The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-03-08
the COMING POWER.

subject of electric roads that have 4,
recently appeared in the columns of
your paper. As discussion on this
subject has been opened, !. as the
of one Of the leading
electric railway and motor compa-
MES of the world, would like to say
n few words as TO the progress of
this new industry
Our people should not be allowed
to think that all pioneers in this 6eld /
have been unfortunate. The Sprague
Electric Railway X Motor Company
of New York alone has ON its list
between thirty and forty contracts
tor equipments, about half OF them
being completed. and the roads are
running successfully, and not one
has been unsuccessful
The first equipment was complet-
ed about q year ago; this was the
road at Richmond, Va, Of which |
the Construction Committee said in
letter to Mr., Johnson, President of |
the Sprague Company:
"The road which you have equip
ped under the most trying condi-
tions has been one of the most diili-
cult, if not tie most difficult, which
could be met with in street railway g,
work ."~ The immediate tinan-
cial success of the road has been
unquestionably due in n large mea-
sure to the economy developed in
the operation of your system, AS
compared with any other method of
streetcar propulsion. We
are already contemplating an in
crease of equipment, and hope be-
fore the close of this year to have at
least seventy of your cars in opera
ton"
On the showing made at Rich
mond, Mr.. Henry NJ. Whitney, Pre-
sident of the West End system of
Boston, halted in his preparations
for equipping one of the branches
of that immense system with cables,
and changed to electricity, which is
now in operation there. lie says Of
the Sprague system in his remarks
when applying for franchise:
''It is a success in all respects. :"
And il would seem that this opinion
is amply sustained by the rapidity
with which contracts have been
given this company by companies
which have investigated the system.
The most recent Endorsement is in
the shape of contract from the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Company for
the equipment of its system of street
roads in Atlantic City, n. j. This
contract was given after an investl-
CATION extending over five months,
conducted by the best mechanical
and electrical experts at the COM
mand of this powerful corporation,
and was due to the demonstrated
reliability and economy of roads al
ready in operation.
AS to economy of running, | will
call attention to report Of the net
earning of the road at Harrisburg
Pa, for the month Of September
. which is at the rate of 30 per cent
: per annum of tho capital stock.
,NOlllt Ol lllCSt lOiNlS lCNtIlGl
- stood some of the most severe test
;, that the elements could produce
} such as violent snow and win
-" storms.
!. AS to danger, will refer to n re
: port made by the Senate CommiLte
~ for the District of Columbia to tina
~ body. 1t states that currents q
70 electricity of 400 and 800 volts pc
v tential are not dangerous, that til
. testimony on that point is over
Il whelming and conclusive, and re
~ commehds that franchise be give
70 for an electric road.
le This system is used on some {
et the most important thoroughfares
in various cities, las on Beacon ST., Bo
us ton, Euclid avenue, Cleveland, and
yc Cincinnati and other large cite
ed and is giving great satisfaction
ke the citizens and is Of great impo
" tance in increasing the value of re
estate, as in st. Joseph, Mo-, whe
to eight cars have carried as many
be ten or twelve thousand passenge
" per day during fair week. Accor
he ing to the Secretary Of the road
Ier st. Joseph, the cars run at eigl
to ten and twelve miles per hour, a
mt cerding to the part Of the road al
ily section Of the city or suburbs &
est cars are in ut the time. Ev
let greater speed can be obtained.
no have written the above with t
hope that you will publish it in {
der TO let your readers know IL
electricity is propelling cars eve
IA day without any hitch whatey
-" ~ and with far less outlay and will
~ ~ great deal less expense for maintC
~ ance than is the case with cable S,
nv az TENS and being under far bet
ivo control, as car with Mr.. Spragu
,io flexible attachment can be revers
ihs in fraction Of its length, even wi
'Ia '' going at 4 rapid rate.
&C. ! hope that this will induce
re readers Of your paper TO lnyestgi
.ho the subject, and in this way oy
in come whatever prejudice may cX
nc. in the minds oil those who are !
familiar with the remarkable p