MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 85 



same object as the electric telegraph. The principal portion of 

 the apparatus consists of a reservoir or air-vessel which is 

 charged or filled with air compressed to any desired degree 

 according to the initial velocity or force which it is requisite the 

 movements of the air employed should possess. A double-action 

 compression-pump, or any other suitable mechanism, may be em- 

 ployed to charge the reservoir or air-vessel and to sustain the 

 pressure to the required degree. The reservoir or air-vessel is 

 connected by means of a tube or pipe with a writing-apparatus of 

 any suitable description, and such as are well known and 

 understood, especially in connection with electro-telegraphy; the 

 tube or pipe being provided with a cork by which more or less 

 force may be given to the current of air whereby the writing- 

 mechanism is actuated. In order to regulate the signals, a gov- 

 ernor or piston, actuated by hand, is employed, by which pul- 

 sations or movements of the air in the tube or pipe are transmitted 

 through a valve which is arranged therein, the currents actuating 

 a lever connected with the writing-apparatus. For the purpose 

 of giving or receiving signals, the before-mentioned tube or pipe 

 is connected with a conducting tube or pipe constructed of any 

 suitable material, and which is so arranged that communication 

 can be established between the air reservoir or vessel, and the 

 writing-engine which is placed at the receiving-station, or vice 

 versa, by means of stopcocks which are worked by hand. An 

 indicator is employed to show the force of the current of air pass- 

 ing through the transmitting tube or pipe. Similar arrangements 

 are, of course, placed and employed at each end of communica- 

 tion. By means of this invention it is stated that intelligence and 

 signals can be transmitted to any distance ; any of the known 

 receiving and recording instruments capable of being used in 

 connection therewith b'eing employed. It is obvious that any 

 number of conducting-tubes may be employed, the requisite cur- 

 rents or pulsations of air therein being produced as before men- 

 tioned. The Guattari system claims to be more simple than the 

 electric system, both in point of construction and continuous use, 

 for whereas in the latter case it is necessary to use the electric 

 battery and all its accessories, by the former ordinary atmospheric 

 air compressed will perform similar functions. It is also claimed 

 for it that it is free from atmospheric influences, which it is well 

 known materially disturb the electric telegraph on the occasion 

 of storms ; and that the tube employed as the medium for conduct- 

 ing the air would not be subjected to accidents like the ordinary 

 wires, and would therefore necessarily last longer, and thus prove 

 much more economical. We understood, also, that it is so simple 

 that any person may learn in a few hours how to use and work it 

 with the greatest ease, as compared with the electric system ; it 

 is calculated that the machinery necessary to work this system 

 could be produced at about one-half the producing and annual 

 working cost of the electric system. The Royal Scientific Insti- 

 tute of Naples has already awarded to Signer Guattari a gold 

 medal in recognition of what they consider an important inven- 

 tion, adding a graceful tribute on its presentation to the effect 



