Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-10-03
ELECTRIC MOTORS.

The test Of running cars by electricity
was recently tried in France, and in giving
an account of the trial the Paris Ne,os
saws Yesterday large number of scien.
titic and literary men-among whom was,
of course, the ever active NJ. de Lesseps-
repaired on the invitation of NJ. Simon
Philippart. Chairman of the French Elec-
tricai Power Storage Company, to the Place
des Nations where yellow tramcar was
waiting. The company entered, and the
vehicle, after time had been allowed for a
few explanatory words by NJ. Philippart,
glided without apparent motive power
smoothly along the rails In the direction OF
the BastiIe. 1t was followed by an enor-
nous crowd of sight-seers on foot and IN
vehicles, who intently watched its silent
progress. The line being quite clear high
rate of speed was at once attained, and the
car soon succeeded in leaving all the Pc
destrians behind, the boys being the last
beaten. The carriage and cab horses had
quite enough to do to keep up with the
pace until the Place de la Bsstile was
reached, when few minutes halt was
made SO that the ordinary cars might be
able to proceed on their way. In order,
however, that no time might be wasted,
the experimental car was moved oil the
rails and run along the roadway, where 1t
worked with perfect smoothness, thereby
heading the tramway cars which were TAX
ing in passengers. The journey from the
starting point TO the Place de B2stile mad
been performed in five minutes.
On the car proceeding thence towards
the Seine veritable triumphal procession
was witnessed crowds ti0cked on TO the
pavements, and every house had its win
dows crowded. The crowd thought it to
be its duty to cheer, and cheer it did, and
well might as the car proceeded sur les rou-
Iettes, without doubt. After crossing the
Seine the ca proceeded along the Boule-
ward st. Gzrmain until it arrived at
the Boulevard st. Michael. Here a
switch again took the wheels off the
rails without the slightest difficulty The
steep ascent from the point where the
Boulevard st. German crosses that OF st.
Michael was made without apparent dimln-
ution of speed. At the top pause was
made to afford explanations to any inqui-
ries of the scientific passengers. The line
was then followed as far as the Porte de
Montrouge where, after taking an extremely
sharp curve, the car was turned for its
homeward journey. Turning the Boule-
ward st. Michael the brake was applied,
AMI served to keep the speed under perfect
control.
By the time the steep ascent of the Av-
enue Wagram was reached the consumption
of power had begun to be apparent, and it
was decided to economic by slackening
the speed somewhat. The programme ar
ranged for was, however, followed in a
most workmanlike manner to the end of
the Journey The horses in vehicles, or
those being ridden, did not appear to no.
tice in the slightest the movement of the
car during the whole Of the inaugural jour
ney. An fear on that head was soon set at
rest. Every one was astonished OF the
ease with which the brakes were being
gently with equal facility. The unanimous
opinion of those who watched the expert
ment was that it was a complete success.
Contracts have been entered into for fif-
teen years with the Paris Tramway and
Omnibus Companies for she adoption of
the electrical cars in place of the horse cars
as soon as the experiments have been
deemed complete The tram car used was
one of the ordinary kind, the seats being
raised twenty inches, somewhat to the in
convenience OF such OIL tneFp2ssengers not
possessed of long neither limbs but this
will be obviated when the system is fully
adopted and the present cars used in their
ordinary form, the propelling power being
converted in trucks placed before them.
The present rails are being improved at
certain points to render the passage of the
electric cars more easy. At the lowest cal
culation a saving of twenty-five per cent.
on rolling and live stock may be certainly
predicted Apart from the applicationlof
the principle TO tramway and omnibus pur-
poses, the field open to the objects of the
company is practically boundless. For in
stance, locomotive engines are being built
by the company, which it is affirmed will
enable speed of 100 miles an hour to be
attained. Experiments on railways will
soon follow those of the tramways.