The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-26
THE WIZARD EDISON.
Harvesting New Electrical Thoughts to Prao-
tica1 Work.

Harvesting New Electrical Thoughts to Prao-
tical Work.
w. A. Croffut in New York World.
found MIR. Edison last week in his laboratory
on Avenue B, and asked him what was the new
est thought that he had harnessed to matter
This he answered and called my attention to
board hanging by one edge to ropes above our
heads, its surface covered with tinfoil. In fur
Their explanation he said, "That solves the ques-
ton of telegraphing to running trains. As soon
as that little device is adopted every moving
train IL the country will become telegraph
station, and anybody aboard the train may be
telegraphed to as easily as If it was standing
still. This will not be done by putting up new
set OF wires, under the train or at its side, but
by using the ordinary telegraph now running by
the side of the track. 1t is new, and hitherto
unknown process Of induction, by which make
electricity jump thirty five feet through the air,
carrying the message without spilling it. Hows
that for lively?"
The inventors face gowed with pleasure at
the thought as he went on by putting up this
tin foil covered board lengthwise on the top Of
each car can catch message from the wire
strung on poles thirty-fv feet of, and can fling
an answer back to the wire. 1t requires no
change in the wires of any sort. The secret Of
it is in the machine for transmitting. When
was investigating what call the 'etheric force
few years ago, / accidentally discovered GER
tain curious properties of static electricity
These have now applied The process is very
inexpensive, as three men could equip road 300
miles long for 81, 900 in three or four days. 1t
seems certain that its adoption will be general,
so that every train will be run from headquar-
tiers and every passenger will be accessible to
his friends. What do / call it, haven't named
the baby yet" Mr.. Edison looked exceedingly
well, although he was robed in gown of bed
ticking reaching from collar to ankles which
was not very picturesque
At the Edison factory in Goerck street a new
passenger car of the elevated road is being equip
ped with the electric motors which are to take
the place of the present steam locomotive early
in the summer. The car is turned bottom up
ward, and two dynamos weighing about 1000
pounds each, are adjusted to the under side in
proximity to the wheels. One dynamo drives
the four forward wheels, and the other the four
rear wheels Every car is to be similarly rugged
so as to bear its own motive power. A train OF
four cars, instead of having one sixteen-ton
locomotive, with two great driving wheels, will
have no locomotive but every one of the thirty
two wheels will be driving-wheel The eight
dynamos will weigh about half as much as
locomotive and they will all respond to the
touch of one conductor. Mr. Bachelor, in
charge of the work, tells me that one car can be
run alone in the easy hours, while in the crowded
hours ten to dozen can be run. in train, and
that they can reach a speed of twenty miles an
hour in the first 300 feet after starting Mr.
Russell Sage, whom / saw yesterday, feels sure
that th5 electric motors will enable the aerial
roads to carry one-third to one-half moro pas
sengers than they are now doing, and that the
trains will be much more safe and manageable.