The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-05-06
Tho Invention which is to Revolution,
f.e the steam systcm--A Maiir eau
Tr.,n Propelled by Electricity--One
urncrcd Miles per Hour!
Nashville fTenr.) Ban

From the Nashvlilo tcnu'1 o1hhee'
The committee Of sciennnc gentlemen al,'
nointed by tho Board Of managers OF the
Nashville Industrial Exposition to consult
With the inventor of the Lightning railroad,
made the following report to the Board on
Friday evening. The report has caused con-
siderable expression, and was extensive,
talked about yesterday In the city. 'tI :"
view 10 satisfy the generally-expresscuJ I'LL .,Ao
iety on the part Of the public, we vlst. ~
Inventor, who very courteo'ls'E eAn'o ond &c
us his model of the railway sha Sau, "" hs
far as he could. without COMPROMISING nlS
INTEREST I'm the natent-ot1ce, the clcctflc en-
cine and the way in which he appiled II
q nroneI the cars. Il is very simple Ut
r,nrensnt and the only wonder to Us Is
.hat Tho discovery has not been made be-
fors The engine Is composed OF num-
49, ~ magnets. so as to obtain motive
,,o,rer Of eight hundred and fifty pounds. OF
q one-horse power. The al1natllre Is maze 10
work similar to the pitman OF sewlng-ma-
chine, and takes the place OF the piston OF
steam engine. This works by breaking and
closing the circ,,it-by the manipulation OF
short, easy.working lever, worked easily BY
the fingers of the hand, and SO fast that the
movement at either extremity is imperccpt.
bic to the eye, but makes it appear rs sohd
niece. like O red-hot rod or burning stick al,-
pears If moved rapidly by the hand, beauti-
ful phenomenon often INDUCED in by chill.
,irsn. This ar7nature rapidly turns driv.
ine-wheel, similar to that upon Hoes print
Ing presses, by which an additional power Is
obtained by its momentum, and this works
the wheels under the car, which propel II at
o very rapid rate. The road being elevated
upon single row of poles, it is as level as q
die, and the cars arc consequently moved
with the greatest ease. The engine, working
as fast as Lightning, the cars can be driven mt
q tremendous rate Of speed. We should
think one hundred miles per hour would be
easily made, but they can be driven as slow
as desired.
The inventor designed his invention to be
used in carrying mails and express packages,
which can easily be done Mt the rate OF one
hundred miles per hour, but the elcctro-mag-
netsm as motive power for small machine
~ will make the invention more useful and
important.
The model exhibited to lis shows the road,
upon poles set In the curbstone or edge OF
the pavement, with safe and easy stairway to
ascend to or descend from the cars. The
single line of poles supports double track
for cars to run in opposite directions: the
telegraphic lines of the different companies
and of the fire-alarm telegraph and gas lamps
to light the street. 1t is made very light so
that it will not obStruct the street, but add to
its beauty, and do away with the old-tashion-
edtramway street cars, the dread of owners
of vehicles. and the impeachment of CONNER
cial intercourse in all cities. The cars will
run noiscleSsly, and are the very thing need
ed upon Broadway, New York, and all
crowded thorouehfares,
Mr.. William D. Gentry, the author Of this
wonderful invention, is the manager OF the
Pncitic and Atlantic Telegraph office in this
city; has been practical telegraph operator
for twenty-five years, and is one OF the old
est operators now living. He has devoted
eight years to the development of this in
vention, and we hope he will now reap the
reward of his labors.
A working model, large enough to carry
passengers or freight, will soon be put into
practical operation.
NASHVILLE, April &c, 1S72.--C. R. Parsons,
ESQ.,, President: Sir,-Your committee APP
pointed to see Mr.. Gentry in relation to his
proposed elevated street railroad wish to
make the following report:
The committee met Mr.. Gentry at his OF.
fee, and inspected the model he had pre-
pared to illustrate the principle Of his in
vention, and from the explanation he gave
we are very fayorably impressed as to the
feasibility Of the scheme, especially for large
cities and crowded thoroughtales.
The propelling power for cars is supplied
by the agency of electricity, produced by
galvanized batteries at intermediate stations,
and utilized by powerful magnets attached
to the cars that can be purchased Mt low
price. From the explanation we received
from him we are induced to think the sys-
TEN practical; the model was too small to
form any opinion from, and considering the
short time from now to the opening Of the
exposition, do not think 1t advisable for your
Board to incur any expenses in order to test
its merits.
We desire to thank Mr.. Gentry for his
courtesy, and wish him ample success in the
development Of project that may be found
of 80 much intrinsic value, and to which he
has evidently given so much anxious and
well-directed thought.
Il. NJ. BRENNAN, -
GEORGE II. BARRY,
j. III. THATCHER,