Part 3

“It stands now, exactly as the steam-engine stood, when Watt had completed the first one he made: that is, certain in its effect, provided we will be at the charge of combining the necessary apparatus. We have steam-engines and air-pumps amply large enough for the purpose. So far from there being any insuperable difficulty in the construction of the tunnel, there are parties ready to contract for, and guarantee the execution of it, as relates to being air-tight; and, although we should begin by going only at the rate of ten, fifteen, or twenty miles an hour, yet have we no doubt that, in the time necessary to instruct us how to manage the carriage under higher velocities (as sailors get the “trim” of a new ship), we should be able to go several (and we see not why _ten_) times faster than we now travel. The chief, if not the only, difficulty to surmount in this, as in most scientific improvements in their origin, is public incredulity. This difficulty was felt and experienced, at the outset, in respect to the construction of steam-engines; in cutting canals; in laying down rail-roads; in rendering steam-engines locomotive on them; and superior to the tempest and the wave, at sea.

“But as the same spirit of perseverance which enabled us to overcome these past difficulties, will cause us to triumph over those before us with reference to this principle of motion, we are satisfied, that it is necessary only to go on, and prosper.”—_Brighton Herald_, 16_th_ _September_, 1826.

This quotation from the Brighton Herald serving to convey an idea of the method of operation, I may return to the “Town Meeting”: with reference to which the Brighton Gazette of the 7th June, 1827, states:—

“A town meeting, which we never saw surpassed in respectability, and seldom more numerous, was held at the Old Ship Assembly Rooms, on Tuesday last, at the requisition of nearly eighty of our most respectable inhabitants, for the purpose of taking into consideration the best means of rendering the method invented by Mr. Vallance, for the conveyance of passengers and goods by atmospheric pressure, beneficial to the town of Brighton. The High Constable was in the chair.”

The _course_ of the business not being important, I beg to refer you to the columns of the Brighton Gazette for it, and state only the _result_; which will be found _officially_ advertised in all the Brighton papers of that week, to the following effect:—

“TOWN OF BRIGHTON.

“At a numerous and highly respectable Meeting of the Inhabitants and Visitors of the Town of Brighton, held at the Old Ship Tavern, on Tuesday, the 5th day of June, 1827, for the purpose of taking into consideration the best means of rendering the method invented by Mr. Vallance for the conveyance of passengers and goods by atmospheric pressure, beneficial to the Town of Brighton:

“The High Constable in the chair.

“A Committee having been appointed at a former General Meeting of the Inhabitants, to investigate the merits of the measure now under consideration, and their Report having been read to this Meeting, expressing a decided approbation of the undertaking—

“Resolved, unanimously, that the Report be sanctioned and adopted by this Meeting.

“Resolved, that in the opinion of this Meeting the method of transmission proposed by Mr. Vallance would be productive of the most important advantages to the Town of Brighton; and that the application of it, either as it relates to the transit of goods from Shoreham Harbour, or to the conveyance of passengers between Brighton and the Metropolis, is entitled to the most cordial support of the Town.

“Resolved, that the thanks of this Meeting be given to Mr. Vallance for bringing his important invention before the Inhabitants of the Town.

“Resolved, that the proceedings of this day be advertised in the Brighton papers.

“E. H. CREASY, Chairman.

“Resolved, that the thanks of this Meeting be given to the Chairman for his impartial conduct in the Chair.”

* * * * *

“Report of the Committee appointed at a Meeting of Inhabitants of Brighton, held at the Old Ship, on Saturday, May 19, 1827:

“In pursuance of a Resolution passed at a Meeting held here, on Saturday, the 12th instant, your Committee have inspected Mr. Vallance’s apparatus for the conveyance of passengers and goods by atmospheric pressure; and can bear testimony to the success of it; having been repeatedly conveyed through the cylinder {18} laid down by that gentleman in Devonshire Place.

“Your Committee are of opinion, that, in the event of such a method of conveyance being established from one town to another where much traffic exists, the advantages would be incalculable, both as regards the ready transit, and saving of time and expense to the traveller and merchant, as compared with the ordinary mode of conveyance. Your Committee are informed that 75,000 tons of materials are annually imported into Brighton coastways, the greater part of which is landed at Shoreham, and from thence brought into Brighton, at a land carriage varying from 5_s._ to 8_s._ 4_d._ per ton: and your Committee having been assured by Mr. Vallance, that by his principle of conveyance, the carriage of all goods from Shoreham might be reduced to a sum not exceeding 3_s._ per ton, and yet a net annual profit of ten per cent. be returned on the sum expended, are of opinion that if such a communication were established between Brighton and Shoreham, it would materially benefit the inhabitants of both towns; and your Committee feel confident it would receive the most cordial and general support.

“Your Committee beg further to report, that the opinions of some of the highest scientific authorities upon the principle of Mr. Vallance’s proposition, have been submitted to them; and they have the satisfaction to state, that these authorities concur in the practicability of the measure to the fullest extent; and the illustration of it which your Committee have examined, appears to be on a scale of sufficient magnitude to demonstrate the truth of such opinions. Should it, therefore, be adopted between the town of Brighton and London, it is impossible to calculate the important and beneficial changes to which it may lead.

“Your Committee, in conclusion, think that a successful mode of transit by Mr. Vallance’s apparatus, would be attended with the most important advantages to this great mercantile nation, and deem it entitled, not only to the attentive consideration of the inhabitants of Brighton in particular, but the community at large.

“Your Committee, therefore, recommend, that a requisition be addressed to the High Constable, to convene a Meeting of the Inhabitants of Brighton, to take into consideration the best means of furthering so important an object.

“(Signed by the Committee).”

In proof of the above statements, I beg to refer you to the Records and Official Authorities of Brighton.

And, as a summary of the other persons who have witnessed and experienced the effect of this method of conveyance, additional to the parties already mentioned, I beg to submit the following extracts from a Petition which I presented to Parliament on the subject.

“To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled; the humble Petition of John Vallance, of Brighthelmstone, in the County of Sussex,’

“Sheweth,

“That your Petitioner hath invented a method of conveyance, by which he can prove that persons may be carried from one place to another very much faster, cheaper, and more safely, in reference to security from personal danger, than can be done on turnpike roads, or railways; and whereby be can also prove that goods may be conveyed for less expense than by canal carriage.

“That to shew the public importance of this method of conveyance, your Petitioner hath put it in operation, on a scale capable of carrying twenty persons at once, over a space sufficient to demonstrate its practicability; as hath been proved by His Grace the Duke of Bedford, the Right Honourable the Earl of Lauderdale, the Noble Baron Holland, and Lord William Russell; who, with several other persons of distinction, at one and the same time, rode in, and experienced the effect of it, on the 2nd December, 1826.

“That on the 16th May, 1827, a Committee of seven Gentlemen, nominated at a Meeting of Inhabitants of Brighton, also rode in, and experienced the operation of this method of conveyance.

“That His Grace the Duke of Rutland, the Right Honourable the Earl of Egremont, one of the honourable members for Yorkshire, one of the honourable members for Lewes, Professor Leslie, and many other gentlemen, have since witnessed and experienced the effect of it.

“That it has also been seen by the Honourable Member for Dundalk, by one of the Honourable Members for Essex, for London, for Southwark, for Barnstable, for Callington, for Stafford, for Petersfield, for Bedford, for Cambridge, for Bossiney, and for Weymouth; with other noblemen and gentlemen too numerous to mention.

“That the whole of these noble and honourable gentleman whom your petitioner hath mentioned, appeared to be, and it is your Petitioner’s belief, _were_ convinced, that this method of conveyance is equally practicable as steam navigation, gas lighting, or locomotive steam-engines; notwithstanding that before they witnessed and experienced the effect of it, they deemed it more absurd and impossible than those now well known triumphs of art were considered twenty years ago.

“That the tunnel and other works whereby your Petitioner hath produced this conviction, combine the operation of the largest pneumatic machinery in the world; the air pumps being capable of exhausting above 50,000 cubic feet {20} of air in a minute; and of conveying 100 tons weight over a space equal to the distance between Manchester and Liverpool, in three hours;—while the tunnel is, in point of calibre and strength, equal to the conveyance of the whole 1000 tons of goods daily passing between those places, at one time.

“Your Petitioner humbly begs leave further to represent, that the information he hath obtained during five years which he hath devoted to investigations relative to the practicability, cost, and advantages, of putting this method of conveyance into operation between our principal manufacturing towns, the outports, and the metropolis, will enable him to prove that it may be done of cast iron, for an expense which would not exceed what canals cost; while he can also prove, that in addition to combining the trade of the turnpike road with that of the canal, it would admit of goods being carried for less than half what they can be carried for on canals; and passengers in less than half the time, very much less than half the expense, and far more safely with reference to security from personal danger, than can be done on turnpike roads or railways; it being alike impossible to be overturned, to be driven against any thing, or to break down.”

The last evidence I adduce, is that of a Major of Engineers in the Russian service; whom the late Emperor Alexander, after he visited England, sent over to inspect and report upon our canals and railroads. This officer was directed by the Russian Ambassador to visit Brighton, expressly to inspect my plan; with reference to which he addressed to his government a report, of which he favoured me with the following copy:—

REPORT TO THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT.

“To His Royal Highness Prince Alexander, Duke of Wirtemburg, Chief of the Corps of Engineers for the Inland Communications of Russia, General of Cavalry, &c. &c.

“Your Royal Highness having commanded me to report upon all the inventions of importance that have been brought forward in England of late years, whether such were, or were not named in the instructions I had the honour to receive from your Royal Highness in St. Petersburgh in June 1824,1 beg leave most humbly to submit the following particulars, relative to a proposed mode of conveyance; differing from every existing system, as much as it will surpass them in point of expedition and ultimate economy.

“In March, 1825, I was informed that a Mr. Vallance had invented a method of conveyance, by which goods might be forwarded from place to place ten times faster than can now be done; or equal to 100 miles per hour. The apparent absurdity of the proposition, and the undefined explanation then given, induced me to consider the scheme as one of the nefarious and stock-jobbing bubbles of the day; consequently I took no measures to become correctly informed on the subject; particularly as I was about leaving London for an extensive journey in the interior. Recent circumstances have, however, caused me to entertain so different an opinion to that which I then held on the subject, that I can now confidently submit to your Royal Highness an account of a method of conveyance, which will, in my humble opinion, within a few years, operate a change in the condition of the whole civilized world; and which would be productive of the most important benefits to the Russian Empire.

“The theory of this method is stated in the Treatise marked with the letter A. The practice, I have experienced personally: having been conveyed over a space sufficient to demonstrate the practicability of the principle; and although that space was not sufficient to admit of any such velocity being attained as is adverted to in the Treatise, yet there is sufficient evidence of the velocity with which air may be made to move, to satisfy any one, that on a line of proper length, the only limit to the rate at which persons or goods may be conveyed, will be that at which wheels will revolve. I will, however, first advert to the general object of the Treatise, and then comment on those parts of it which I conceive to require further illustration.

“Your Royal Highness will perceive, upon a perusal of the treatise, that the general object of the author is to prove,

“1. That it is practicable to render air a means by which we may cause a peculiar sort of wheel carriage to convey both passengers and goods ten times faster than horses can draw any vehicle now in use.

“2. That this may be done with perfect safety and convenience.

“3. That we may, at one and the same time, move a weight exceeding that of 100,000 infantry or 10,000 cavalry; and, consequently, that a whole army may, in an hour, be transported over a space of 100 miles.

“4. That this method of transmission may be put in practice, for an expense per mile, far less than what several canals have cost, as will be apparent from the amounts of the several inland navigations of the United Kingdom, stated in my Report of January last.

“5. That the expense of transport by it will be so many times less than by any present method, that military as well as commercial benefits will result from it of the most important nature; and

“6. That the stoppages, inconveniences, and delays, which would otherwise arise from those who have charge of the exhausting apparatus at each end of the line of transit, setting it in operation at an improper time, may be prevented by the new mode of telegraphic communication described in the last section of the Treatise, which, being equally efficient during the most foggy weather and darkness, as in day light and clear weather, will admit of instantaneous communication between those who direct the operations at each end; so that any thing which it may be necessary should be known at one end, may be instantaneously communicated from the other, independent of the method of conveyance itself; an arrangement, without which, the operation of the principle would ever be attended with doubt, delay, and danger.

“The vast importance which a method of transmission, combining the advantages of tenfold expedition and cheapness, must be, to an empire so extensive as that of Russia, I will not presume to point out to your Royal Highness, but pass to those particulars which appear to me to require further elucidation than the author’s object allowed of his giving.

“The first thing is, the velocity at which the cause of motion, in this method of transmission, viz. the air, would move us, provided we could construct wheel carriages to go so fast. This velocity would, if raised to its maximum, be between 900 and 1000 miles an hour. But as saving nine-tenths the time now wasted in travelling post, would render the saving of portions of the remaining tenth, very unimportant, it will be unnecessary to trouble your Royal Highness with proof that it might be possible to do so, in perhaps a large proportion; and I therefore pass to the adduction of evidence, which shows that _it is certainly in our power to save nine-tenths_.

“From the examination I have given to the construction, and what I have experienced as to the effect of the cylinder, or large tube, in which I was conveyed, according to this principle of transmission, I am convinced that exhaustion, to a degree which should give fifteen inches of mercury, may be effected—that is, half a vacuum; and as this would give an initial velocity of between 200 and 300 miles an hour, there is no reason to doubt but that a rate of motion equal to 100 miles an hour may be attained, provided wheels can revolve so fast without igniting. The operations of nature frequently impart to air a velocity of above 100 miles an hour; and in the process of fusing iron, it is artificially caused to move at rates varying from 200 to nearly 700 miles an hour. At the lower rate of 100 miles an hour, it must therefore be fully practicable to make it move.

“The second thing I advert to, is, the quantity in which air may be exhausted, or taken out of a cylinder, or line of large pipe, such as is adverted to. The blast cylinders used instead of bellows, for fusing iron, are all air pumps, and it is requisite only to arrange the valves properly, to render them condensing or exhausting pumps at pleasure. Many of these pumps are large enough to exhaust 10,000 cubic feet of air per minute. Assuming the area of the cylinder to be 100 square feet, {22a} and the velocity at which we are to be conveyed to be 100 miles an hour, the combined operation of eighty-eight of these pumps would be required. But the one referred to in page 18, will take out 22,000 cubic feet per minute; therefore, only forty such pumps as that would be required to exhaust air from the cylinder at the rate of 100 miles an hour—a number, the operation of which there will be no difficulty in combining.

“The pressure requisite to cause air to move at the rate of 100 miles an hour, appears, by all experiments that have been made on the subject, to be less than half a pound per square inch. Calculating from this datum the power requisite to move a column of air equal to the area of the cylinder, at the rate of 100 miles an hour, would be that of 1900 horses. {22b}

“A steam engine of fifty horses’ power would, therefore, be required to each air pump, to cause the air to move at the rate of 100 miles an hour, independent both of the load to be moved, and of the friction of the air against the inside of the cylinder. With reference to the first of these—the load to be moved—it is to be observed, that, owing to the principle combining the operation of by far the best railway I have ever seen, or, indeed, can conceive, with carriage wheels six times as high as those used on the patent single line railway, friction is diminished to a degree which will admit of the same power moving a considerably greater weight than on that railway. It will, therefore, be quite safe to calculate only on the same effect being produced; and, according to this the extra power requisite to move 100 tons at the rate of 100 miles an hour, would be only 200 horses. With reference to the friction of the air against the inside of the cylinder, as referred to at pages 68 to 74, several times the power will be required; so that, were there no other means of power and exhaustion than steam engines and air pumps, objection might arise in point of expense. But, by what is stated at pages 50 and 51, it appears that neither air pumps nor steam engines would be indispensably necessary; and although Mr. Vallance does not at present deem it prudent to give full explanation on this particular, he informs me, that whenever it may be requisite, he is prepared to prove that every purpose of exhaustion may be effected without other apparatus than what he can construct out of rough hewn trunks of trees; so that the question may be considered free from any objections which the necessity for costly machinery would give rise to in Russia.

“Thirdly, that a vehicle capable of carrying both passengers and goods, can be so adapted to the inside of the cylinder as to be moved in it by the air when operated upon by the air pump, I can vouch, from having seen and experienced it; and as the rate at which this vehicle moves, is exactly commensurate with that at which the pumps exhaust air from the cylinder, it follows, that, at whatever rate air can be pumped out of the cylinder, the vehicle will be carried forward, provided that velocity does not exceed the rate at which wheels can revolve on their axes without ignition: with reference to which, it is to be observed,