The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-26
EDIsOy's SCHEME
CRITICISMS ~ Experts Followed ~ .. Ex.
plsnstse. thss Aeaaaes Opinions.

Es.nhthEs s11s SS@sI1- SFsehs.~s
Because he allowed himself to be reported in
a hieh-falutin style in regard to his scheme
for improving street railway traffic by using
electricity at low potential and because his
views Of the subject OF electric traction are so
extremely broad. Mr.. Thomas A. Edison has
been severely criticised by electrical publica-
tons and engineers. Mr.. Edison proposes to
use the rails as conductors instead Of over
head or underground wires Such q radical
change in the N ethods OF electric railway con-
struction has. in some instances. caused in
tending investors to defer action until the new
system has been thoroughly worked out or
explained. He has been asked to put his ap-
paratus into its best working order and let it
stand the test OF application. The formidable
nature OF the problem that Mr.. Edison has
undertaken has been brought up by experts.
Prof. Elihu Thomson is = believer in the
gradual evolution OF electrical things. and he
thinks that the electric locomotive will replace
the steam locomotive in instances Of concen-
trated trafic. or on roads which have heavy
traffic. and which can be supplied by water
power. He says. also. that every electrician
knows that the conditions OF practice In street
railway work are not such as are likely to per-
NIT any such scheme as Mr. Edison's TO have
ghost OF q chance to survive. and that such
statements. coming from Mr.. Edison. are cal
culated to retard the growth Of the industry.
particularly as the schemes which he puts for
ward as solutions OF the problem Of street rail-
way work have not received q beginning Of a
demonstration OF their feasibility.
Prof Sidney II. Short says that the use OF
track rails as a conductor instead OF an over
head wire is far from being new. 1t WINS the
first method tried. but it is significant that not
one OF the roads on which it was tried is in
operation to-day. He adds that no matter how
low the voltage may be. the result will be the
same. for IL the pressure is so low that it will
do no harm to vehicles or animals coming
into contact with the conductor. 1t will be i'm
possible to keep contact with the rails through
dust mud. and snow. Very often a car with
500 volts pressure becomes stranded by being
insulated on dry dust or on snow. The re-
sistance across four or FIVE feet Of wet earth
from one rail to another in q track several
miles in length must necessarily be very
low: so low that he thinks it would practi-
callv short-circuit the rails. II the rails 10
used as conductors it would be necessary to
have insulated car axles. insulated cross-overs
and connecting tracks. and practically to
change the entire method Of street construc-
ton. The iron trucks on fire engines and the
like would. he believes. in crossing. short-cir-
cult the entire system. while iron bars.
and other material contacts between the
two rails. would be fused to them.
II low voltage could be used to advantage it
would require the rail bonding to be perfect.
ends Of the rails to have practically no resist
ance. His experience leads him to believe that
street railways cannot beoperated in the man
ner that Mr.. Edison suggests. or has expert
Mr.. o, +. Crosby gives an application of
ceived by him in Mr.. Edisons laboratory
about two years ago: As he understands it.
stance or i . and ree sas 81
motor Of proper voltage. That motor Is to run
q dynamo. the two together forming the IA
ing direct current The currents from. the
dynaIo ~ under pressure Of ab3Ss
through tho other rail- thence back to the
Each e the plants is s9 be
city bloeE Of the line. or enough FOR dSs
q six cars in. a street Of heavy. traffic.
there be heavy traffic. is to be. at point near
the secondary generating station. anywhere |
a3 2f 5s 81 erdnssy %s
remains to be seen. he says. Metal tie bars. |
joining one rail to the other, must be put aside.
wheels must be In suated from the axies so
hat the system shall not be short-circuited by
used. some modification Of the plan. Mr.
Edison talked Of two years ago may underlie
his re: !e ;. statements: but Mr. Crosby be-
In order to al!ay the feeling OF uncertainty
and ascertain the actual work accomplished
Eaot,s,r sent a representative to him. with
he result that its opinions have been modi-
led nsidsrsby It Says that while fer OF,
ietais, OF construction have not been de-
'Srihs enough has been shown t2 indicate
problem in a we'll .defned way. and has reach
d some well-dehned results. MI. Edisons
ss sn as iss Hesfg
Q devise a system Of electric railways which
%bs, p ssSsas thy Nr hherp T faes s
en- .sssmtiiaF hat which has besp
t was kept in mind By Mr.. Edison. awaiting
the and table,
ears ago Mr.. Willard asked Mr.. Edison to de-
Use n street railway system which should be
! the overhead wire would not be permitted.
where the c3 ,n SHOULD not be used and
nipple IS possible. and the cost not be more
han that Of cable road. Mr. Edison brought
MS idea h,t ten Years ago and sstfsd
eyed from the central station at a high poten-
ial To, motor generators placed below the
ihich should convert the current transmitted
t tho pressure Of say Loo volts to one Of 20
otis between rail and rail with sorrespond-
hat arrangement Is not novel. but the work
lg out OF the details WAS not q simple matter.
% utilize heavy currents at low voltage. he
ad to devise an apparatus which should be
BILE TO pick up the current through two |
nches Of mud. II necessary. He experimental
,ith metal wheel initiating az near as pos
treet trafiir. For a long while his contacts
'ould not pick up much of the current but by |
eTsevering he found = device that he says.
I'LL readily pick up ZOO amDeres through
,int between contiguous rails that would
ermit the passage OF several thousand am
eres without undue resistance. An expert
rental track about o quarter OF mile in
myth. near his laboratory. has been in actual
peration for some time. To show The effects
heels over the tracks. he short cir
uitsd the track with e carriage. and sue
,e iron wheels. the low voltage used. as we'll
eing Sufficient to account, for the email guam
~ OF current that actually passed through.
18th polished iron bar. and man standing
a it. only LOCO amperes passed through it or
n amount taken by single car.
In experiments to determine the leakage OF |
Irrent between the rails in damp weather,
Ir. Edison learned that At q potential differ
nee OF twenty volts, the loss OF current. due to
A. |