Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-08-27

q" Inssr.asnS and Important PreJsei.

For nearly two centuries the idea of tram
mt.'ng matter throuy h pneumatic tubes IA
occupied the attention Of scientid; men, but
practical test was made until 1out slNty year,
ago. Repeated tr.a's h we been made but nonso
them have amounted ~ much. In New York
there g pneumatic railway for short distancs =
to carry packages, and in LONDON, Paris, aud
Berlin there are several pneumatic tubss for
delivery of packages, which have been worked
succe sfuliy. The amount of time aud .rouble
laved in this way is really immense; the 4 =.
patches pass from one place - another At an aver
age rate somewhat under a mile a minute, aud
arrangements have also been made SO that the
same tube answers for several distinct stations.
Some months since, Mr.. Albert Brisbane, aft 4
repeated eNpCri men+s, claimed that be could
transmit packages through tube of any length
by hollow sphere travelling in the tube, simply
by eXhausting one siN-hundredth part of the
atmosphere in the tube thus creating a vacuum
which would cause the atmospheric pressure At
the other end - drive the hollow sphere through
the tube
WITH LIaHTNING SPEED.
His calculations and experiment were exhibited
TO the House committee on appropriations, ant
NJ On the recommendation Of that committee. an
appropriation of $1,000 was made by Congress
at the last session, to CONSTRUCT pneumatic tube,
OF his invention, from the Capitol TO the Gov
eminent Printing Office, the work 10 be done
under the supervision OF MIR. Edward Clark,
Architect OF the Capitol. In accordance there
with Mr.. Clark has entered into contract with
Mr.. Brisbane for the construction OF the tube
between the buildings above named, by way OF
NoTlu Sapltol street, BRISBANE 10 furnish all
machinery, materials, and labor necessary for
| its cor struction and the proper working of it
The tube is TO be at least two feet in diameter,
/ dinner measurement to be laid under ground
and constructed of planks treated in boiling coal
| tar, or some equivalent method, to insure dura-
bility, and hoped with iron and screw-clamps
| He is 10 replace, resOd, and put in proper Gov
diton the streets, parks, and bridges along
| the line of the tube; TO supply and put in place
all the necessary fans or blowers 10 exhaust the
Air; and to furnish proper steam engine to pro-
| pei the same; ii being understood that in order
10 prevent multiplicity of machinery the en-
gires now IN the Capitol and printing office 10 ny
| DC used for that purpose, If found practicable.
HOW It IL To WORK.
The tube, az above described, will have a
sphere OF two feet diameter fitted therein
the inventor claiming that by using a sphere
instead OF railway carriage he avoids the /, +,
by friction and increases the power. He Their
puts an eShausting fan in the Capitol and an
other in the printing office, and packages to be
conveyed are placed in the hollow sphere, the
air is then exhausted by the fan al the other end
OF the tube, and he claims, as above stated, that
as soon as one siK-hundredtb of il is out, the
atmospheric pressure at the other end will drive
the ball and contents through the tube.
The inventor is now in New York preparing
the tube and machinery, and but a short time
will he required 10 put II in position when il is
brought here.