Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-21
A PERFECT SUCCESS.
FIRST TRIP OVER THE ELECTRIC
RAILWAY LINE.
Thousands of Enthusiastic Citizens
Cheer the Smoothly Moving
Car On Its Way.

upon the construction of a street railway
on which electric cars were to be used, the
cry has been heard on all sides that it
never would be e success, and everything
possible has been done by some people 10
belittle the efforts of the managers and
throw cold water on the enterprise. Yes
terday the officers and promoters of the
scheme had their day of victory, and re-
ceived perfect ovation from the populace
as they passed through street on their
elegant car. 1t was the occasion of the
trial trip of the first car and it proved
success in every particular.
The readers of the RECORD UNION have
been kept fully advised of The construction
of the road, which is four miles long, and
the new car was described on its arrival
here from Philadelphia, about two weeks
ago. 1t is neatly painted in orange and
brown, and makes a very handsome ap-
pearance. Along the panel above the
trucks are the words " Central Street Rail
way" The inscription on the sides of the
car above the windows reads: depot,
via J and L streets. TO Oak Park, and on
the ends, NJ street and Pavilion" The
car is handsomely upholstered in crimson
plush, and lighted by two incandescent
electric lights. 1t also has an electric head
light of great power. Twenty four persons
can be comfortably seated, and the car is so
wide that it can accommodate as many
more standing.
The car is propelled by two Reckenzaun
electric motors of four horse power each,
capable of working up to eight horse
power each Tor short time. The motors
are actuated by electricity stored in eighty
cells of the Electric Accumulator Compa-
nys make type 23c y which are carried
under the seats of the car. These cells are
run under the seats from the end of the
car upon trays, and make the connection
with the machinery of the car automati-
cally. The weight of the eighty storage
batteries, together with the two motors and
all other electrical apparatus and machinery
is 5000 pounds The car itself weighs
$500 pounds.
The Board of Directors of the Central
Street Railway Company is composed of l.
L. Lewis, Edwin K. Alsip, Sol Runyon,
William j. Landers, Robert T. Devlin, J.
3. Wright, Robert H. Hawley. The officers
are: l.. L. Lewis. President; Edwin X.
Alsip, Secretary; W. L. Wright, Electrician
John Beck, Superintendent of Track.
THE TRIAL TRIP.
One O'Clock yesterday afternoon was the
hour set for the trial trip, and neatly printed
invitations had been sent to the following
gentlemen to occupy seats in the car:
Governor Z. w. Waterman, f. r. Dray,
James Armstrong of San Francisco, Frank
Miller, S. Prentiss Smith, B. U. Steinmap,
P S. Lawson, President of the Pioneers;
Joseph Steffens, President of the Board of
Trade; F. F. Tebbets, President of the
Board of Supervisors; r. S. Carey, Rev. II.
a. Mayhem, A. Abbott, Eugene ]. Gregory
Mayor of Sacramento; Trustee John Ryan,
Trustee H. G. Wolf, J. r. Watson, W. W.
Douglas, c. S. Marquandt of Des Moines,
Ia, two representatives of the RECORD
UNION, two representatives of the Bee.
The invited guests were assembled at the
corner of Fourth and streets, and had but
few moments TO wait for the car, which
started from the end Of the line near the
Southern Pacific passenger depot. As it
came around the corner of Third street, and
turned into j, great shout went up from
the hundreds of people who were collected
along the sidewalks on both sides of the
latter thoroughfare. Stopping at the corner
of Fourth the favored individuals who
held invitations were taken on board, and
the car moved on up J street. The cleo
trician, Mr. Wright, stood On the front
platform with his hand on the little lever
DN Tic CdI 10 sldIleu anu SlOppeu anu
its speed regulated. By his side stood L. L.
Lewis, while Edwin K. Alsip occupied the
rear platform. These gentlemen were re-
peatedly cheered as the car passed along,
and the crowds of citizens were wildly en-
thusiastic over the evident success of the
enterprise. Randkerchiefs waved from all
the balconies, and the street had gala day
appearance. The people were happy, and
those who predicted failure were dumb.
Those on the car were delighted. Stops
and starts were made without the least jerk
or jar, and the car ran with less noise than
the ordinary horse-car. AT the street
crossings the electrician sounded the gong
by simply pressing an electric button with
his foot.
At the corner of Eleventh street there
was mishap, which was very annoying,
but which was in no way connected with
the electric system. At this point the line
turns from street into Eleventh. A
switch had been left open and the car pro-
ceeded some forty feet up ] street, where
no track had been laid, The action was
reversed and it was run back beyond the
switch, but the wheels got wedged in be-
tween the track and the cobbles, and it took
a considerable time TO get the car on the
track again. This was the only unpleasant
incident which occurred during the whole
trip.
As soon as the car was replaced on the
track it proceeded on its way, going down
Eleventh to L and up L to Fifteenth, 10 II,
10 the corner of Twenty eighth street. The
late rains had put the streets IN terrible
condition, and as no car had ever been run
over the track some difficulty was antici-
pated, but none was experienced.
James Armstrong, of the Pacific Electric
Storage Company, of San Francisco, whose
father owns the right for constructing the
storage batteries on this coast, said that he
was astonished that the car worked so well
under the exceedingly unfavoFable conGi-
lions. He was highly pleased at the sue
cess of the trial, ard said that his COM
nany's factory would have all it could do
in supplying the demand for storage bat
teries when the result of this trial was
known. AS the track had not been cleaned
up farther than Twenty-eighth street the
car returned after reaching that point.
The return trip was made without the
slightest hitch. The car is not turned
round in order to run back The lever is
simply removed from one platform TO the
other, the headlight changed to the other
end, and the action reversed Most of the
trip was made at q low rate of speed, owing
to The condition of the track, but coming
down street the car ran at the rate OF fif-
teen miles an hour, making block in
lMcbtl
When the car reached the corner OF
Third street F. F. Teboets proposed three
cheers for Messrs. Lewis and Alsip and the
other promoters of the enterprise, and they
were given with will by those on the car
and taken up aud echoed by the crowd ON
the sidewalk
The trial was pronounced complete sue
cess by all. The car started out with two
hundred and sixty-seven volts of power
and only expended forty volts in the trip.
1t had on board when it returned enough
power to have made FIVE more trips. While
1t takes some time to charge the batteries
with electricity, no delay is occasioned, as it
takes but few moments to take out one
set OF batteries and put in another.
Many people have in some way got an
| impression that riding on an electric car
will interfere with the running of watch.
Mr.. Wright, the electrician, says that this
is utter nonsense and has no foundation in
fact whatever.
WI. Landers, one of the Directors. was
unable TO be present and sent letter ex-
pressing his regret.
The following letter was also sent by
Mayor Gregory: