MONO-RAIL SUCCESS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 16 July 1907, Page 4

MONO-RAIL SUCCESS.

SIR WILLIAM WHITE OX THE UYKOSCOPK. Engineers are greatly interested in Mr Louis Jiremian's gyroscope mono-rail invention. The general opinion., particularly among tl loS( , who witnessed the demonstrations at liurlinglon House (says the ondnn Tribune), is that the scheme is practicable and sound. Sir William White said that the mere fact that Mr ilieiinan had publicly shown the working of his model would be sullicient proof to most people that he had reached definite success in his invention. He was personally acquainted with Mr Hreiman, and was aware that that gentleman has been working on his scheme foi several vears.

As to the value of the iinention for general purposes. Sir William was not prepared to express an opinion, but he was convinced that it would he exceedingly useful in the opening of new countries, and also in war time. It often happened in opening up a country that they were prevented from laying a tworailed railway track and building bridges owing to the enormous expense. In the ease of the mono-rail, however, the outlay would probably be greatly reduced, there being no need for bridges, as the train would cross rivers by means oi stretched cables.

'lhe gyroscopic principle, Sir William added, was ;m excellent line from other points of view, and as he recently described in a paper he read before the institution of Xaval Architects, couid be utilised for steadying ships at sea. lie was present at experiments with Dr Schleck's gyroscopic apparatus on board the German steamer See-Bar. These wer? eminentlv successful. In hi.< <i inion cross-Channel and coasting

-•..•••uners of high :--oi\ are a class of ship in which the steadying effects of the gyroscope would be of great; advantage. For warships the possible application of the gyroscope are numerous, and it is anticipated that experiments will be made with destroyers and small (misers.