Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-24
THE TROLLEY SYSTEM.
A Point Pittsburg Is Likely to Forget
in Its Transit Progress.
ELECTRICITY IN CHURCH ORGANS.
Comets Will Hereafter Announce Thar ~
rival by Call Bell.
THE UTILIZATION OF WATER POWER
WRITTEN FOR THE DrsrArcH.1

A technical paper, in very sensible ar
ticle on ''The Fear of Electricity" points
out how much the interested opposition to
the introduction of the trolley system into
some cities is maintained and strengthened
by the popular fear of electricity. 1t says:
Men have great dread of the invisible,
and it is probable that this is the secret Of
their fear of electricity. What they see they
can provide against; but an invisible
danger goes direct to the marrow. VIII men
ever overcome this dread of electricity? It
is to be hoped not to the measure that will
serve to make them careless, and 1t is to be
presumed not until they become universally
Indifferent in thunder storm They may,
however, so far overcome it that in the cow
ardice of the multitude can be no longer
found a ready means Of obstructing cleo
trical enterprises.
The perversion of facts as to the danger
and working of the trolley system, which
has, unfortunately, been allowed to inhu-
ence public opinion, is at last having the eff
feet of eliciting from the press of various
cities the actual truth as to how the system
is regarded In their communities A lead
ing Syracuse paper says by way Of rebuttal
Of the charges Of danger and inefhciency
which had been leveled against the system
The trolley has been found to do its work
in winter and summer. Syracuse, in spirit
of justice, thus makes known its state Of
mind. We also observe that Rochester is Of
the same way of thinking The trolley is IN
deed a means of rapid transit infinitely
superior to the quickest service it is possible
to give with horse power Until the problem
of the storage battery is solved, the over
head wire must supplant the numbering gaib
of the horse.
An Auburn organ says that, with the ex-
ception of some slight drawbacks, HAuburn
has nothing to complain of, but very much
to rejoice over and Is really happy in the
Washington has established a wise prece-
dent. Recognizing that improved transit
facilities were fmperatively necessary, it
gave franchise to the promoters Of the
ulation that at its expiration the overhead
wires should be removed, and the system
superseded BY the storage battery. The con-
sequence Is that Washington, where the stor-
age battery has been successfully intro
duced, will soon be supplied exclusively
with that system, and that without subject
ing the public to the Inconvenience which
the want of quick and safe street railway in
the meantime would have caused. Pittsburg
and Allegheny might profit by this exam
provement over the old horse systems that
the possibility Of getting rid Of the overhead
wires have been forgotten. Though inAn-
lines crossing the Sixth street bridge, the
sights along which, when travel Is brisk,
have come to be positively abhorrent, SO
great is the burden placed on the horses and
mules, the greater improyement Of thestor-
age system has been overlooked.
Revolution In Mining Work.
Electricity is effecting a complete revolu,
tion in mining work. A large number Of
mines in this country are being fitted out
with equipments which will practically put
an end to manual labor in all the most i'm
portant operations. This change is destined
NfN 6nrv f1rk k1anr.
tistics of the last two years show that during
periods aggregating about one-third of each
year suspension of mining was necessita-
ted by the inability of the market to absorb
q larger product. With the introduction of
electrical machinery the cost of production
will be so reduced that anthracite coal can
be used where hitherto 1t has been impossi-
Bile to adopt il. These advantages are now
being appreciated in other countries, and an
order has been received by New York firm
of electrical engineers from a Canadian
mining company for plant that will include
an underground tramway, with power suffi-
cient to maintain uniform speed of eight to
nine miles an hour, with $50 loaded cars con-
tinuaIly moving. There will be 800 inean-
descent lights in the mines and the drills
and cutters will be operated by the same
current.
The Benefits of Cheap Electricity.
The pleasing prospect in store for cities
possessing available water power is indi-
Gated in the letter of Spokane correspond
ent, who says that through the utilization
of the falls of the Spokane river the local
electric company is able to supply current
at such low rates that electricity for motive
power is generally used throughout the
city. All the printing presses and most of
the elevators OF the city are run electrically,
as well as fans for cooling and ventilating
purposes, and motors for driving sausage
machines, puming water and an infinite
number of other purposes.
Electric Applications to Organs.
M 81.
various ways has greatly increased the re-
sources of the instrument, and the ease with
which the organist can produce any desired
effect. For instance in the Garden City
Cathedral, L. l., two portions Of the organ
are in the chancel, one in either side, another
down in the crypt another in the tower, and
still another in the roof of the nave. The
organist seated at the console on the right
hand side Of the chancel can play on any one
taneously as desired. In Grace Church, New
York City, the old organ standing in the
west gallery is connected with the new
organ on the south side of the chancel,
where the organist sits and controls from
one key board both organs at his pleasure.
The key board OF an organ can
part of church, and played on
there, greatly to the advantage OF the per-
former, who can thus judge more clearly Of
the balance of the various tones of his IN
strument The musical effect as heard from
q distance is a complete revelation to an or
ganist, and leads to the use of entirely new
combinations, and to effects of harmony not
before suspected to be within the range of
the instrument. Another remarkable feat
ure about this new method Of organ playing
Is the instantaneous response to the pressure
of the keys it renders possible. The touch
seems absolutely lighter and more rapid in
response than that of piano, and it appears
impossible to press the key, no matter how
delicately, without the corresponding pipe
instantly connecting its note. The recovery
is equally surprising and the note will 're-
peat" when it is struck in most rapid sue
cession. To the organist this viii Suggest
possibilities that are little short of marvel
Gus. The pedals are illuminated by small
incandescent lamp placed inside the console.