, 1881-10-02

While the application IF electricity as a
motive power to railways has not made much
hcatlWay in this country, it has so fur nd
vallced in Europe as to arouse very general
interest, especially through the operations OF
Baron Siemens who recently exhibited his
electrical tramway near Berlin with such
success. Ills cars are one OF the most prolll-
inent features Of the Paris Electrical EXPOSE
ton, and the Boston Alrcrtiser's correspond
ent sends that paper some very Interesting
statements about their working. The origl-
nnl railway exhibited at the German EXPOSE
tion in 1873 was about 500 yards long, and its
gage two and half feet. The locomotive
was Of four aud d half horsepower, and it
drew a train of cars that could only
carry twenty persons ut most. at
the time of the Exposition Baron
Sicmcns proposed to erect all elevated railway
at his own expense to Berlin. But the Ent-
pcror would not allow it. He tried to SUBJ
stitute the elevated electrical tramways for
omnibuses. but the police stopped him. lie
encountered all kiuds OF obstacles, until ut
length he found officials who were sufti-
clently enlightened to appreciate his work
aud encourage lin. and he then succeeded
in laying a road in the neighborllood Of Ber-
lin u mile and 4 half in length, and the first
train started at a speed Of twenty miles per
hour. the gage OF the road being three feet
one and half inches. Fifteen Journeys
are made daily, and freight enough is carried
to pay the running expenses. When tie
Paris Exposition was announced the Siemens
house was granted every opportunity. 4
hill IN Ia In T1nA1rf1n
and the road operates from that point to the
Palace lie rlndustrie. The carriage ACCOM-
nodates forty-six passengers, ald runs at
the rate Of fifteen miles all hour, the limit of
speed allowed in Paris. 4 report made upon
the three systems which have been in use con-
tains the following interesting statements:
In tho original model line Of 1878 the sending
current was applied to IN elevated middle line
OF rails, brushed on to tho tnutOr machine and
returned by the wheels Ut the electric lOconlo-
tive, aud THENCE By both sets of rails returned to
ths 'nnano mGhnc ;,rlt In tne :. Len-
nected with the one line Of rails, thence trans
u,ittcd by The wheels on Que side of the locotno-
tive carriages to the motor nnchne, and thence
tho return current is conducted by the wheels
on the oppusit side TO the other line of rails aud
SO back TO the stationary engine. In tho Char
one for the outgoing and one for the return cur
rent. and connection is made by two wires ut
tached between tho trum-car and TWO NOV
supplies the motor machine lifted to the car
riase, the other conveys the return cur
rent. In Paris two copper tubes Of in-
ycrtcd n sections nre placed side by side.
with wooden insulation between them. These.
covered by protect'ng hood Of insulating
material, are supported Gy strong wires attached
to wood posts ut short intervals. Within each
tube mctnl roller runs freely, and ls attached
through tho longitudinal opentng Of the tube to
a small metal external curriaEe. From ench Of
these travelling cnrriages wire conductor Is
connected to a metal bar projecting from the
side Of the tram-car. One wire conveys the cur
rent to the ,notor-machine fitted beneath the
the return current. AS soon as the current
passes to the motor the tram-cAr begins to
move, and Us fnst us it moves it pulls along the
tubes With tt-iue two little travellers which
make tho electrical connection. The means arc
simple, and they work admirably.
American skill titus far has not been ap-
piled to the solution Of the problem Of loco
motion by electricity. 1t has devoted it.
self more largely to the electric light, the
telephone, and telegraph, but the success Of
the Baron Sicmens with his electrical traln-
ways will undoubtedly enlist the attention
of such men as Bell, Gray, and Edison, and
it will be very remarkable If they do not
seize upon the idea and carrNit forward to
practical success. Whether 1t can compete
with steam seems very questionable, but in
these days Of electrical wonders 1t is not safe
to assume the negative Of any point where
this subtle fluid is concerned. It is the
safest way to take it for granted that it is tue
great force Of the universe, which can ac-
complish anything. /