New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-28
A DEVICE THAT CANNOT FAIL


A DEVICE THAT CANNOT FAIL.
Because OF the great height from which
tn, elevators I'm our new arch!tecturs
climax may fail, the air cushions have
been designed to bring the cars 10 Daus.
while leaving what Is termed a ''salyaye'
Of eighteen or twenty feet between The
under side Of the elevator and the bottom
Of the shaft. That is. in effect. an add
tional margin Of safety. The great Ueauy
Of the whole scheme is that the material
which provides elastic resistance is i'm
perishable--it viii be on hand as long as
there is life upon this globe of ours; u
will never rust, and, finally. it will re-
spond instantly TO the demand for rs
helpful service, no matter when that cal
may come There are no complex details
which careless inspection may overlook
or which the wear and tear Of time may
make imperative or deteriorate. In TINS
case, dropping into the hole in the sround,
as it were, makes for safety and obylates
the necessity Of otherwise putting Us
away permanently six feet below the sod.
This is parachutlng turned to pracdcst
service, but not devoid OF thrills, because
the dropper falls by this process-co1i
trary to the popular spectacle-with IT.
creasing velocity through the greater part
.of his course downward before there y
the slightest checking of his descent Ihs
final sixth OF his plunge holds the PROF.
lem Of his earthly salvation, and the lasl
AZ 10,
fully short for its purpose. However
cunning calculation and the nice arrangei
ment Of proportions have proved this 20
be ample in the past, and will proeaorl
turn out TO be sufficient IN the pre@aF
case.
From scientific point OF view M
forthcoming demonstration promises "
hc Of great interest, because, as we ha's
said, there is much 10 be learned an0s1
this air OF ours. and particularly a.
what happens when II is undergoing cons
preston. For the first time In the hislo''i
of this particular branch Of elgineerns'
the metal walls of the air cushion VIII %
perforated so that gauges can be az
tached On the outside IN a manner TO puY
them I'm free communication with the az
column I'm the tube. In this way u WIZ
be possible 10 obtain instantaneous anu
complete records OF the pressure exert2
by the falling elevator at each instaW I
its drop after once entering the CUSHION
ing or arresting apparatus. TheTef'''
while Mr. ElUthorpe's thrilling pluns'
will serve 10 make certain Of the en-
cheney of the lifesaving provision oil u.
elevator service i'm question. sul VIZ
furnish additional data which may leao y
helpful employment Ia other directions.
IL You are made of the stun OF WY
the martyrs of science are iasniol'S
then you will probably be glad TO 'o''D
tcer to make the first drop, or, If yo~ o.
of sin larger heroic calibre. YOU may eve
propose to take this plunge alone ano
leave Mr.. Ellthorpe to explain 10 -
rest of us Just how the thing Is oo','
This would give "A touch Of before-a'~
after realism which might add some "
the certain heart-haltng excitement
the occasion. Industrial life has us spy"
did examples OF courage, and ths
tories of this matter-of-fact service az
no less inspiring than those of the ua''
field We busting citizens threau Wv
busy ways daily undermining OF the man.
dangers that might menace us II IL W.
not for these soldiers of safety VINO s"'''
cur paths.