The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-15
from the American Architect.l
Com I'm unfSr1 fn HEct Air.

Com TN unfSm fn hacG AIR
| In the course OF few years cross-sec-
ton taken through one Of the principal
thoroughfares OF one OF our cities may re-
veal a curious condition OF things below
ground. which may ut some future time fur
| nish food for discussion TO the antlQuaries
and archpologists OF the races that arctic
succeed us. Already are the sewers, which
are now looked upon Is the most important
aids to a proper condition OF hygiene in
towns and cities. sufficiently interfered
with bv the systems OF pipes, both gas and
water. which have to be avoided. Already
is traffic so much impcded by the closing OF
streets while drains, sewers, gas and water
mains arc undergoing repairs, that 1t seems
! TO he not improbable that traffic may be at
length driven from the streets altogether
! and be carried on upon suspended yiaducts,
elevated railways. or roads upon the house
tors. Suppose that beneath the streets OF
one CITY should be placed all the different
appliances which modern invention has con-
trived to meet the cXigeucics OF RAPID COM
mllnication, OF health, and OF the comfort
and convenience OF home-life; 1t would
be q matter OF the most serious study to
so arrange these different systems that
all might be readily reached for the pur-
pose Of repairs, and so that they might
not interfere with one another. Thus,
besides the sewers and gas and water
mains which all cities now have, city
might have its foundations honeycombed
by tunnels for underground railways, as at
London: by tubes for pneumatic dispatch,
as at Berlin; by tubes containing telegraph
wires, as at Paris; by pneumatic tubes,
which, as at Vienna, supply air to the pneu-
matte clocks; by pipes which furnish
houses and factories with steam, as is being
done at Lockport, N. Y, by Mr.. Holly; by
pipes which shall furnish houses, and more
particularly hospitals, with fresh air, as is
proposed by NJ. Autier. who has con-
triyed Il wefl-considercd scheme, which
there has been some talk Of putting
to practical test in the great build
ings OF the International Exhibition Of
1878, and il the system stands the test it is
10 be permanently applied to the hospitals
and public offices which are in that part OF
the city, and finally be so extended that any
one may have fresh air "Iaid on " as well as
gas or water. But besides being able to do
away with privy-vaults. pumps, lamps,
steam-gcnerators, bookcases, and open
doors and windows, the modern house
holder may in the future do without fur
nuccs, stoves, and open fires, II he so
chooses; for Mr.. William Bliss, OF Spring
field, Mass, after several years OF patient
study and perseverance,, has obtained 4 pat
ent upon system by which hot air is to
be furnished to consumers i'll any desired
UlIantv and degree Of heat from a central
station. The practicability OF the system
depends mainly upon the fact that COM
Dressed air retains and consequently can
transmit heat better than air under ordinary
pressure, which by the process OF heating
has become rarifed. 1t also has this import
ant property, that it can be moved in any
desired direction, and is not, rs is ordinary
heated air, restricted to an upward motion.
Condensing pumps, driven by steam or
water power, situated near the heating fur
mace, will force air through the furnace and
thence through the mains. II the pumps
are driven by steam saving is to be effected
in the cost OF generating the steam by
placing the boiler on top OF the furnace
which heats the hot-air pipes, so that the
heat in passing from the furnace to the
chimney must pass through the 1lucs or the
boiler and so generate steam.
AS 1t is likely that, in spite Of all precau-
tions that may be taken to prevent its loss,
it will be impossible to deliver heat Of srttti-
cient power at distant places, or at certain
places where an exceptional degree OF heat
is required, reheating furnaces are to be
established at different points upon the
main line where it may be thought neces-
sary. The mains and branch pipes which
offer the best chance for the loss of heat are
to be placed inside OF concentric sheaths,
the inter-space being filed with some non
conducting material.
Mr.. Bliss does not propose to blow hot
air into dwellings, but to cause it to circu-
late through pipes which shall heat rooms
by radiation as is now done by steam-heat-
ing, over which system the new one will
have manifest advantageous, for instance,
there will be no trouble caused by the
water OF condensation, which, besides the
unpleasant noise it occasions in the pipes,
is not unlikely to freeze and burst them,
and at any rate entails large outlay at the
time OF the installation in order to pro-
perly provide for its escape. Is is also said
that the cost of fuel for heating the air will
be much less than for obtaining the same
heating power from steam. Not only is
hot air to be provided for heating dwell
ings, but also for cooking and for indus
trial purposes; for the system looks to pro-
viding hot air under such pressure that
fans and bellows may be dispensed with
and the consumption OF fdel be materially
diminished. This pressure will vary some
what to the points ut which it is to be de-
livered. but will average about fifteen
pounds to the square inch, while the degree
OF heat will average about six hundred de-
greeS Fahrenheit. ..".