The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-02
Streef.Car Gables.

A CHICAGO COMPANY RESOLVED TO ADOPT THE
CABLE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE WORK
ING MACHINERY AND CARS REQUIRED-EAsE
| WITH WHICH CARS MAY BE DRAWN UP BILLS
OF THREE OR FOUR HUNDRED FEET IN
HEIGHT.
IChicago Tribune, edtorial.J
The decision OF the Souihside Street
Railway Company TO adopt the Casebolt
metbod OF locomOtion. which has been so
successful in San Francisco during the past
four years, promises to work complete re-
volutOn in the system OF street travel in
this city, and it is little remarkable tnat it
has not been adopted before this. The
details Of the method have already
| been explained in the Tribune at
length, and its workings have been
canyassed so thoroughly by the man.
agemeot Of The road that they have no hesi-
tation in adopting il, although IL will m
yOlye an outlay Of at least $50, 900 mile for
a single track. making the entire cost for
their tracks in the South Division about
$2.500.000. Al the risk Of repetition we
may briefly say that the new method Is sim.
ply an endless steel chain or cable sunk in
a trench, running round drums ut the ter
mini Of the road and driven by steam. power,
operating upon huge wheel which reyolyes
the cable, located midway on The course.
For instance. il the termiDi of the road were
Madison and TweDty-secOnd streets the
power would be located at Twelfth street.
The cars ale provided wa a grip or
clamp, when, by the action OF lever,
seizeS the cable. which thereby propels the
car, while it is stopped by simply relaxing
the grip, and the momentum OF the car can
be stopped, as now. by the operation OF q
a fcr l,a o.; md
one OF two cars can be attached as in the
case OF the dummies nov running 10 Hyde
Park and Lake View. As to the success OF
the new plan there hardly seems to be a
doubt. provided the didiculties in turning
corners and crossing other railroad tracks
can be overcome and the danger OF water
freezing IN the trench can be Obviated. Mr..
Holmes, however, has plans for removing
the first two Of these difficulties. and the
last can be overcome by providing CATCH
basins which will draw off the water and
thereby prevent Its freezing.
The advantages are so numerous that they
will occur TO any one upon moments re-
Election. IL will, in the first place, prove an
immense saving IN horseflesh and the wear
and tear upon horses, which Is fearful,
owing 10 the strain upon them in starting
so frequently ana in taking such heavy
loads around curves as they are now obliged
10 haul. Steam Is tlreless mOtiye-pOwer
and always ready, is not affected by cpl
fZOOtIc diseases, inclemency OF weather,
weight Of loads, or any injury OF any sort,
provided ordinary care Is exercised. Ii Will
also, OF course, obylate the necessity OF en-
plOying so many men upon the road and in
the stables. The advantages, however. are not
all upon The side Of the railroad company.
The public will equally sharein them. Under
this arrangement the cars will not be crowd.
ed, for with such powerful motor the com.
pany can put on any number OF ears, and
thus the crOwding OF platforms and aisIes
Will be avoided, and every one will have a
seat. Their motion is very easy, and they
can be stopped and started with perfect
ease, and they are absolutely safe. There
will also be a decided gainin time. At
present, including stops, our ears make
about four miles an hour, while under the
new system they will make six, and can
whenever the emergency requires it make
eight.
Fortunately the plan Ks not an expert
ment. 1t has been on trial with successful
results for four years in san Francisco,
where 1t Is operated under opposing diff.
culties that do not exist here, for i'm that
city the cars have to be hauled up very steep
GRADES, sometimes to attitudes 800 or 400
feet above the starring point, while here the
roads are perfectly level. There it has been
such success that no one would think OF
starting a borse.raiIrOad, and there does not
seem to be any reason why IL should not
prove 10 De even q still greater success here.
1t is professionally a method which will
settle the system OF metropolitan trans
for long time to come. and the
Soui Inside Company deserves credit for its
enterprise in adopting it.