Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-23
ELECTRIC RAILWAY.
THE BOARD OF TRADE HEARS TEsTI-
M0NY AND ACTS.
1t Sends Committee Before the Trus.
tees to Express the Views of the
Business Men

4
Jose.
There was good attendance. President
P. E. Platt stated the purpose of the meet
| ing and called upon D. A. Lindley to re-
| port for the committee.
Mr.. Lindley said the entire committee
Messrs. Andrew, Wilson and himself
went to San Jose on Wednesday. They
were escorted over the road by the propri-
etor, Mr.. Henry, who proposes to convert
the Central Railway of this city into an
electric road. They rode from San Jose to
Santa Clara and back on the cars and in
| spected ali the machinery. With that,
| however, they did not think they had any
| thing to do-their business was to see how
| the cars are run, note the speed, ease or
| difficulty OF stoppage, need for erection of
| poles, etc.
So far as the committee could see, every
| thing was satisfactory. The cars are in
part old ones of the old underground con-
| duit company, but the new cars are good
in all respects. The cars of the Central
Railway of Sacramento, which Mr.. Henry
proposes to use, are, however, much better.
| The track of the San Jose road Is an old
track. narrow-gauge, and the iron is fifteen
| pounds too light. The result is rocking
motion of the cars that would here be
| wholly avoided on a broad track of heavy
| iron. At times the cars ran at what was
said to be a twenty mile rate. Inside the
| city of San Jose the maximum allowed is
eight miles.
The cars are stopped by brakes, as on
ordinary cars, or can be instantly stopped
| by reversal of the motor. They can be
I'm. OF nrf ,1Ov nd upD " nh md
in fact, seem to be under the complete con-
| troll of the driver. As to the poles. Along
the Alameda the poles are iron, hollow and
| jointed, and stand in the center of the
roadway and have an ann extending on
| either side carrying the wire for the two
| tracks. This is dangerous. apparently, and
| hence on open cars rail is put up on the
pole side and the windows are guarded by
screens, that no one may be injured by
getting off on the pole side or by putting
out the head or arm.
| In the city the poles are on one side, and
| 100 and 40 feet apart. They are very
| light, not high, and do not appear un-
| slightly. OF course complete absence of
| poles in street is preferable; but they are
lot nearly so Objectionable as the poles of
telegraph and electric light companies in
| this city. The wires borne by the poles
are very fine and scarcely observable-cer-
tainly are not Objectionable as compared to
most other wires. The only thing about
the wires especially noticeable are the in
| sulators- the committee took them
to be.
The noise made by the electric motor is
less than that made by the rattle of the car
windows on Sacramento lines. On top of
each car is pole, which is depressed until
| the electric holder on its end touches the
street wire leading to the central plant of
power. The pole or trolly is then pushed
up against the wire, and the circuit is COM
plete and the car moves according q. the
| force of the current fed to the motor. The
discharge is through the axle and wheels
to wire beneath or along the rails uniting
| them, and sparks are observable as the
| wheels move, but they are said not 10 be
dangerous discharges.
Mr.. Lewis-If one puts his hand right at
| the wheel, he would not find the discharge
| TO affect him.
Mr.. Lindley-Here Mr.. Henry could
| probably arrange to use on one side tine
street the poles of the Electric Light Com
pany, on the other side he would need to
erect poles.
Mr.. Lewis-Or arrange to use the Thomp-
son & Houston poles where they are on the
route, as they aEsyon the opposite side of
| the street from the electric light poles.
l /.
car and practically invisible; it weighs,
probably 1000 pounds. The committee
was agreed that the electric system is SUI
perior to horse motive power; it is more
rapid, certain, regular and of greater ca
pacity. The committee agreed to report
/ fayorably, and recommend that Mr.. Henrys
proposition be Endorsed and recommended
| to the City Board of Trustees.
| Mr. Plat here read letter from Mr.. An
drew, of the committee, warmly indorsing
| the electric system.
| Mr. Lindley was asked if the placing of
| the poles in the center of the Alameda was
not due to orders of the authorities, and
was objected to by Mr.. Henry, and if the
| authorities were not willing to have the
side poles replace them2
| Mr.. Lindley recalled that Mr.. Henry had
| so informed the committee.
| Mr.. Crouch asked if the trees interfered
| with the pole wires and caused ground
ing'' of the current.
| Mr.. Lindley replied in the negative.
| The President said it seemed the proper
thing for Sacramento to come abreast with
other cities in this matter of the best
motive rower for street cars. Originally
the Central Railway was electric storage
battery system. By urgent request of the
Board and the people generally the COM
pany was permitted to substitute horses
| temporarily.
Mr.. Lewis-The grant is now for all the
time.
Mr.. Mott moved that the report of the
committee be received and the thanks of
the Board voted to the committee. Car
ried.
The President-It seems to me if the
franchise is granted there should be &C.
com anying restrictions to protect the
public.
Mr.. Lewis-No new franchise is asked
only modification of a single section, so as
to permit the use of poles.
The President-Cannot the poles of the
Electric Light Company, by agreement, be
rented?
tiating now.
been informed by Mr. Henry that he must
have the right to plant poles where neces-
sary, for he would not be tied up so as to
be at the mercy of any other owners of
poles.
Mr. Lindley-That is certainly proper
i thing. If he were compelled to use poles
of others he would be subject to any tariff
they might impose.
Mr.. Lewis-But he does wish to rent if
he can; his wire runs under all others, and
there is every reason to believe the electric
llROt company Will uc NliiAAlS W icli Tie
use of its poles, which are very large, tall
and strong.
Colonel Hamilton-It should be pro-
vided that there shall be certain service
certain trips, etc.
1t was stated that in San Francisco one
trip every "a hours must be made to retain
franchise.
Mr.. Hawley-Every company is i'm.
PEELED by elf.interest to make all trips the
business warrants, and to do all it can to
augment the business and create demand.
Mr. McClatchy-What objection could
Mr.. Henry have to bind himself to the city
TO do service of certain character
Mr.. Lewis-He is bound to the Central
Company, if the bargain is closed, to run
to Oak Park, and to furnish good service.
Mr.. McClatchy-Why not bind himself