Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-27
ELECTRICAL POWER.
WHAT THE FOLSOM WATER POWER
COMPANY INTENDS
The Possibilities for Sacramento With
Electrical Power-Strong Letters
Affirming Its Economy.

horses or electricity for motive power,
some expressions were used in the RECORD.
UNION which indicated disbelief, in the
present state of electrical science, of the
feasibility and economy of the storage bat
terry as source Of power. All the debate
was conducted upon that plane, and if any
fugitive expression concerning electrical
power AMI its non utility was made, at any
time, that did not affirmatively qualify it
as referring to
STORAGE BATTERIES
This community and the regular readers of
the RECORD UNION fully understood that
that was the only matter at issue. Mis-
conception of this fact has led Mr.. II. ?.
Livermore of San Francisco to read this
journal rather sharp criticism, on the
assumption that when electrical power was
spoken OF the intention was TO pronounce
dH electrical application as failures.
1t Is scarcely necessary to say that this
paper has at 10 time been unfriendly to
the utilization of electricity as a motive
power
ON THE CONTRARY,
1t has hailed every new discovery in that
direction with satisfaction, and in its news
columns and editorial expression has kept
abreast with the advance of electrical
science. We believe that electricity is in
vested with great possibilities as means
Tor moving machinery, and know of and
have repeatedly published accounts of its
successful application. Mr.. Livermore, as
manager of the
FOLSOM WATER POWER COMPANY,
States that that corporation has thoroughly
investigated and sincerely believes in the
ability to transmit electrical power by wire.
Ii is he says, the intention of that company
TO prove the practicability of it by trans
uniting electricity by wire to Sacramento
from generators moved by the Folsom
wafer. power, when that great work is com
pieted. In that intention we recognize
great good promised to this city, and over
year ago, in an extended article. so an
nounced in an elaborate illustrated
description of the works in progress
at Folsom. Before and since that
time the RECORD UNION has taken pains re-
peatedly to show its faith in that scheme.
The people of Sacramento look forward
with lively interest to the completion of
that work, and 10 the transmission of cleo
Glclty by wire to this city, to be used in
promoting power for manufacturing and
other purposes Because it has teen demon
stIated here that in the present state of ex-
pertinent and discovery, the use of storage
batteries Tor propulsion of street cars is I'M
economic, does not warrant the fear enter
tanned by Mr. livermoTe under misappre-
henslon) that Sacramento has turned its
back upon one of the most important i'm
proyemeBts of the age" Instead of being
indifferent to one of the most striking
branches OF material progress which the
age Affords, as Mr.. Liyermore fears
Sacramento is actuaed by a spirit of
enterprise and progressiveness, and has
the highest hopes Of the scheme of the
company Mr.. Liyermore represents, in
utilizing the water power of the American
river, and lis conversion into electrical
force, for use in this city. We apprebend
that when the time comes for more active
manifestation OF interest, the Water. Power
Company will have no reason whatever to
complain OF indifference on the part of the
people OF this city on the subject of cleo
trlcal power. In this connection we have
at hand
COMMUNICATIONS
That are OF news interest touching the use
OF electricity Tor the propulsion of street
caTs-but in none of the instances referred
TO, we believe, is storage battery used.
a letter dated July l1th, from President
Johnson, OF the Lafayette (Ind) Street
Railway Company, using the Spraeue cleo
trio system, says:
Our plant runs stationary motors from the
same engine. This can say The cost of fuel
water, OIL, waste. etc is less than horse fed for
the same number OF cars. The cost of engineer
and fireman is much less than barn men 70 take
care OF the requisite number of horses for the
same cars. Il ran al hese cars with horses
until September !, 1851 That we made better
time curing storms in winter. The feed in"
system owned by the Sprague viii make q sue
cessful line where others ial.
OPINION OF THE ELECTRICAL REVIEW
The Electrical ReUie,0 of July 18Th hes
the following
Among the cities which are rapidly coming
70 the 'front.' as leading in rapid transit facilities
by the application o: electricity, there is none
perhaps where The advantages OF electric ROVER
ior street cars are more thoroughly recognized
than in the city of Cleveland Ohio Though IL
Is only about nine months since the first electric
cars were put into operation upon the streets of
this city, the Cleveland public have become en-.
thusiastic over this method Of transit and the
number of electric cars in the city is rapidly
extending.
Last week new extension to the East Cleve-
land Electric Railway was opened in Cleveland
on Prospect street and Euclid avenue. Il is the
intention of the East Cleveland COMPANY 10
operate co motor cars on this line with two ana
a half minutes headvay and I horse will he
removed as soon as the motor cars are equipped
dered. =
1t is an interesting fact in connection with
this road to note the popularity OF the electric
owners along the line In Cleveland at a pub
lie meeting lately, which was presided over Inv
some OF the most prominent citizens resoln-
lions were passed commenting ON the successful
operation OF the Sprague electric road and the
East Cleveland Company was requested u ex-
tend the motor line in several directions, il or
der to improve the transit facilities.
wIREs AND BATTERIES.
The Recon- UNION takes this opportun-
ity to say it has not seen any sufficient
han Sll ! D,
why a successful electric. street system
by other power generator than the stor-
age battery may not be used in Sacra
mento. II appears, however, to have been
accepted by gentlemen who have been
active in the premises, that no overhead
wire for the transmission OF power would
be permitted in Sacramento. This is an
assumption, we contend, as yet unwar-
ranted, and question upon which the
RECORD CSIoE hes not before expressed il,
self, and on which the people have given
no testimony as to their wishes. II, as is
shown below, score or more of cities OF
equal importance with Sacramento.
have permitted the overhead wire, and
found the system economic aud
greatly preferable TO horses, we cannot
understand, in present hghi, why objection
should be deemed insurm0untsble in Sac.
ramento. We are not authorized TO sneak
tuA ArNA INiAAdSsiN tAAdt ttls present. SLlc6t
car company projected for operation Of an
electric road viii adopt any practicable,
if permitted, which can be shown to be
MORE ECONOMIC
Than The employment of horses. We do |
not understand that company TO wish TO
abandon electricity. but quite the contrary.
Upon this subject Mr. JOS L JAYNE. Of |
san Francisco, representing the Sp.ague
electric system in which he has perfect |
confidence, writes to the RECORD UNION |
under the Misrepresentation that it had |
opposed all electric use for motive power. |
He says, under dato OF July l2th-(and we |
give him be full benefit Of bis statements |
concerning his system, as We have hereto |
fore 10 other electricians concerning theirs, |
and rs We will 10 any Others who have |