Daily globe., 1882-08-23
AN ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

II.
The Crowntng Triumph of Sctence~-NO
Hear, No Noise and Bat One THIRD the
Cost.
dublin paper.1
In the midst Of so much political
trouble and agitation which for the past
three years have reigned supreme in this
country, to the detriment Of commerce
as well as of social Improvement, it is
somewhat consoling TO find that the on
ward stage Of science is marching unim-
peded amongst us. The electric tramway
from Portrush to Bushmills is an exam
pie of what good can be effected forIre-
land by the energy and enterprise of her
men of science and capital. 1t is no
small honor to this country, and especial
ly to the county Antrim, that it can boast
of being the first place in the United
Kingdom where electricity has been
utilized as a motive power. The
herculean strides by which electric
science has developed its power and util-
ity, from its first discovery to the present
day, are more than even the most ardent
believer in scientific progress could ever
have anticipated The, philosopher
Thales (B. G. 600), by rubbing two pieces
Of amber together and observing their
power of attraction discovered there was
such thing as electricity. Gilbert, OF
Colchester [ a. d. l6001, published book
entitled "De Arte Magnetica, in which
he gave list of substances which,
like amber, contained electricity, and he
1t was who invented the word s'electric,"
which is derived from the Greek electron
(amber). In 1871 Otto Won Guericke,
burgomaster of Madelburgh, de-
scribed simple machine which
he had invented, and by means
OF which electricity could be produced.
In 1729 Grey and Wehler first transmitted
electricity through one point, and this
was gradually improved upon by exper-
iments, principally in Germany, until in
later days the electric telegraph was pro-
duced. So numerous and varied have
been the practical applications of cleo
triclty within the past few years that it
is not unreasonable to believe, with a
great many scientists, that the resources
and powers of this wonderful agent are
inexhaustible. We are told that, the age
of steam and of the iron horse is doomed,
and that both will soon end their short
lived lives. The cumbrous railway train,
with its ponderous engine in front,
emitting disagreeable smoke, and
creating noise which jars on the ears of
the peace-seeking traveller, we are asked
to believe, will follow in the almost for
gotten track of the old stage-coaeh aud
norses, and that in another half f-century it
shall live only in the writings of the nov
elist, who tells of what the world was
fifty years ago. All this may be true, as
the rejected assertions of James Stephen
son century ago, and certainly the con-
StructiOn Of electric railways is step in
the direction to prove that the scientific
men who make these statements mean
what they say. The construction of the
electric railway or tramway from Port
rush to Bushmills brings the question very
near home. On the 21st of September,
1881, the first sod for the electric tram
way was cut, and the works have since
then been carried on with such energy and
expedition that they are now almost COM
plete and the opening of the tramway for
passenger, goods and general traffic is
fixed for the first week in August. The
magnificent coast road which runs from
Portrush TO Giants Causeway will soon
be place of historic interest like the
Stockton and Darlin gton railway on
which the first railway was run-having
on it the first tramway in the three king
dOmS where electricity was used for the
propulsion of carriages and goods wag-
gons. In the construction of this tram
way new departure has been made from
the general system of similar tramways
now in use. The tramway, instead of be-
ing laid along the center of the roadway,
is placed upon the side of the road on
s'trampath," from which the or
dinary road traffic is ex-
cluded, but which suits..as footpath
when so required. A granite ourbstone
marks out the line, and the path is gray
eled neatly and trinity, the two steel rails
appearing just at the surface. The dis
tance from Portrush to Bushmills, imme-
diately adjoining the Causeway, is about
six miles. At the Portrush end large and
handsome carriage sheds and offices, of
which any tramway company might feel
proud, are being constructed of black
basalt with white brick m0uldings. The
combination is most effective. Accom-
modation in this building is provided for
the engine and dynamo machine which
develop the electricity. Specially large
machines of the description--Slemen's
patent-are being constructed. and they
will shortly be in position. The tramcars
and Wagons are beng built from
special designs by the Midland Car.
riage and Wagon company, and these
will also be fitted with separate dynamos
and secondary batteries. AS the tourist
will, SO to speak, be carried along on the
wings of electricity in luxurious tram
cars, without the clatter of horses hoofs
or the smoke and noise of steam tramway
engines, and as the varying beauties of
the White Rock, the Giants Head and
Dunluce castle are brought in view, or
glimpses obtained down the precipitous
cliff of the Priests Hole Or over the gal
lery, rare treat will be enjoyed by him;
only to be perfected by his arrival at the
Causeway. The expense Of working by
| the new venture is an all ll-important one,
and one vitally affecting its ultimate sue
cess. In this, as in many other things, it is
believed to have the advantage over steam
or horse power, 1t has been computed
that the cost of working the tramway
by horses would be about eleven pence a
mile, and steam power about seven pence
mile, whereas the calculation of ex-
penses for the electric moter power is
only penny mile. Surely this ought
to insure success financially as we'll as
scientifically. AS each car will carry it's
own locomotive power, the expenses of
engine drivers and stokers is avoided,
and no heavy engines are required to
increase wear and friction by gripping
the rails for hauling purposes. The pas.
sengers or goods in each carriage will
supply the weight necessary to increase
the friction to the haulage power re-
quired, and the rails, which are made of
the best steel, will not suffer the wear
and tear of engines, the lightest of
which for steam could scarcely be less
than eight tons. The cars will be very
light, and friction will be reduced to a
minimum. The appearance of so much
of the line as is laid in the town of Port
rush is the same as for the ordinary street
tramway. The rails are here grooved,
but outside the town the smooth faced
rails are used as on railways. The rails
are three feet aDart and ARRANGED as on