The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-30

There has not been IN recent years more
important announcement than that Of Mr..
Edison a few days ago, that he had contriyed
the means by which railway trains can be
propelled at a rate which has been wholly
unexampled in the past
MIR. Edison is us set unwilling to state the
details Of his new invention because he dc
sires TO secure patent rights abroad, but no
has disclosed enough to show that his plan
consists in q general way Of the present two
rail system with q central rail in add
ton, to which an electrical current
will be communicated from station
airy engine. Heavy freight trains will
have attached to them a separate motor,
but passenger trains will carry their motors
under them. and will be managed somewhat
after the manner of the present electrical
street cars only few stationary engine
will be needed for very considerable section
of roadway. il being estimated by Mr.. Edison
that three engines OF ordinary capacity can
give the Pennsylvania railway, between New
York and Philadelphia, with its double tracks
and its innumerable trains. both passenger
and freight all the propulsiye force which
will be required Tor the movement Of the
cars.
The first test that will be applied TO the
new invention on very large scale will be on
a line of railway connecting Chicago and Nil
waukee and the test will be made at the
time of the Worlds Fair in order to take adj
vantage Of the celebrity which would attend
a Successful experiment under the circum-
stance of the enormous multitudes gathered
together from every part of the civilized globe.
Mr.. Edison claims for his method Of moving
railway trains two very great advantages
unprecedented speed and reduced cost sn ope-
ration. as to the reduction in cost this can be
seen at a glance; for while it will be necessary
TO add third rail to the two now in use. this
rail will not be so heavy and therefore not so
expensive. The enormous expenditure for
fuel. which constitutes under the present sys-
tenn one of the most serious items OF operat-
ing "a railroad. will be practically done away
with. as the amount that will be consumed IN
the stationary-eng!ne houses will be compare
lively small.
The greatest of all the advantages that will
accrue from the new system Will be the III
crease in speed, which will have the imme-
date effect Of reducing the charges upon
passengers on account Of the greater number
of times that the same train can be run.
There Will be nee of smaller amount OF
rolling stock and this stock can be usei at
the lowest rate of expense
II is thought by Mr. Edison that 200 miles
an hour can be attained BY MS electrical rail
way trains without any serious risk being in
CURED by the passenger, provided that MI
necessary precautions have been taken TO Sc
cure an uuobstrueted track All crossings
will have to be placed above or below the
grade Of the railway bed, the line Of track will
have 10 be more carefully protected from in
trusion on either side and strict block sys-
TEN introduced. The ordinary rate of speed
anticipated by Mr. Edison for his electrical
railway cars is u hundred miles an hour. A
record Of a rate OF ninety miles an hour for a
short distance has been male by the steam
car, but this Is a very rare exception.
Il was noted recently as Ak event Of extra
ordinary importance that the New York Cen
trial had put on their line a train TO run reeu.
larly between New York and Bu lalo at the
rate Of fifty-three miles an hour This seems
to lie a very moderate speed as compared with
a hundred miles an hour. and no doubt if
trains are ever run at the latter rated, there
will lie many occasions whom this rate will be
very much exceeded INST as there are many
occasions now when trains are run az a rate If
sixty miles an hour although this is the ex-
ception to the general rule.