The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-11

| elsewhere plainly turns on the substitution
OF some mechanical means of draught for
| horse power. A committee of the House of
Commons has lately been studying the qucs-
ton. and its report presents, besides some
suggestions on this head. an account OF the
| remarkable expansion which the street rail
way system has already received in the
United Kingdom.
1t is now some twenty years since GEORGE
FRANCIS TRAIN went to England with the
object of constructing several tramway
lines in that country. These were actually
laid and worked in some of tho principal
London streets, but for some reason tho
municipal authorities did not show them
selves favorable to the innovation. The po-
lice accordingly neglected to insure the FREQ
circulation OF the cars. Hack and omnibus
drivers. jealous OF the new mode OF locomo-
ton, persistently blocked tho tracks; acct
dents consequently were frequent, and on
the whole the experiment was a failure.
Several provincial cities, however, and nota-
bly, Manchester and Birmingham, perceived
the advantage deriviblc from street rail
ways, and introduced them with so much
success that London finally dismissed its
prejudice, and at present the British capital
I ~ StullNu III uli bll'NNl'hS W NiNuiNbs0
some Of which penetrate to the heart Of the
city proper 1t appears from official stats-
ties that tho aggregate length Of the lines
constructed in England alone up to June 3d.
1876, did not fall fur short of three hundred
miles. and that the companies had then cx-
pended about twelve million dollars. We
may add that the three companies which con-
troll all tho street railways OF London con-
Ia.
100000 Of passengers, against 5l,O0,OOO
transported by the general omnibus COM
pany.
We need not say that the first problem
suggested by street railroads has long been
solved. namely, the employment OF rail so
fashioned as to cause no embarrassment TO
ordinary carriages. Horse power, however,
is still the usual means Of traction in Lon
don as well as in New York. an act Of Par
lament having hitherto prohibited the use
of steam upon street lines except between
the hours Of ten at night and six in the
morning; and IL was To report ON the pro-
pricty Of repeating this law that Parlia-
mcntary committee was appointed. Among
the engines adapted to street traction
which were examined by the committee,
three had been repeatedly tested with en-
tire success One of these, known as the
GRANTHAM, is placed in the middle of the
car, the two extrcmities being reserved for
passengers; but although this arrangement
has much to recommend it, the public seem
To- prefer detached locomotive. According
ly the Mcssrs MERRYwEATHER the famous
builders Of steam fire engines, place their
engine in n small. separate car, all the ma
chiuery being out Of sight beneath the floor,
while the upper part forms tiny chamber
completely walled with glass. Here the IN
ginccr has under his hand the means Of con-
trolling his locomotive, and may al the
same time watch the street upon all sides.
The HUGHEs machine is like this, only
heavier, and In both the omission Of smoke
and steam is regulated by the engineer.
Besides these steam street engines, whose
| reputation is we'll established, IL may be- we'll
q to mention one or two machines in which
p compressed air Is the motive power. The
! ScuTr-MONcHlEFF engine, which IL OF this
7 kind, T. placed in the centre " the carriage
t and Mr. BEAUMONT, NJ. F., has invented
another which is successfully employed at
/ WuOlwich Arsenal.
The application Of steam power 10 tram
ways WAS urged not only on economical but
I on humanitarian grounds, and it was proved
4 10 the satisfaction OF the committee that d
q five car-pld horse Last, but four years oi
n these lines, against four and half years II
. the omnibus business. On the other hand
the main argument against the employment
Of steam engines On street railroads Is. o
course, the hight which their passage
G. might give To- horses and the casualties
g which might cnsue. Against this objection
Il the advocates II the innovation brought uI
. the case Of the Partisan line from Montpar.
e. ma s-e to the Bastillc where steam engines
Il have NOW been running for months without
= single accident. Numerous depositions %
q close observers, including some wcll-knowl
naturalists, seemed 10 demonstrate that th'
y fear which horses testify of street cars pro
II pclcd by an invisible machine is, so e
II speak, q rational fear, capable of removal b,
. education, and arising from their prcsen
h inability to explain to themselves the caus
J. Of the motion.
II Airra most exhaustive investigation. th
IL conclusion was reached by the commit"
'c that the Introduction of mechanical tacto
ought to- h"authOri1cd in the streets OF larg
10 cities at all hours Of the day. Tho rcppr
: terminate, with the draft of u bill to tina
II effect. which tho Government has accept"
81 and engaged to bring in at the beginning q
'e the next session. Meanwhile tine Board q
IL Trade permits the proNsio application q
1T steam power to tramroad9 10y way If oN
vi pertinent. The employment of this agency
70 however, is subjected 10 certain prcrautor
II any conditions, which will be embodied i
Is the ncw law. Among those may bc name
li the following Passengers must be able
u enter aul leave the cars without coming /
contact with the machinery, whah, NOR,
~ over, muet emit no offensive odor. lh
20 engine must hc constructed in such a wa
ia a to discharge neither smoke nor steam
Sc Each ear, moreover, must be manned by tW
* employees, aud furnished with brakes power
IL ful enough to stop it short, within spa,
l." measured by its own length while IL
ne moving al a rate of eight miles an hour.
III tine streets OF cities that degree Of speed cal
50 not be exceeded, hut in the country ron,
So may be increased by onc-half Finally n
IL engines used on tramways in the Unite