New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-22
RIDING on Az ELECTRIC RAILROAD.
PROFESSOR pAFr's SINGULAR LINE IN NEw-JERsE

PROFESSOR DAFT's SINGULAR LINE IN NEW-JERsEr
SUPPLYING MOTIVE POWER
A company has been formed in this city to furnish
electric motive power to any and every one VINO UaF
have a wheel to turn The machine it proposes to use
il tla clcctromot of Professor Leo Daft which has
several times been alluded to in The TRIBUNE. H.
~ lIavkcSworth. the manager Of the company, was
visited hya TRIBUNE reporter aud inquiries ln"n' o'
him concerning the scheme
"Sce Mr. Daft" he said. " lie can show you more IN
half an hour than can tell you in ten days
The rcportcr saw Mr. Daft About one mile west OF
Grccnvillc NcwJcrscy netting in grove of trees Is
a small frame house of four rooms, and under It's
shinglcd roof was found the wizard of Newark Bay
Jumping mp from his drawing board with an energy that
hc might have drawn from one of his own motors he
said in CHEEKY tones: " Come. take a ride
"Anpcrc." named from the distinguished electrician
was brought out from a neigboring she'd saddled ana
bridcd and the wizard and his guest got aboard
All ready" he cried, and touching lever ana giving
a quarter revolution TO thrrelnrh crank the
enrine moved away. The track from it, appearance
might have been built of the dcbr' of the first eNpr
mental railroad in America. The rails were old, ana
worn and rusty they were mp here down Ioh
der: "A succession of bumps and holloWs they were
on a heavy grade and tn curve OF 10 degrees was
ike turning the corner of fence. lloW in the world
anv four wheels managed 10 follow such u tr''
w,ts a wonder. but Ampcrc whircd along II; PACK
and forth without grOaD, and Was as docIc ana ucl
as a shetland pony. The engine would sweep along
70 within an inch of the ends Of the rails and stop IN
stautly when on the verge of going over.
The power that moved the engine came from gen
orator in the factory, through mile ot WIRE Whi'h
might ~ well have been ten miles or t"cnty-hNc me5
in length. The power transmitted to the engine
bv means of small iron rail ia the middle "i me
track The mile wire attached to the rail- ana the
current flowed through il, producing power su'Hclc 10
move Ampcrc" and a standard gauge passenger ear
with scvcntyvc people up scycnty-io gr2dc' ana
vet barcioocd Children play upon the track unhdImrd
In the factory close by, small motor ihat occupies
less room than y sewing machine operates the saws,
lathcs planners and drills of wood working mlI' ana
still smaller one in another room produces 700 rtNO-
luons a minute in thIrty-six inch wing tah' ana
drives "A current of air through the building tha "ould
turn wind mill Professor Daft would III all cases
show the harncs>ncss of his machines by dvcttng the
current Of electricity operating them, into h- own per
son and by closing the Circmt with his tongue;
th- notwithstanding the flash Of light that opening the
circuit produced.
what is Your plan for applying your motor to
domc- tie uses !" he asked
We shall build central stations, at which We shall
generate sufficient power to supply every demand
within radius of two and q half miles We viii carry
rs much Of that power into your house - You want
and measure it out 10 YOU. and will carry IT in way
that will afford Won inc nvcnicncc taxing up II"
room and being absolutely safe We WI give you
motor of any capacity will occupy only onc-tth the
room of any other; will always be ready for instant
use i ccdnly, requires engineer, and VIII take care
ofii,clf Iou start and stop by quarter revolution
nf a three inch crank -