Wichita eagle., 1888-07-08
THE ELECTRIC MOTOR.
IT Is BECOMING A FORCE IN ALMOST
EVERY INDUSTRY.

EVERY INDUSTRY
Six Millions Invested In the Manufacture
Of Electric h1otors-A Successful Rail-
| road--Electricity In . Flour AIiuLTho
| Secret of Progress.
There are now about Sc. 900. 900 invested
| In the manufacture OF electric motors in
the United States. and this large invest
ment has nearly all been made within the
last three or four years 1t represents
either the independent investment of COM
panies engaged in the exclusive manufac-
! true of motors, or al increase in the CAPT.
talization of companies that manufacture
electric light appliances, and find the con-
struction of electric motors good auxil-
iary industry Some of these companies
employ many hundred men. sometimes ap-
preaching thousand; and they turn out
motors almost innumerable each year
These motors are Of ell sizes, from
one-half horse power for driving sewing
machines and such other light work. up
to several hundred horse power, for heavy
work They are becoming driving force
in almost every industry, and can be util-
lied in localities where the cost of obtain
ing fuel would almost equal their operat-
ing expenses
Our readers have already been made
familiar with the names Of some of the
towns and cities in the United States,
nearly City in all. that have adopted, or
are preparing to adopt. the electric motor
for street railway traction in preference
to horses or cables The systems in use
in some Of these places are very extended,
that OF Montgomery Ala. counting about
fifteen miles of road and Transporting
over million passengers annually Elec-
trio roads many miles in length are also
operated in some of the California cities,
most noticeably San Diego and Los
An eleS.
SUCCESSFUL RAILROAD.
Recently a road twelve miles long was
opened in Richmond Va, represented by
its managers, in letter published in The
Electrical Review TO re q road of peculiar
difficulty in operating on account Of the
sharp curves and difficult grades Some
Of these grades reach the maximum ever
overcome by motors depending on the ad-
hesiveness of their wheels 10 the tracks,
and in the length there are no less than
seventeen curves around right angled cor
ners Yet the managers write with the
utmost enthusiasm of the successful
operation of the road in every particu-
lar The cars of the road, described as of
very elegant pattern, are not only pro-
PEELED by electricity. but they are lighted
by electricity. which naturally follows,
and when the cold weather comes they
are to be heated by electricity in accord
ance with q system not yet generally
introduced but for which patents have
been obtained.
Another field where the utility Of the
electric motor is soon to be illustrated on
a large scale is found in the mining dis
trict of Butte county Cal Among the
Big Bend mountains, making horseshoe
curve about dozen miles in extent runs
the Feather river At the upper end of
the curve dam. built entirely across the
river will throw the water into tunnel
several miles in length which empties into
the Dark canyon, the waters of the canyon
in turn emptying into the river at the
lower end of the horseshoe water
wheel and electrical generators are to be
located in the canyon one mile. or mile
and half from it's mouth, and from
these generators will proceed all electri
Cal conductor which crossing over the
to the dam. will follow the
shore of the river around the entire horse
shoe. and return to the starting point
This conductor Will be eighteen miles in
length estimating the entire distance,
and at points here and there along
the route are to be located cleo
trio motors numbering fourteen in
al These motors viii supply the power
for all the pumping hauling and hosting
demanded in the operations of mining
after the water has been drawn from the +
bed Of the stream The cost OF operating
The motor can be easily estimated 1t will
take nan to tend the water wheel, and
snot her man to look after the conductor
and keep il III order. and this. plus the
interest on the plant which will rot be
considerable. will represent the entire !
outlay
They are building new capitol at To- !
oeka in Kansas That might be matter
If 20 particular concern in New York,
here men have learned to be weary Of
he very word capitol But this Kansas
'apitol is to be built by electricity There
ire four electric motors at work on the
building lifting the bricks, stones and
mortar up to their places. and handling
he stones again into position on the walls,
They are said to do their work admirably
Electricity IN A MILL
Away out in Laramie, Wy T, there is
company known as the Laramie Milling
nd Elevator company This company
las mill capable of producing 100 bar
els Of -four a day and the only visible
ource OF power is seen in couple of
title scientifically shaped iron cases down
n one corner of the roller floor But
hose cases are twenty FIVE horse power
lectric motors The manager of the com
'aay, under the recent date of April 8,
ives glowing account of their perform
noes, Among their points of excellence
re refers 70 their uniform rate of speed
he ease with which power can be placed
where |: is wanted obTiating the neces-
ity for long lines of Skating or still
nore Objectionable belts; the economy of
DOM for power plant; the saving of from
o TO so per cent in insurance rates. and
he saving on first cost OF plant. The
motors. he SAYS, require very little atten-
ion, and give better service with vary
ng loads than any other power that could
e adopted
The chief secret of the rapid advance Of
his new mechanical agent is found in the
exibility of its resources. Electricity is
ot the generator OF power. but only the
gency for its transmission and distribu-
ion, as it is an agent for the TRANSMITS
ion OF the human voice over the tele-
hone wire. Through its resources power
an be distributed to any point. and in
Quantities to suit the customer Steam,
vater, air, caloric or any known agency
or generating power is either stationary
r it demands stationary applicances, but
is its messenger boy, its Puck,
rho will consent TO DO its errands i1visi-