Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1893-04-19
SPEED OF TRAVEL.
It Is Being Constantly Increased
by Rail and Water.
Tho Compound Engine tho Chief Factor
An tho Attainment of High Speed
Ono Iurdrcd NIllos an Hour
May IGo Accomplished

When the late John W. Garrett pre-
dcted fifteen years ago that in the
course of twenty years the trip between
New York and Washington would be
r9adc in i've hours it WAS asserted that
the thing was impossible Not only has
il became possible but il is announced
that the Pennsylvania Railroad 2orpa-
ny will in u few 1rc"thS put on q train
that &h&ll make the run in four hours
and Il half, SAYS the Baltimore Sun.
From New York TO Philadelphia tho
speed win be 1T sixty miles Gn hour;
from Philadelphia 10 Washington 1T
the rate OF fifty miles sn boar. The
Baltimore 6 Chic Will OF ccursc work up
to this time as SooG Us is GunIlcl under
tho city rs completed. An express train
on the philadelphia & leading railroad
made about y month ago one mile IL
thirty-Hc"cn seconds, which w0uid DC
equal TO fraction over nincty-scvcn
miles IN holir. This is the highest speed
ever made by . locomotive. We arc en-
tcviEg upon Il period when al former
records will be broken, not only on
railroads but On transatlantic steamers
and by fast trottors.
The ideal limit set for railroads run
ming light express trains is one hun
drcd miles al hour, OF Atlantic steam
ships five days from New York 10
Quccnstowls, and OF Che strottcr q mile
in two minutes. In all three IL is pre-
dictcd that in the course of u short time
these several speeds will be attained.
",Ehcrc arc two OF three dircctions,"
says = contemporary, lin which VIC
may look fer the development Of thc
speed of the locomotive before tho ono
Observation-Disclosures can be cs-
tablishcd.''
One OF the chief factors in Ghc att;3in-
Hlcnt Of high speed is the compound en-
sginc, by which the propuisivc power is
greatly enlarged. The record breaking
cngi2c OIL the Central is Of this type.
which has become very common, both
on American and EuropcsG1 railways.
No doubt Tic gcniu3c3 who I've in the
world ofInc:iIa2iGs and machinery will
create lii time some new for!n e CON-
pound engine which will greatly ;.G1cl-
crate the speed Of the locomotive. Az
other factor, largely al experimental
one. is the driving Wheels.
The tendency is now toward wheels
CT very large diameter, The wheels Of
tho Notwithstanding engine were aix
feet SIX inches in diameter and this
size Is generally used, although expert
mcnts arc being made with uiIah larger
wheels, and the Nov; York Centred and
the PcrnGylvanin ;trc now trying scvcn-
| foot wheels.
But every improvement in tic speed
OF steamships and Of railroads implies
additional dangrr to the puss2AgGrS-
IN steamships there is the danger of
b:cnGing tie SHAFT and OF COLLISIONS
with other ships or iccblrgs Nut 80
thoroughly aye they even now protested
by Lltcir W;I&n".ti',' '~rr1DnrtyncnEs fb:t
! the danger OF laundering is r&duccd &c,
~ minimum. They may be disabled.
| but they Will still keep anoat SIS long
| 81" the greater number OF watcr-tight
compartments rcniain intact.
With the ''fast flyers by raiP' every
thing will depend on the perfection of
| the brakes and tho rignai :;yatom. With
thcsc lin completes order, is would b;,
possible tOsruu ut & speed OF one mus-
drcd miles &n hour with ease AID
safety, provided that the wheels md
nH!Cs arc sound and Tho rails well
fastened to their tics