Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-14
A MOVABLE SIDEWALK
To Be One of the Features of the Worlds
Fair-It VIII Be Ready for Trial in
Short Time - Tho First Feature Fin

To Be One OF the Features of the WOrlds
Fair-It VIII Be Ready for Trial in a
Short Time - Tho First Feature Fin
ished
CHICAGO, Sept 13-[Spectdl lEOctober 7th
next the Worlds Fair Grounds at Chicago
| will be opened to visitors for the inspection
OF the progressing work, and for their accom-
| mediation there Is being constructed an cleo
trio railway of a most ingenious and novel
character, having capacity to carry 3OOOo
passengers per hour with the greatest COM
fort, convenience and safety. The railway
department. of the Thomson Houston Elec-
trio Company has closed contract with
the Columbian Movable Sidewalk Company
for the electrical and steam equipment of
the movable sidewalk which is now being
installed. The mechanical and electrical
plans and details have been carefully
worked out by Mr.. G. X. Wheeler, of the
company, and under his supervision the
entire plant will be installed.
BY the time named above, there will have
Deen nearly completed a large number OF
buildings, and there will be much to attract
and interest visitors The electric railway,
however, will be one of the leading novel
tles and attractions. This railway Will
differ from ordinary railways, in that the
passengers are transported on movable
sidewalk instead of box cars of the ordinary
Eype; Eo9e,t; Ihe scheme is the inyention OF the ne
Cnlcago, and is being constructed under
their patents.
Plan of the Structure.
This sidewalk is located on the improved
and unimproved portions Of Jackson Park,
and is to be constructed on an elevated
structure 25 feet high and 900 feet long, in
the form of an ellipse and is to consist of 70
cars, each IL feet long, connected together
making one solid train. There Is to be con-
at the rate Of two miles hour, the other
at four, both walks moving in the same d1-
rection. the passengers can step from the
stationary walk to the one which moves at
the rate of two miles an hour, and If it is de-
sired to move at a greater speed they can
step from this walk to the one running at
four miles per hour. The passengers can
safely walk upon either Of the movable side
walks while in motion If desired The
structure will be illuminated at night by
number of incandescent lights and as the
grounds are to be Illuminated with arc
lights a satisfactory view thereo can be OBJ
tanned during the evening as well as during
the day.
Three of the rs cars are to be equipped
with two l6horse power railway motors each,
mounted upon wheels Is inches in diameter.
As the car platform, or sidewalk, is ar
ranged 1t is perfectly level with the station
ary walk allowing the trolley wire to be
placed beneath the surface of the platform,
and the current taken therefrom by means
Of small trolleys attached beneath the car
floors
All Run by One Man.
The operation of this train of cars will be
arranged in a novel manner, doing away
with the use of motormen; the entire train
being controlled and operated by one man.
There will be constructed at central point,
at one side of the track, controlling sta
tion, which will contain main SWITCH re-
versing switch, automatic circuit breaker
lightning arrester, ampere meter and
rheostats, all arranged so they can be oper-
ated by the attendant from that point, who
will have the train under perfect control.
As additional safeguard, pushbuttons
will be arranged at II equal distant points
along the line of track which will be con-
nected with an electric bell and the circuit
breaker in the ontrolling station, and in
case of &C cident to any of the mechanism of
the train an attendant can, by pressing the
button, automatically open the circuit at
the station and stop the train instantly
without the assistance of the operator.
The power for the operation of the side
walk will be furnished by a 10 b. p. multi
polar compound wound railway generator
located in a power house adjacent to the
track. And in connection with the genera
tor there will be placed suitable switch
board, regulating, controlling and indicat-
ing devices.