Fast Railway Time

Many quesüons havo been asked concerning the liia-hest possible speed that we may ever expect lo attain by rallway locomotivo. As the question naturally comed under the head of ■Curiosities of Possibilities, " a short "Note" devoted to the discussion of this timely eubjcot may prove of interest to many readers of this department of the St. Louis Republic. An Engllsh magazine, the Eagiaeer, submits statements to prove that eighty (80) miles an hour is the highest possiblo spoed, (fiviaa; thefollofing arguments to provo its point: Because no greater velocity has ever been attained. Bueause of thü resistance of the air. Because of the back pressure in the cylinder.s. Because of the amount of power which must be lost in imparting violent motion to masses of meta! which can make no return when coming to rest. Because of the swinging of the engine; the excessive vibr-ition of its parts, the jar and oonoussion all operate to keep down the speed. Because of the extraordinary retarding influencie of very moderate rising gradiente. Because of the coupling-rod 'it appears that coupling an engine tenda to keep down the spet'd. ' " An eminent American authority, in reviewing the Engüshman's argunients as above given, says: "This scarcely seltles !he matter. There is not a defei1! Ln the mechanism which may not possibly be improved. The whole question depends on the resistance of the air and of friction. The resistance of meehanical friction does not increase with speed, but with the load drawn. With accessions of motive power this ïesistance may be neutraüzed and the velocity increased. With a smooth, solid and stable trackway and improved mechanism there appears to be no reason why traias may not attain a speed of 100 miles per hour.