The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-05-29
THE SEATTLE STAR EDITORIAL AND MAGAZINE PAGE
Member " The Waited Frees, ruh-
iishsd daily BY rho star rubiish-
iaa &c,
TIE WINGS TO TRAINS

It locks as il we have reached the limit of speed with out
present type OF steam electric trains,
We have come 10 place where, the faster VIC want to
20 BY tail the heavier mast make trains in order 10
gain balance and friction Tor the drive wheels In time We
will reach place where the weight necessary for last tram
will make impossible the speed We seek
The lShour trains between New York and Chieago~eigh
2s0ooa pounds each They carry Is passengers who weigh
approximately 1850 pounds thus the train weighs 100 times
more than is passengers This means that seven and halt
tons OF steel wood coal water etc. necessary TO carry
each passenger Chicago Each passenger pays IL cents
pound get himself and his share Of the train to Chicago
II this weight were used making automobile to carry
single man, the machine would weigh almost as much as
freight car II the railroad want trains to so faster
than this they be made heavier than this For instance
this spring. when Frank VANDERBILT president OF the National
City bank Of New York wanted reach the deahbd ct his
mother in Chicago he ordered special train Mt Wander.
lbs car was attached the engine but Il was necessary to
attach four more his In order gain the weight that
would permit OF the 60m speed that maintained
for 10 hours.
II reach speed that greater than speed OF today
the trains which ride viii appear far different to those
that we now use This is because speed seekers must find
new principles OF rapid transportation They must enter new
and unknown fields find what they desire
As ii is now the faster train goes the more II must
weigh What they seek is principle that will mean the
faster a train goes the less il will weigh
1t not improbable that this be accomplished by the
of the aeroplane Even great New York inventor IS
working on system which combines the aeropane and the
trolley The trolley he plans will furnish the power that will
drive the cars aeropanes above each will eSer, lifting
power that a speed Of so miles hour the will
weigh practically nothing and the clamps that will hold the
trolley to the overhead rail must be very strong
With present trains the and tear Of speed Of
80 miles hour would break the stronges, rails With the
aeropane arrangement the weight the rails would be very
small
Go slowly" is the order these days, when train APP
prcaehes weak bridge This is prevent vibration the
rails
The order that engineer OF high speed aeopane train
would receive before coming weak spot in the roadway
would be Go fast YOU can For that would
support from the air and less vibration the rails
Our great inventions not sudden. They grow, With
ball bearings bicycles would have been impossible Bicycles
brought about the invention Of pneumatic tires and without
the pneumatic tires automobiles would have been impos
sbity
With the advent OF the automobile the improvement
Of the gasoline motor. And without perfect. gh, weight
motor asroplanes would have been impossible.
Today thanks in part to the who invented ball bear
ngs have aeopanes Where will the aeroplane lead us
The Wright brothers say their machine will be used
carry freight
But the principles they have discovered may be applied
rapid transportation Of large numbers Of human beings