The sun., 1891-12-15
THE SUN. TUESDAY. DECEMBER IS, 1871.

make. The cables were coiled In the holds
Of the ships that took them there.
The length OF cables life is dependent
on great variety Of circumstances. Tho
life OF cablo In constant use may vary
from few weeks to . period OF more than
three years. In California tho cables last
longer than anywhere else In this country
on account OF the absence Of frosts and the
comparatively light loads that are drawn.
In Chicago. where one grip ID used to drag
O train Of cars. tho wear and tear
on the cables 10 very great. During
the winter season an additional strain
is put on tho cables a. on horses.
The narrow slot through which tho
cable is reached contracts sometimes
and holds the iron bar Of the grip 80 tightly
that the cable tears itself from the grip.
At such times q strand Of the cable Is al-
most certain to part, and then careful splic-
ing is necessary. The splicers who have to
patch cable that has parted. must do 1t so
neatly that 1t will present the original
smooth surface to the grip. A carelessly
spliced cable can work great deal Of
destruction In few moments. Tho grip Of
car may catch the end Of loose wire and
unravel strand for thousand feet. caus-
ing hopeless tsngle and delaying trafac
along the line.
The first cable for now road does not.
as rule. have a very long life. While the
gripmen are being broken In the cables
temper IL very sorely tried. II . car be
started suddenly. the quick strain on the
cable is harmful. A the gripmen become
more expert they learn to take the cable
gradually; and this Il easier on passengers
and cable alike.
The greater the length Of cable the
longer it viii last, as . rule. One Of
the cable roads of Chicago runs under the
Chicago River by sharp grades. A short
cable IL used for that section Of the road,
and 1t has to be renewed every few weeks.
The plunge Of the cars on tho down grade
and the resistance on the up grade are very
destructive to the cable. Speed has much
to do with the life OF . cable. Cable railroad
men agree In saying that cars may be run
with safety and advantage In cities at q
speed Of seven or eight miles an hour. while
suburban cables frequently attain speed
Of fourteen miles. On roads that are straight
or level cables last longer than on other
roads. and In an economic sense. they give
more satisfactory results.
Illustrations Of service. from observations
through the country. were given by JAMES
G. RoBnasoN before the recent convention Of
street railway men In Pittsburgh. On the
Temple street cable road at Los Angeles,
CAL. the record showed. for q cable l2.s8O
feet In length, q period Of three years and
two months Cf continuous wear. during
which time l20.6sl miles were run. The
Market street and Geary street roads. In
San Francisco. show. respectively. one year
and eight months for 1O6,225 miles. and
two years for 1l9.1bs miles run. On the
Grand avenue road. Kansas City. 1900
feet OF cable gave constant service for
one year and ten months. la5,s72 miles. the
uniform speed being at the rate of fourteen
miles per hour; while the Metropolitan
Cable road secured its success with one
year and seven months and 1859 miles. In
Denver cable "a. 900 feet in length. running
around several right-anRle curves, made q
record Of one year and eight months. with
l44, 900 miles to Its credit; while 22.000 feet
cable. operated by the same company. at
tained q record Of nineteen months. with
ls7. $50 miles. on q road embracing z per
cent. grade and four right-angle curves. It
is said that the average life OF the cables
throughout the country is increasing. At
present 1t Is about fourteen months, with
from 10000 to $1,000 miles Of service.