The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-03-01
TO ORfDEUPSIDE DOWN
QUEER BICYCLE COURSE INVENTED
6v GEORGE 3. DURkeE.

Chicago-Whi be Tried In = Chicago
Park-May Also lie Seen at the Paris
Exposition In 1906 II . Success.
The first safety" bicycle ever made
In Chicago was turned out by the vet
sran mechanical engineer George b.
Durkee The model of this first machine
Is curiosity now The machine itself
Is thing of great clumsiness and ill
grace. 1t was one of several chainless
wheels inverted at the same time in
different parts Of the country. But Dur.
KEGS invention opened up path which
has led TO the invention of the present
bicycle, with its wonderful modern ac-
'couterments.
But Durkee's invention is destined to
win him fame. 1t is the new centrifugal
bicycle course which he has just finish
ed, wonder from a mechanical stand
point and sensational enough to reap
fortune. 1t is an entire departure from
any previously thought of appliance for
sport
The scheme is simple. A bicycle rider
is started Oh an inclined course, begin.
ming at an elevation of 85 feet. When
he reaches the foot, he continues around
the inner side of an immense vertical
circle, 90 feet in height. The rider in
pursuing the course turns over once, his
head hanging downward when at the
highest point Of the ring. He is held to
the track, after the impetus given by
the incline, by nothing else but centrif-
ugal force acting, on account Of the
speed, against the force of gravity. After
completing the circle the rider finishes
ON plane, rising to a height of 40 feet
The accomplishment of this feat by
man is daring act. But several appli-
cations have been received by Durkee to
make trial, provided wire nettingIis
suspended directly under the apogee of
the circle to break the force in case of
fall The impetus given a rider by the
start, SO feet high, will engender
speed which will necessitate the removal
of the feet from the pedals.
The idea seems visionary and prac-
tically impossible on large scale. But
the model proves the mechanical posi-
bility of it, whether bicycle rider can
accomplish it or not In the model a
miniature car is shot down a narrow
track. 1t is loaded with a shot, flies
down the plane, around the circle and
finishes up at the 40 foot elevation, with
nothing but centrifugal force overcom-
ing gravity to keep it to the track and
to its position.
On account OF the numerous demands
coming in from New York and Boston
riders Durkee will build a structure as
. trial in one of the parks. It will be
240 feet from start to finish, measured
In a straight line. An elevator will be
built in the starting tower to hoist pas
sengers up for the perilous descent. 1t
is in reality the inventor s idea to build
y railway track, supply cars for passen-
gers and create the most extraordinary
shoot ever opened for the edification
of the public. The patent includes, be-
sides the safety netting for bicycle rid
ers, steel fianges for preventing the cars
from leaving the track. In the centrif-
ugal railway there will be a compare
lively level approach instead of the in
clined approach Of the bicycle track.
The cars of the railway will be operated
by an electric trolley, wire cable or
similar artificial power.
The whole scheme was first suggested
to Durkee after seeing Fitzpatrick do
one Of his daring acts in riding down q
steep incline. The amount of speed en-
gendered was tremendous, and it occur
red to the inventor that it could be util-
lied by means of the circular track
with sensational results. If the inven-
ton proves success in Chicago and
the ride can be accomplished by human
beings, Durkee proposes to carry his
novel scheme for practical display to
the coming Paris exposition.
According to Durkee, this invention
does not compare for utility with one
in an entirely different field of mechan-
les, which he completed in 1898. Mr..
Durkee's genius in mechanics is not
limited to one Or two phases alone. 1t
might honestly be said that he can and
has invented improvements for as many
contrivances as the human mind may
conceive of. The invention of 1898,
medal, awarded by the Franklin insti-
tute Of Philadelphia, was the expanded
metal machine. 1t was used to cut and
expand sheet steel in such manner
that it can be used in place of woven
wire. This expanded metal is now used
in the construction of fireproof build
ings instead of laths for supporting the
plaster. The expanded metal was used
as a guard ON all elevated ratings at
the fair grounds.
Mr.. Durkee has made at least 15 i'm
provements on harps, zithers, guitars
and banjos. His improvements on tho
harp especially have been of such ma
ture as to render the American made in
strument vastly superior to any Of for
eign manufacture. The taper spindles,
adjustable disks and the extension Of
the sounding board over the body are
some of Durkee's ideas which have
been universally adopted. He has not
only made improvements, but has de-
signed and constructed types Of every
known stringed musical instrument and