The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-26

To conceive of locomotive that bal
ailces itself on single rail as per-
fectIy as Il skater balances himself on
a single skate. seems too great task
to require of the Imagination. When
one adds that this locomotive files at
the rate of 100 miles an hour, whether
the road-bed be rough or smooth,
climbs hills with ease and dashes safe
ly around curves much sharper IMAM
those on ordinary railroads, the nearer
OF such recital of facts Is apt to
think that Munchausen is at large.
TO say that this locomotive needs no
bridge, but runs lightly across ravines
or rivers on a single line of wire cable,
appsars to add the browning touch OF
incrediblity.
Yet such locomotive has been in
vented and has actually done these
things Its balance is maintained by
the application Of the principle thar
keeps a spinning top upright. In eacn
engine there is gyratory apparatus,
weighing only one-twentieth OF the
total load, which revolves constantly
at a high rate of speed and thereby
keeps the engine erect, no matter how
sharp the curve nor how rough the
road-bed.
The monorall locomotive. which
seems sure to work revolution In
transportation, had its first public ex-
hibition n short while ago in London,
when the inventor. Louis Brennan. G..
B.. gave a practical demonstration OF
its ability before the Royal Society.
1t may be fairly said that nothing
was ever presented to the society,
which usually receives the first an
nouncement of scientific discoveries In
Great Britain. which aroused SO much
enthusiasm as the exhibition OF the
monoran engine. The demonstration of
this great triumph of science, says the
Sun, which was the only New York
newspaper to publish the remarkable
news was made before brilliant as
scrnbly gathered under the auspices of
the Royal Society.
For more than two hours the leaders
of the English scientific world lisreScd
to the exposition of well-lsnown prin-
ciplc OF mechanics for the first time
practically applied and watched a mar
velous demonstration which seemed to
set the laws or grayitation at defiance.
AT the close they acclaimed It's dis
coverer or inventor as worthy to rank
high upon the roll of honor which
bears the names of Newton and Watts
and Stephenson.
What they saw was this: A miniature
railway car or locomotive, standing
entirely ABOVE Single ran with APP
parently nothing to balance 1t, ran
about the hall. turned sharp cornars at
high speed. crossed a single strand OF
| Wire cable in lieu of bridge and
climbed heavy ,inclines-all with per-
feet stability. 1t was sometimes
loaded, sometimes empty There was
! no attempt to balance the load; the
vehicle itself did that instantly and
automatically Every attempt to un-
balance 1t resulted in paradox. If the
load were piled all upon one side ii
seemed inevitable that the veaicle
would sab, If indeed 1t did not topple
over. But no. the overloaded side au-
tomatically rose in proportion TO the
burden and the empty side was de-
pressed. To the animated the thing
was uncanny. an Alice in Wonderland
! reality.
The creator Of this new system OF
| locomotion Is Louis Brennan, C. B., the
| well-known inventor of the Brennan
torpedo. This invention, by the way
which is controlled by the British War
Department. Is the only device which
has been successfully kept govern
| ment secret for any length Of time.