Wonderful Invention by a Blacksmith.

Bruce Herald, Volume VI, Issue 476, 1 April 1873, Page 7

Wonderful Invention by a Blacksmith.

The ' Sacramento Record ' says — W. M. Bernard, blacksmith, has invented, discovered, or constructed a road cylinder, which is designed to convey freight or passengers. It consists of a large drum open at both ends, supposed to be . from four to sixteen feet in diameter (according to the size ot the machine) and from five to seven feet in length. Inside of this wooden cylinder three grooved tracks of steel, one inch by three eights, are laid. This completes the description of the shell, which in perspective looks like a wine vat lying on its side. Within this is placed another cylinder closed at the ends, and upon the outside of which are tracks of iron conforming to the three within the other cylinder. To the centres of this inner cylinder the shafts are attached. The freight is placed in the inner cylinder and the machine is ready to go. The force required to move it is just equal to the force that would be required to slide the inner cylinder on three rails well oiled. It is in one sense a sled which lays a tract for itself as it goes. The inventor believes it will, revolutionise the whole waggon business. Experiments have been made with one roughly constructed, only four feet in diameter, which was freighted with 3200 pounds of iron and seven men on the outside, which was carried easily on level roads by one horse. The tracks were rough and the entire model imperfect, but the experiment greatly encouraged the inventor, who has applied for a patent and will have a working model on Exhibition at the State fair.