Description
Joseph HOËné-WRONSKI (1776-1853) Polish-born mathematician, engineer, philosopher and mystic. 2 manuscripts with autograph additions and corrections, Document sur l'urgente réforme des chemins de fer et de toute la locomotion terrestre, Paris juin 1847, followed by Suite de l'affaire concernant la Réforme scientifique de la locomotion, [Paris avril? 1848]; 134-50 pages in-fol. (p.45-46 missing, printer's marks, a few large leaves a little frayed at top, some soiling). Curious manuscripts on railway reform and the mathematical laws of locomotion, following a series of memoirs and letters addressed in 1843 and 1844 to the Commission des Ponts et Chaussées and the Minister of Public Works. The Document sur l'urgente réforme des chemins de fer warns against "the dangerous universal drive towards the expensive construction of railroads", and "the barbarity of railroads" whose tracks denature the earth's surface. He recalls his previous appeals to public authorities, and draws up tables estimating the reduction in draft that would be obtained by replacing ordinary wheels with "a new locomotive machine, which I call wheel-accomplished"... He invokes the support of Victor Considerant, and strongly regrets the "scientific incompetence of that learned body" that is the Académie des Sciences... Page 87 begins an Overview of the scientific reform of terrestrial locomotion...La Suite de l'affaire concernant la Réforme scientifique de la locomotion gives exchanges with Villiers du Terrage, rapporteur of the Commission des Ponts et Chaussées, and the Minister of Public Works Alexandre Marie (September 1847-April 1848), referring to the railway disaster at Fampoux [July 1846] and its legal consequences, etc... An autograph note of instructions to the printer is enclosed.
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Joseph HOËné-WRONSKI (1776-1853) Polish-born mathematician, engineer, philosopher and mystic. 2 manuscripts with autograph additions and corrections, Document sur l'urgente réforme des chemins de fer et de toute la locomotion terrestre, Paris juin 1847, followed by Suite de l'affaire concernant la Réforme scientifique de la locomotion, [Paris avril? 1848]; 134-50 pages in-fol. (p.45-46 missing, printer's marks, a few large leaves a little frayed at top, some soiling). Curious manuscripts on railway reform and the mathematical laws of locomotion, following a series of memoirs and letters addressed in 1843 and 1844 to the Commission des Ponts et Chaussées and the Minister of Public Works. The Document sur l'urgente réforme des chemins de fer warns against "the dangerous universal drive towards the expensive construction of railroads", and "the barbarity of railroads" whose tracks denature the earth's surface. He recalls his previous appeals to public authorities, and draws up tables estimating the reduction in draft that would be obtained by replacing ordinary wheels with "a new locomotive machine, which I call wheel-accomplished"... He invokes the support of Victor Considerant, and strongly regrets the "scientific incompetence of that learned body" that is the Académie des Sciences... Page 87 begins an Overview of the scientific reform of terrestrial locomotion...La Suite de l'affaire concernant la Réforme scientifique de la locomotion gives exchanges with Villiers du Terrage, rapporteur of the Commission des Ponts et Chaussées, and the Minister of Public Works Alexandre Marie (September 1847-April 1848), referring to the railway disaster at Fampoux [July 1846] and its legal consequences, etc... An autograph note of instructions to the printer is enclosed.
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