Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-06
IN HOTEL CORRIDORS.


The fact is. however. that advanced stu
dents Of mechanics are today giving almost
as much attention to the power contained
in the air we breathe as they are to the
subtle fluid that permeates that atmosphere
1t is a question, indeed, IL the practical APP
plication of compressed air VIII not solve
the problem of harmless rapid transit In
populous communities. OF course. by harm
less mean the accomplishment Of the best
results with the least danger to life and
limb. The large tunnel at Niagara Falls
through which the water Of the recently es-
tablished power company flows from the
turbine wheels was bored in an almost in
conceivably short space Of time by the use
of rock drills, run by compressed air. The
tunnel Is something over seventy-two hun
dred feet long, and, In round figures, twenty
feet in diameter inside Of its brick walls.
This enormous hole was rushed through the
ground by those compressed air rock drills
| in six months at a cost of something like
$400, 600. Where frequent air shafts are pos
sible tunnel ten miles long can be made
with compressed air power as quickly as
the same tunnel one mile long can be bored
with any other kind Of applied energy. Oh
yes; when it comes to the consideration of
motive power it will not do to leave the
elastic atmosphere out of the question, for
its power is incomprehensible when 1t Is
handled in the proper way. You have
heard, of course, of Kelley; not the gold
cure man, but the Philadelphia motor fell
low. Kelley has made many preposterous
which he asserts is involved in his inven-
ton is its power to release the inherent
force of nature by which the atoms that
form matter are held together, and then to
apply this force to mechanics under re-
strictiuS guidance Several years ago
committee OF the most eminent engineers
In the east were selected to visit Kelley
workshops and receive practical lliustra-
ton of the power of his motor. 1t would
take a week to describe all the wonderful
proceedings that occurred on the occasion
of that visit. The interior Of the building
was cut up into various apartments; tnere
were wires running everywhere, and glass
sounding tubes and metal contraptions OF
the same sort, of different sizes and lengths
scattered all over the place. Hung upon
one side of one apartment was an immense
tuning fork and Kelley would draw a
bass violin bow across this instrument and
produce heavy sound, then rush around
like mailman, tapping the various sound
ing tubes and listening intently to the ef-
feet ever and again running from one room
to another and turning cocks and keys and
doing all sorts of mysterious things. tie
explained that a certain harmony was need
ed before the power that he was seeking
to release could burst its bounds and pass
to his control When everything was ar
ranged according to Mr.. Keeley's ideas the
members of the committee were taken into
an apartment in the center of which was
a transparent glass cylinder filled with
water. At its bottom was a large piece of
steel. The experiment was expected to re-
of a drop of water together to become re-
leased and then to be used TO make the
metal rise to the surface of the water
Kelley labored for a long time with his
various mysterious appliances. but failed to
accomplish the desired result. Mr.. Chas
H. Cramp, the well-known ship builder.
was a member of the committee, and the
others We're men equally well known and
eminent in the world of mechanics. Mr..
Cramp, believe IL was, tapped one of the
numerous wires which gridironed the work
shop and discovered that it hollow.
keeley's attention was called to it. and he
said that such was the case and that he
had had them made that way. 1t was the
opinion of several OF the committee that
Kelley was using compressed air by means
OF these wires in the experiments that ap-
peared to be so wonderful to prospective
purchasers of the motor stock, but that he
was afraid to apply II in the presence of
such committee for fear ii might be dis
covered, and the mysterious character of
his invention and its consequent power to
secure the financial support of wonder
seekers destroyed"
1.-THE dream of boating men in this coun-
try has been to establish an American Hen
ley" said well-known newspaperman, who
accompanied the Cornell crew to England
several years ago, at the Riggs House yes
terday. Many attempts have been made
but all have fallen short of the great Eng
fish institution. Probably the effort came
nearer success when the college races were
held on Saratoga lake, some twenty years
ago, when university. freshmen and sin gle
scull races were row ed, two days being de-
voted to the sport. The National Associa-
ton has fitted from place to place SO fire.
quently that Ii has not become so estab-
iished in the affections Of the people as II
Its regattas had been held In one place
Probably the annual Yale-Harvard Cniyer-
sity race is the nearest approach to the
English Henley which We now have. The
great Henley regatta is the occasion for a
big picnic for the sport-loving people Of
England 1t Is rowed on the Thames about
thirty miles above London, and the pretti-
est part OF England. The quaint old town
of Henley is on ona side near the upper end
of the course, while on the other broad
green meadows come down to the waters
edge. The stream Is so narrow that one
can skip a stone across, while not more than
three crews can row abreast; So when there
are more than three entries in the race Ii
Is rowed IN heats. Crowds pour out from
London on the first day Of the regatta. Ex-
ira trains are run and all are packed.
Every one. male and female is In white
flannel displaying his or her favorite colors
Only boating talk Is heard. Along the course.
On the Henley side are many of the pretty
Households, which Black has made familiar
to the American readers of his novels. The
other bank is kept clear. A warning gun
before each race clears the course, aided by
the exertions of many police boats. The
races begin at 1890 o'clock promptly and
continue at intervals of half an hour up It'll
all the trial heats are rowed. The finals
take place the next day. Every crew must
be in position at the start at the exact time
set, and If a crew is not there Ii loses its
chance. Many, many years of repetition
have made the English expert in the man.
agenent OF the regatta, so there are no tire
some waits, and everything goes like we'll
regulated clock. Between the races there
are all sorts of ways of passing the time
In the meadows are outdoor shows OF vari-
Gus kinds, travelling MINISTRIES, banjo play
ers. merry-go-rounds. countless ways of
throwing away pennies, familiar to every
visitor to the country fairs in America and
itinerant vendors of fruits and confections
with their peculiar calls that sound so
strange to American ears. On the roofs of
the Households are jolly parties. lunching
and there gondola, with gaily-dressed
gondoler, darts among the more modern
craft, bearing merry party. every one full
of spirits and in holiday humor. Not a brawl
disturbs the scene, and not a drunken man
mars the picture. 1t is a nation engaged In
play"
1.-The announcement Of Judge John H.
Reagan that he will be candidate for the
Gubernatorial nomination in Texas has
made the political pot down there boil at an
amazing rate" said Nathan Leeman of Gal
weston at the st. James yesterday. You
know Judge Reagan was postmaster gen.
eral of the confederacy, and since the war
member of Congress and United States
Senator and in the country districts of