Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-11-15


When the first line OF magnetic telegraph
that between Washington and Baltimore-was
constructed, the project was generally csnsid-
cred crazy one, and il is an absolute fact that
at least one member of Congress was defeated
OF reelection because OF having voted for the
small appropriation requisite for the eVperi-
ment. Another experiment is about being
made here in the national metropolis under the
eyes OF Congress, which may prove OF almost
equal value, and cause a complete revolution in
the internal commerce of this and other nations.
The pneumatic tube, about which 30 much has
been said within the past quarter of a century.
Will soon be constructed and put to
PRACTICAL TEST
between the Capitol and Government Printing
Office. Reference has heretofore been made in
The STAR to the project of Mr.. Albert Bris-
bane and brief description of the tube in
vented by him was given. Congress, il will be
remembered, at the last session appropriated
$4,000 to construct tube OF his patent between
the Capitol and Government Printing Office,
and as the work of laying il will soon be com
menced, there will no doubt be much interest
felt In Its completion and practical working
Pneumatic tubes are now successfully working
short distances In New York, London, Paris
and Berlin, but they are constructed on a diff
ferent plan from that OF Mr.. Brisbane, the
vehicle in those tubes being run on Wheels
while in that of Mr.. b: it is not, and conse
Brisbane claims that he can transmit packages
through tube from New York to San Francisco
by hollow spheres in the tube and exhaustng
the air from the other end from that in which
the sphere is started, thus creating a vacuum
causing the atmospheric pressure OF Is pounds
to the square inch to drive the sphere through
rapidly.
THE INVENTOR
is an elderly gentleman over sixty years OF age,
tall but very thin with grey hair and side whis-
kers, and a thoughtful cast Of countenance. he
has given wears of study to his plans, and talks
with much earnestness about his project and
q lrft ha &c % .Is
"Why, Sir" ne SAID TO our reporter, " will
bring wheat from San Francisco to New York
in few hours. will make complete revo-
luton in the commercial world"
Reporter-What size tube would you require
TO transport packages from San Francisco?
Mr.. B-Twelye feet diameter Will answer
every purpose.
Rep-But your tube will cost more than =
railroad?
Mr.. B.-No, sir, not as much
Rep.-How about getting over the mountains:
you are compelled TO preserve a straight line in
laying the tube. are yon not?
Dir. B.-NO, sir, up hill or down hill makes
no difference to me- WHY, sir, have stsrted
at rest and thrown the sphere up an angle of
forty-hye degrees, simply by exhausting the air.
In Buffalo they have an ordinary tube OF six
inches diameter, one end Of which they insert In
vessel loaded with wheat and exhaust the air
nom 1nt the Other end in the top of the building
wheat. Runs right up the tube,
DON'T YOU SEE?
Why, sir, all transportation is to be revolu-
uonized by this pneumatic tube. The man at
the tube in Buffalo told me that he could not
only carry up wheat, but could carry Nh a KEY
of single nails, simply BY exhausting the air
Rep.-If YOUR tube between the 1snitoI ANA
Printing ONCE works successfully what will be
your next effort?
Mr.. BIO construct one 10 Baltimore inrne-
diately, and carry the mails Though in.
Kep.-H0w large tube will you use?
Mr.. B.-Four feet In diameter and will take
the mails from the post Office here and deposit
them in the Baltimore post Office in 80 minntes
at least. You see six stout horses are raouirad
to draw a car through Baltimore. Put that car
in a pneumatic tube exhaust III air from ~
other end, and a child can start n WHY sir in
q tube perfectly air tight can send bail from
mere 70 fk!aSpnia simply by exhaustng the atr.
nMeppn" r. Ti,a WIEN you success.
ONLY follow the isws of n atnre hy -n Ia zee 1
the world Is a sphere, til. -slng sphere,
and ali powers OF planets are spheres,
the sphere .o &C u are gose1ned oy
NV bree. am no enthuslssi. Don want
accid- nj sbot orS S nl meuals. ~ was oy
snC ny that discovered this, and II II proves
s VI then VIII be content TO know that
tronsncr, ~. = oe Ut 10 panklnd. viii cheapen
dojia1s bera, 'e ~ nne,e, anu insh9 nour Tour
eynssc, 70 m.I .uis tupe u sIua.i. don
60 .Apeot W make any thlhg out want Congress
" ECU 'ne Pfacucai Workings OF the tube.
THE CONTRACT.
Tie work Of laying the tube between the Cap
itol and the Government Printing office was
placed under the superintendence of MI Clark.
architect OF the Capitol, and that officer entered
into contract with MIR. Brisbane last spring,
| the latter being required to furnish ali ma
chiDery, materials and labor necessary for its
construction and proper working. 1t ia to be
| laid along north Capitol street, from three to
ten feet below the surface, care being taken 10
preserve Q straight line as far as possible He
is to replace resod, and put in proper condition
the streets, parks and bridges along the line OF
the tube; to supply and put in place all the ne
cesesry fans and blowers to exhsu.t the air; and
to furnish proper steam engines to propel the
same; it being understood that in order to pre-
vent multiplicity of machinery the engines at
the Capitol and Government Printing office NAV
be usea for that purpose If found practicable.
HOW 1T is MADE.
The tuhe is made a, Mn. CO.. .. 49,,
49, - VI pm SAVES Vi unree vi
iouI incnes Wiotn, one men thick, put together
| in circular form, and securely fastened with
heavy iren hoops placed at intervals of t,ur
| or fiye feet, Several coatinus or tSist 49,,
are then wrapped around it to MAKE If nsr.
fectly air tisht. and the tnhs ia nIacsd j.; a.
trench securely hacked in c,av Refo,a :, -
put together. boweyer the woosan Storss - ~ -
Subjected 10 \ steam eIhanstiop Of % noy',
pressure TO the SQUARE inch. which Syix,s aat
| the san and con1eaIs the aihumen IT,, ole
| then boi!ed in a SrenaTation Of rns;r any i S-0
sead oiifo ynaLa e., 80 ~