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We have also admissions by many engineers who are most 

 strenuously opposed to the general introduction of the Atmo- 

 spheric System, that there may be peculiar circumstances 

 under which such system may be advantageously applied. 



I will endeavour to state the subject on the broad principle 

 that all human means of applying mechanical power are im- 

 perfect ; that power cannot be transmitted without loss ; and 

 that with regard to locomotion on railways, the best method 

 of investigation is to consider the various proposed systems 

 seriatim, and to endeavour to investigate the loss of power to 

 which each is subject. 



I cannot, however, presume to bring any investigations 

 before you in any other than a very imperfect state, nor have 

 I had the opportunity of making more than the most trifling 

 researches on the subject ; but I hope to bring the researches 

 of others to bear upon it, and to apply results which I have 

 collected from very varied sources. In particular, I will men- 

 tion the evidence taken and published by the Parliamentary 

 Select Committee on Atmospheric Railways. 



The application of ropes, as a means of communicating 

 stationary power to railway trains, is perhaps the most 

 economical method when the rope is not required to exceed 

 a short length ; but much power is lost when a great length 

 of rope is used. The advantages of using ropes are, that 

 the stationary power is most economically produced. 



The losses attendant upon the use of ropes are, first, that 

 power is lost in putting the rope into motion, or overcoming 

 its vis inertice ; secondly, that the rope must be supported on 

 pulleys or rollers, the friction and vis inertice of which cause 

 much loss ; thirdly, that the train must be stopped every time 

 it has to be attached to another length of rope, and therefore 

 the momentum acquired by the train is lost. 



These causes of loss of power are not practically great 

 when high velocities are not required, but become so con- 



