Seeker of Truth
06-09-2003, 05:10 PM
'FASTER THAN JETS'
Author's Theory Envisions Magnetic, 'High-Speed Subway'
Niki King
Sun Staff
June 8, 2003
At the turn of the 20th century when America's roads were haphazardly hewn of dirt, brick and cedar blocks, the Interstate Highway System would have sounded like fool's folly, pipe dreams, a theorist's wishful thinking.
Such was the scene in 1919 when a young colonel, and future president, first traversed the country with the army.
As tanks bumbled over barriers and slugged through muck, an ideological seed was planted. But it would be nearly 40 more years before Dwight D. Eisenhower would finally authorize funding for his dream, the Interstate Highway System, later named in his honor.
His legacy, born of need and vision, was transportation capability, but not perfection. That's this generation's job.
At least, so goes the thinking of Brad Swartzwelter, a Kingston man who just published his first book, "Faster Than Jets," with Alder Press.
The book theorizes that the solution to America's transportation problems is another highway system, this one underground. He envisions a "super-high-speed subway train," powered by magnetic energy and vacuum propulsion. Like the name suggests, it would go as fast as airplanes.
"There is no reason your generation can't create this, the technology is there," Swartzwelter said during his first lecture about the book at Olympia College.
The benefits of the idea are plentiful. Its use of fossil fuel is close to zilch. It would be safer and more environmentally sound than anything else.
"The drawbacks are simply hard to find," said Swartzwelter.
Well, almost. The cost of the system means that it will be nearly impossible to move it off the drawing board and onto the agenda of mainstream America. All costs included, construction would run about $55 million per mile. The American family would have to shoulder a $350 tax per year for 40 years.
More @ thesunlink.com (http://www.thesunlink.com/redesign/2003-06-08/local/170483.shtml)
Author's Theory Envisions Magnetic, 'High-Speed Subway'
Niki King
Sun Staff
June 8, 2003
At the turn of the 20th century when America's roads were haphazardly hewn of dirt, brick and cedar blocks, the Interstate Highway System would have sounded like fool's folly, pipe dreams, a theorist's wishful thinking.
Such was the scene in 1919 when a young colonel, and future president, first traversed the country with the army.
As tanks bumbled over barriers and slugged through muck, an ideological seed was planted. But it would be nearly 40 more years before Dwight D. Eisenhower would finally authorize funding for his dream, the Interstate Highway System, later named in his honor.
His legacy, born of need and vision, was transportation capability, but not perfection. That's this generation's job.
At least, so goes the thinking of Brad Swartzwelter, a Kingston man who just published his first book, "Faster Than Jets," with Alder Press.
The book theorizes that the solution to America's transportation problems is another highway system, this one underground. He envisions a "super-high-speed subway train," powered by magnetic energy and vacuum propulsion. Like the name suggests, it would go as fast as airplanes.
"There is no reason your generation can't create this, the technology is there," Swartzwelter said during his first lecture about the book at Olympia College.
The benefits of the idea are plentiful. Its use of fossil fuel is close to zilch. It would be safer and more environmentally sound than anything else.
"The drawbacks are simply hard to find," said Swartzwelter.
Well, almost. The cost of the system means that it will be nearly impossible to move it off the drawing board and onto the agenda of mainstream America. All costs included, construction would run about $55 million per mile. The American family would have to shoulder a $350 tax per year for 40 years.
More @ thesunlink.com (http://www.thesunlink.com/redesign/2003-06-08/local/170483.shtml)