Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-05
THE TRIAL TRIP.
The First Car Propelled by Elec-
tricity in Rock Island.
No. I3 of the Elm Street Branch M axes
the Run Over Most of the Lines
in the City with Results
Wholly Satisfactory.

80 AhNN n Ao'ohu.
The trial trip was made last evening by
the Thomson Houston company under
the auspices of the Davenport s. Rock
Island Railway company Car No. IS
OF the Elm streeta and Ninth street branches
left the Moline avenue barns at $50 in
charge of B. Willard. chief electrician of
the Thomson,Houston company, and a.
X. Fredericks. superintendent of the
same company; and there were also on
board ID. r. Louderback, managing direc
tor, and Henry Schnitger. general super
inteLdent of the Davenport & Rock Isl
and company, John Huntoon, Jr., super,
intendent of the Rock Island & Milan
road, together with Aid. Joseph Geiger
and representatives of THE ARGUS who
boarCed the car en- route. The car was
first run down over the old Moline & Rock
Island line to Fourth avenue and Fifth
street and thence back again up to Nine-
teenth street from wEerce the Elm street
branch was traversed 10 the terminus at
the top of the hill. The car assembled the
hill as easily and smoothly as if on the
level. sliding over the rail as a ssilboat
rides before stiff breeze and on
tranquil waters 1t was noticeable fact
that there was not that grinding deafea-
iog roar which is SO characteristic # the
left handed, system that runs up
Brady street hill in Davenport.
In this respect as much IS in anything
else is the superiority of the Thomson,
Houston system over the Sprsgue demon
strsted. Indeed the absence of noise was
shown everywhere on the line. and this
too, with the car and its motors new.
After making the run up and down Elm
street the car was sent down over
Fifteenth street to Fourth avenue and
west to the terminus of the blue line at
Fifth street. The Car then returned over
the same route to Second and proceeded
/ ack to the barn. Coming up Fourth
avenue Electrician Willard put the con-
trolling lever in Superintendent Schnits
gers hands and told him to "open herup."
The privilege was seized by the undsunts
ing Henry as school boy does his first
opportunity to take swim in a mill
pond, and the car shot ahead and spun up
the avenue at rate of speed somewhat
less than that made by Jay Gould's train
which recently ran over the G.
s. N. W. from Council Bluffs to
Chicago at an average rate of a
trifie over mile minute Eenry's
hat blew off and his hair stood up like
which the speed of the car created played
merrlly through the whiskers of Manag-
ing Director Lodderback who braced him
self by clutching one of the ornamental
buttons on his superintendent Prince
! Albert coat, while with his foot he
changed away at the gong under the pl.t-
form for dear life, and number of Mr..
Wizards assistant electricians re-echoed
the sound with the gong on the rear plat
lOtms L - buC poSeObssOiS wv IaPNAAShSS
was q novel one The denizens who had
| gathered along the side of the streets to
cheer and wave their handkerchiefs at the
| first electric car. the houses and fences
ell danced before the visions of those in
the speeding vehicle. Verify Henry
was in his element, and Soloman arrayed
in ali his glory did not entertain the pride
that blossomed in his breast for those few
| short moments.
On reaching Fifteenth the speed was
slackened somewhat and up through the
business part OF town the car was not
run so rapidly. though as one of our
rural citizens exclaimed; 'She got over
the ground right smart"
There appear to be great many ad-
vantsges in the Thomson-H Houston system
in addition to those already Enumerated.
in regulating the speed. The car can be
started steadily and al one horse power,
and the speed is gradually increased
The controlling lever is more compli-
| Gated in its appearance IMAM the simple
crank of the Sprague system and by
means of it and rehostat the car is al
all times in the control of the motorneer,
and il is therefor an advantage that 1t Is
less simple than the other, as 1t must re
quire man who must haye thorough
knowledge of the business to be trusted
with control of the Car. This will In 6
great measure insure greater safety tt
passengers. The controlling lever too
instead of requiring clumsy box on The
platform is supported by rod large
than the brake and outside the dash
beard, thus leaving the platform free
The cars are beautifully lighted thu
chandeliers which support. the fine in