Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-22
Thinks Railroads Unscientific.

roads of the future at the Royal Geo
graphical Society. c. r. Enock. said the
other day: LAS to the railroad of the
future, we may discover that the hurting
of heavy masses of iron and timber
through space as practiced with our
present type of rolling stock is unscien-
tific.
In my mind. rather than long, heavy
trains the new system takes the form OF
light, rapid, individual vehicles running
at frequent intervals upon light struc-
ture of uninterrupted line, under condi-
tions where collision and deralimeht
would be impossible. These vehicles
will flash from city to city at double or
treble the present speeds, and at 1.-THE
of the present cost.
1T is possible that system involving
light elevated railroads is worthy of con-
sideration and experiment. NOT now
ever of the ponderous and unsightly type
of structure which defaces the side streets
of New York. but structure In which
lghtness. appearance ana low cost are
the elements for success. Such a me
NAV be conceived as running across mis-
and valleys, consisting OF little beyond
light trussed steel beams carrsed on
columns set in the ground at such a
height as to clear ordinary obstacles OF
roads, hedges. etc. and of "A character
such as would leave the ground beneath
it free for agricultural purposes Single
light vehicles would run upon this struc-
tire at n1SH rates VI SpCcu anu e'S'i
STABILITY upon the line against lateral
movement would be provided for. posi-
bly, by side wheels set horizontally above
the center of gravity revolving against
side rails. Thus such Vehicles couio NOT
run off the line.
..Following out this line of thought, ana
giving play to the masinat on Little
experiments might be made upon the
plan of a combination of rail and aero
blanca semi-hying vehicle using both
earth or rather rail and air as support
ing and even propelling elements. ohder
such a system it is conceivabie 'hat t',e
airplanes forming part OF the Venice
woi,Id lift it very slightly off the ral's,
the driving power then being derived
from the side wheels before mentioned'
working against the s.de lines, which a
might take the form or th1n parS vi
mates. so allow for small rise ana
fail OF the vehicle. These and the other
wheels would be rubber tired. similar
rail overhead might be necessary 10 kesp
the vehicle down. and thus the carriage
would become species OF .hcioSeu ny ms
machine. 100, ..r,o+;o,
eff such system were found practlca-
bile. the problem of mountain railIoau
Among others would be solved Inc mono
rail and the gyroscope mlght nave 'hei
adaptions in such scheme
Fail to Win Popularity.
The conservative members of parlia-
ment. who had hoped for a little cheap
advertising and popularity by announcing
to the accompaniment of brass bands that
their tender consciences would never al
low them to touch penny of the people S
money, and that they were, therefore,
giving their annual salaries of $1,000 away,
are finding out much to their grief that
| their sacrifices are not appreciated even
| ins.de their own party.
Their troubles began when London
paper proved that al the first members
who had spurned being pad for their par
| liamentary work were men who, without
exception. were living on the wealth of
| their relatives. in many cases that or
| their American wives, and Amer can dol
| lars have not a very good sound in con-
servative ears, except when applied to
money sent by Irish Americans in sup
port of their countrymens demand for
home rule.
| But it remained for no less exalted a
parsonage than King George himself to
| give them the worst snub, if the follow
| ing story, which l have just heard. is
true While the king was at Balmoral
one of his personal friends asked him
what he thought of members of the
house of commons acting as passive re-
sisters of salary for thar work.
..It would hardly be proper for me TO
express an opinion, the king said with
merry twinkle. Il am being paid a
salary myself, you know.