Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-10-24
"A MOTOR IN EACH HOUSE
DEvE, oeMENT OF THE COMPRESSED
AIR SYSTEM OF. PARIS.
An American Engineer Tells of His OBJ
servations Abroad-Where Compressed
/ Air Is Running Machinery and Doing
! Marvellous Things.

Marvellous Things.
II Engineer Robert Gillian, of Aldrich
court, be correct in his observations, COM
pressed air will shortly be in the field in
opposition to electricity as one of the revo-
lutionizing forces of this century. He has
returned from an extended sojourn In
Paris, where he made thorough study of
the compressed air system of that metrop-
oils. The stories Mr.. Gillian brings back
border upon tie marvellous.
The new dynamic agent, according TO
his report, has within an almost incredi-
bly, short time fairly revolutionized many
lines of industry at the gay French capt.
tai It is at this moment propelling sur
face cars with unequaled ease, furnishing
motive power for multiplicity of uses,
running 10000 clocks about the city with
absolute simultaneity and preserving meats
of all kinds
81 was simply amazed" sad he in talk
ing of his work, Eat the progress made in
the application of the comparatively new
science Why, in refrigerator about
fifteen feet square l found the bodies of
man and woman who had lain there thir-
teen months, and in both the flesh of the
body and face were in as good condition as
Immediately after death was informed
that the bodies were being kept for the
medical university"
One fact of Importance noted by Mr..
Gillham on his visit was the preparation
Paris engineers are making by means of
compressed air, with view to averting the
terrors of another siege such as was ex-
perienced in 1871. Refrigerator stations
can in an emergency be made to contain
enough food to last Paris for over a year.
Mr.. Gillian thinks that both the smoke
and steam nuisances will be obliterated by
the encroachment of the compressed air
system in every line of dynamic applica-
ton.
Before accepting the invitation of Mr..
Victor Popp to visit the great central sta
tion," said the engineer, my time was oc-
cupied by personal visits to numerous con-
sumers.
AT very large cafe on Avenue de
POpera l saw some interesting applica-
tions. A twenty-five horse power engine,
which was formerly operated by steam, is
now run by compressed air. The pressure
In the street main at this point registered
six atmospheres. Near the engine in the
pipe is arranged a pressure reducing valve,
which can be adjusted to any pressure In
this case the air was reduced from six at
mospheres to four atmospheres. From the
reduction valve the air is conducted to
small coke radiating device made from
cast iron, eighteen inches in diameter
THE heater is a hollow cylinder, having
vertical divisions, the central hollow space
being twelve inches in diameter. with
small cover on top. Around and outside
this space, in which the coke is burned, is
arranged series of vertical spaces between
the fire space and the outside shell.
''The air is introduced into this space at
normal temperature of air in street mains,
Is carried upward through the first vertical
division of chamber to the top of the heater,
where it passes into a second chamber or
division, then downward through this to
the bottom of heater, where it passes into
the third chamber or division, and thus the
process of leading the air up and down
through the various vertical divisions of
the heater, numbering ten divisions in this
case, is continued until the air has secured
a greatly increased temperature, due to
contact with the interior heated surface of
the divisions or chambers of the heater
the degree of temperature depending upon
the character of fire maintained in the
heater.
AIR ENGINES.
1.-The air is then conducted to the engine
where it operates exactly as steam. The
engine is connected with dynamo, which
generates all the electricity used in light
ing the premises of one or two neighbors
Electric accumulators are arranged in an
adjoining room, next the engine room, of
capacity sufficient to furnish light for two
days. In case any failure occurs in the en-
CINE, dynamo or air, light can be provided
"The exhaust air is taken from the en-
gine and conducted to refrigerator of
considerable size, in which are arranged
meats of all kinds game and vegetables
The temperature in the refrigerator is
never above 40 dogs. 1t is, however, ar-
ranged in two compartments. In one the
temperature is maintained at or about the
freezing point and the other above it.
81 was informed that by increasing the
air pressure and using the same pressure
in the engine as that maintained in the
street main-six atmospheres-he had with
the exhaust air manufactured $50 pounds
of ice per day. Table bottles filled with
water were arranged in order in the refrig-
orator and the water frozen solid, and
when ice water is needed in the cafe they
are placed On the table.
sin a medical application of compressed
air very elaborate rooms have been ar
ranged by an eminent doctor, who OBJ
served that liver and ear diseases could be
better treated under air pressure up to
one-half an atmosphere. These pneumatic
baths are quite popular.
AIR CLOCKS.
s"Compressed air is unquestionably a
perfect agent for the transmission of time
indications and records, because in this ap-
plication the pulsation of a centrally To-
Gated clock can be transmitted to an in
definite number of clocks in different parts
of the city with rapidity and accuracy,
which pulsations actuate the local clocks
by means Of most simple devices. There
are two central pendulum clocks, one in
use; the other is used only in case of acct
dent, and the operating clock.
''These are operated by means OF self
winding gears and weights; thus there is
no possibility of forgetting to tend the cen
trail clock.
Twice every minute-at twenty seconds
and at sixty seconds-the clock automat-
fcally opens the valve communicating
with the receiver described, permitting the
discharge of the contained air in the re-
ceiver to IL pounds. In less than twenty
de ba airt hing -