Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-09

From the Springfield Republican, June /.
Very interesting events are taking place in the
field OF invention this year. and II each individual
scheme meets with success this will be queerer
world than ever. Col. John H. Pierce, OF New
YORK, proposes to send summer tourists to Europe
at the rate OF 1000 miles an hour through double
barreed pneumatic tubes. Not this summer,
however. Missionaries can be carried the center
of Africa in six hours, and TO reach Hong Kong
will be only matter OF twelve hours so. Single
tickets for all points ought not to cost more than
$50. Colonel Pierce can tell how the thing
Is done, and make II seem very plausible.
He will invite ''Uncle sam" to pay the
expenses OF an experiment, but II he
should be unwilling TO do SO, Columbus like, he
will visit other governments. The Edison phonO-
graph has developed sufficient powers OF converse
ton the last few months to make a respectable
tinging telephone and the fair and giddy type
writer, revolutiOniZing the business and social
world in ways that win readily suggest themselves
to everyone. Then Inventor Bell Is perfecting
device called the tetaulograph, which resembles
the telegraph, the vast difference being that one
can receive message from friend In his own
handwriting In as quick time. The plant FOR the
manufacture OF this invention, commonly known
as the writing telegraph, us being built at Bridge
The last rev months have seen wonderful ad
vance In the application OF electricity motive
power, especially in the propeling OF street cars
While this may seem less wonderful than the CO
lOssal schemes just cited its is guaranteed
and its introduction on the streets in this city in
tine possibly near and probably distant future
uldktS IL luIcISolluS W ptOplt AuOlpn
Peters, OF this city, electrical engineer and assist
ant superintendent or the United Electric Co.,
helped TO install two roads In Germany, which
have been In successful operation for eight years.
one route is from Frankrort-on-the-Ma1ntO Onen.
bach, and the other from Charlottenburg to West
end, near Berlin. They are operated by the Slenan
d HolSke system. which resembles the Daft syS-
TEN OF this country. These systems possibly
have attained greater degree VI success than
the other companies, which, all together, num-
Der nearly score. II Is said there are now
in the United states more than eighty miles or
road on which the motive power Is electricity
ana eighteen have plants in operation in lengths
varying from one to eleven miles. Contracts have
been made for roads, and they are now being con-
structed In seventeen other towns, and there are
nfty-nine projected roads. There are eight lines
OF street railroad operated by electricity In Great
Britain. Their aggregate length is twenty-five
miles, the distance covered ranging from six miles
down TO One-elghth Of that. The electricity is
transmitted by rails, In some places being insu-
lated outside the track, or Is carried by accumu-
ators on the cars but this Is not the SAFEST cheap
est or the most popular method. The overhead
system Is DOT used III either case, though II Is the
Tavorte In the Uniled states and in Germany
Leo DafrS company has had cars running In Los
Angeles with success and satisfaction for over q
year. Electric cars are also In successful opera
lion AZ Richmond, Allegheny City, Scranton, Co
lunbus Asbury Park, New York and numerous
other places.