is
Supplied by stationary engines located
in buildings or under the Streets
These engines are one mile apart; and
propel, an endless wire cable or chain
around light horizontal drums, sixteen
feet i'll diameter. The attachment to
the car is so simple that boy ten
years old can work 1t. and the cable is
so constructed as not to be liable to
get ont of order or break but if such
AN accident should occur. a new cable
being ready, can be put in in few
minutes.
The cars are intended to be thirty
feet long and ten feet wide, divided in
to three compartments, and seating
comfortably forty two passengers each.
They may run singiy or in trains, and
safely at the rate of thirty miles ill
hour. The stations it is proposed to
locate at about equal distances of half
a mile apart; and, spanning cross
streets, they will obstruct no business
place. The bottom of the cars will
| swing sixteen feet above the surface OF
the st Get. thus Gle lring all the stages
aud wagons passing under them
General Imboden claims that the oper-
alton of the road will be almost noise.
less and not likely to f,ighten horses.
The whole structure is light, grace
full and Ornamental, aud does not OBJ
struct the street any mole than tele
graph poles, which, by the way, rs wei
as lamp posts, may all be dispensed
with along the line and this structure
used instead. Superior cheapness
speed, s'fety, and capacity are Claimed
for this novelty, as we'll as that it VII
require the minimum amount of pow.
er, and can never be nuisance to foo
passengers nor to the occupants O
houses along its line. 1t in no wise re.
sembles the two other elevated rail
ways in New York Jersey City
Times.