The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-04-27
A New S.rect.sgotor.
PNEUMATIC PREssURE-THE RESULTS OF
TRIAL, TRIP.

strect-cars OF this city seems about to reach
q solution. The SeconG-Avenue Railroad
Company will soon introduce on the upper
portion OF its route cars propelled by q
pneumatic motor, which has been perfected
during the past winter by the almost secret
labors in this city Of two Scotch inventors,
Messrs. Hardy and james. The de-
tails OF the invention can scarcely be eX-
planned without drawings, and, in any case,
may be safely left 10 engineers. What is OF
more general interest is the invention
viewed from the standpoint OF a passenger,
and that was fairly shown by trial trip on
Saturday last. AS the car started from
Sixty-ffth street for Harlem river it re-
quircd close examination to distinguish it
from an ordinary two-horse car without the
horses. The air reservoirs, like hot-water
boilers in house-ran@es, were almost con-
engines were totally invisible. The car
started and stopped almost instantly, and
ran over all grades at all rates from slow
walk TO twenty miles an hour, which was
said to be well within the capacity OF
the engine. All this was effected by
the operation OF single lever, which
in one position sent the car ahead,
in another backward, and IN third stopped
it without any separate break, and much
more readily than the common horse-car is
stopped. There was an almost startling
absence OF machinery. There was no hiss
ing OF steam, no governor, no gauge, and no
tangle of rods and wheels. The whole ap-
paratus seemed far less complicated than a
sewins-machine, and there probably is not a
single driver of street-car who could not
learn its whole operation within an hour.
1t was pleasant to observe, too, that its ope-
ration was entirely odorless. Ibe mingled
smell Of oil and Of sulphur from burning
coal is very offensive when the engine
and the car are brought so close to-
rether as is necessary with any steam
dummy, but on Saturday there was not a
trace of either. Ofcourse, cars Of any de-
sired size can be used, and the accommoda-
tions as well as the speed be thus increased.
In poiutsof safety there must be consider
able increase, il not over the horSe-car, at
least over the steam dummy, for the pres
sure must always grow less from the time
of starting on a trip; and furthermore, I'M
like boiler, the reservoirs are practically
indestructible, as they are built of steel, are
tested to twice tine pressure used, anu are
not exposed to the action Of fire 'or water.
Tn short, the only thing passengers could
object to was the noise OF the air escaping,
after service in the cylinders. Even as 1t
WAS. it was not noticeable except when
the car was running at high rate OF
speed. and then it was not so bad as
that OF the dummies in use on the Elevated
road, which have given rise to no COM
plants. Mr.. Hardy attributed the noise to
the smalness OF the holes or "ports !"
through which the air escaped, and he mas
no doubt that the cars which the Delamater
Iron-W orks are now constructing VIII be
almost absolutely noiseless. 1t IS true tnat
the cur frightened the horses which it pass
ed. but the officers of the company think
that matter Of small consequence, ana one
which will cure itself in time.
OF course various motives govern the rail-
road company in adopting the cars. 1t is
impclled chiefly by economy. On this point
Mr. Hardy speaks with great confidence.
Other pneumatic engines (there have been
a score of them) have not utilized over
twenty. five per cent. OF the power used III
COMPRISING the air for their consumption,
while this, it is expected, will utilize, as 1t
has repeatedly done on trial trips, fifty per
cent. The margin of loss OF power is Still
further decreased by using for the COM
preston OF the air a stationary engine
which will only consume two pounds OF
coal per horsepower per hour, as against
eight pounds for locomotive. Further
more, each twc-horse car uses ten horses,
which seat their heads of. - whether they
are idle or busy, and which usually die in
the service in less than five years. But
these cars need only one engine apiece,
which costs nothing when~idle, and which,
the inventors declare, is extremely dura-
bic. 1t is claimed that one OF these cars
can be run for SO a day, or about 81 less
than an ordinary two-horse car. The
Philadelphia steam dummies have been
abandoned because, among other rea-
sons, they were so heavy that they
wore out the rails and dis!ointed the
sleepers and bolts, thus costing large sum
in repairs to the road-bed. But these cars,
when loaded, weigh only half as mucn
again as an ordinary street-car, or, at an esti-
mate, eight tons-about two tons less than
the Philadelphia dummy. The first cost OF
the new moter is very reasonable. In short,
any sufficient reason why these cars cannot
be used must be developed by experience.
A trial for them Is assured. and 1t is likely
that their use will extend not only through
the city, but throughout the country.-Neu
Yorlc Times.