Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-18
MORE ELECTRICITY.


Get in Action.
The mule is almost enamel pated as far
as street railway service IN this city is
concerned. The North Fort Worth
street railway Is in readi-
ness for operation and this morning the
gay and festive mule will have disap-
peared from Main street, and with them
the dill apidated cars that have decorated
the principal thoroughfare for 80 long.
Last night after dark SIX of these elegant
cars were run up over the trembling North
Side bridge and rested on the square. The
road and lines have been in readiness for
some days, but the risk of taking the
cars across the bridge was considered too
great. Last night, however, it was de-
termiued to try it. Six of the cars lined
up at the lower end of the bridge and
looked remarkably brilliant in the dark
ness. Suddenly one shot away from
the rest and the trip was commenced.
On it ran until it struck the middle bent
over the river, when a distinct SILVER
ran through the iron structure. But the
car didn t stop. 1t bowled right along
up the grade, rocking in and
ont of the different cradle
holes into which the bridge is bent.
The immense structure swaYed consld-
erably under the car, but it was crossed
in safety. So with five others. 1t is no
exaggeration to say that these cars are
easily as beautiful and comfortable as
any in the city. There are twelve of them.
The inside is fitted up with cherry aud
bird 's-eye maple, while the outside is
Hastily painted. The seats are cushioned
-ry;A uv-fA, al hole
while the windows have the rolling
shades. The GERS throughout have every
modern convenience and are set on
springs, so that it is pleasure to ride in
them. They cost $500 each. The cars are
driven by the Thomson Houston system
of motors and the whole plant is like
that of Boston, where this company have
$50 cars running on about 400 miles OF
electric railway. Each of the cars carry
two motors of fifteen horse power,
one attached to each axle. This
is considered an improvement
over single motor of thirty horse power
for several reasons. In this way the
motors use all the traction which both
trucks exert, and in case one is injured
it can be switched off and the car driven
by the other. 1t is also an ad-
vantage in a more gradual start
and stop. A few trial trips were
made yesterday from the bridge to the
stockyards and return. The action of
these cars was perfect. The driver con-
trolls the electric current by means Of two
levers; with short motion by the lower
one the motor is reversed. The conneo-
lions by the upper one Is SO gradual
that the jerking motion Is entirely
obviated, and the start is almost imper-
eeptible.- After the usual speed of the
car Is attained simply by carrying the
lever around quadrant the speed is
doubled, and rate of from fifteen to
eighteen miles reached. 1t is a positive
pleasure to feel these cars bowling along
an up grade and forget the vicious
crack of the whip. These cars are fitted
with gates at the entrance, SO that no
one can get on the front platform. The
alarm bell is underneath the car, and is
operated with the drivers foot.
The road from the river to
the stockyards will be traversed
by a couple of these cars until
the bridge is fix ed. The line in the city
will begin operation this morning, and
the company has made rules that the car
shall not stop except at the corners OF
the streets. There is no use of having
rapid transit cars and lose the speed in
stops. Aud the corner will always be
the one to the front of the direction in
which the car is going. The whole plant
was set in motion yesterday, and there
was not thing that was not in perfect
order, from the huge Corliss engine to
tue motor power beneath the cars. The
city may well be proud eff this new
that every one can use and
enjoy. The road cannot be beaten by
any in the country.