The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-08-26
ELECTRIC LOCOMOTION.

surprised that any person can doubt the
working success of the devices described.
Many inventors have demonstrated the
availability of electricity in the propul-
sion of boats, the drawing of railroad
cars and the driving of stationary machin-
ery. The electric locomotive of Professor
Page tried in this country many years
ago, Is a sufficient answer to doubters of
the availability of this power on the rail
But professor Page and all others exper-
imenting in his line failed because of the
expense, bulk and difficulty of maintain
ing the galvanic battery producing the
electricity.
Some years ago was deeply interest
ed in this subject and expended nearly
four years of labor in eudeayoring to
obtain practical motor, resulting in the
American Institute Tin the fall of 1877, /
believe) granting the medal of the best
electric engine ever devised or exhibited
The final test, under lock and key, was a
run of twenty three consecutive hours,
| galyanlc battery of the most economical
and constant description being employed
and the zines being carefully weighed
both before and after the test, the num-
Der OF ounces OF zinc consumed yielding
at the rate of 670,00O foot pounds per
pound of zinc. Whereas perfect mo-
tor, developing the entire energy of the
metal, would, according to Joule's equi
valents, have yielded l, SAC, 600 foot los.
This with an engine in the best possible
condition. month later the same en-
| CINE could not be made to recover more
than 100, 900 foot pounds out of ,S45,-
900 in pound of zinc. From certain
causes, some explainable and other not,
electric engines deterioraie more RAPIDLY
than other motors.
The apparent success in this line led
to contract with me in 1876 for the
establishment of line of rapid mail and
express transit, by means of which some
New York gentleman expected to revolu-
tionize the light carrying trade. Cores
| pondence was had at that time with Post
master General Jewell aud Superintend-
ent of Mail Service, Theodore n. Vial,
with reference to establishment of line
between New York and Boston, in order
that we might reduce the possible profits
from the mail business should the line
be put in operation.
The system proposed was a single
small rod or rail supported by an arm
running out at right angles at one side of
iron posts forty feet in hight and fifty
| feet apart, for a single track, and coun.
terbalanced on the other side by a simil-
ar rail for double track. A four foot
wheel, grooved to fit, ran on the upper
side of rail and the body of the car was
supported underneath the rail by double
rectangular or curved braces so as to
bring the centre of gravity in such pos
ition as to keep the driving wheel perpen-
dicular. A small grooved spring wheel,
| bearing on the under side Of the rail,
prevented the car from leaving the track
and insured a smooth motion. The main
! structure constituted one of the conduct
ing wires. The other one consisted of
an insulated wire supported on the tops
of the poles, connection with it being
made by an insulated roller attached to
the upper portion of the engine, or by
wire brush Gas in the system of James q.
Smith, superintendent of the Continental
Telegraph Company, patented some eight
years ago for the purpose of establishing
Geographic communication with moving
trains.) The power was to be supplied
by stationary dynamo electric generators,
located at various points along the route
and driven by stationary steam engines,
or, where available, water power. Each
engine and car was to be of light weight
and to carry only 100 pounds of matter,
the limited capacity of each car to be
compensated for by keeping large num-
Der in constant motion. BY means of
an auxiliary wire, connecting with the
cars ION block SYSTEM and working
model at the dispatching station, the
position of each car was constantly be-
fore the operator, and at any time he
could at pleasure reverse any engine and
bring it to stop by the manipulation of
an instrument which threw out, from
automatic boxes located along the line,
levers at different heights which, strik-
ing the switching apparatus of the cars
for which they we're intended, would
either start, stop, slow or increase the
speed Of any car at pleasure.
There We're many other details of OPP
eraions fully worked out, and it was
deemed practicable to give the driving
wheel speed Of over | 800 revolutions
per minute, and as each revolution coy
cred 2-er twelve feet ofrail, it was thought
possible to accomplish speed of at least
200 miles per hour.
Lack of means to complete the struct-
ure, possibilities of failure, and doubts
as to whether such q system (Which
could not succeed financially IN the trans
mission OF express packages ard mail
matter, with the loss to the company of
the United States postage for each letter,
which would have to be paid to the gov
ernmenD would succeed in taking any
considerable portion of the telegraph
business, or create new business of
| communication in which letters would be
sent, nearly with the speed of the tele-
graph, 10y weight instead of by number
of words, resulted in the temporary
abandonment of the scheme. All of the
| facts and details mentioned can be fully
substautiated, and the system of rapid
transit by electricity viii be found to
Z d. 81 ~