eo 
ON THE POWER OF SURMOUNTING 
tilting the body of the railway itself, which is 
so formed as'to be nearly indestructible. 
* ^ ^ ^ ¥ 
“ The invention, which is the basis of the 
improvement now submitted to the public, con- 
sists in the means of applying the elastic and 
forcing power of the atmosphere, obtained by 
rarefaction, within a hollow cylinder, of from 
thirty to forty inches in diameter, to carriages 
and cars running upo7i rails on its outer sur- 
face the action being produced and trans- 
ferred by means of pneumatic machinery, 
worked by sufficiently powerful fixed or local 
steam-engines. 
“ Steam-power, used as a first mover, ad- 
mits of no application so economical as that by 
means of fixed engines ; and thus motive 
power will be obtained at one quarter the ex- 
pense of that yielded by the locomotive-engine. 
The fixed engine gives also the advantage 
which the locomotive does not possess, that 
the intensity of its force can be greatly varied 
to suit the exigencies of the road ;• and thus it 
may be rendered available according to the 
nature of the slope or steepness of the acclivi- 
ty to overcome the weight to be moved, 
and the degree of rapidity required. Unlike 
that of the locomotive-engine, the power of 
the fixed engine is, by the improved system, 
communicated ivith no indirect expenditure to 
the load or train of carriages; whilst the pow- 
er of the locomotive is first applied to bear 
along its own ponderous bulk — which is of 
about 10 tons weight, or fully one-fourth of its 
usual load— and, as before remarked^ it de- 
stroys both railw ay and engine by its violent 
action andconcussive force. 
“ The power of stirmoiinting acclivities ren- 
ders the most direct lines of communication 
available, and thus shortens the distances be- 
tween places, and avoids the necessity of cir- 
cuitous routes in search of levels. Moreover, 
the improved system of railway permits of 
roads being laid through a marsh as W’ell as 
over a common or dow n, and with no greater- 
expense ; thus affording the means, in many 
cases, of avoiding the annoyance, inconveni- 
ence, and expense of running roads through 
parks, and over arable lands. It may be re- 
marked, too, that the great expense involved 
in the formation and construction of a railroad 
upon the common system, is totally sunk in 
cutting down, or in tunneling through hills, 
and in building across, or embanking over- 
valleys ; W'hereas the main expense involved 
in the formation of a road on the improved 
system, is in common iron castings, which be- 
ing almost indestructible, and possessing an 
intrinsic value, little or no loss can accrue 
upon them. 
“Not only does the improved system pre- 
sent a firmer construction of the railway, and 
a highly economical application of power, but 
it atibrds also greater protection to life and 
property, in the security of the carriages and 
cars for the conveyance of passengers and 
goods ; since these are so placed upon the 
rails, and so connected with the railway it- 
self, that they cannot, by any possibility, be 
thrown off or overturned. In consequence of 
this advantage, whatever objection may exist 
in the public mind to travelling upon railways. 
