New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-27
FRESH AIR FORKS.

It has long been observed that the simplest in
ventions are usually the most successful. Thus
the man who invented that ingenious but simple
device which, when attached to q front gate,
causes the gate securely to lock itself upon the
approach of life insurance agent, reapcd large
fortune, while the builders of complicated ma
chimes involving the idea of perpetual motion
usually die in poverty. And the simplest way of
doing thing is often the last which is thought
Of: for generations men went on splitting their
kindling-wood, and cutting their fingers, mutt
lating their feet and otherwise injuring them
selves, till an ingenious New-Jersey man arose
with the simple but beautiful plan of letting your
wife split the kinding-wood, which plan has been
generally adopted with fiatterng success.
1t has now been q number of years since resi-
dents of large cities depended on wells for their
water supply, preferring the simple plan OF having
their water brought from the country in pipes and
distributed in each house. So, too, In the matter
of light; lamps and candles were long ago practi-
cally done away with and Illuminating gas brought
TO every house in underground pipes the same as
water. But the obvious fact that with the aid of
pipes was the true way to get more urgent
necessity Of life than either light or water seems
TO have escaped people. 1t has remained for Pro
fessor L. Washington Paddleford, of Brooklyn, to
show that the correct way for residents Of cities
to get fresh and pure air is to have it piped
in from mountain or seaside and distributed to
every house exactly the same as water.
Professor Paddleford fully explains and justi-
fes his plan in an able pamphlet. People 20 10
the country primarily, he truly says for fresh air.
What would be thought if folks had TO take the
train for Saratoga or Newport every time they
wanted drink of water? 1t is true, the FRO
Ill ,x,1,ef
belonging to the Democratic party would probably
never be obliged to visit either Saratoga or New
port. even in this case, although most folks would
have to 90 frequently. But with Professor Pad
deford's plan in active operation a trip to the
Adirondacks for fresh air will be as absurd a
Journey TO the Catskills for glass of water.
Coming down TO the details of supplying New
York City with fresh air, the Professor makes
his idea very clear. Catching hint from the
big ear-trumpets which protrude from the deck
of an OCEAN steamer, he will erect similar trumpet.
only much larger, on top of the Orange Noun
tains This will be kept facing the wind and
connect with an underground pipe which will
run to this city. This pipe will be six feet in
diameter Steam engines will also force air into
IL ut the big funnel on the mountains. lie est-
mates that the air can be driven through the pipe
at the rate of two hundred miles an hour under
pressure of about ten atmospheres. In this city
he will have storage reservoir, and mains running
through all of the streets pipe will enter
every house. and the air be distributed exactly the
same as gas At least one air-et in each room will
be kept open while any persons in it, thus
giving n constant supply of pure fresh air direct
from the country. An air-jet will be placed at
the head Of every bedstead insurng fresh air
while the occupants sleep, and also by the gentle
breeze which it will create making it much cooler
and driving away mosquitoes Later the Pro-
lessor will erect another cir plant at Coney Island
and pipe sea air to the city. This will be intro
duced in all houses and people can have their
ahoice between cool salt air and bracing mountain