Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-11-21
Aalln 6Nrana.
STEAM STREET CARS.
Interesting and Successful Experiment in New
York

Interesting and Successful Experiment in New
York.
From the New York Tribune
The car which was placed on the Blocker
street lire last Saturday was invented about
two years ago, in Newark The company
has manufactured only two cars, one of
which is nov running on the road at lion,
n. y; and the other is the car now in the
Blocker street Company's shops in this
city. The car at Hon has accommodated
forty passengers, and has drawn second
car containing the same number. The car
has run at a speed of twenty-five miles an
hour with light load on a smooth, straight
track. Ii has the appearance Of an ordi-
nary street car, and is of the same size. The
machinery By which it is propelled occupies
the front platform, is entirely separated
from the interior, and also invisible from
that point. 1t is provided with compound
engine of 6ve-horse power, which can be
increased to twenty horse power without any
complicated mechanism. The cylinders are
placed under she front platform in direct
connection with she forward axle. On this
platform is a small box containing coal
sufficient for half day. l. is said that
the car can run fifty miles with 200 pounds
of coal. The water tank IS beneath the
rear platform, the water being heated from
the exhausted steam. The car itself ls
heated by means OF steam pipes running
beneath the seats on either side of the car
The engineer stops the car By suddenly re-
versinE the engine. Even when the car is
running 81 the rate Of six mies an hour,
it can be stopped within twenty feet,
and with the aid of brakes, within half it's
own length. Two men only are required
on q car, a conductor and an engineer.
| 1t now remains to describe the recent ex-
pertinent. Mr.. Conover wished the test to
be as thorough as possible, and therefore
| caused ne alteration to DO made in the track
or any of It's curves. The car was to run on
| the track in its usual condition, and DO
| horses were to be taken along to aid 10
turning corners aud ascending grades At
! 10 o'clock Saturday evening, the President
Of the company, some of the other officials
and their friends, stepped into the car at the
BECKER street depot. When all was ready,
/ 70 persons #ere in the car, and Mr.. Couo.
yer predicted that it would leave the track
at least before reaching Fulton Ferry. l,
was not supposed that steam without exter-
nal aid would propel a car around such SHARP
turns as were necessarily made at Howard
ReSde, Beekman and other streets. Con
Grary TO expectations the car turned every
curve. and assembled and descended every
grade without once leaving the track, anc
some of the curves we're turned at quite {
rapid rate OF motion. Al the top Of th'
grade in Elm street.-the steepest in tbs
city-the car was stopped, reversed, AMI
backed down toe hill, returning without TIL
slightest difficulty, stopping at the middle 0
the grade, ana starting again easily. a
the sharp curve in Resde street the car wa
stopped at the center Of the curve, and sgalI
= started and went on without difficulty. Tn
car was also stopped on the return trip Oh
! the down grade IN Center street, and Wa
held firmly in position The car made tn
trip from Tenth avenue - FoIton Ferry
l. and, according to the President Of the line
} ran satisfactorily. He considered that tn
three great requirements of steam ca
. were met, namely; Il can turn sharp curve!
f ascend grades and be managed as easily a
l. a team Of horses. Ee thought that ther
le wss not the slightest doubt that on stralg
lie roads the steam car would prove all tia
l. could be desired Mr.. Couover was salts 6e
! that it had demonstrated By the eXperimer
: that steam could be used with success Q
v the street rail ways, and that 1t would 1t
D. ffighten horses.