Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-04-15
. PROPOSED ,rElp OF 100 MILES An HOUR.
SoMERvIILE. Mass. Feb. rs.

SoMERyILLE, Mass, Feb. Is, 1856
The topic Of general interest at tie pre- $
ent time IN tins locality the Meg, system
Of elevated railway, section Of which Is III
process Of construction al East Cambridge
for the purpose OF demonstrating il. practI-
cal working.
Opinions are freely expressed and dis
cusslons INDUCED on every hand a, to the
probable result of the experimental trial
while the work goes steadily on. In the
event Of lis success there is the promise 10
the near future vi rate Of transit which
shall easily attain - or 100 mics an hour.
The form of car and the working OF the
machinery is novel IN the extreme. Doe
might easily imagine II had somehow
switched out from between the covers Of one
OF Jules Nernes most thrilling novels; IN
fact lis resemblance to the "NarW hal" j.
something strIking-the construction Of
botn being upon the same general principle
namely that of offering the slightest posi-
Die resistance to the eemen, through v which
il passes. In consequence, We have curves
and circles, with no corners, sharp angles
or upright surfaces.
For like reason-that of diminishing
gine aud tender are covered, and present the
same outward appearance as the passenger
car; the smoke-stack and engineers look
out being the only Distinguishing features.
OF this lookout We would say il seems
rather an unstable outlook, perched twenty
five feet or more above the surface OF the
ground, unless one feels pretty sure Of his
equilibrium and IL must be acknow lodged
that al first glance the impression OF the
visitor generally Is that all the laws Of gray
ity are set at defiance IN the construction OF
this new and peculiar invention. The size
Of the car Is so extraordinary in comparison
To the width of track that the thought arise
al least in an unscieDtifc mind, unable to
grasp, at once, the underlying principles
"WIl the center of gravity always fall
within the base or like Darius Green's
Flying Machine will the whole thing come
TO gref?'
Ii is hardly worth while to ridicule the
lrishman who, after watching for some min
utes the laborers at work upon the track
inquired: "En sure, what are We buildin
here, bridge ?" When informed that it was
a railroad track, he was more nonplussed
than before, but being determined to get at
"En be jabers, is the carr to be only one
safe wide ?"
Not until it is fully explained. and the
various points of the invention are demon
sirated by the use Of working models, can a
person obtain even a faint idea of the I'M
portance Of the enterprise. or the advantages
TO be derived BY the public generally, and
the citizen personally, in the universal
adoption Of this system, which its inventor
has laboied so long and patiently to place
before the people. Especially to the city OF
Boston is 1t likely to prove an inestimable
boon, bringing to and carrying from the
'busy mart" the multitudes doing business
therein, whose homes are in the suburban
towns, and who now depend upon the in
sufficient accommodation of the horse car.
The saving of time will not be, in every
case, the greatest consideration an equal
advantage is gained in ease and comfort, in
avoiding the draughts and chills of the car
to say nothing of the packing-''ike SO
many sardines in box'-which the present
system of street travel tolerates.
Strange it is that the greatest inventions