The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-04-26
Steam Street Cars.

As Philadelphia WAS the first city in
the United States 70 Introduce street
railways, II is now also the hrst % intro
duce "a general system O. steam stree.
ears, covering the most dcusc.v crowded
streets Of the city, as well as those most
sparsely settled IL Is true, Baltimore,
PnilnlelI hia, and especially New Or
leans, had previously introduced them
on the outskirts of the city and ON Ger
tam lines, but not On It's greatest thor
oughiarrs, such as Marke, stree, IN tins
city. Ii Is therefore justly - matter uf
local pride on which our people are en-
titled 20 claim credit for superior enter
prise We are given the following 10y
Pres dent Morton. oi the Market street
line, 10y whose uurrm}t-iug rDleayoTs
and experiments backed by his drcc-
tors and the inventor, the trial Of
Wednesday was made success, and 20
whom the public Of this CITY not only,
but of other crowded towns are indebted.
The amount Of coal tanthrlctci used by
these steam cars is two and uue-hali ta-s
per week, costing less than $40 Tor mo-
tive power. while for tbs round tr'p only
one c1aliug and watering II the machine
occurs. This applies equally % the
Troy car and 10 the Baldwin. In other
respects, however there are some rail.
cal, AMI IL may prove esscutsa, differ
ences between these two machines The
former has It's attachment with the rear
wheels Of the car only, While the latter
attaches 10 both fore and rear wheels.
thus glyluglt greater power los pres utlug
double the surface ~ wheel !3r friction
upon the track. The uti.r, uf this was
shown on the trial trip, which occurred
on very unfgv1rahlc condition Of the
streets, the tracks being smearci with
a black mud of almost tae luhg,catiug
capacity - grease Notwithstanding
tins, however, tine Baldwin ear ran
smoothly and steadily, w!t4uu. Sliding
Of wheels IN stopping or starting, while
the wheels of the Troy car rayoiyei rap
idly, with a dIsaCrrcahls accompanying
jar % the passenger, when stopping ur
starting upon these creased ul.s Au-
other reason also exists Tor this ,tcalIcr
motion Of the former in the fact that u
Is considerably heavier. El.lc the latter
had rather OF a tipping motion when
running rapidly. Their weight Is about
5000 pounds, or about double the urI.-
nary horse car. \ part %. III. directors
favor one car and portion the other,
but the Troy car has 50 far been given
the preference, O., it is no doubt cheaper
at first cost than the Baldwin, upon
which no price has yet been made. The
inventor, IN answer To inquiries nf other
railroad companies, II the old horse cars
can he used by rcmpiclIng for these
dummies, las said that they can Since
the trial trip, these cars have been used
continuously, and without the slightest
hinamuce or delay. except I'm one or two
eases Of greasy tracks. when the sand
tubes Of the car failed 10 work. and thus
stalled the car. One Of the directors Of
the road informed us tina they have al
ready taken OF ten horse cars for these
seven steamers, and he believed that so
soon as their track should be cleared of
the horse cars by the substitution Of
steam cars they would make the round
trip from Front street 10 the Centennial
grounds in half the present time. Real
estate near the Centennial is said 10 br
worth more in consequence, while the
horse dealers are already alarmed, one
Of the officers Of the company tell ia,
lest their occupation shall prove to be
gone - Erchangc.