The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-08-14
A NEW STREET CAR.
Tracks TO be Dispensed WIth..A
Cincinnati InveniiOn.

Tracks TO be Dispensed WIthssA
Cincinnati Invention.
trrJm the Cincinnati Gazette, Ilth)
Much had been done for the accOmmo-
datiOn of the public when our present sys.
TEN u street cars was put into successful
Use. But tho tracks in our streets have
ever been considered hindrance to trav-
eli OF every other sort Ihan that OF the
cars themselves. Mr.. q. 81. Murch, Of
this city, now comes forward with an In
ypuliOn which is intended 10 furnish all the
accommodations Of tho street railway,
and Mt the same, TO do away with the
track. Instead Of overcoming the resist
unCe in drawing by smooth iron rail lor
il 10 run on, The draught Is overcome by
Ihu sizs Of the wheels And the size Of
the wheels is the whole principle inVolV'
cd 10 this new departure; but many
other matters necessary ~ the com
tort Of the passengers had TO be
adapted to this great diameter Of
tho wheels. For the past three months
Mr. MurCh has been busily engaged in
constructing model car, and on Satur.
day evening this model was given trial
un Bank and the neighbOring streets. In
appearance the car, as whole, Is like un'
10 nothing that we have ever seen. The
body Of the car Is similar 70 that oI the
ordinary street car 1t has but one plat
form, with steps at either side, and Is no
higher than other cars. The front wheels,
six feet in diameter, with platform for
The driver, are independent Of the rest oi
tue car, so far as can be while coupled 10
il. and turn lust as the front wheels oil a
common carfiage. The weight ofthe car
with ils load, rests chiefly on the bind
wheels, which tower up ninc feet in diam
rVer. The axles drop in such way that
the load Is far below the center ot the
wheels, and all danger Of upseIdng Is
avoided. The wheels are Ol iron anu
similar 10 the wheels Of our fire engines,
with long brass hubs and two rows Of
spokes. The track Of the front wheels Is
tho same width as that OF a common bug,
Nv, while that OF the hind wheels Is much
more than the width Of the car itself.
The test that was made on Saturday
evening proved fully as successful as
could have been expected. Two or three
faults were discovered, sono Of which
hE6 edblly IClllGulCut huN AAAS peAAS AANSA
tive skill which has developed the plan
may be trusted 10 overcome the Others.
The springs wGre not properly adjusted,
and the car rode ON the axle, giving The
passengers rough ride. After the springs
had tirst been set, they were lowered, and
tan be easily made oi use by raising them
again. A great number OI uninVited
guests were crowded on the rear plat
inrn, and, as the load Ia front was moth
log iu comparison, the car lripped 80
much as TO interfere, in some way, with
the coupling. As Americans who travel
have faculty OF bestowing themselves
where they please, 1t will be necessity,
almost, that the car DO 80 perfected az 10
allow the people to ride wherever they
see 6L With these failiDRs remedied, and
other improvements which experience
alone can suggest, there is nothing 10
hinder the success Of Mr.. Aurch's inVcn-
ton. The draught, which was the maiA
thing 10 be looked 10, is light. With
more passengers on board than the 8. T.
c. A. would perhaps ALLOW, the two
hones pulled the car without any strain
ing Whatever. In q lew days the car,
with the improvements suggested BY this
trial trip, will appear on the streets again
and every man may then see for himself