The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-10-22

follows ffom Qaebec. relative to (.
railway brake which has recently been
introduced:
Z; The American Railtoay Journal, OF
2let OF June, 1873. says: "There never
was q more interesting trial of brakes
to stop train OF cars, than that which
took place lately on the Boston and
Maine Railroad. Two trains OF cars
were placed at the disposal Of tho COM
petitors. one having compressed air
brake. the other vacuum brake; to
each train were attached twelve cars
for tho first trial and nine cars for the
other; they started simultaneously on
two parallel lines-the result was thut
the vucaum brake stopped the train iu
the third trial in thirty-one secon %,
and In the fourth in twenty. six
seconds; iu several Of the trials the
compressed air brake had the advan-
tage of from two three seco Ids, but
some part of the machinery in the
vacuum having failed to work, the
judges could not agree, and the ques
tion as to the superiority of the brakes
was not decided. Last Saturday, u
large number Of intelligent and COM
several engineers. attended at Point
brake invented by Mr.. E. 0 Richard,
OF this CITY; the train Of cars placed at
the disposal cf the inventor, consisted
Of an engine, tender and three bag
gage cars, with about three to four
miles of road on which to run the
trim. The distance though short wns,
however, sufficient to allow the
locomotive the necessary speed. The
trials varied rs steam WAS kept up, in
some. one hundred and forty five
pounds of steam to tho square iuoh
we're carried by the eugiue, whilst the
brakes were being applied, and the re-
suit was always about the same-in
three or four consecutive trials, the
cars whilst running at from forty to
forty five miles per hour, were CON-
pletely stopped in from five to six
seconds, without the least shock or Jar.
No doubt, had the brake, which was
only temporary and nude in a hurry,
had the necessary strength to resist
the strain, tho train, even at that high
rate of speed, would have been stop
ped almost instantaneously. The
trial was resumed on Monday, but
unfortunately the chains aud hooks
Of the brakes were not sufficiently
strong. and gave way on Saturdays
trial, when the cars had been stoppcd
Mt seventy-fve feet; they were then
hurriedly repaired, aud it was found
that the brake on on3 side only was
capable of working in nn efficient man.
ner; nevertheless the oars we're stop.
ped in the space of twelve, ten and
eight seconds. Whilst on the Boston
and Maine Railroad, the trains,
although running at q less speed. took
longer time to stop. It is easily un.
derstood that the more cars the more
brakes will give resistance, the more
weight, the moro effect on the engine.
Notwithstanding the disadvantages,
aud that the machinery had been got
ten up in hurry aud for fret trial,
the result has been greatly, in fact,
three times superior, to that obtain
ed on the Boston and Maine road.
Moreover, there is another important
advantage, that Richards brake stops
the train even when some of the cars
are off the track, and the engineer or
driver OF the train is astonished to find
the train stop when he was not aware
VA tu0 AIoudD. MI. lSlCulru las also
another useful invention. known as the
car coupler, requiring no assistance
from any person on the train, the en-
gine merely backing, and the oars i'm
mediately couple themselves, even if
some part of the train were higher
than the other.
AL these Inventions. according to
the opinion Of competent persons, are
adapted to make quite revolution on
railways. Mr.. Richard has taken ont
patents in many countries, and re-
ceived most fattering Communications
from gentlemen of large railway expe-
rience and knowledge, who have seen
his brakes work. 1t is to be hoped
thut all railway companies will adopt
these inventions, as they are sure to be
protectors to the lives Of the employees
of the roads aud the travelling public,
aud also to the property.
COLUMBIA. S. G., October 2l, 1874
10 Tie Editor Of lie Ph,pnic-DEAn
SIR: Please announce that L cannot ac.
cept the nomination as n candidate for
the Legislature. ns rendered me by
MANY Conservatives, in your issue OF
yesterday. highly appreciate the
compliment, but AN unwilling to give
my aid to anything that Will bring
disaster to the good DeODIa and honast