New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-02
Novelty IN LOCOMOTlON.
Car Wheels Gliding Over 4 Revolving
Trnck.

The demand for quick transit in New
York ely has brought out many ingenious
inventions. The latest is that Of General
InboG"n Of Richmond. Virginia. which can
scarcely 1e described without illustrations
The structure. Or carryIng-way, Is to be Il
wire suspension bridge, running the whole
length o. the city, supported by iron col
rlnns ere hundred feet apart, twenty tive
feet high, resting upon granite pcdestas on
the line OF .he cuvbstoncs on both SIDES
Of Tie street. \ light ornamental arch
springs from the top OF these columns, and,
spanning the street, supports the iron piers
over which the wire cables are stretched.
One o. these cables is over the axis OF the
street, the other two are half way between
this and the supporting columns. lmnc-
diatclv under these cables, and attached to
them, are the .lides to which the tracks are
suspenGed-one for the down trains, and
the othe. for the trains going up town. The
track or roadway is the most striking nov
city Of the invention. 1t is composed Of
pairs of rollers similar to ear wheels secured
upon suitable axle, which revolves upon
ordinary friction rollers. This rotary track
has its wheels ten feet apart, ana under il
the ears are suspended by rails thirty-two
feet long that glide over the rollers 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 undulatiOns OF a boat.
The motive power is supplied 10y sta
tionary engines, located in buildings or un-
der the streets. These engines are one
mile apart, and propel an endless wire
cable or chain around light horizontal
drums, sixteen feet in diameter. The at
tachment to the car is SO simple that boy
ten years old can work it, and the cable is
so constructed as not to be liable to get out
of order or break; but if such an accident
should occur Il new cable being ready, can
be put in in a lew minutes.
The cars are intended to be thirty feet
long and ten feet wide, divided into three
compartments, and seating comfortably
forty-two passengers each. They may run
sinClv or in trains, and safely at the rate of
thirty miles an hour. The stations it is
proposed to locate at about equal distances
OF a mile apart: and, spanning cross streets,
they will obstruct no business place. The
bottom OF the ears will swing sixteen feet
above the surface Of the street. thus clear
ing all the stages and wagons passing under
them. General Imboden claims that the
operation OF the road will be almost noise
less. and not likely to brighten horses.
The whole structure is light. graceful and
ornamental, and does not Obstruct the
street any more than telcg raph poles, which.
by the way, as well as lamp posts, may all
be dispensed with and this structure used
instead. Superior cheapness speed, safety
and capacity are claimed for this novelty,
as well as that it will require the minimum
amount of power and can never be a nuis-
ance to foot passengefsn nor to the occupants
of houses along its line. 1t in no wise re-
sembles the two Othe4 elevated railways in
New York.-Jcrsey Gin Times.