Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-10

The French Railway.

From the New York Tribune.
One Of the chief problems on which the in
ventive genius of the world is now extending
its resources is the application of electricity to
railroad transportation. For forty years ex-
periments have been conducted with electric
motors of all shapes, sizes and degrees of COM
plexity; and there is now an excellent prospect
for the substitution of electricity for steam on
railways where either high or low rate of
motion is required. As many as $50 miles Of
electric railway are in operation in Europe:
electric cars have recently made the circuit of
Paris; the engine designed by an electrician to
take the place of the ordinary locomotive was
the most conspicuous triumph of American in
ventive skill at the railway exposition in Chi
cag0 not long ago; and in the vicinity of New
York active preparations are making by rival
inventors and corporations to introduce cleo
tricity on large scai0as a safe rapid and cheap
motor.
The electric car which recently traversed the
streets OF the French capital covered distance
OF thirty miles in three hours. 1t was an ordi-
nary street car running in the regular tramways.
The power was stored in Faure accumulat0rs
placed under the seats and was Communicated
to Siemens machine under the floor This
machine. making 1900 revolutions minute.
brought to bear upon the wheels by means of
pulley, axle and chains. The car was completely
under the operators control and could be
stopped instantaneOusly. The highest velocity
attained did not exceed ten miles an hour on
level ground, but the inventor contended that
much greater rate of speed could be obtained
on rails especially adapted to the car. The cost
OF operating the motor was estimated at one
half that Of ordinary horse cars.
The Siemens electric railway system In Berlin
was operated on different principle The cleo
TIC current was communicated from the rails to
| the motor. The rails were insulated and the
use a a wire was required overhead. The new
electric railway recently opened on the Irish
coast, between POrtrush and the Giants Canse-
| way. Is marked improvement upon the Berlin
experiment. This system brings into use SEN
| arate conducting rail carried at height of sew
| enteen inches from the ground on wooden posts.
| The railway is operated at q decreased coat in
comparison with steam, and q fair rate of sneed
| Is easily secured. Experiments made last week
however. with the Daft electric motor In Green.
ville NJ, give promise of greater results In the
| future. The electric current Is transmitted ia
the rails from stationary engines, az In the case
of the Berlin railway, but Is so low in tension
| that there Is no danger from contact either to
man or beast. 1t is not even necessary to In.
| suate the rails. The current is communicated
| from the wheels to the machinery which Oper-
| ates the motor and notwithstanding the lack OF
| insulation, q high rate Of speed is practicable
| If the statements Of these American electricians
In regard to the velocity, cost of working and
general utility of these motors are confirmed by
practical experience, great revolution In rail
way transportation and steam car traffic cannot
long be deferred