The Portland daily press., 1888-06-02
The Wonderful Things Men will try
to Do this Year.
springfield Republican,

lSpringneld hepuDncan.l
Very interesting events are taking place
in the field of invention this year, and If
each individual scheme meets with success
this will be queerer world than ever. Col.
John III. Pierce of New York proposes to
send summer tourists to Europe at the rate
Of 1000 miles an hour through double-barreled
pneumatic tubes; not this summer, however.
Missionaries can be carried to the center of
Africa in six hours, and to reach Hong Kong
will be only matter of 12hours or so. Sim
gle tickets for all points ought not to cost
more than 500 Col. Pierce can tell how the
thing is done, and make 1t seem very plausi-
BILE; he will invite "Uncle Sam" to pay the
expenses of an experiment, but II he should
be unwilling to do so, Columbus like, he
Will visit other governments The Edison
photograph has developed sufficient powers
OF conversation the past few months TO
make respectable appearance in society,
and may crowd out the tinging telephone
and the fair and giddy typewriter, revo-
lutionizing the business and social world
In ways that will readily suggest themselves
to every one. Then Inventor Bell is perfect
ing device called the tetaulograph, which
resembles the telegraph, the vast difference
being that one can receive message from a
friend in his own handwriting in as quick
time. The plant for the manufacture of this
invention, commonly known as the writing
telegraph" is being built at Bridgeport, CT
The last few months have seen wonder
full advance In the application Of electricity
as motive power, especially in the propell-
wonderful than the colossal schemes just
cited, its success is guaranteed, and its intro
dnction ON the streets of this city In the pos
sibly near and probably distant future makes
it interesting to people here. Adolf Peters
Of this city, electrical engineer and assistant
| superintendent of the United electric COM
| pany, helped to install two roads in Germany,
| which have been in successful operation for
| eight years. One route Is from Frankf0rt-0n-
| the Main to Offenbach; and the other from
These are operated by the Sieman & Holske
| system, which resembles the Daft system oil
| this country These systems possibly have
attained a greater degree Of success than
the other companies. which altogether num-
Der nearly a score. 1t Is said there are now
in the United States over so miles of road
on which the motive power Is electricity
and IS have plants in operation in length
varying from one to II miles. Contract
have been made for roads and they are nov
being constructed in II other towns, an,
there are SO projected roads. There ar
eight lines of street railroad operated b,
electricity in Great Britain. Their aggregat
length is % miles, the distance covered rang
ing. from six miles down to one-eighth Q
that. The electricity is transmitted by rails
in some places being insulated outside tn
track, or is carried by accumulators on tn
cars, but this is not the safest, cheapest, 0
the most popular method. The overhea
IKE fayopite in the United States and IN &c,
many Leo Dafts company has had car
running in Los Angeles with success and sa
isfaction for over a year. Electric cars al
also in successful operation at Richmond
| Allegheny City, Scranton, Columbus Al
bury Park, New York and numerous otht
| nlaces,