Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-10-11
A NEW INVENTION.
A Very Cheap Railroad.


A Mr.. D. B. james, of Visal1, Cali
fornia, claims to have discovered an in
vention for very cheap railroad, and
one that is perfectly practicable. He
writes to the Public Good paper pub
lished at Hanford, California, as follows:
VIsALIA, Sept. II, 1878.
Ed. Public Good: Il send you in
this brief description of my latest i'm
provement in two.wheel railroad ears
and track. I have lately patented a
great improvement on my railway in-
vention-entirely different from that
described on my circulars. My cars
have only two broad-faced wheels in a
line with each other at each end of the
car, and each wheel has fanee in the
center, and fat bearing surface on
each side of the flange Oft inches. The
platform, which carries either freight or
passengers, is swung on trunions sup
ported in line with the Hanges or CEN
ter of the wheel. The load of the car
adjusts itself to the center of gravity.
1t can be built (the track for less than
81 1000 per mile on level ground. 1t
has everything to recommend its intro-
duction for speed, safety and economy.
If anything can be done, [ will furnish
all the Information in detail and models.
Everyone who has seen the working
model give it their decided approval,
and pronounce it as great invention
certain of success. | am now in cores
pondence with many of the most proml-
nent men in this State in regard to its
introduction; and if your people and the
people Of Santa Barbara want railroads,
my invention is the best and cheapest
ever proposed.
The plan Of road is to use wood for
rails, the top rails OF ribbons lxI are to
be dipped into hot asphaitum and tar,
but the rail can be shod vita strap iron
if required, as 1t would be for street
railroads. But bearing surface CT /
inches on each side OF the iilnge would
not wear the wood any more than iron,
sad the hne of travel of the wheels
would never very half an inch. The
wi lth of the face of the wheels gives the
rest CT the trunons Il positive base. One
Of the two wheels Of the car is mounted
on piyots SO that the car can make any
curve.
believe that fifty thousand dollars
will build railroad upon my plan frou
Hanford and Lemoore to Watson's Fer.
ry the San Joaquin slough and also paJ
for sufficient rolling stock to run the
road, and that grain can be taken by
; this route to tide water for two dollar.
, per ton, and the difference in the amoun
paid out in freight In one seasons croI
will build the road.
t The editor Of the -PN5}ic GOOD, 7. j
Sutton, formerly editor of the Bois
& World endorses this invention in TIL
e following manner:
o. Mr.. D. Is. James, of Visalia, himsel
e a practical engineer, has invented an
t patented railroad, which is destine
: to reyolutionize( railroading Throughout
Il the world 1t is single-track road
: which can be constructed aud operate
!. so cheaply, that wherever it is adopte
:, all other roads will be compelled to tea
# their tracks up and ship them away fc
;, old iron. Not only can Mr.. james ope
q ate the road SO cheaply as to defy con
: petition, but the cost of construction
will be as one to forty in favor of tn
new road. That is to say Where tn
n construction of the c. ?. r. r. Co
$40, 900 per mile, to build, Mr. Jane
,r road will cost one thousand. The equi!
1t mcnt of his road will also be niue
cheaper than that of the old, so th'
- where the G. p. K. r. now charge 81
,e per ton for shipping, Mr.. James can g
rich by shipping for ST per ton.
If what Mr.. James claims for this i
er veutIon can be substantiated, it will not
nj difficult matter to have our great whe
rd country east of the Cascades, soon b
T come complete net work of railro'
,g lines. We shall expect to have mo
ry convincing proof of the practicability
this invention, because if there be me-
oy in it, the interests of the whole count
lis demand that it be fully demonstrate
vn -
y. AT Ir.-The Iddhoan accuses t
y | World of TREASON to namocratic nrin,