The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-07-30

the conception Of man can go no
farther; the acme has been reached y
But necessity, which is the mother Of
invention, makes 1t possible for other
discoveries more wonderful than those
preceding them, No sooner is the de-
mand realized than a genius is found
to supply 1t.
A file Of newspapers Tor the past half
century would not only furnish a more
complete history Of the social and
political worlds than can be found in
books, but would be- found to contain
the news OF all the marvellous inyen'
tions that have startled the world with
in that period, and Of all the history OIL
the times to be found in tho columns Of
such u newspaper file, mono would be
read with more interest than the news
furnished from the laboratories and
workshops. What would strike the
reader most would be the rapidity with
which the announcements Of some new
discovery or invention followed each
other.
Take, for instance, the pastsix month";
Of the present year, To say nothing o.
the hundreds Of minor inventions, OIL
which very little public notice has been
taken, the newspapers have contained
announcements OF the practical perieC'
ton OF at least three inventions or dis
coveries that seem to be destined to pro
duce quiet revolutions in the cost Of
light and heat, and in the mode Of trans
porting freight, If not passengers. They
are worth noting, as Instances OF the
rapid progress the world is making in
matters calculated to improve the condi'
ton OF the race.
A few weeks since the INTELLIGESCEu
contained an account OF a practical all
ship now being constructed in Boston.
The idea is not a new one, as for many
years men Of science have labored upon
different theories of navigating the air,
but 1t is only now that anything prac.
tical seems to have been hit upon. 1t ID
not the intention here 10 describe the
machine, which Is to be built under the
direction Of some OF the most disting.
uished scientific engineers in the coun-
try, backed by unlimited capital,
Whether the machine will prove success.
full remains to be seen. Heretofore
efforts to construct air ships have been
principally by cracked.brained theorists,
but there is some encouragement for
success in the present venture, on &C.
count Of the character Of the men en-.
gagged in It.
On the heels Of this important news
comes an item ofstlll greater Importance.
It Is about an application Of electricity,
and It comes from Baltimore. AS 1t has
never been described In these columns
we give the following, which we find in
a New York exchange:
at is a wonderful story Of theapplica.
ton Of electricity to the never.complete-
ly.solved problem Of transportation. 1t
is OF a railway and equipment that are
intended to do in rapidity Of movement
what the Kelly motor was to do in the
way of power. The inventor, David g.
weems, who will be more widely known
than he is now II his contrivanee turns
out as we'll as he expects claims to ex.
hibit at his experimental station a
velocity Of four miles a minute with lees
than a third Of the motive power capable
OF being developed in the machine he
has perfected for experimental purposes.
1.-THE first measure Of utility proposed
for the invention by the inventor Is the
carrying Of the mails and small packages
from, say New York TO Chicago, at the
rate Of 200 miles an hour, or about four
hours and a half for the whole distance.
The New York morning papers, shipped
$3.50, could bythis means be delivered
in the Western metropolis in time to be
read at the breakfast tables. After the
success Of this mode Of transporting the
mails, express packages and smaller
becomes established, tho inven.
tor will DO ready to undertake 10 carry
passengers at the same or greater speed,
with o larger degree Of safety than they
are assured Of by the present steam rail.
roads.
"Tho new railroad will 10 Of two feet
and a half gauge, the ordinary rail being
used for tracks. Tho entire line will DO
inclosed by a wire nettlnRand wire fence
10 as to completely prevent animals and
persons from getting in the way OF tho
cars. Where the road CROSSES
highways and steam railroads II will be
elevated or depressed. The sample car
which the inventor has constructed Is
long and pointed like a torpedo, mount
ed on wheels, the bearings Of the axles
being specially prepared for the great
velocity OF revolution to DO required Of
The ptopelllngpcwer, II Is need.
Iess 10 add, Is electricity, 20 applied that
zach car will DO under complete control
81 an operator at The station whence II
d dispatched. Automatic safeguards are
llSo provided, by means Of which every
Vat ID secure against distractions on OF
In the track. The cost Of power
viii be slight compared with the cost Of
locomotives and their fuel, Power sta
ions will be needed 100 miles apart,
AaohOquipped with a 800 horsepower en-.