The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-11
THE RAILROAD
OF THE
NEAR FUTURE.
Professor Oberlin Smith of the
American Society of Engineers
Describes it for This News
paper.

The formation of a company to build
railroad upon which the cars will run
at uniform rate of three miles min
ute, is attracting attention all over the
world. China, now glorying in her first
cross-country rail, is interested in it.
and has sent one of her foremost en-
glneerS over here to investigate it: the
much talked about road from CAIRO TO
the Cape might have been modelled on
these lines if the plan had been brought
forward earlier.
TT is perfectly feasible" said Prof.
OberIin Smith, one of the leading mem
bers of the American Society of En-
glneers and the man who is said to
have been the first one to devise such
a road, and it will be the railroad OF
the future. The great obstacle is the
cost of construction, which is neces-
building the old road.
How is it more expensive? Well.
there is a different kind of track. for
one thing The great drawback to
rapid transit now is the danger of de-
railment. At a high rate of speed there
Is constant peril, for the train will per-
form the feat known as jumping the
track, and then there is a Catastrophe.
To obviate this the tracks must be built
IN such a way that there is no danger
of this kind. How could they be con-
eraI plans"
The learned Professor did not know.
perhaps, that there has been patented
a track along which the cars Slide, in
stead of running on wheels. The cars
are ntted to runners, similar to those
upon a sled, but shorter and Situated
at intervals underneath the car. These
runners mt into a grooved track in such
a way that, while there is no friction
1t IS impossible to deraiI the car. An
otner patent shows a track built with
a douDle ran, the outer one being pro-
tected by raised guard, to hold the
car wheel should it run off the track
L expect to live to see the day. said
the Professor, when we can 20 from
New YORK 70 Philadelphia in thirty
minutes; and to other cities in a cor
respond1ngly short time. In this day
of increased value in time the saving
would be very great
TO get this speed it will be neces-
sary to run electric roads; it can never
pc zone with steam. Electricity, any
way, IS much more economical Is
quieter and is cleaner.
When you ride in the railway train
OF the future you will never know Won
are travelling fast unless you look At
the rapidly whirling landscape. There
is no rattle, no dust, no jar and nothing
TO tell you that you are being Whizzed
along. With the steam roads of to-day
there is a deafening noise a fearful
rattle and all the accompanying dust
1t Will be necessary in the new roads
to build double tracks to do away with
all switches The cars will run seDa-
rately, only one to a train They will
De bu1lt very long and very narrow and
will be pointed at one end to do away
with the resistance of the air. The
pointed cars will run much faster than
the present mode of construction
In running cars so rapidly one be-
hind the other, a perfect and complete
block system will be necessary to avoid
the danger of rear end collisions and to
keep the cars at proper distances apart.
Also to preserve the time table.
"On such a railroad passengers could
travel at the rate of a mile in twenty
seconds without difficulty; yet with less
noise than they now endure.
"It would be necessary to elevate the
tracks and the engines should be fitted
with rubber tires. The height would
deaden the noise and would regulate
the grade, and there would be nothing
inconsistent with mechanical and en-
gineering principles
Il confidently expect to see such q
road built soon"