The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-29
ELECTRIC STREET CARS.
THEIR SUCCESSFUL OPERATION IN
OTHER CITIES. =
The Great Difficulties Overcome In Rich
mond, Va-Running Up steep Grades
and Around Short Curves-Boston
Horse Car Companies TO Have Them.

Horse Car Companies TO Have Them'
The subject OF electric street railways Is
forcing itself upon the attention OF people
in all cities where cheap and quick transit
is desirable. The contract signed by the
Taxing District with the Jackson Mound
Park Railway company gives to the fire
and police commissioners tho right to SO.
lect which OF the overhead systems shall
be used on the line OF that company.
Among the systems best known is that
operated by tho Sprague company. Tho
roads now equipped with that system and
now in successful operation are in Rich
mond, Va; Carbondale, Pa; st. Joseph,
Mo-; Wilkcsbarre, Pa, and Wilmington,
Del. Other roads are well advanced in
Harrisburg, Pa; Davenport, Ia; Lafayette,
Ind; Steubcnvillc, o.; Salem, Mass; Hart
ford, Conn; Brocton, Mass; Scranton, Pal
Manchester Va, and Akron, o. Upon
those different lines there are, or soon will
be, lSl cars. The largest plant OF the com
pany 80 far is that at Richmond, Va. This
road began running its cars on tho I'd OF
February, since when it has continued
TO give satisfaction; the officers OF the
Richmond company have ordered the
number OF cars to be doubled from thirty
10 sixty-and the line extended. In adj
dition, the other horse-car line in Rich
mond, whose officers were positive that
electricity would bc failure, have just OBJ
tanned permission 10 put electric cars on
its line. The difficulties to be overcome
in the Richmond line were many and
serious. The line ran up and down hill,
with sharp curves in many places and over
some streets which had never been paved.
Tho total length Of the track is twelve and
a half miles. There is double track for
only two miles in the heart Of the city.
Some OF the streets are OF such clay that
cars could not DC operated with horses or
mules. Upon the entire road there are no
less than thirty curves requiring bent
rails, five of them being less than
! thirty.onc feet radius. Many OF the
grades are long and sharp; there is ono
section Of almost constant ascent for more
than mile, with grades varying from 8 to
7 per cent. The road began work in win
ter with new rails and inexperienced men.
! During the first month loaded ears were
sent up 10 per cont grades, tho rails being
often slippery, without the use OF sand or
extra help. Cans were satisfactorily run
when the tracks were ~ covered with snow
and ice ns TO bo out Of sight.
| 4 brief account of tho Richmond line
and its cost and working during the last
six months will give a fair notion Of what
can now be expected from an electric line
OF the best type. The boiler.housc, con
tanning the boilers, engines and dynamos,
is situated at a central point, and includes
n bOiler.room 1Ox3S feet, % feet high and
an engine room 7GX7i feet. There are
three tubular boilers Of l2j-horse power
each. Tho water comes from the
the premises; IL il filtered and
heated 10 200 degrees before going
10 the boilers. The fuel Is u mixture OF
two parts screenings and one bitumnous,
costing Sl.2j a ton delivered. The smoke
stack rises seventy feet above the boilers.
The engine power consists OF three Arm.
ington u Sims high.spood engines Of l25.
horse power each. They drive two Edison
dynamos OF 10000 Watts capacity,
specially wound for 800 volts normal pres
sure. The current Is fed 10 the main line
by wire which taps the main line at sew
eral points so ~ 10 maintain an even pres.
sure. The engino-room Is handsomely
fitted up and lighted by eight electric
lights. The current reaches the cans by
nn overhead circuit, the return being
through the tracks and copper ground
wire running underneath the string pieces.
The overhead wire from which tho cam
yet their current Is carried by thirty foot
poles placed along the curbstones l25 feet
apart The main wire Is Of copper, three.
sixiccnths Of an inch In diameter An.
other copper wire Of the samo size u sIIs
pended eighteen feet from the ground over
and parallel with the railroad track; thi,
wire il supported 10y cruss virus running
across the street from pole TO pole. The
central wire is connected every 500 feet with
the main current wire by short branch
wires. The current IN taken from the con
trail overhead wire by trolley OF contac
gear which runs along the wire aud IA con
ncctcd with the top oi the car; II Is No fisk
tblc that the car may run oil tho tract
without disturbing tho connection. Eacl
car Is fitted with a duplicate motor, on,
Tor each axle; the morton makes twely,
revolutions for one Of the axle. Tho mo
tons are IT normal capacity oi seven an,
half horse power, but able 10 exert doubl,
that power for short time. The cars cat
be run nj varying speeds, from the Stoves
crawl to twelve miles an hour. They cal
I hc started aud stopped, without the use q
, brakes, Gar moW quickly and easily than
, possible with horses. Each car IA lghte,
, 10y I've incandcsccnt lamps. The prse
rolling stock consists IT thirty cars. In
: plant was ordered with tho undcniandin
that H. operation would cost lass than III
same amount Of work done with horses q
mules. Most u the capital was iurnisho,
10y New Workers.
In an exhaustive account given oi IN
A.. working Of the Richmond limo by MI
, Frank ]. Spmguc bciorr the American In
siitutc OF Electrical Engineers last month
. he presented a table oi expenses Of actul
! running during the last four months, an
claims that q saving IT sl.2j q day II mad
over the Use III horses or mules for IN
same amount Of work For tho week ont
ing June ~, the last ior which official Il.
uWs arr given, % cans ran 1851 milo
an average Of 1p.2 miles day ior each ca
carrying AN average ot IN, liS passengers
d day. Onihc ith Of July ", los passcngci
were carried. According 10 Mr. Spmgu
o the operating expenses. including over,
a thing during May were a. per cent. OF N
wccipts. In making comparison with III
= cost of horses, II " assumed that u
+ horses would bo needed Tor thcsamc Norl
y In estimating the cost Of houc traction
p il necessary 10 allow 10 per cent. for sic
A. horses and u Ear larger percentage lot Il,
- probation than with machinery.
NJ As u type Of the conduit road. ihi
~ equipped by the bentley. knight compan
I, nj Allegheny City the Observatory al
a road may bc taken. Cars were run q
y this fnad ON the W oi last lannnrN. ain,