Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-05


The successful employment of compressed air
as a motive power at the Mont Gents and
Hoosac tunnels suggests the use of the same
agent as a safe, convenient and efficient motor
Of machinery in general, and especially in cities.
It is not strictly correct to speak of compressed
air as a motive power; it is rather a medium by
which power, generated or made available,
where it is cheapest or most convenient, may be
stored for an indefinite time and transferred to
the place where it is needed. Its use for this
purpose in tunneliag grew ont o. the peculiar
difficulties Of the situation Something more
eiIicient than human or animal labor was plainly
needed if the work was 10 be finished within the
lifetime Of the present generation. Water
power was abundant near at hand, but could
not, of course, be carried into the tunnel
portable steam engine, to be moved along with
the work, was out of the question, because it
would be impossible to get rid of the smoke and
steam if for no other reason, and to convey
steam in pipes from a boiler at a distance is
impTacdeable, because of the waste and loss of
power by condensation, even if the pipes arc
protected as well as they can be. 1t occurred to
the Italian engineers that the abundant water
power might be made to drive pumps compress
ing air in a large reservoir, from which it might
be led in air-tight pipes to the point where its
energy was needed.
This solved the problem. The new apparatus
was found to work admirably. 1t was perfectly
manageable and efficient, aud had the additional
merit of providing ny its own action an abundant
supply of fresh air for the workmen A means
OF conveying power in variable quantities to
considerable distance from the place where it is
generated has long been desired, but the various
means emplo"ed for that purpose, such as pass
Ing steam through pipes, the use Of long shafts
or bands, are clumsy and inefficient or wholly
impractieable where the distance becomes great.
But air may be conveyed in pipes to an indef-
mite distance without loss. ANY one can see
that it might be decidedly convenient and
economical, especially for those who need
comparatively little power, 10 have it dis
tributed from a central reservoir in pipes
like gas, so that any user NAV turn
it on or off at pleasure. A New York paper
is sanguine that the waste of water power at Nj
agara Falls and other cataracts, may be utilized
by water wheels, and the proper machinery for
condcnsing sir in a tank from which it may be
sent out in pipes 10 any distance required.
Some calculations have led to the belief that the
equivalent of horse power, which now costs,
where steam is used, in New York, about $3.50
per year, can be furnished from the reservoir of
condensed air for about twelve dollars. The
cost Of laying and maintaining conducting pipes
would add something to this expense, but could
not increase it very materially. Even the rise
and fall of the tides, it is suggested, may be used
10 compress air cheaply, and in such cities as
New York steam should be superseded alto
gether as a motive power.
The pressure of air needed is said TO be about
seven atmospheres, With the air engines no
fires, of course, would be used, there would be
no danger from violent and destructive explos-
joins, and especially in such work as loading and
unloading ships, hosting goods in warehouses,
working the elevators in hotels, and other opera
tons in places where safety from fire or ex-
posion is the fist requisite, this agent could be
nsed, if cheaply furnished, to great advantage
II would be rash to conclude that compressed
air viii not soon be put to these uses as sub.
stitute for steam, although there are some obvi.
ous and other less apparent difficulties in the
way. But that the machinery of New York city
will be moved by the agency of reservoir of
compressed air at Niagara or by means of the
tides in the East and North rivers, is prediction
that we are not prepared to accept with conf
dencp