New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-02

I natural that the cars should sweep away
to the right or left-especially when reach
ing curves in the line This isn't as diff
cult 10 control as it may seem at first
blush
Water can be guided through a three
/ sided trough or runway. and the same
| principle can he applied TO the support and
the lateral guidance of Mr.. Bachelet's cars.
! Repulsive or leyitating coils lift the vehicle,
and similar magnets. but of lesser power,
. placed on the two sides Of the course will
hold the car upon the chosen route-these
lateral coils exerting opposite impulses
which tend TO centre the movement Of the
| carrier in its fight In order 10 increase
this control without reducing the speed Of
the car when taking a curve the solenoids
would he placed nearer together at such
points and this would make It possible for
Mr.. Bachelet's carriers 10 follow the bends
In the line at speeds many times greater
than the velocity which would mean certain
destruction TO any Of our trains to-day OF
course. the straighter the route the better
and the more economical to maintain and
TO run.
If you are fond Of figures and are Of an In
quiring turn OF mind you will probably ask
how cheaply can a system Of this sort be
operated so far as power or energy Is con-
cerned? One kiowatt OF electrical energy
will supply all OF the force needful to levi
tate and 10 transport pound for one hour
and at speed ranging anywhere from
three to FIVE hundred miles in that sixty
minute interval. The power station cost of
this current is, in round figures, about one
cent where electrical energy is generated
by steam. When produced by means of
water power the cost is lower. On an av-
erage now the run Of most mail trains be-
tween New York and Boston covers an in
terval OF time of more than five hours. Mr..
Bachelet proposes to reduce this time Of
travel to a period of not more than one
hour and this speed of flight naturally
qualities the ultimate cost or value OF the
power consumed in carrying a pound Of
mail or express matter for that distance.
OF course, there are other operative
costs. as there would be In the case OF any
system OF rapid transit. and there must
be certain additional expenses incident to
the upkeep of such line. but these would
naturally be amply covered by the traffic
charges for a service OF this sort. No ma
ton gives more point to the saying Time
means money" than our own, and hours
saved in the business of any day are we'll
worth paying for at a proper rate AS our
postal facilities exist to-day. letter posted
In the early forenoon here is not likely TO
reach Boston and be delivered before the
next morning unless dispatched by special
delivery. OF course, the railroads are not
entirely responsible for this. but the rela-
tive infrequency OF the fast mail trains
does contribute TO this delay, and the car
rage Of postal matter is largely a part of
a mixed service, which includes the trans
portation of passengers, baggage and per-
haps, some expressage.
. A transportation system which could be
limited TO special mail and express pack
ages, and which could dispatch its cars at
frequent notwithstanding them overland
az hundreds Of miles an hour-would GER
tainly be OF great convenience. A line Of
this character would make 1t possible to