Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-16
ELECTRIC STREET RAILWAYS.
ingaon-His Report 90 the Dsserics
COmmissiOners


CommtssiOners.
Capt. Grifin's report Of the result OF his in
vestigations into the question OF the use OF
electricity as a motive power for street rail-
ways has been made public. The report
first discusses the advantages OF electricity
as motive power In comparison with animal trac-
tion, ana describes at great length the various
forms OF electric railway, their advantages and
disadvantages and concludes with IN application
OF the teachings OF the investigation TO the street
railway problem In Washington, as follows:
"A careful review Of the recent Developments In
electrical tramways, ana the present condition OF
electrical science must convince any unprejudiced
investigator that the electric motor now beyond
the experimental stage, and well-establshed In
the practical commercial domain In other words
II is an incontroverible fact that electrical energy
offers much cheaper and Tar more satisfactory
motive-power for trsmways than either cables or
horses.
There are about 9, 500 street cars In use in the
United states requiring 100 900 horses for their
vice. About onefifth Of these or "a 600 hoSes more
drag out the remainder Of their eS,sence "a otber
service. This is q frightful showing, ana change
70 some other form OF motive power u called
the comfort and convenience OF the public
Electricity not only furnishes cheap and salts
factory power, but also gives . brilliant light TO
the cars, rings the alarm bells, signals the driver
and can even be made to heat the cars (Dr. W.
Leigh Burton, OF Richmond, Va, has invented an
apparatus Ior heating cars by electricity, which
Is TO be tried on the Richmond Onion Passenger
Railway line. do not know how successful 10 has
prOved).
"washington is a city peculiarly adapted to
The immense street areas and public Spaces
scatter the population and make dis
erODOTons sns spsd
The broad streets and smooth pavements easily ac-
commodate street trafIic, ana the railway tracks
are used bue little by ordinary vehicles. The width
OF streets between building lines is unusually
great, so that vehicles crossing railway lines can
see and be seen before they come within dangerous
proximity TO the tracks. THESE facts taken In con-
nection with the power OF sudden reversal
be electric motors. reduce to minimum the DAN
gers resulting from increased speed grooved rails
and smooth pavements were adopted there would
be less objection to turnouts or sidetr Acks, and
arrangements could be made to accommodate
increased traffic, as, for instance. that from the
15tn street below the avenue, Tor example, would
hold train OF two or three cars drawn by a motor
car to move westward, and similar reserve train
for the east could be held on Nth street above the
avenue. The public beneflt OF this or similar ar.
rangements is evident, but 1t Is not practicable
with horse or cable power.
"HorSe cars belong to a past era, and the public
are entitled to the best and cheapest possible
means OF transportation. Existing lines Will
naturally be slow to change The necessary sacri.
qured, and the hope Of more eincient
ana perhaps more economical metnO0S suggest
gradual action, but none Of these objections apply
10 new roads. Within the city limits the pubic
need is already fairly supplied as TO number Of
be equipped In the most modern and approved
manner. In the suburbs IL is folly In these days,
to think OF travelling at horse-ear speed
"ln conclusion, l have the honor TO submit the
Il. That no overhead electrical conductors pe
permitted In the city, but such conductors, with
due precautions to ensure safety may be allowed
on suburban lines.
az. That The commissioners recommend to Con-
gress that hereafter all charters granting power
District wherein It is provided that electrical
motive power be used either solely or as an alter
native, provide that the proposed methods
and TRANSMISSION s' Of electrical power, snail
sioners OF the District, and that said COMMISSION
er5 shall at all times have power TO compel the
companies to make such changes, removals, and
as pertain to or are essential TO the development
and Transmission OF electrical power, as may In
their judgment he necessary for the security and
safety OF the public.
'Slipshod methods OF constructing electric power
lines have frequently resulted In serious and even
fatal accidents, and have brought electric tram
ways into disrepute In many cases The supervi-
sion exercised by boards OF underwriters over
house wiring has been most benenciaL For the
nissioners, ana made practicable by the enact
ment of a suitable penalty clause.
'3. That the speed on tramways operated by
other than horsepower be nXed at not exceeding
10 miles per hour and not less than miles per
hour within the city limits, ana not exceeding 20
miles. and not less than 10 miles per hour beyond
the CITY limits.
''Our streets are hardly ever crowded to a dan.
gerous degree and few vehicles use the railroad
tracks. Electric cars are under perfect control
and can be easily reversed, so that there Is much
less danger from increased speed than with
horsepower. There is no reason why the
citizens or washington should not have rapid
ha vi nf tor min foo IN md
amount to 1O4 hours In the course OF a year or
days OF IL hours each.
~. That on an other street railways where other
power than horses Is used. or where horses shall
cease to be used for motive power, the spaces
between the tracks and rails and for q distance or
2 feet outside OF the outer rails shall be paved
with the same character OF pavement IS Is used on
the adjoining street, and the cost Of such pave
ment, and OF all repairs to such pavement shall be
paid by the railway company as now provided by
la