The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-07-03
GYRoscoPE OR MoNoRA1L.
Invention Attracts Attention of the
Scientific World.

Probably no modern invention, says
4 London cablegram, which has not
as yet been turned :, practical pur-
poses has attracted the attention
which has already been given the gy-
rcscope or n1ono-rail. Even from
New York. Mr.. Louis Brennan the
Inventor, has received inquiries as to
whether it cannot be utilized in put
ting an end to the Brooklyn bridge
and affording safe and popular
route from the center Of the city to
the sea at Coney Island. Under these
circumstances an interview with Mr..
Brennan becomes more than usually
interesting.
Asked when the first mono-rail
might be expected Mr.. Brennan said:
"It would be premature to speak Of
that. After having demonstrated that
my invention bears out all its claims,
I am anxious to see what the railway
world will do in the matter. I have
been in communication with the Aus
rralian, the Indian and the South Af-
rican governments and with our war
Office. These authorities have been
carefully watching ny experiments
with a view to the adoption of my in
ention. It can readily be seen that
its effect upon all new countries must
be very great.
Mr.. Jenkins, the agent general for
South Australia who was formerly
premier Of that colony and minister
for the northern territory, is greatly
interested in the mono-rail because
it will solve one great difficulty Of the
Australian meat trade.
"It will accelerate the carriage Of
cattle from the feeding grounds OF
the northern territory to Melbourne
and it will reduce the time Of the
mails home by 9 days, said Mr.. Bren-
nan. A mono-rail running through
out the land could be linked to a
swift steamer service which would
join the Trans-Siberian railway.
what I have said Of the estimated
development of Australia can with
equal force be applied to North and
South America and to many and, in
fact, to ali parts Of the world. I have
been engaged on this invention nearly
all my life. The idea, by the way,
first came to me as I Travelled along
an Australian road, badly made, full
Of ruts and where the bodies of the
coaches rested upon leather instead Of
springs.
"The idea grew, and soon started
il to make experiments. would like
to say that few persons realize the
concealed work in any practical in
vention, and tie long wearisome road
that the inventor must travel before
be meets with success.
'Take the case Of Mr.. Parsons ard
the turbine Think Of the countless
blind alleys he entered into at every
stage of the invention, getting out pa
tiently and slowly, finding himself in
other blind alleys persevering on
ward until ne achieved success.
"The ordinary man looks at the
complicated mechanism Of the steam
engine and is not Impressed with the
turbine, but an engineer knows the
real difference. would not care to
say how many thousands Of dollars
I have spent while I have been trying
to perfect this nlono-rail.
..The possession Of the mono-rail
among other things viii be Of great
military advantage. For instance, if
war should break Out between France
and Germany tomorrow, England
could decide the fight merely by
handing over to one of the combat
ants the plans Of the nono-rail.
"The army council have made fre-
ouent visits to my workshop to see
the model during its construction.
TIE army office was swift to see the
advantage the nlono-rail possesses in
time of war and from the first mani
tested an interest in my inventions oy
granting me the sum Of $4,000 to con-
tinue my experiments.
Although patents have been taken
cut in every country Of the world
Great Britain is at present the only
nation in full possession Of Mr.. Bren-
mans secrets. For the more effective
working OF the invention Mr.. Brennan
favors a double mono-rail-that IS
enc line for going, another line Tor
returning car.