The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-25
THE FIRST ELECTRIC CAR
IT MAKES A CIRCUIT OF THE BELT
LINE IN FORTY-TWO MINUTES.

Inauguration of the Electric Motor
Line Witnessed by Crowds Of PEG
ple-The Regular Schedule 20 be Put
in Operation Next Week.
The first electric car OIL the Belt Lint
made the circuit last night by trial trip
amid the cheers and enthusiasm Of crowd
Of people who turned out to sse it.
The horse cars we're taken of the line a.
o'clock, so as to leave a clear track fol-
the electric car. At $50 o'clock the ma
chinery at the power house was started up
The engines and dynsmos ran as smoothly
aUd easily as could be desired, and the big
belts kept up a steady whirr. Electrical
Engineer Gest of the Edison Company,
who has Superintendent the put
ting in Of the electrical appar-
atus at the power house, was
in charge, and everything worked with
out hitch. The place was brilliantly
lighted with electricity, and there was a
cluster Of five lights over each dynamo.
The machinery is all of the finest character,
and makes handsome appearance. Inc
Edison switch board is a beautiful piece OF
workmanship, and is fitted with all the
appliances necessary for the control OF the
N1AICub uuucE huy COulltAOuo
ALL READY FOR THE START.
One of the Thomson Houston motor cars
was placed on the track, with the trolley
connecting with the overhead wire. The
trolley is the long slender strip running
from the top of the car to the wire, and
conveys the electric current to the motor.
Shortly after 9 o'clock the car was
boarded by Supt- Saussy, with Mrs. Saussy
and several other ladies, several gentlemen
who had heen invited to take the trial trip,
the electrical experts and a number OF
employees OF the road, about thirty
people in all. Electrician Noyes
held the brake in his right
hand and the controller in his left. On the
front platform of the car, besides Mr.
Noyes, were Supt. Saussy, Electrician
VeGning of the Westinghouse company.
Foreman Pedrick of the Belt Line, and a
MORNING News reporter. At 9:07 Electro
clan Moves turned a button and the electric
lights in the car flashed forth. The current
was on.
STARTED AMID CHEERS.
With pressure Of the controller the car
moved off at 9;08 O'Clock, amid the enthusi-
asm of those on board and the cheers of a
crowd of about 200 that had gathered to
see the first car go out. An enthusiastic
citizen living near let loose some fire.
works, and boys fired their pistols in
the air. The car moved at
slow speed past the switch at the car house
going north on Habersham street. Passing
the switch MIR. Noyes needed the general
advice to 'let her CO. aud the car moved
rapidly. making speed of at least twelve
miles an hour. 1t ran easily ana smoothly,
and without any Of the jolts and
jars incident to the movement of
the horse cars. The speed Of
the car was easily regulated by slight
turn of the controller, and was slowed up
or let out at the will OF the motor man. 1t
was feared that there would be some trou-
bic at the switches and curves by the car
jumping the track, and it WIS slowed up at
each switch and curve, but there was no
trouble at all.
MISTAKES EASILY REMEDIED.
AS the car struck the first switch the
lights suddenly went out aud the car
stopped, showing that the current had been
cut of, but it was on again in a second.
At the corner of Gwinnett and East Broad
streets the same thing happened, but the
current was on again in holt minute. A
slight mistake IN tie placing of the
switches, which will be easily renedied
caused the stops. From East Broad
street it was plain sailing at any speed the
motor man chose 70 make.
As it wss trial trip, the electrician ran
the car with great care and prudence, and
at a slow sped compared with what could
have been made very easily.
Crowds Of people were out all along the
liEe to see the car pass. The girls at ST.
Mary's Home were waiting al hour before
1t started. East Brosd street was lined with
Pc pie, Whiting TO see the first cleo
tr.c car. At tho corner Of East Broad
and Liberty streets q large crowd gathered.
Doors and windows were filed with people
anxious to get a glimpse of the first motor
car. Many people got their suppers early
and waited along the line SO as to be sure Of
seeing the sight.
THE CAR CEEERED.
All along the line the car was hailed with
shouts and cbeors, and expressions of
delight and approval. LET her gon seemed
to be the favorite expression.
The car came down Bay street at lively
speed. At the corner Of Whitaker it
stopped to take on Mr. W. @. Cooper,
president of the Belt line, and Col. J. H.
Estiil, president of the Savannah Invest
ment Company.
At the corner Of Liberty and West Broad
streets city and suburban car was passed,
and the driver was invited TO a race, but
did not accept the invitation.
The distance from the first switch on
Montgomery street south Of Liberty &c
Anderson street, 1900 feet, was made in q
fraction over four minutes, or nearly l ,00O
feet per minute. This ought 10 be good
news to the patrons of the Belt Line who
have been making the same distance at the
rate Of about a mile an hour. That is one
of the beauties of the electric system,
though. The portion Of the line on the out
skirts of the city where the horse cars were
compelled to go slowly on &C
the sand will now be gone over more rapidly
than any other portion OF the line, the
switches being far apart, and there being
few stops to make.
The dust was very deep all along the line
the tracks being almost covered in places
and few in clouds behind the car, to th
discomfort OF those on the rear platform.
CROSSING BRIDGE.
When the big bridge near th,
company's headquarters was reacheC
test of the power of tn
current and the facility of controlling
the car was made. The grade Of the bridg
is very steep. When midway in the ascen
the car was brought TO a standstill and re
manned as If fixed to the track. A turn of tn
controller was made, and the car went o
up the grade in its steepest part as easily a
on level ground.
At $50 O'Clock the car reached the Bel
Line office, having completed the circui
in just forty-two minutes. The schedul
time of the cars is to be As minutes Th
belt can easily be completed in 30 minutes