The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-18
uNDER-GRoUND TRANSPORTATION.
Pneumatic Tubes Against Railroads.
FREIGHT THROUGH TO NEW YORK.

When the first line of magnetic tele-
graph--that between Washington and Bal
timore-was constructed, the project was
generally considered q crazy one, and it is
an absolute fact that at least one member
of Congress was defeated of reelection be-
cause Of having voted for the small appro-
priation requisite for the experiment. An
other experiment is about being made here
in the national metropolis, under the eyes
of Congress, which may prove Of almost
equal value, and cause complete reyolu-
ton in the internal commerce of this and
other nations. The pneumatic tube, about
which so much has been said within the
past quarter of century, will soon be con-
structed and put to
A PRACTICAL TEST
between the Capitol and Government Print-
ing Office. Reference has heretofore been
made in the Star to the project of Mr.. AL
the tube invented by him was given. Con-
session appropriated Sl5 900 to construct a
tube of his patent between the Capitol and
Government Printing Office, and as the
work of laying it will soon be commenced,
there will, no doubt, be much interest felt
in its completion and practical working.
Pneumatic tubes are now success
fully working short distances in New
York, London, Paris and Berlin,
but they are constructed on DIFF
ferent plan from that of MIR. Brisbane, the
vehicles in those tubes being run on wheels.
while in that of Mr.. b. it is not, and conse-
quently much loss by friction is avoided.
Mr.. Brisbane claims that he can transmit
packages through tube from New York to
San Francisco by hollow spheres in the tube
and exhausting the air from the other end
from that in which the sphere is started,
thus creating vacuum, causing the atmos-
pheric pressure Of fifteen pounds to the
square inch to drive the sphere through
rapidly.
TIE INVENTOR.
is an elderly gentleman over sixty years of
age, tall but very thin, with grey hair and
side whiskers, and q thoughtful cast of
countenance. He has given years Of study
to his plans, and talks with much earnest
ness about his project and the glorious
results he expects to achieve.
"Why, sir" he said to our reporter, I" i
will bring wheat from San Francisco to
New York in few hours. will make
complete revolution in the commercial
world"
Reporter. What size tube would you
require to transport packages from San
Francisco !?
Mr.. B.-Twelve feet diameter will an
swer every purpose.
Rep.-But your tube will cost more than
railroad?
Mr.. B.--No sir, not so much.
Rep.-How about getting over the noun
tains; you are compelled to preserve u
straight line in laying the tube, are you
not.
Mr.. B.--No, sir, up hill or down hill
makes no difference to me. Why, sir, l
have started at rest and thrown the
sphere up ut an angle of forty-five degrees,
simply by exhausting the air. In Buffalo
they have an ordinary tube of fix inches
diameter, one end of which they insert in
a vessel loaded with wheat and exhaust the
air from the other end in the top of the
building ninety feet above the vessel, and
away goes the wheat. Runs right up the
tube,
DON'T YOU SEE?
Why, sir, all transportation is to be reyo-
lutionized by this pneumatic tube. The
man at the tube in Buffalo told me that he
could not only carry up wheat, but could
carry up keg of single nails, simply by
exhausting the air.
Rep.-1f your tube between the Capitol
and Printing Office works successfully, what
will be your next effort?
Mr.. BIO construct one to Baltimore
Immediately, and carry the mails through
il.
Rep.--How large tube will you use?
Mr., B.--Four feet in diameter, and L
will take the mails from the postoffice here
and deposit them in the Baltimore post
Office in forty minutes, at least. You see
six stout horses are required to draw a car
through Baltimore. Put that car in q
pneumatic tube, exhaust the air from the
other end, and child can start it. Why.
sir, in q tube perfectly air-tight l can send
ball from here to Patagonia simply by
exhausting the air.
Rep.-Well, wish you success.
Mr.. Bit must be q success, Sir. You
see | only follow the laws of nature by
using sphere, the world is q sphere, the
planets are spheres, and all powers OF loco
motion are governed by the sphere. am
no enthusiast. | don't want my breas,
covered wl,h medals. 1t was by accident
that discovered this, and if it proves sue
cessful then will be content to know thai
have been benefit to mankind. viii
cheaper transportation everywhere, ane
make flour four dollars barrel. The ap
preparation got from Congress to make
this tube is small. don't expect to MAKE
anything, but want Congress to see thu
practical workings of the tube.
HOW TT IS MAIZE
The tube is made of pine slaves of three
or four inches width, one inch thick. pu
together in circular form, and securely
fastened with heavy iron hoops placed a
intervals of four or five feet. Several coat
ings of thick paper are then wrapped
around it to make it perfectly alright, AM
the tube is placed in the trench securel,
packed in clay. Before it is put together
however, the wooden slaves are subjecte
to steam exhaustion of go pounds pressur
to the square inch, which drives out the sa
and congeals the albumen. They are the
boiled in preparation of rosin and linsee
oil to make them perfectly waterproof
The inside diameter will be thirty-on
inches, and that of the sphere thirty inches
The entire length of it will be 800
feet.
THE MACHINERY