St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-05-05
Electrical Street Cars.

A number of scientific and CONNER
cial gentlemen met at Kew Bridge to
witness the running of tram car pro-
PEELED by electricity. The car ran well
at the rate of six miles an hour, and the
experiment was held to be quite sue
cessful. General Hutchinson, who had
been closely observing the working of
the car during the morning and was
satisfied with what he had seen ex-
pressed himself confident that the
Board of Trade will grant the necessary
license, and when this official sanction
is obtained the first electrical cars will
run on the Acton Road. Sir Daniel
Cooper, Chairman of the Company,
after the experiments on Saturday, pre-
sided at a luncheon at the Star and Gar
ter Hotel, Kew Bridge, and interesting
speeches by men of eminence in the
scientific world were delivered. DR..
Siemens himself spoke Of the
uses of electricity as a pro-
polling power and stated that the
first application of electricity he re-
membered was in 1843, when, in con-
nection with ELLINGTON, of Birming
ham, he introduced some improvements
into electro-plating. DR.. Siemens also
stated that electric railways have al
ready attained speed Of twenty-five
miles an hour, and that they have been
in regular operation for years. An
electric railway is about to be opened
for traffic in Ireland. Itwas explained
that the electrical tram car, the SUCCESS
of which had been witnessed during the
afternoon, carried it's own store OF
power, and that it can run upon COM
mon roads as well as upon rails. The
rails were used on Saturday because
they offered smoother working than the
high road, but this new power is quite
independent of them. The first prac-
teal experiment by the company was
the application of electricity as a mo-
tive power to a steam launch. The
launch was running with perfect success
on Saturday, and while the proceedings
in the Star and Garter were in progress
she arrived at the landing stage after
capital trip of fifteen miles down the
river
The electrical tram car is the last
practical experiment undertaken by the
be explained, are stored under the seats
of the car, and the current is commune
Gated by insulated wire to apSiemens
dynamo machine, acting as motor
and connected with the axle of the
wheel. Messrs. Sellon and Volckmar,
who were present on Saturday, were
much complimented upon the part they
took in the invention. The tram car is
fitted with an accumulation consisting of
fifty Faure-Sellon- Volckmar cells, each
measuring thirteen by eleven by seven
inches, and weighing about eighty
pounds. This accumulation is capable
OF working a tram car with its full load
for seven hours. The action of the mo-
tor may be reversed at will. and the
power may be increased or diminished,
as required, by adding to or taking
from the number Of cells by means Of a
simple switch. By breaking the circuit
the motive power is stopped, and the
brake being then applied, the car is al
most Immediately brought to a stand
still. In returning thanks for toast,
Mr.. Sellon entered at some length into
the comparative powers of the dynamo,
and he showed that an electric car can
be worked at cost of IS. Sd. per day
for traction. The actual daily cost of
horsing tram-car is given by some of
the metropolitan companies at 26s. The
difference between the Is. shown as the
cost of electrical power and the 26s.
paid for horses affords such a margin
that after abundantly providing for
sinking fund, depreciation, repairs,
contingencies, ETC., a very great saving
is effected. Another great public con-
venience is obtained in the means of
lighting the car from the same accumu-
lators used for the motive power.
Where water or other natural power
may be brought to bear, there is no daily
consumption of fuel, and the only out
lay is really the sinking fund for depre-
citation OF. the machinery. London
NeUs. s re- s ss