,,transcriber',s ,,note ,italic text is denoted by underscores4 ,some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book4 #ahif4 ,,boynton ,,bicycle ,,railway ,,system4 ,,officers3 ,,eben ,,moody ,,boynton1 ,president and ,treasurer4 ,,dr4 ,,james ,b4 ,,bell1 ,vice-,president4 ,d4 ,c4 ,,reusch1 ,secretary4 ,,office3 #cb ,,nassau ,,street1 ,,room #fae1 ,,new ,,york4 ,illustration3 ,a ,bicycle ,electric ,car in ,practical ,operation at ,bellport1 ,l4 ,i4 ,has been run #g1ejj miles4 ,weight1 complete1 #f tons4 ,rate of speed attained on #a miles of track1 #fj miles per hour4 ,highest speed on #h curve4 ,illustration3 ,interior of ,electric ,motor ,car 8,rocket10 at ,bellport1 ,l4 ,i41 on ,long ,island ,boynton ,bicycle ,r4 ,r4 ,,the ,,boynton ,,bicycle ,,railway ,,system4 ,the thirty pound bicycle has safely carried ten times its weight4 ,a man has in one day propelled himself and his machine five hundred and fifteen miles4 ,the principle of the bicycle1 saving enormously in weight and friction1 is here presented for application to existing and to future steam and electric roads without change of gauge or interference with existing trains4 ,turn a plank up edge-wise and it will carry many-fold greater load than it would flat-wise3 so by constructing two-story cars1 about four feet wide and fourteen feet deep1 greatly increased strength and lightness may be secured4 ,the cellular construction of the bamboo makes it extremely light and yet strong2 so it is with the ,bicycle car1 constructed with veneer and steel1 and composed of eighteen separate compartments corresponding to the cells of the bamboo4 ,it is the aim of this invention to reduce the undulations and friction of a car in motion1 thereby largely increasing safety and speed1 and saving wear and tear on both rolling stock and track4 ,engines are now required to drive from four to eight wheels held in line back of the cylinders4 ,on rounding curves the framing is strained by friction and wedging1 entailing a large loss of power4 ,the wheels1 rails1 and cars throughout suffer proportionately from grinding and shearing4 ,the ,bicycle engine1 with its double-flanged wheels1 follows any curve with a small loss of power4 ,one or more driving-wheels running on a single rail is the simplest of all means of transportation2 so manifest is it that the ,u4 ,s4 ,patent ,examiner1 in charge of the railroad department1 writing to the ,hon4 ,e4 ,m4 ,boynton1 the inventor1 calls it 8a practical solution of the problem of increased rate of speed--simple1 inexpensive1 practical40 ,a driving-wheel six feet in diameter can doubtless be made to run a ,bicycle locomotive one hundred to one hundred and twenty miles an hour with short stroke engines1 and double the number of revolutions they now make1 its speed being limited only by friction and air pressure4 ,ninety miles an hour1 however1 would probably for the present satisfy all reasonable wants for express trains1 and a proportionately lower rate of speed for local and freight trains4 ,the overhead guiding beam is set inward1 on curves1 tipping the train toward the center of the curve1 thus counteracting the centrifugal force1 like a bicycle4 ,practice has demonstrated that the twenty-two ton ,bicycle locomotive is so truly balanced1 that when running on a tangent1 the upper horizontal bearing-wheels seldom touch the overhead guide beam1 an inch space being left between them2 and it is found that even when running on curves1 at high rates of speed1 as the train is made to lean inward to balance the centrifugal force1 the friction of the overhead or guiding-wheels is but trifling4 ,the ,engineering ,news of ,march #b1 #ahhi1 says3 8,that the motion of a train running on a single rail in this manner might be very much smoother and safer1 seems to us reasonable1 or at least a chance worth thorough investigation4 ,it is a wholly different matter from narrowing the gauge4 ,so long as the reliance for stability is on the support of a pair of rails 7the center of gravity falling between them71 all narrowing of gauge must be a disadvantage2 and as it is impossible to maintain a pair of rails exactly horizontal1 there must inevitably be a jerking of the train from side to side1 which1 at high speed1 becomes exceedingly dangerous2 because1 whenever the level is not perfect1 there is a tendency created to lateral impact against one rail or the other4 ,in bicycle motion all this tendency is eliminated4 ,there is nothing but the forward motion to maintain perpendicularity in the vehicles 7except when the top guard-rail comes by accident into action71 nor is anything more needed4 ,hence there is only the vertical irregularities of the rail to be taken into account2 and even if they should cause considerable bouncing at points1 it is directly up and down1 without tendency to cause lateral motion1 the center of gravity being directly over the point of support tending1 unaided1 to stay there4#a ,taking into account this great potential advantage and the smaller cross-section of the train1 it appears reasonable that a much higher rate of speed may be safely maintained than is either possible or safe with double-rail vehicles40 ,illustration3 ,cross ,section of ,bicycle ,structure and ,bicycle ,electric ,car4 ,comparing weight to work done1 about one ton of train weight is now required to convey a passenger1 and the average freight train1 empty1 weighs more than the paying freight carried by it2 whereas it is practicable for the ,bicycle trains to be made to carry more than five times their own weight without five-fold loss of wasteful friction1 thus affecting a saving of at least ten-fold in freight1 and twenty-fold on passenger trains4 ,the ,bicycle cars already built1 seat #ajh passengers1 and weigh complete only five tons4 ,,advantages ,,of ,,the ,,bicycle ,,system4 ,the peculiar construction of the two-story ,bicycle cars1 four feet wide1 fourteen feet deep1 and forty-two feet long1 shaped like a plank turned edge-wise1 makes them many fold lighter and stronger4 ,speed and economy of transportation with reduced cost of construction4 ,a great saving of expense in grading and land damages4 ,a greater proportion of paying to non-paying load by the use of narrow two-story deep cars4 ,a great reduction in cost and wear of rolling stock4 ,a large saving of friction in rounding curves by the substitution of ,bicycle spindles for ordinary car wheel axles1 and consequent economy of power in moving trains1 and a rate of speed more than double that heretofore obtained on railways1 with comfort to passengers1 and economy in the conveyance of freight4 ,greater safety2 as a train grooved between an upper support and lower rail renders any derailment impossible1 and the train must run true1 smooth and safe4 ,spreading of rails by this system will be entirely unknown1 the weight being centralized on the rail1 both on a curve and a tangent4 ,a many-fold saving in the consumption of fuel1 as the weight of cars drawn would be about one-sixth the weight of the ordinary cars1 and the seating capacity double4 ,the two-story cars of this system are #ad feet in depth1 #db feet long1 leaving #f feet in the clear for each series of compartments1 and are reached in loading and unloading by two-story platforms in the depots and spiral staircases at the end of such cars as may be thought desirable on through trains4 ,the material of which the car is constructed is wood veneer1 held in place by steel bands and rods4 ,the cars now in use have nine compartments below and nine above1 each room having seating capacity for six people1 face to face1 seated as in a hack1 #ajh seats in a car4 ,this cellular construction1 like the bamboo1 insures great strength and lightness4 ,a triple band of steel encircles the car lengthwise4 ,at the top1 center and bottom1 ten bands of steel encircle the car vertically opposite each division wall of the compartment1 which practically divides the car from top to bottom4 ,eighty-eight steel rods run through between the seats across the car1 the ends being in the steel frame1 and thus draw the whole solidly together4 ,the corners of the car1 being covered with steel1 are protected1 and the strength and lightness are unsurpassed4 ,thus one hundred pounds is made to do the work which requires ten hundred to thirty hundred pounds in the old-fashioned heavy two-rail car4 ,there are eighteen doors on each side of the car1 making thirty-six in all4 ,the veneer of which the car is constructed is three thicknesses of one-eighth of an inch each1 with grain of inner layer running opposite to that of outer layers4 ,the seats are of thin veneer running across the car1 two in each compartment4 ,this car will seat #ajh persons and weighs a little less than five tons4 ,at the top of the car1 as shown in illustration on page #i1 are the bolsters holding the trolley wheels which support it in an upright position4 ,on each end1 and supporting the car1 are trucks which swivel the same as ordinary car trucks1 and are supplied with wheels forty inches in diameter4 ,these wheels are constructed of the best quality of steel1 light and yet very strong4 ,spiral springs are used in cushioning the motion of the car1 and are placed in the bolster directly under the center of the car4 ,,motion ,,of ,,the ,,bicycle ,,car ,,as ,,compared ,,with ,,standard ,,gauge ,,cars4 ,the spiral springs placed in the center of the ,bicycle car allow only a vertical motion1 whereas the ordinary standard gauge cars1 from their width and the arrangement of their springs1 allow an extreme swaying motion1 which in a long journey becomes very trying1 and to a great many persons is the cause of 8sea-sickness40 ,when a ,bicycle car is rounding even very sharp curves1 and at a rapid rate of speed1 the swaying motion or tendency to throw the occupant laterally1 is very slight and can scarcely be felt4 ,the reason for this is obvious1 as the ,bicycle car is held rigidly1 so far as any lateral motion is concerned1 but tilts naturally to the right or left according to the direction of the curve4 ,with these cars it has also been found1 that the greater the speed the smoother they run1 providing the rail itself1 upon which the cars run1 is true4 ,but supposing for the sake of argument that the rail is not smooth or true1 even the uninitiated can readily see1 that the ,bicycle car having only half the number of wheels1 meets only one-half the inequalities of the rail1 and wherever these occur1 cause only a vertical motion1 whereas the standard gauge cars have both the lateral and vertical motion1 in consequence of being let down first on one side and then on the other4 ,as we have already shown1 the ,bicycle car is absolutely controlled by the overhead structure1 both from any tendency to bound or leave the track in any possible manner2 in fact by its momentum it is also self supported1 like the bicycle1 causing only a slight strain on the structure1 even when maintaining a high rate of speed4 ,this being a fact it can readily be seen that the side motion of the car could not in any case be great1 and a speed of even #ajj miles an hour could be maintained without inconvenience to passengers4 ,it has frequently been asked1 could a person breathe going at that rate of speed8 ,it is not necessary to say he could1 as we are constantly traveling over #a1jjj miles per hour1 without suffering any inconvenience1 as in either case the atmosphere is carried with us4 ,and again3--,what would be the effect if a number of people were seated on one side of the car8 ,would it not throw it out of balance8 ,these narrow cars bring the weight of the passengers on one side within one foot of the center1 the height being fifteen feet1 the side strain overhead would be one-fifteenth of the weight of the highest number of passengers 7#cf7 possible to be seated on one side1 and would only be about #ge pounds on each of the four overhead trolley wheels4 ,this would only be a trifle1 as they are constructed to carry from two to five tons weight4 ,this is an extreme case1 however1 as the cars ordinarily would be about evenly balanced4 ,a ,,double ,,track ,,road ,,of ,,every ,,single1 ,,and ,a ,,four ,,track ,,of ,,every ,,double4 ,the illustration on the opposite page shows how this is accomplished4 ,on the side of the structure where the ,bicycle trains are shown1 we have an ordinary standard gauge1 four feet eight and one-half inches4 ,this gives us four feet and eleven inches from center to center of each rail1 and as shown1 with cars four feet wide1 we have eleven inches between trains4 ,this is ample4 ,on places were the curvature is considerable1 cars could be made still narrower to accommodate four in each compartment instead of six1 and to allow more space to clear one another in rounding curves where the overhang is considerable4 ,on such a road as shown here1 two rails could be used for through express trains solely1 with no possible interference1 and every opportunity would be given for a very high rate of speed4 ,the value of such a line to business men would be incalculable1 giving them a rapid1 comfortable and safe transit1 and at one-third the cost to railroad companies of the present so-called express trains4 ,any business man1 to whom time is valuable1 would pay almost any price to reach the various places in order to facilitate his numerous business transactions4 ,the other two lines could be used for local passenger traffic and the carrying of freight4 ,illustration ,illustration3 ,bicycle ,palace ,car4 ,,cost ,,and ,,advantages ,,of ,,upper ,,structure4 ,the cost of changing an ordinary double-track road1 with wooden structure similar to that illustrated on page #i1 would depend on the price of timber in the locality where the change was to be made4 ,a wooden structure would in many cases be sufficient1 provided it were made of the proper strength1 and would last a great many years with a very slight cost for repairs4 ,on these structures could also be carried the numerous telegraph and telephone wires1 and with suitable wire on the sides would furnish fencing1 which is necessary to keep the track clear from cattle and other obstructions4 ,it will be noticed that the cross timber1 upon which the rail rests1 is bolted to and forms a part of the upper structure1 so that from no cause whatever could the rail settle1 allowing the train to drop out1 but in any case the structure and track must settle together4 ,in a structure of this description1 posts would be required to be set from twenty to thirty feet apart1 and the longitudinal guide-beams would be trussed together1 making them very stiff and strong4 ,it must always be borne in mind that the strain on these structures would be but slight1 either on tangent or on curves1 and yet the structure should have sufficient strength to keep the overhead guide-beams true1 so that the supporting and the upper guide-rail both are in the same vertical plan4 ,according to the ,bicycle principle1 the ,bicycle cars would be able to keep themselves in an upright position1 while in motion1 without any assistance of the upper guide-beam2 but to quote the ,engineering ,news1 8,of course as stability depends on the existence of rapid forward motion1 and that motion ceases at stations1 and is liable to have to cease at any moment from accidental causes1 provision must be continuously made by overhead rail and guide-wheels1 or otherwise1 for support in case of need4 ,otherwise if the vehicles stop1 they will at once tip over4 ,but a provision of this kind1 which is only called into action in case of stoppage or sudden casualty1 is one thing3 an overhead rail which is continuously relied on for support is another and quite a different thing4 ,in the latter case1 the conditions might not be more favorable for smooth motion than on the ordinary double-track rail4 ,in the former case1 the top guiding-wheels need not be in contact with the overhead rail at all1 except at stations1 and hence there is much less necessity for exact construction or great strength or durability1 and the evident possibility of maintaining much higher speed with smooth motion1 because1 the faster the speed the stronger should be the forces tending to maintain vertically1 if the ,bicycle principle be1 in fact1 capable of such extension1 and the action of these forces is perfectly smooth and uniform40 ,after a year's constant use on the ,coney ,island road1 with a wooden structure which was only put up for temporary use1 the effect on the guide-beam was hardly perceptible4 ,we have run on this road over #g1jjj trips1 or about #be1jjj miles1 and the rubber bands on the trolley wheels of the cars are not worn at all4 ,these facts will bear investigation1 and certainly ought to show conclusively the amount of overhead strain on the structure1 as the road is full of sharp curves1 and the effect of the strain should be apparent here if anywhere4 ,note ,mr4 ,pond's letter4 8,,hon4 ,e4 ,m4 ,,boynton1 ,president ,bicycle ,railway ,co41 #cb ,nassau ,street1 ,n4 ,y4 8,,dear ,,sir3--,i wrote you on the allowance of patents on your ,bicycle ,railway ,system as follows3 8#8,it presents1 ,i think1 a practical solution of the problem of increased rate of speed1 as also of the problem of an increase of the ratio of paying to non-paying load1 whether in freight or in passenger traffic4 8#8,i think both these results are altogether feasible1 and are rendered so by the system you propose1 which is simple1 inexpensive and practical4' 8,after my ride of ,saturday last on your road1 ,i will add1 that ,i regard the predicted success as mechanically and practically accomplished4 ,upon careful examination1 ,i believe the conditions to be more favorable to safety at a very high speed than in the standard road4 8,the whole catalogue of risks arising from #8spreading' of the track is eliminated from railroading by this system4 8,the freedom from lateral oscillation at high speed--at any speed--is remarkable1 but very easily explained4 ,accustomed to write a great deal upon moving trains1 ,i can write a steadier1 smoother hand on this car than ever on any other4 ,the evident capability of very high speed is surprising4 ,ride upon the tender and watch the guide-wheels aloft1 and see for yourself how much the machine1 when at high speed on a tangent1 stands right up of itself1 #8bicycle fashion1' and how little work is required of those same guide wheels2 and1 in short1 to see the train pass is to see the #8poetry of motion4' 8,it would seem that to run #ajj trains1 each of sufficient capacity to carry #ajj persons a mile and three-quarters1 all on half a ton of coal1 should attract the sharp attention of railroad people4 ,such a fact admits of some astonishing deductions1 but can probably be explained by the very great reduction of friction1 and the reduction of non-paying weight per passenger to be hauled1 from six to thirty fold1 which are realized in your system4 ,to be able withal to transform a single track standard road into a double track line1 with more than a doubling of capacity1 is another startling and very tempting fact4 ,i see no reason why your system should not1 and every reason why it should1 be universally adopted by existing roads in the interest of speed1 safety and economy4 8,,benj4 ,w4 ,,pond1 ,examiner ,u4 ,s4 ,patent ,office40 ,n4 ,b4--,mr4 ,pond is and has been ,chief ,examiner in the ,railway ,department of ,patents for twenty years past4 ,illustration3 ,bicycle ,box ,freight ,car4 #cj feet long4 #e feet wide4 ,weight1 #c tons4 #i feet high4 ,capacity1 #g tons4 ,illustration3 ,bicycle ,coal ,car4 #bd feet long4 #e feet wide4 ,weight1 #c tons4 ,capacity1 #g tons4 ,illustration3 ,bicycle ,flat ,car4 ,length1 #cj feet4 ,width1 #e feet4 ,weight1 #c tons4 ,capacity1 #g tons4 ,illustration3 ,elevated ,railroad ,station showing the two ,express and the two ,local ,trains of the ,boynton ,bicycle ,system and the manner of getting in and out the trains from the lowest ,stations4 ,where height is sufficient the entrance to the ,express trains is made directly in an ,elevator from the ,street4 ,,the ,,effect ,,of ,,wind ,,pressure4 ,in a recent scientific review1 the writer1 while admitting advantages of the ,bicycle ,system under ordinary circumstances1 says3 8,a high gale of wind striking against the sides of these two-story cars would press them against the upper rail with a force which nothing could resist40 ,our present location should have given this matter the severest possible test1 located as we are in close proximity to the ocean and exposed on a trestle over a mile long and high above the level of the sea1 where terrific gales of wind have swept against the sides of the cars4 ,we have as yet had no difficulty in keeping the track1 and have failed to perceive any signs of being carried away by this 8irresistible force0 of which he speaks2 on the other hand1 we would not answer for the safety of a standard gauge train passing over the same place under like conditions1 as instances of locomotives being blown off the tracks and down embankments are authenticated4 ,certainly a gale of wind which is strong enough to endanger ,bicycle cars or structures1 would carry the heaviest standard gauge train off the track4 ,in the ,bicycle ,system the trains as they pass along serve in a measure to ballast the structure at the very point where the wind pressure blowing against the sides of the cars would have any effect4 ,,farmers ,,and ,,cheap ,,suburban ,,roads4 ,illustration ,the possibilities of this system of railway construction are immense4 ,small feeding roads may be built in sparsely settled districts1 where the farmer of moderate means may build his own roads1 and transport his grain and produce to town with but a trifling cost4 ,a road sufficient for this purpose could be built for probably about two thousand dollars per mile1 especially in districts where timber is readily obtainable4 ,this would be a great boon for farmers1 as at present some of their products scarcely pay for raising1 and their only means of transportation to the large towns is by horses and wagons4 ,a very light rail may be used in this description of railroad by placing longitudinal timber underneath1 which could be formed by a tree hewn or sawed on one side for the rail to rest on4 ,passing underneath is the cross-timber placed at right angles1 to the side of which supports for the upper structure are fastened4 ,bicycle locomotives may be constructed weighing from two tons up to any weight according to the load necessary to be drawn4 ,where the surface is moderately level1 longitudinal timbers may rest on the ground4 ,from their strength and stiffness the danger from washouts would be very little4 ,these structures may be composed of lighter or heavier timber1 as it all depends upon the weight which they are required to carry4 ,illustration3 ,elevated ,double ,track ,georgia ,pine ,structure4 ,cost1 #bj1jjj per mile4 ,,bicycle ,,roads ,,in ,,mountainous ,,districts4 ,there are numerous places where the ,bicycle ,system will commend itself1 and where the necessity for the construction of a standard gauge track becomes a very expensive operation1 especially in mountainous districts1 where solid granite must be cut away in order to get the required space4 ,the actual space occupied on the surface for a ,bicycle road1 need only be enough to rest the supporting rail1 where a standard gauge road would require a great deal of expensive work to prepare a level surface the necessary width1 upon which to rest the ties4 ,a longitudinal iron or wooden beam upon which to rest the rail is all that would be required for the ,bicycle line1 thus bridging all inequalities1 and saving greatly in expense4 ,and in addition1 the ease with which its cars and engines may turn1 render it especially applicable to such places where sharp curves occur1 in winding around mountain gorges4 ,in such places the ,bicycle road requires a space only four and one-half feet in width for a single line1 and for a double line about nine4 ,in putting up the structure the rock may be drilled1 and slight iron supports fastened to it4 ,another advantage which is apparent in case heavy grades are to be mounted1 is that an arrangement could be constructed1 which1 by pressing against the upper structure or overhead guiding-beam1 would greatly increase traction4 ,numerous narrow gauge roads now in operation in the ,west prove their advantage over the ordinary standard gauge1 in the saving of friction and the ease with which they turn sharp curves4 ,no narrower gauge road than the ,bicycle can possibly be constructed1 and1 as narrowing the gauge decreases friction1 surely we have the greatest possible advantage over anything yet constructed4 ,its economy and simplicity is very superior4 ,you can never get less than a single wheel1 or line of wheels1 or less than a single rail to run upon4 ,,collisions ,,and ,,their ,,causes4 ,railroad statistics show that the cost of operating and maintaining the present through express trains is very great1 as all other trains must be hurried through at a rate of speed that is neither wise nor economical1 in order to reach some particular point where these trains may be sided to allow the passage of express trains4 ,the result of all this is soon apparent on trains and road beds1 entailing additional expense for repairs1 to say nothing of the danger attending this system of dodging4 ,it is estimated that from fifty to sixty per cent4 of the accidents on railroads ensue from collisions1 and this in spite of the most improved system of signaling1 numerous dispatching stations1 and facilities for sending messages by telegraph4 ,collisions occur1 not so much from the speed of express trains1 but from the various rates of speed of the different trains4 ,it is readily apparent that no collisions could occur where trains running in the same direction maintain a uniform rate of speed4 ,this cannot be1 however1 and therefore1 in order to facilitate transportation1 more lines must be accessible to perform this with safety and economy4 ,with the ,bicycle ,system this can be accomplished much cheaper than with any other1 as we have shown4 ,as certain as it is that it costs ten times as much to move ten tons as it does one ton1 it is just as certain that a corresponding ratio of proportion between ,bicycle and standard gauge trains must reduce the cost of operation ten-fold1 as they are one-fifth the weight and twice the seating capacity4 ,when this is taken into consideration1 with the additional factor of safety1 which is desirable above all else1 surely the ,bicycle ,system should be entitled to great consideration4 ,aside from the question of speed and safety1 this system should commend itself to all railway managers who have other than personal interests to serve1 from the fact of the important bearing the question of economy has upon it4 ,it may be asked if it is really true that the trains may be run on this system so much cheaper than any other1 and supposing the weight of trains are equal1 could this high rate of speed be maintained8 ,to this we say emphatically1 yes6 ,two things must be borne in mind1 however2 first1 that in order to carry weight at a high rate of speed1 an additional expense must necessarily ensue1 as much from the damage done on the road bed and wear on rolling stock1 as the actual consumption of fuel4 ,second1 the amount of gain1 providing the weight of trains were equal1 would be the actual friction saved by ,bicycle trains1 as we have shown1 from the action of the single wheels on the rail4 ,that this would be considerable will not be questioned1 and yet this is not all1 ,light cars may be run on this system at very high rates of speed with the greatest safety1 and because they are light1 with wonderful economy4 ,may not cars of the same weight be run on standard gauge roads8 ,it is impossible2 as in running at any considerable rate of speed1 they would inevitably leave the rail2 and from the tendency to lateral motion1 and also from the inequalities of the rail1 they would be tossed up first on one side and then on the other4 ,this danger would be greatly increased from a light construction4 ,not so with the ,bicycle trains4 ,supposing from the inequalities of the rail these cars should bound1 from the fact of their having received a direct impelling motion in a vertical direction1 they would not be thrown off1 but would fall back squarely on the rail4 ,this would be the natural tendency1 but in order to prevent any possible chance of leaving the rail1 the overhead structure is so gauged that the cars and locomotives cannot rise far enough to clear the flanges of the wheels4 ,the present standard gauge cars must be constructed heavier in order to stand the great strain resulting from their oscillating motion1 and also from the fact that they are supported only from the base or platform of the car4 ,with the ,bicycle cars it is entirely different1 as they have two points of support1 top and bottom1 and their structure may be much lighter with safety4 ,so in summing up1 we here present two all important factors which give us the greatest economy in railroad transportation1 viz43 saving of friction with the ,bicycle wheels and spindles1 and the reduction of dead weight4 ,certainly every additional pound of weight drawn means a corresponding consumption of fuel4 ,the accompanying affidavit shows the coal consumption of the ,bicycle engine ,no4 #b1 it having a traction sufficient to move two hundred persons in ,bicycle cars1 over a grade not exceeding one hundred feet to the mile4 8,from ,august #bc;d to ,september #bc;d inclusive1 we have furnished the entire coal consumed by the ,boynton ,bicycle ,railway ,company in running their engine ,no4 #b with train attached1 their schedule including fifty trains daily1 both ways1 one hundred in all1 over one and three-quarter miles of road4 ,they have kept steam continuously and used some coal for other purposes1 and the exact amount furnished and paid for in the ordinary course of business1 with no previous notice to us1 has been #ca1jjj pounds for as many days of continuous steaming in running trains with capacity of from one to three hundred passengers safely1 successfully and at the highest rate of speed known4 8,,henry ,,henjes1 ,bath ,beach1 ,n4 ,y4 8,sworn to before me this #cjth day of ,september1 #ahij4 8,,george ,w4 ,,wallace1 8,notary ,public1 ,new ,york ,county40 ,this proves that a train of similar capacity can be run from ,new ,york to ,boston and back with a coal consumption of but one ton1 where from fifteen to twenty tons are now consumed4 ,a single ,bicycle car has usually been used1 containing seats for one hundred and eight people1 and at short intervals on the middle of the road1 this car has been run ninety miles per hour1 with passengers on board4 ,having run seven thousand trains1 connecting with other lines selling through tickets1 the safety1 economy1 and unquestioned success of this ,system has been practically demonstrated4 ,when we consider the enormous weight of a ,pullman ,palace car 7from eighty to ninety thousand pounds71 which is equivalent to the weight of seven hundred passengers1 we question1 why not carry the seven hundred passengers instead of their equivalent in unnecessary timber and iron4 ,the people of the ,united ,states have built and now sustain by their labor an investment of ten thousand million dollars1 on which an average interest is paid of about double that of ,government three per cent4 bonds1 and yet they cannot travel on these highways1 constructed with such infinite toil and expense1 unless they carry from ten to twenty-fold the weight of each passenger when the seats are filled4 ,the rapid ,bicycle trains will supersede this slow1 wasteful system4 ,an average speed of sixty-five miles per hour will reach the ,pacific coast from ,new ,york in two days4 ,a speed of one hundred miles per hour is readily obtainable by steam or electricity on the ,bicycle plan4 ,,bicycle ,,locomotive ,no4 #a4 ,the illustration on the opposite page describes our locomotive ,no4 #a4 ,it was built in ,portland1 ,me41 and is probably the first ,bicycle locomotive ever constructed4 ,at the first public trial1 which took place in ,september1 #ahhh1 at ,gravesend1 ,l4 ,i41 were present some of the most prominent railroad men in the country4 ,its capabilities for speed were satisfactorily demonstrated1 but owing to the shortness of the road1 no especially high rate of speed was attained4 ,this machine weighs #bc tons4 ,it has two #ab #ad inch cylinders1 and a driving-wheel #h feet in diameter4 ,it has a traction of about #cjj tons4 ,there is no doubt that this machine could easily maintain a speed of #ajj miles an hour1 drawing a train of ,bicycle cars1 with a seating capacity more than equal to that of the longest standard gauge train4 ,the steaming capacity of the boiler has been found to be very great1 and entirely adequate to perform the work required of it4 ,the extraordinary height of the fire-box1 #f feet from grade to crown sheet1 forms a natural combustion chamber1 causing great economy in the consumption of fuel4 ,this machine was found to be heavier than was necessary for the ,coney ,island road1 and locomotive ,no4 #b1 a much lighter machine1 is now used in its place4 ,illustration3 ,bicycle ,locomotive ,no4 #a4 ,,bicycle ,,locomotive ,no4 #b4 ,this locomotive was constructed at the same time as the ,no4 #a1 but not as an improvement over that machine1 its principal advantage being that it was so much lighter in weight4 ,this was particularly advantageous from the fact that we were using an old unused road not designed for heavy traffic1 and with this light machine we could attain a much greater speed with safety on this limited road than with the ,no4 #a4 ,it weighs only nine tons1 but by filling the tanks with coal and water the traction may be greatly increased4 ,the driver is #f feet in diameter4 ,it has two cylinders #aj #ab inches4 ,the boiler is an upright containing #ajb tubes4 ,this machine is capable of a speed of #ij miles an hour drawing three ,bicycle cars1 with seating accommodation for #cjj people1 and an average consumption of coal of one-half a ton per day4#b ,we have used this locomotive constantly since the #afth of ,august1 #ahij1 and have made the regular run of the road1 one and three-quarter miles1 in three minutes regularly4 ,on special time trips1 the same distance1 in two and a quarter minutes1 including starting and stopping4 ,illustration3 ,bicycle ,locomotive ,no4 #b4 ,,bicycle ,,locomotive ,no4 #c4 ,this machine is the most perfect yet designed by us for a ,bicycle locomotive4 ,weight1 #af tons1 traction1 #djj tons4 ,the cylinders are the same size as those of ,no4 #a1 #ab #ad inches4 ,diameter of drivers five feet4 ,the crank is only #g inches in length1 so that #fjj revolutions per minute may readily be obtained4 ,there is no doubt that this locomotive can easily maintain a speed of #ajj miles per hour drawing ten ,bicycle cars1 seating #a1jjj passengers and weighing about #abe tons4 ,this is more than the longest train on the standard gauge now accommodates4 ,this machine is under construction1 and we have full and complete working drawings of every detail1 and every improvement designed equal to the most modern locomotives4 ,illustration3 ,bicycle ,locomotive ,no4 #c4 ,,switches ,,for ,,the ,,bicycle ,,system4 ,on page #ca we give an illustration of our switches4 ,the standing vertical bar reaches from the tie or roadbed to the top of upper structure1 with a crank top and bottom1 thus operating top guide-beam and lower rail simultaneously4 ,when full throw of the switch is made1 the ends of the rail and guide-beam are brought directly opposite1 making the joints similar to the old stub switch4 ,these switches are thrown and locked the same as those now used4 ,the length of the shifting guide-beam and lower rail is thirty feet4 ,the swing of the guide-beam is eighteen inches1 while that of the rail is about six4 ,the difference between the two1 twelve inches1 gives the tilt to the car which facilitates the switching of cars or locomotives1 leaning them to the right or left1 thus reducing friction4 ,we have two in use on our ,coney ,island road and have had no difficulty in switching our heaviest locomotive4 ,indeed the matter of switching only appears to be complicated1 whereas1 in fact1 it is very simple and safe4 ,no contingency can possibly arise where these cars and locomotives could not be switched4 ,illustration3 ,bicycle ,railway ,switch4 ,,bicycle ,,sleeping ,,and ,,accommodation ,,coach4 ,the illustration on page #cc describes the ,bicycle sleeping and accommodation coach4 ,the upper story is furnished with upholstered seats for thirty-six people4 ,the lower floor has six sleeping apartments containing berths thirty-six inches wide4 ,there are also three toilet rooms1 one between each two compartments4 ,the upper story is furnished with a door at each end of the car1 which is reached by means of a spiral stair case from the lower car platform4 ,in the lower story the doors are arranged on the sides of the car opposite each compartment and toilet room4 ,the passengers may enter the compartment directly from the sides or through the toilet room4 ,every arrangement for comfort and convenience of passengers is designed for these cars4 ,illustration3 ,bicycle ,sleeping and ,accommodation ,coach4 ,,bicycle ,,system ,,in ,,connection ,,with ,,elevated ,,roads4 ,in addition to the apparent advantages of the ,bicycle ,system over all other surface roads1 it is peculiarly adapted to elevated roads in cities and suburbs4 ,first1 from the fact that a single line of rails is used1 it is not necessary to cover up a street entirely1 thus blocking it up from daylight1 as is now done in a great many places1 but ,bicycle structures may be built as shown on page #ce1 where posts are set at curbs on each side of the street1 forming little or no obstruction to light4 ,anything which tends to darken streets in front of property tends in a measure to depreciate the value of that property1 as stores and apartments will certainly not rent as readily as those which have the full advantage of daylight4 ,of course the facilities of transportation to the different localities make up in a degree for this deprivation1 but1 if the same end can be reached1 and even greater means of transport1 without this nuisance in our streets1 can be attained with the ,bicycle ,system1 it should certainly be entitled to an impartial consideration4 ,the ,bicycle trains having one-third the weight of those now operated1 will make less noise in rolling on the rails1 and as the power exerted to move them will be two-thirds less1 there will be a corresponding reduction in the noise of the exhaust4 ,two ,bicycle trains can be run on one set of posts1 leaving ample room to pass each other1 and they could also be run as shown on page #de1 on posts placed in the middle of the street with scarcely any obstruction as far as light is concerned4 ,another enormous advantage is the economy with which the ,bicycle structures can be built4 ,a ,bicycle structure sufficient to accommodate two lines can be built for one-fifth of the cost of the present elevated structures in ,new ,york ,city and ,brooklyn4 ,there should be something in the foregoing facts which should set our railroad projectors thinking4 ,the numerous advantages and tempting possibilities of this system should cause its early adoption4 ,even the present elevated cars1 which are comparatively light1 are entirely too heavy1 and only increase the cost of their operation4 ,bicycle cars have been built weighing only five tons1 with a seating capacity for #ajh people1 more than twice the number these cars will seat4 ,one-story ,bicycle cars may be built weighing about three and one-half tons and seating #ed people4 ,these are facts1 not theories4 ,if we must use elevated roads in our cities1 why should we load them with unnecessary weight1 entailing an expenditure of enormous sums for iron structures heavy enough to bear their weight1 when this can largely be avoided4 ,illustration3 ,single ,bicycle ,elevated ,structure4 ,illustration3 ,,end ,,elevation ,bicycle ,system applied to ,n4 ,y4 ,elevated ,railroad4 ,what can be done with the present elevated structures in order to secure rapid transit8 ,many schemes have been advocated1 but none so far which are practical1 except through the expenditure of about #ej1jjj1jjj4 ,the nearest approach to rapid transit we have yet attained is an average speed of ten miles an hour1 and there are some hours in the morning1 and at night1 when not even half the people can be seated1 but the balance are packed in like sardines in a box1 obliged to stand up and hang on to straps for from one-half to three-quarters of an hour1 instead of receiving the accommodation for which they pay4 ,real rapid transit can be obtained but in one way4 ,two more lines must be accessible for express trains4 ,the ,bicycle ,system will give these two extra lines without change of gauge1 and give four trains to the present two1 with only the additional cost of the upper structure4 ,illustration on page #cf shows how this may be accomplished4 ,the elevated structure would then have much less weight to carry1 and this change could be made without interfering with the operation of the present trains4 ,a great many people who ride on the elevated roads have ridden in the ,bicycle cars on the ,sea ,beach and ,brighton ,road at ,coney ,island1 and can testify to the advantages of this system4 ,illustration3 ,combined ,elevated and ,surface ,structure4 ,illustration3 ,side ,elevation of ,elevated ,structure4 ,another decided advantage in the ,bicycle cars is their convenience in receiving and discharging passengers1 the doors1 #cf in all1 allowing instant exit4 ,a car filled with #ajh people can be emptied in a few seconds4 ,there is no need for argument to show that #cf doors will allow emptying and filling more quickly than two4 ,the difficulty of emptying a car quickly1 containing #hj or #ij people1 and obliging them to file through an aisle1 is well understood1 as we have all tried it1 to say nothing of the inconvenience of pushing one's way through a car1 packed with standing crowds1 in order to get out at the desired station4 ,the delay at stations to allow entrance and exit is no inconsiderable obstacle to the desired rapid transit1 as the time consumed is1 on an average1 nearly what it takes to run from station to station4 ,the ,bicycle cars will obviate this difficulty1 giving every opportunity for the saving of time at the stations1 which in making #dj or #ej stops is considerable4 ,the income of the elevated railways may be greatly increased and the expenses decreased1 and at the same time give the public the much talked of and desired rapid transit4 ,there is every reason to believe that the ,bicycle express trains could average #dj miles per hour on the elevated railroad1 making only the most important stops1 while local trains could more than double the present average rate of speed4 ,,electricity ,,applied ,,to ,,the ,,bicycle ,,system4 ,in addition to the numerous advantages of the ,bicycle ,system over all others1 the substitution of electricity for steam will greatly increase these advantages1 and will show beyond a possibility of doubt that this system is especially adapted for the utilization of this motive force1 more than any other known4 ,illustration3 ,bicycle ,electric ,car 8,rocket10 at ,bellport1 ,l4 ,i4 ,the first1 and perhaps the most important point in its favor1 is the use of the overhead guide in which to enclose the electric conductor4 ,the advantages of this combination need hardly be specified1 as they are evident to any one conversant with the transmission of electric energy4 ,one of the many difficulties inseparable from the present overhead trolley system1 is the proper insulation of the conductor1 as it must expose a metallic surface for the transmission of the current from the conductor to the trolley1 and must evidently be left without any insulating cover whatever4 ,it is therefore not only at the mercy of anything that may come in contact with it1 but is a constant menace to the safety of the public1 as many cases show1 where accidents have resulted from telegraph wires coming in contact with electric power wires4 ,the use of guard wires1 to prevent these contacts1 only partially obviates the difficulty1 and certainly does not tend to make the overhead trolley system popular4 ,as the conductor is bare1 it is exposed to all the evils arising from climatic changes1 such as ice1 snow and rain1 and the difficulties under such circumstances to insure a proper insulation from points of support are very great1 as at these points the presence of ice or other substances often causes a leakage of current4 ,another difficult point is always to make contact with the conductor1 as the latter is only supported at points some distance apart and between these points is loose and yielding1 and therefore not always a reliable medium for tapping the current2 the contact is not continuous1 to say nothing of the liability of the trolley leaving it entirely4 ,in forming curves1 as the wire can only be extended in a straight line from point to point1 it necessarily demands a large and unsightly network of wires2 but even with this additional help to form the curves1 it is impossible to pass these places at any rate of speed except a comparatively slow one1 on account of the tendency of the trolley to leave the wire4 ,these are some of the evils attending the electric trolley system1 which are entirely obviated by the use of electricity with the ,bicycle ,system4 ,here the conductor is safely imbedded in the overhead guide1 surrounded on all sides1 except the lower1 with insulating material1 and leaving only a narrow slot at the bottom of the guide-beam1 through which the trolley enters and makes contact with the conductor4 ,the conductor of course conforms to the curves of the guide-beam1 and is therefore safely and rigidly supported1 without any motion whatever in any direction2 it being encased on top and sides1 is entirely protected from climatic changes and must always remain dry and clean4 ,it is also evident that it is absolutely impossible to make any accidental contact with any other conductor1 or vice versa1 or to imperil the lives of the public in any possible manner4 ,the conductor having a continuous support1 and always being parallel with the supporting rail1 a safe contact under high rates of speed is insured1 and as the guide-beam holding the conductor is readily bent to conform to the curves1 all difficulty in forming or rounding curves is eliminated4 ,the slot in the guide-beam forms a moderately deep groove1 making it impossible for the trolley to get out1 or to leave the conductor4#c ,another advantage of the ,bicycle ,system is the proximity of the car top and upper guide1 which necessitates only a very short trolley arm instead of the long and cumbersome one now in use1 with its large momentum1 and consequent impossibility of running at any considerable rate of speed4 ,as the conductor is so safely insulated1 it will certainly permit the transmission of a much higher voltage1 with its many advantages1 without the risks to which the present electric roads are subject4 ,illustration3 ,single ,electric ,bicycle ,structure4 ,the foregoing are some of the many advantages which directly result from the use of the ,bicycle ,system1 but there are others which result indirectly1 and are perhaps fully as important4 ,illustration3 ,sectional ,view of ,bicycle ,motor ,car1 showing ,safety ,shoe at ,bottom of ,car4 ,also ,method of ,suspending ,car from ,springs at top of ,motor ,frame4 ,the difficulty with the present car motor is1 that the power necessary to round sharp curves must be so much greater at these curves than on a straight line1 due to the width of gauge1 and consequent grinding and wedging1 as well as the large rolling friction1 that the motor must be constructed heavy and powerful enough to answer the purpose in either case4 ,the advantages of the ,bicycle ,system in rounding curves1 and reduced rolling friction1 have been described in former pages1 and it should be very evident that a much lighter motor can be constructed1 and with light ,bicycle ,needle cars1 will give a speed greater than anything yet attained4 ,another disadvantage of the present heavy cars and motors1 is the necessity of gearing the motor down to get power enough to start the car without burning the armature out4 ,the motor of our new electric locomotive contains but a single stationary shaft1 with the armature and wheel revolving on same1 and in addition revolvable about a vertical axis enabling it to round curves4 ,this supersedes the intermediate shafts of the present gear motors1 whose friction and liability to breakdowns render high speed impossible4 ,the ,bicycle cars running so much easier1 permit the coupling of the armature directly with the driving-shaft without the necessity of intermediate gearing and all the evils connected with it4 ,as the motor is in the car itself1 it is entirely free from all the dust and dirt to which those now used are exposed1 and every part is constantly in full view1 and within easy reach of the engineer4 ,anyone conversant with the difficulties of supervising the present car motor and keeping them clean and well regulated1 will fully appreciate the benefits derived from this alone4 ,it is obvious that the outgoing and incoming currents could be sent through separate conductors in the overhead guide-beams1 or if preferable1 the return current can be sent through the supporting rail4 ,each car has its own motor1 and is therefore entirely independent1 thus facilitating switching or changing from one track to another2 it will also be possible to have the trains of almost any length1 as each car furnishes its own traction and as a greater number of passengers increases its traction1 no adding of dead weight is necessary4 ,with one locomotive pulling a long train it is entirely different1 as the adding of a number of cars is counteracting the traction of the former1 and must be equalized by a corresponding weight of the locomotive1 thus furnishing a dead load of no benefit1 and besides1 necessitating an increased motive force4 ,in making up a train of these independent car motors1 flexible electric connections will enable the engineer in the front car to control all the motors1 and thus operate the whole train4 ,illustration on page #de describes the ,bicycle electric car and the structure for an electric elevated road4 ,the weight of car and motor combined will only be about six tons4 ,with this combination it is possible to maintain a very high rate of speed4 ,certainly1 without exceeding the number of revolutions already attained by electric motors1 one hundred and fifty miles an hour would be feasible4 ,experts have expressed the opinion that electricity is the coming motive power4 ,if this be a fact1 as some of the recent electrical experiments seem to indicate1 some system should be used which in all cases would be entirely safe1 as the public will certainly not patronize any which would imperil their lives or property4 ,the cars are furnished with a grooved metal keel at each end1 inside of which the wheels are revolving1 so that1 if from any possible cause one of the latter should break1 the car would only drop far enough to allow this groove to slide on the rail1 but would not allow the guide-wheels to leave the overhead guide-beam4 ,now1 in regard to collisions1 which are apt to occur from many causes1 even where a separate line is furnished for outgoing and incoming trains1 unless some means are furnished to make such a contingency impossible4 ,there is an electric system at present in practical operation in ,austria1 where in case trains approach one another too near for safety1 a bell is set ringing in the engineer's cab of the train following1 which warns him of danger1 and continues to ring until a safe distance between the trains is established4 ,a dial may also be arranged in the engineer's cab1 which will show the position of every train and their relative distance from one another4 ,either one of these plans would remove all possibility of collision4 ,illustration3 ,side ,view of ,bicycle ,motor ,wheel1 with ,motor ,enclosed1 ,armature ,being a ,part of the ,wheel4 ,also ,detail of ,trolley ,shoes1 ,showing ,method of ,taking ,current from the ,conductor4 ,illustration3 ,single ,post1 ,double ,track1 ,steel ,elevated ,bicycle ,structure1 for ,use in ,streets in ,villages and ,cities4 ,cost1 per mile1 #fe1jjj4 ,illustration3 ,front ,view of ,motor ,car 8,rocket10 at ,bellport1 ,l4 ,i41 ,showing ,power ,station and ,structure of ,railroad4 ,,what ,,is ,,said ,,of ,,it ,,by ,,electrical ,,and ,,engineering ,,experts4 ,,kings ,,county ,,elevated ,,railway ,,co41 #cdf ,,fulton ,,street1 ,,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y4 ,hon4 ,e4 ,m4 ,boynton1 ,prest4 ,boynton ,bicycle ,railway ,co41 #cb ,nassau ,street1 ,n4 ,y4 ,,dear ,,sir3--,i have taken great pleasure in visiting and riding on your ,electric ,railway at ,bellport1 ,l4 ,i4 ,i was more than satisfied in regard to its feasibility and adaptability to quick transportation4 ,by your single rail and narrow cars you have lightened many-fold the weight of trains1 and enlarged proportionally the carrying capacity over steam roads1 as at present existing1 as you make a double-track road out of a single-standard gauge track4 ,i am fully satisfied as to its economical construction and working1 its quick and rapid means of transit1 and its absolute safety in transporting passengers and freight4 ,i see no reason why it should not be universally adopted1 as the tests of both the steam and electric methods have proved its practical success4 ,very respectfully yours1 ,o4 ,f4 ,,balston1 ,chief ,engr4 ,k4 ,c4 ,el4 ,ry4 7,special despatch to the ,associated ,press47 ,,new ,,york1 ,april #d1 #ahie4--;,a committee composed of members of the ,senate and ,house of the ,massachusetts ,legislature to-day inspected the ,boynton ,bicycle ,electric ,road from ,patchogue to ,bellport1 ,long ,island4 ,the party entered a train at ,patchogue at about noon1 and shortly afterward were traveling around sharp curves and up steep grades at the rate of nearly a mile a minute1 almost totally unconscious of the rapid rate at which they were going4 ,the results of to-day's examination are thus summarized by a member of the committee3 ,first1 they are satisfied the system saves half the weight per passenger carried2 second1 makes one rail do more work than two now do2 third1 gives double the speed possible by any other system2 fourth1 is about one-quarter the expense to build1 as compared with elevated railroads2 fifth1 is perfectly safe1 silent1 dustless and doing double the work at half the usual cost4 ,the committee seemed especially delighted with the capability of the road in giving a double track on a single post1 thus solving the question of rapid transit in the narrow streets of ,boston and its suburbs1 where several charters are pending4 ,the visitors agreed that the ,bicycle ,system was safe and less injurious to property than the trolley system4 ,,manhattan ,,railway ,,company1 ,,chief ,,engineer',s ,,office1 #ga ,,broadway1 ,,new ,,york4 ,,dear ,,sir3--,in regard to your request for an expression of opinion in relation to the practicability of the ,boynton ,bicycle ,railway1 ,i have to say1 that ,i think the system is thoroughly practicable2 that the rolling stock can be economically constructed1 and much lighter per live load carried than the ordinary rolling stock of equal strength4 ,by reason of the center of gravity coming directly over the single supporting rail1 there will not be that disagreeable oscillation which takes place on the double-rail system1 and which is so destructive to the rolling stock2 and for this reason a high rate of speed can be maintained with greater safety than on the present system4 ,yours truly1 ,j4 ,,waterhouse1 ,chief ,engineer4 ,hon4 ,e4 ,moody ,boynton1 ,president ,boynton ,bicycle ,railway ,company3 ,in the difficult road at ,coney ,island1 and with its sharp grades and curves1 where you have for two seasons passed one ,bicycle steam train by another1 thus making a double track of the standard gauge road1 and wherein the running of ten thousand trains and the safe carriage of passengers1 without accident1 at high speed1 with great smoothness and economy1 have been accomplished1 you have demonstrated your system to be perfectly feasible4 ,i have no interest in your ,company other than as an engineer1 but am pleased to give my impression concerning your road at ,coney ,island1 as your success there has been very remarkable4 ,yours truly1 ,f4 ,s4 ,,pearson1 ,consulting ,engineer1 #ha ,milk ,street1 ,boston4 ,mr4 ,f4 ,s4 ,pearson was ,chief and ,electrical ,engineer of the ,west ,end ,street ,railway1 ,boston2 of the ,brooklyn ,city ,railway2 ,new ,york ,city1 ,jersey ,city1 and many other roads4 ,,philadelphia1 ,,pa41 ,may #dth1 #ahie4 ,hon4 ,e4 ,m4 ,boynton1 ,prest4 ,boynton ,bicycle ,railway ,co41 ,new ,york1 ,n4 ,y4 ,,dear ,,sir3--,in reply to your letter of the #c;d inst41 requesting our opinion as to the merits of the ,boynton ,bicycle ,railroad ,system1 we beg leave to say that we believe the system possesses marked features of merit on the following grounds3 ,first2 that a ,bicycle railroad car1 loaded with passengers1 is much lighter than a loaded car of the same passenger accommodation of the present type1 and consequently possesses corresponding economy in the power required to drive it at a given rate of speed4 ,second2 that owing to the lightness of construction1 electric motive power1 sufficient for the attainment of high speeds1 can be applied to each car as an independent unit1 instead of requiring a special electric or steam locomotive to haul one or more cars1 thus obtaining for high speed railroads all the flexibility and advantages of the trolley system1 as now employed in street passenger railroads4 ,third2 cheapness in the construction of the car1 the roadbed and track1 particularly when electric locomotion is employed1 requiring an overhead structure4 ,fourth2 the advantage possessed by your system1 in changing over from the present steam road to the ,bicycle road1 arising from the width of your car1 which permits two cars to pass each other1 on the ordinary #d-h track1 thus providing a double track road in the space now occupied for a single track4 ,yours respectfully1 ,,edwin ,j4 ,,houston4 ,a4 ,e4 ,,kennelly4 ,,headquarters ,,dept4 ,,of ,,the ,,east1 ,,governor',s ,,island1 ,n4 ,y4 ,my attention was first called to the ,bicycle ,railroad ,system1 as developed by ,e4 ,moody ,boynton1 some two or three years ago1 and ,i have since1 from a careful examination of its workings1 satisfied myself of its superiority in several respects to other methods of transportation4 ,its simplicity of construction and cheapness of operation have commended it to my favorable consideration1 and the running of the experimental trains at ,coney ,island1 and ,bellport1 ,l4 ,i41 the former by steam and the latter by electricity1 have convinced me that its advantages are many fold4 ,the liability of accident appears to be at a minimum1 and the questions connected with the cheapness of construction1 the economy in operation1 the great speed of trains1 and the comfort and safety of travel1 appear to be entirely solved by the employment of the ,bicycle system4 ,o4 ,o4 ,,howard1 ,major-,general ,u4,s4 ,army4 ,,addendum4 ,the ,boynton ,bicycle ,railway ,company is incorporated to license the use of its patents to all steam and electric railway companies1 in the ,united ,states and other countries1 on the payment of a small royalty4 ,all stock of the ,company is fully paid by patents and property1 is non-assessable1 and it is not intended to incur any bonded indebtedness4 ,any company organized for the purpose of using this system will pay a royalty of one-twentieth of the stock1 or1 if bonds are issued1 one-twentieth of the bonds1 as a full and final payment for the use of all patents issued or to be issued4 ,the running of over #ag1jjj miles by steam on the ,coney ,island road1 and of over #h1jjj miles by electricity on the ,bellport road has demonstrated the complete mechanical and practical success of this system4 ,a saving of from six to twenty-fold is made in train weight for conveying passengers1 and four-fold saving in conveying freight4 ,the ,company will furnish on application any further information that may be necessary1 to such railroad companies1 or others1 who desire to investigate this system1 with a view to its adoption4 ,to those who may decide to use this system we will send full working drawings1 which will enable them to construct cars1 locomotives and structures4 ,,the ,,boynton ,,bicycle ,,railway ,,company1 ,,room #fae1 #cb ,,nassau ,,street1 ,,new ,,york ,,city1 ,n4 ,y4 ,,directors ,,of ,,the ,,boynton ,,bicycle ,,railway ,,company ,,for #ahif4 ,dr4 ,,james ,b4 ,,bell1 ,boston1 ,mass4 ,maj4-,gen4 ,o4 ,o4 ,,howard1 ,new ,york4 ,,geo4 ,,haseltine1 8 8 ,,geo4 ,h4 ,,gale1 8 8 ,,eben ,m4 ,,boynton1 8 8 ,,william ,a4 ,,stevens1 8 8 ,,david ,,wallace1 8 8 ,,william ,h4 ,,boynton1 8 8 ,,francis ,w4 ,,breed1 ,lynn1 ,mass4 ,d4 ,c4 ,,reusch1 ,new ,york4 ,,geo4 ,a4 ,,bruce1 ,summerville1 ,mass4 ,h4 ,h4 ,,mawhinney1 ,boston1 ,mass4 ,e4 ,l4 ,,sanborn1 8 8 ,,wm4 ,h4 ,h4 ,,hart1 ,san ,francisco1 ,cal4 ,,william ,h4 ,,thurber1 ,providence1 ,r4 ,i4 ,w4 ,e4 ,,scarritt1 ,new ,york4 ,,footnotes3 #a ,the writer has had several opportunities of riding on the standard gauge locomotives1 and noticed1 in rounding curves1 even at the rate of thirty-five miles per hour1 the resulting zig-zag motion2 the machine would be running on the tread of the wheels as far as the flanges allowed to one side1 striking with terrible force1 then bounding to the other side and repeating the action again and again1 until it seemed impossible that the rails could be held in place with spikes firmly enough to prevent their tipping over or spreading4 #b ,note on page #bc sworn statement of ,henry ,henjes1 coal dealer4 #c ,that these advantages have also been acknowledged by electricians of repute1 was shown at a recent meeting of 8,the ,boston ,society of ,american ,engineers40 ,in answer to a question of where to put the wires1 ,capt4 ,griffin said3 8,there are several suggestions made in reference to that4 ,mr4 ,e4 ,moody ,boynton's ,bicycle ,railway is especially adapted to electrical purposes40 ,he then goes on describing and explaining the reasons for this4 ,,transcriber',s ,,note ,obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources4 ,except for those changes noted below1 all misspellings in the text1 and inconsistent or archaic usage1 have been retained4 ,page #bf4 8accomodation0 replaced by 8accommodation04 ,page #ch4 8few seconds ,there0 replaced by 8few seconds4 ,there04