The Indianapolis journal., 1891-09-15
FOR THE GREAT FAIR.
A Movable Sidewalk Which Will BE Ready
for Trial Early in the Coming Nonth.

CHICAGO, Sept. 14.-Oct. 7next the worlds
fair grounds at Chicago will be opened to
visitors Tor the inspection of the progress
ing work, and for their accommodation there
is being constructed an electric railway OF
q most ingenious and novel character.
having a capacity to carry thirty thousand
passengers per hour with the greatest COM
fort, convenience and safety. The railway
department of the Thomson Houston Elec-
trio Company has closed a contract with he
Columbian Movable Sidewalk Company for
the electrical and steam equipucnt OF
the movable sidewalk which 10 now being
installed. The mechanical and electrical
plans and details have been carefully
worked out by Mr.. u. X. Wheeler, OF the
company. and under his supervision the
entire plant will be installed.
By the time named above there VIII have
been nearly completed o large number OF
buildings. and there will be much TO attract
and interest visitors. The electric rail-
novelties and attractions. This railway
will differ from ordinary railways, III that
the passengers are Transported on q NOV
able sidewalk instead OF the box-cars OF the
ordinary type. / he scheme is the inven-
tiOn of the Columbian Movable sidewalk
Company of Chicago, and is being con-
structed under their patents.
This sidewalk 10 located on the improved
y u.
and 10 to be constructed on an elevated
structure twenty-five feet high and nine
hundred feet long. in the form of an ell pse
and Is to consist of s-venty-hve cars. each
twelve feet long, connected together. max
ing one solid train. There 10 10 be con-
structed two parallel sidewalks, one run
ming at the rate OF two miles al hour, the
other at four. both walks moving In the
same dire tiOn. The passengers can step
from the stationary walk TO the one which
1. <Ne turn lao nm
and. III il is desired TO movo at q
greater speed. they can step from
this walk to the one running at
four miles per hour. The passengers can
safely walk upon either OF the movable
sidewalks W hile in motion if desired. The
structure Will be Illuminated at night Dy
number of ineandescrnt lights, and as the
grounds are TO he illuminated with arc
lights salts actory view thereof can be
obtained during the evening as well as
during the day.
Three of the seventy-five cars are to be
equipped with two ffteen-horse- power
railway motors each, mounted upon wheels
eighteen inches in diameter. As the car
platform or sidewalk, is arranged IL 10 per
fectly level with the stationary walk, al
lowing the trolley-wire to be placed be-
meath the surface of the platform. and the
current taken therefrom by means OF small
trOIleys attached beneath the car ftoOrs.
The operation of this train of cars Will be
arranged in novel manner, doing away
With the use of motormen. the entire train
being controlled and operated by one man.
There will be constructed at a central point.
at one side of the track. Q controlling sta
tiOn, which will contain main switch: re-
versing switch, automatic circuit-breaker,
lightning-arrester. ampere meter ana rhe-
Ostats, all arranged so they can be operated
by the attendant from that point. who will
have the train under perfect control. AS
an additional safeguard push-buttons
will be arranged at twelve equal distant
points along the line of track, which will
be connected with an electric bell and the
circuit breaker in the controlling station,
and in casa of accident to any of the mech
anism of the train an attendant can, by
pressing the button. automatically open
the circuit at the station aud stop the
train instantly without the assistance of
the operator
The power for the operation of the side
walk will be furnished by 110-horse- power
multipoiar compound wound railway gen
orator located IN a power-house adjacent
to the track. And In connection with the
generator there will be placed a suitable
switch board. regulating. controlling ana
indicating devices