Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-18
HORsELEss STREET CARS.
The lexington Electric Railway I'm
Successful Operation.

The lexington Electric Railway I'm
Successful OpeTasi0n.
THE ROUTE or THE NEW Roxp-uAxpsovx CANS
TRIAL TRIP LAST YIGHr-CuuosrrY EXCITED
ALONG TIE RoUrE-How THE CARS ARE PRoPELLxD
The lexington Electric street Railway is in op-
Grafton The president OF the company, Mr.. Geo.
Iruesdsi, nxed the 18th Of this month as the tine
wnen the new road should be completed His
enorts have been successful While the passenger
tramc has not yet commenced, stiu cars are run
over the road. Night before last o car LETT the
car-shop at the terminus OF the road, 4th and
streets northeast, and passed over the entire line,
70 7th street and New York avenue. The new road
Is about mile and three-Quarters In length. The
nrst mile Is along New York avenue, from TIN
street TO Boundary. On one OF the first trial trips
that distance was made In i've minutes After
leaving New York avenue there are several
quite sharp curves but the grade in no part OF the
ROAD exceeds per cent, with the exception OF
stretch OF about 800 feet In lexington, where the
grade Is per cent. Several trial trips were made
yesterday, and last night about 80 quite party
went over tue road. 1t included President 1rues-
dell, Capt Grimm, and Mr.. Mansfield, OF the
Thompson-Houston Electric Co., which Is putting
In the plant, Mr. COBB, the representative Of Pres
ton, and several street railway managers who are
here In the city attending the railroad convention.
new building erected at the lexington end OF the
line the visitors boarded one OF the handsome new
cars, which were made specially for this road
THE CARS.
AS far as the general appearance Is concerned
these cars do not differ materially from the cars
usually found on street lines There are some
points OF difference, however and very essential
ones. There Is no place TO hitch horses. There
are the platforms front and rear and the familiar
brake. Against the dashboard Is q small wooden
cylinder, perhaps not more than inches in
diameter. On the top Is polished crank. The
driver turns this crank and the car starts. When
the rapid motion Is checked and the car comes TO
a standStilL But there was no necessity for stops
the well ballasted roadway, ascending the grades
and rounding curves without any apparent addi-
tional exertlon more than when on a level Flying
along New YORK avenue, which is brilliantly Lit at
night by the cluster OF electric lights at the TOD OF
Tue iron poles, the occupants OF the car became
conscious that they were creating something
Oh "a sensation. People came rushing out from
their houses ana crowded along the line or
the road TO see this new prodlgy-and they saw 1t.
Ihey saw a brilliantly lighted car filled with
people lying along the streets with no apparent
motive power. Some cheered and capped their
ndndS others got down on their knees to see
what contrivanee beneath the car made the wheels
20 round, while others Lptoed up to inspect the
top and Try 10 discover the secret there. AS the.
car came nearer TO 9TH street the throng increased
IN numbers, and when the latter point was
Ieacneu the Spect atorS stood five and SIX deep on
both sides OF the car. comparison OF the
watches ON board the car showed that the trlp
mad peen made in twelve minutes, and 1t was
stated that better time could easily have been
made.
Mr.. Truesdell said that the object OF course. was
noe 10 run as last as possible, but merely 10 main
tam gOod speed I'VE have the power" he went
On, TO MAINTAIN steady current, and il you no.
tlced their Was no Earring or shaking OF The carr
"A STAR man, VINO was on board, thought that 1t
ran Ike steain-car, and Mr.. 1ruesdell said he
Was not surprised 10 hear that comparison, as the
rOao-Oed with It's heavy rails, TIED with iron and
oalSted with stone Was suitable for the traffic Of
sIedln-cdrS. The cars themselves are well made
ana handsomely fitted up. That was the verdict
VI Iie railroad experts last nignt and there is no
uouDI OUT tAat Will DC The verdict or the public.
The INTERIOR
Is fitted up with mahogany enriched with carv-
ings and put together like cabinet work The
ceiling Is lined with maple and ornamented with
worA in relief The seats are on springs and up-
nolstered In slate-coiored plush. Polished crys-
t9l piaIe-glaSS ILLS the broad windows and at
night tne Interior Is brilliantly lighted with a
cluster or three Incandescent electric lights In the
center OF The roof. and also one similar light at
eacn emu IHE STAR can be read With ease In any
part Oh Tue car. Folding iron gates protect the
platforms both rear and front. The cars indie
peadent OF the trucks, cost s., $50 each
III Is a goOd deal OF money" observed Mr. Trues-
Dell To lHE STAR man, "but IL was decided to equip
THIS road IN the best manner and no expense
ated. People like TO have good accommodations.
ana they would rather ride In good car than in a
poor one"
HOW THE WHEELS GO ROUND.
As has been stated, there Is nothing In a casual
glance that would indicate the car was not in
tended for horsepower. Beneath the car, If one
looks closely, can be seen two motors, one at each
emu tnus oovialing the necessity OF turning the
car around at The end OF the rouLe. The conductor
anu urVer merely cnange places and the Is
ready Tor the return trip. From the center OF the
Top vi the car Is rod OF iron watch the railroad
men Call the trolley" This reaches up and
travels along the wire when extends above the
middle or each track and some 20 feet from the
ground In this way the electric current is car
req from the wire down into the motor beneath
the Car. The magnets In the motor revolye and
That turns the axle Oh the Car, and So the electric
current Is turned into power. The dynamo or
generator where this current originates may De
nile anu hall way from the Car where 1t is
Oeing used, but The engineer can tell almost ex-
actiy where the car Is by the amount OF power
used III the car Is going up graue, along New
10TH avenue, the engine at 4th and streets
northeast, puts and D.ows. In the same way the
levels are sigma nile and more away.
SUCCESSFUL BEGINNING.
AS the engines, BOXERS and all the machinery
and apparatus OF the road are entirely new sur
prise Is expressed that IL has been possible to run
cars over the entire road with so little difficulty
Inc managers are vi the opinion that the regular
passenger trafic could Be begun tomorrow, but
Iney want 10 be sure that everything Is running
sinoothly, that there are no kinks in the wires
SO probably the cars will not run regularly for a
day or Two Yet. The electricity Tor the lights
which are strung along New York avenue is iur-
nished by the same dynamo used TO propel the
cars TnlS dynamo Is an SO-hOrSe- power and the
engine Is 1O0hofSe-pOwer. The electric part OF
the road wiI DC run under the management OF the
IhOmson-Houston Co. Tor the nrst three months
alter which The company will assumescharge
The trains on the metropolitan Branch OF the
Baltimore and ONO road now stop at Boundary
anu New York avenue and passengers Will be
transferred directly 10 the electric cars Arrange
Ments l Is expected, will be made with the street
Car lines In The city 10 Transfer the passengers
from the electric road.
Rockville Happenings.
MARRIAGE BELLS IN MONTGOMERY CoUNTY-AN ACTIVE