Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-04-10
A WONDERFUL INTENTION.


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There is low on exhibition at the office
OF the Co d Spring Ice Company, No. 403
King street, drafts ior new motor power
OF .engine for propelling street cars, which
promises to work revolution in the
street cars.
There is also small working model
for car starter by which the strain
upon the motive power, whether it
be- horse or steam, is removed
by the application of very
simple process to the running gear.
One of the new locomotives is nov be-
ing built by the company, and it ia ex-
pected that public trial will be given
as soon as the machine is finished. 1t is
of rather novel construction. A gas
engine supplies compressed air to a
reservoir, from which power is derived to
work a system of air and hydraulic
valves which operate tive elastic feet that
tread upon the cobbe pavement between
the rails. The power il 80 nicely under
control that these feet are placed gently
upon the oobbles, and when thus placed
the pressure is applied, and the feet
move upon the oobbles in the same man
ner that horse's foot moves.
These feet are made adjustable
to the inequalities Of the pavement, and
should the pavement be broken or re.
moved, will reach down and press upon
the earth. In connection with this loco
motive an apparatus is attached under
meath the passenger car called the Diff
ferential Car Starter" This ia also of
peculiar construction, being wheel
within wheel. There are no springs or
cog wheels in it. The back axle of the
car rests upon two small wheels; these
wheels run upon the hanges OF two larger
wheels, aud are elevated four iucaes
above the pavement, out OF tie Way vi
sand. The draft ID applied TO two siAsil
friction wheels, wbiun bear upon the
large wheels near their top reripb ~
and thus ia obtained 26 ipch leve, a.
acting directly upon the small eaesl
upon which the axle of the car reste
This leverage comes into action whent yer
there is any resistance, such as starting
car loaded with passengers, going up
grade or running over stone or other
obstruction. This car starter is of
great value for use with any
kind of motor, for it avoids
the necessity OF a very heavy To-
comotive depending upon cohesion. The
"Diffsrental'' has bsen fully tested. The
locomotive tested on Philadelphia
street line soms years ago weighed l0,00O
peunds-too great weight for the light
city traoks-but even with this great
weight, when starting loaded car, the
wheels of the engine reyolved upon the
track without moving the car until sand
was thrown under them. With this
starter under car, locomotive weigh
ing $40 pounds less than the
car will start 8 loaded car
with ease. It has also been put
to practical test on car drawn by
horses, and relieved the horses from all
STRAIN when starting a loaded car. 1t
would be of great value for use with
horses, but 1t is proposed to do away
with horses, tine company Offering to fur.
nsh the starter and locomotive and en-
gsueer, and contract to haul two cars
night and morning and one through the
day at per diem rate below the present
cost, thus enabling the street car COM
psnies to sell their horses and stables
and make saving in the daily running
expenses OF each car of from one to two
dollars. The LOGON olive will make DO
smoke or steam, and the engineer will
stand in front in plain view.
Good mechanical experts of Philsdel-
phis and New York have examined the
working drawings of the locomotive, and
the locomotive itself so far as completed,
and are unanimous i'll ths opiaion that it
will be great success.
The patents covering the invention,
13 in number, are owned by the com
papy, ich has its home ottios at No $50
South Fourth street, Philadeiphia. The
st ok OF the company is held to a large
degree by Wilmington capitalists. The
chief engineer Of the company, B. c.
Pole, is in charge of the ex-
hibiticn, and kindly showed the
workings of the "DifferentiaP' starter
to a GAZETTE AND JOURNAL writer Friday.
Also the plans OF the ''car motor" which
have been viewed by a number of persons
since first shown here. limited num-
ber of shares of stock necessary tor the
| completion of the engine, which is almost
ready for use, is in the market.