The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-10

The subject OF street railways operated
by electric motors is one OF unusual inter
est just now to citizens of Memphis in
view of the probable construction at an
carly day of line to be thus operated by
the jackson Mound Park Railroad COM
pany. 1t is probably known to but few
people that there are now in this country
twenty electric street railways, nineteen
of which are run by overhead conductors.
The following list gives names of cities
and towns where they are located, mum.
Der OF miles and cars and system in use;
Appleton, Wis.--Four and hall miles,
five motor cars, Van Dcpoelc system.
Asbury Park, n. J.--Four miles, Daft
system.
Baltimore, Nd Daft system.
Binghampton, n. Y.--Fiyc aud half
miles, six motor cars, Van Dcpoele sys.
tenn.
Brooklyn, N. Y.-Six miles.
Detroit, Mich.-Two miles, four motor
cars, Van Depoele system.
Detroit, Mich, Three miles, two motor
cars, Van Depoelc system.
Gratrot, Mich. motor car.
Kansas City, Mo. Henry system.
Lima, O.-Six miles and half, seven
motor cars, Van Depoclc system.
Los Angeles, Cal-Fivc miles, four motor
cans, Daft system.
Mansfield, O.--Four miles and half,
five motor cars, Daft system.
Montgomery, Ala. Capital City Electric
Street Railway company; twelve miles, four.
teen motor cars, Van Dcpoele system.
Port Huron, Mich.-Two miles and
threc-quartcrs, three motor cars, Van De
poole system.
st. Ca,harines, 0nt.-Six miles, twelve
cars, Van Dcpoclc system.
Scranton, Pa.-Four miles, seven motor
cans, Van Depoelc system.
Wichita, kas.-Four miles, six motor
ears.
Windsor, Canada mile and half,
one motor car, Van Dcpoelc system.
Woonsocket, H. |. 80 Bcntlcy-Knight
system.
Denver, Colour miles, seven motor
cars, Short Ncsmith system.
In addition 10 the above twenty-five
roads are under contract and fifty.iour
new roads projected.
Capt. Eugene Griffin, Of the United
States engineer corps, was specially com.
missioned by the United States govern
ment to investigate and make report ON
the subject OF electricity as motive
power for street cars, and his report covers
twcnty-nino pages of ordinary book size.
Tub APrEAL quotes from his report Us
follows.
Electricity as a motive power. in com.
parison with animal traction, oilers many
advantages, to.wit, more rapid trgnsit and
better service cleaner streets, smoother
pavemcnts between tracks aud rails, less
noise, lcss obstruction on crowded streets,
less liability 10 accident, rs the cans can he
stopped more speedily, aud. II nccdnl,
movement be reversed, fewer repairs To
tracks and payements, the abolition Of
stables, and diminished cost Of maintain.
anco and operating expenses"
"The speed attainablc by the use Of
horses is quite limited, while electric mo
tons can be made 10 develop any desired
speed. ON city streets the rate may prop.
crly be restricted 10 about eight or nine
miles an hour but in suburban districts
there is no reason why this speed should
not be doubled"
at is an uncontroycrtiblc fact that cleo.
trical energy offers a much cheaper and far
more satisfactory motive power for tram
WAYS than either cables or horses"
Electricity not Only furnishes a cheap
aud satisfactory power. but Il also gives q
brilliant light 10 the cars rings the alarm
bells, signals the driver aud can even be-
made 10 heat the ears"
Horse cars belong TO a past era, and
the public are entitled 10 the best aud
cheapest possible means oitransportation.
The above aro the views ui an expert Of
unimpcachablc honor and integrity, aud
his conclusions will doubtless DO accepted
everywhere without question as 10 their
honesty and reliability, and dispo-cs Of
the objection raised ia certain Interested
quarters hers that the use Of electric
motors is accompanied with danger 10 the
public.