Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-30
IN TIE ELECTRIC WORLD.
The Direction of improvements In stree
R,iIvnys-come New Things.

The Direction oil Improvements IN SH0''
RaIwnys-some New Things.
II has been estimated that about 800
electric railways are in operation, or
actually under construction In this
country at the present time, says the
New York Sun. The mileage is proDa-
bly, about 5000. and the number OF
cars about $500. The efforts OF the
manufacturers Of electric street railway
motors this year have been toward the
reduction OF the speed of motors
Nearly all have made single gear
motors. and two have devised gear
less motors. A single storage
battery road has been put in operation
within a year. Reports OF the trials OF
single gear motors are that they start
well on grades. do not heat much, seem
to take about the same current as the old
machines, unless possibly a little more
of starting. and can perform the heaviest
services satisfactorily. The indications
of the coming improvements. according
TO the IlectricM World, are IN the
direction of gearless motors, the IN
creased use Of long and capacIous cars
on large roads, and the displacement oil
wasteful and small engines.
Dobrowolsky. the inventor and de-
signer of the electrical TRANSMISSION plant
at the international Electro Technical
Exhibition Mt Frankfort, is willing to at
tempt 10 transmit either 1000 or 5,Ooo
horsepower from Niagara to Chicago
The distance being about 900 miles, be-
tween 40 600 and 5000 volts would be
renuired OF 5000 horsepower ope-
rated at Niagara about 3.OO0 could De
utilized at Chicago.
An elevator that is operated by cleo
tricitv on new principle has been test
ed in Brooklyn. 1t Is controlled by a
handle within the car, and the motion
can be increased or decreased III speed
and reversed.
If company can get control OF water
power of 10000 rse-power at barnett
Shoals it proposes to run by electricity
the machinery in every mandatory IN
Athens, Ga. :,
A project has been started in Pueblo,
COL. for the erection OF an eleclric
smelling plant to cost $500, 600, for the
reduction by electricity Of dry and re-
fractory ores. ~,
A new resistance metal resembles
ordinary copper wire on the OUTSIDE,
with a pinklsh white tinge at the point
of fracture. 1t is very strong without
losing much ductility.
For preventing the vibration OF the
filaments in incandescent lamps IN cleo
tric railway cars n new lamp has the
loon of the filament held by short
loop Of carbon sealed to the top OF the
butts.
The managers Of electric railway com
panies are praying for the ideal light
ming arrester that will effectively protect
their dynamos.
A new electric soldoring-iron has a
wire. forming part of al electric circuit
wound in conc nitric helices, which are
separated by strips of insulating ma
terial, with an enclosing casing and a
soldering point in close proximity, 30
as to be heated thereby.
A core for smoothing-irons. to he heat
ell by electricity, is one of the new
things. in combination with wire form
ing part of an electric circuit and wound
in a heating coil or o. spiral. The core
is solid and Of insulating material, which
is grooved to receive the wire. and has a
passage permitting the return OF the
wire to the end of the core at the be-
ginning of the winding.
At the central power-station of the
West-End Railway Company in Boston
the boilers are to have a capacity OF
a. 0o0.horse power. The chimney is
252 feet in height with cast-iron cap
weighing s,4OO pounds. Each OF the
thirteen triple-expansion engines OF
1000 horse power will have fy-wheel
twenty eight feet in diameter, ten feet
and seven inches space. and weighing
eighty tons. Each engine will run four
generators. Two engines have been
started.