St. Paul daily globe., 1891-10-17

remarkable results notwithstanding many
disappointments. l have no hesitancy in
now saying that many advances were made
in his former discoveries. II has been dem
onstrated that the overhead wire can be
dispensed with IN operating electric cars,
and believe electricity can be used in oper
atlng the ordinary railroad trains where
steam is now used. This has been demon
strated in the operation of railroad in his
laboratory grounds. 1 think bis late discov-
cries will be successfully applied in time.
We are oh the eve of an era that will revo-
lutionize transportation by rail. I can't say
how long it will be before the dawn,
but l believe that in ten years peo-
pie will ride in electric cars not
only as now from ST. Paul to Minneapolis,
but from st. Paul to Chicago. Edison has
discovered that the current can be reversed
on the trolley wire. and also that the current
can be carried on the track rail. l believe
the time IS coming when cars can be run on
the same track by either electricity or steam. -
At this point E. V. SmalIey asked
what effect would be produced, in the
case of carrying the current in the rail,
by people walking over the track.
Mr.. Edison had experimental on this
point, answered Mr. Willard. He put two
spirited horses on the rails and they indi-
Gated only slight twitching. and then Mr.
Edison licked the rail with his tongue while
the current was turned on and experienced
no perceptible shock
Col. j. Ii. Davidson asked if any plan
had been demonstrated for operating a
train by electricity.
An UndevesOped Idea.
Mr.. Willard replied that he had an
idea in his head which he was not yet
ready to disclose. He stated in this
connection that it is hoped to have an
application on the terminal system of
his road at Chicago. 1t is purposed to
apply it to the suburban system there in
connection with the Wisconsin Central
road, in which sixty trains day will be
handled. It is hoped that this system
will be put in operation by the time the
worlds fair is opened. If this venture
proves successful the appliance will be
tried on the trunk lines.
In speaking of the reproduction of the
current of streams and utilizing them
as power, the speaker said he had seen
an application OF such power last sum-
mer at Frankfert-on-the-M Main, where
300 horsepower waterfall had been re-
produced at Il loss not exceeding 50 per
cent in 10 miles. Mr.. Edison had said
he did not believe it had been done or
could be done. but the speaker had wit
messed the fact in his visit to Germany.
MIR. Willard SoliloquiSed tnat with such
practicable appliances Niagara will fur
niSh power to run the entire system of
mechanical appliances in New
York. He said: You may think
me Utopian, but [ am firm
in the belief that the time is approach
ing when electric power will be used
throughout the world" Mr.. Willard
took turn at the silver question, and
stated that some believe that great dan
ger to the country lies in raising the
silver standard. His view is that if it
had not been for the bountiful crops the
country would have reached a silver
standard in less than year. He spoke
of the chamber of commerce of New
York and the board of trade Of Boston
petitioning congress TO repeal the pres
ent silver coming law and, disclaiming
any purpose of spTinging new issue,
expressed the wish that the chamber of
commerce of St. Paul would join with
those bodies i'll the petition.