The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-04-19
CURRENT TOPICS.
TRANSPORTING SHIPS ny RAIL,


In his remarks before the special committee
of the House of Representatives. on the twen-
ty.seventh OF March. Mr. VIM. f. Charming. of
Providence. II. l.. claimed the right of discov-
cry of tho plan of ship railway across the 18TH
mus Of Panama. He said. during the discus
sion which preceded the construction of the
present Panama Railroad. about thirty years
ago. he proposed the ship railway for the port
age of vessels across both the Isthmus Of Pan
ANA and the Isthmus of SueZ. The ship-rail
way, In It's first conception was a road with q
multiple track OF equidistant parallel rails.
which by using both sides of every rail Except
the two outside onesl made as many tracks as
there were rails. less one. To this multiple
track a cradle-car was adapted. with oorre-
spending arrangement Of tracks and wheels:
and an equal pressure was secured to each
wheel by rubber or other 'springs. The cradle
proposed was of the character then used on
marine railways. with certain impr ovements
giving elastic support at short intervals to the
hull Of the ship. AS the cradlecar. 800 feet
long, for the accommodation of the largest
ships Of that day. could not adapt
itself to the common railroad curves and era.
dents, Mr.. Channin9's plan contemplated a
straight and level track-changes Of direction
or gr ade being effected by turntables and silt
Ing tables. Obi being made to this plan.
that the ships could not ride In these cradles
without straning. Mr.. Charming proposed to
substitute for them caissons. or water cradles.
large enough to allow the ship to be transported
to be floated In them. Mr.. Charming exhibited
a drawing Of his railway. with its terminal
caissons submerged and prepared to receive
ships floating above them ready to be drawn UP
the Inclined plane; which drawing he declares
was submitted to the Hon. Richard W. Thomp-
son. now Secretary of the Navy. July %, 1859
Mr.. Charming says the ship railway has been
studied for years and has been made familiar
to many of the best engineers of the country.
CONNECTICUT RETURNING BOARD.
1t would seem az though they have some
ways that are dark" up In the land of wooden
nutmegs. as we'll as down In unreconstructed
rebedom. In fact, a recent event has shown
that the Republicans Of Connecticut are not to
be classed below our Wells. Anderson d Co
when 1t comes to counting In member OF their
party who has not been elected. Preston Is a
staunch old Democratic town. adjoining Nor
wich on the south. Last fall. to the sur
prise of everybody. Henry A, Jewett, Repub-
lican candidate for the office of selectman
was declared elected over Prentice Avery
the Democratic nominee. Mr.. Avery was dis
the great eight 70 seven precedent before him
did not ask to go behind the returns. He was
anxious, however. to ascertain for his OWL
satisfaction whether he had been elected and
a few days ago he had recount of the ballots
at the town clerks Office. The boxes were
opened and the votes counted In the presence
of delegation of Democrats and Republicans
and 1t was found that Avery was really elected
by a majority of four. The meeting broke up
| In confusion and excitement. the Democrats
openly accusing the Republicans of knowingly
perpetrating fraud. The question is still ar
open one.as to who shall receive the pay for the
six months that the Republican has served. L
decided in favor of Avery there is no reason
why Mr.. Tilden should not institute suit for the
recovery of the $4,000 a year which has beer
frau dulently paid to Mr.. Hayes in the samt
mal{ner.