Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-19
WIRES IN TUNNELS.
RAPID TRANSIT OF THE FUTURE WILL
BE UNDERGROUND.

RAPID TRANSIT OF THE FUTURE WILL
BE UNDERGROUND.
Success OF the Experiment In London
Electric Light Cheaper Than Gas Light
-Rapidity in Transmitting Telegrams-
Science Applied to Everyday Life.
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATcH.J
One of the most important questions
which are calling for early decision in pro-
gressive cities is that of the transport with
ease and celerlty of large numbers of pas
seugers, both within the city limits and to
and from suburban districts. Many cities
in this country are already considering COM
prehensive schemes of rapid travel, and all
additional information on the subject of the
systems which have developed in practice
the most favorable characteristics is eagerly
received Electricity is now the favorite
in the race of the various motive powers
for supremacy, and the experience gained
on the electric underground railway in Lon
don is, just now, of special interest and
value.
When the construction of tunnel for
that line was proposed, the people of Lon
don were very much against it. Their ex-
perience with the old system of under
ground railways was most unfortunate, the
tunnels in the old system being damp,
offensive and ill-smelling, and detrimental
to the health and comfort of the passengers
who use them. The Greathead tunnel, how
ever, has been proved to be wholly free
from these objections, and to be in every
way more agreeable and more rapid than
any system of rapid transit yet devised for
city. The Londoners objected strongly,
also, to the use of elevators at the stations
for the carrying of passengers. But this
objection has almost died out, for the
English DO not forget that when elevators
were first used in Office buildings there was
great hue and cry as to their danger oom-
discover that they cannot do without
them.
The latest statistics of the business of this
line, which have just been received from
London, are very suggestive. The income
of the line as at present run is 5000, 900
year, the week day average of passengers
carried being 13, $50, and the Sunday average
1852. The company is raising capital for
the extension of the line, and an increase Of
traffic equal to 800, 900 more than at present.
1t should be borne in mind that this line
leads from nowhere to nowhere. 1t was
built because it was the only route which
was available without opposition from in
terests of some sort and as an experiment.
So unquestioned is the success of this mode
of transit that tunnels for electric roads will
soon be common throughout England
The Central London tunnel, to the con-
struction of which Parliament has just as
sented, will begin business, it is estimated,
with 400, 900 passengers per week, and it is
predicted that within two years the number
of passengers will reach 1000, 600 weekly
One of the leading papers in this country
says: $3.50,
ground road has been demonstrated, and
competent experts declare that with its use
a sustained speed of 40 miles an hour can be
attained. The London experiment with the
Greathead tunnel has removed all doubt as
to its efficiency and economy. so that there
need be no hesitation about adopting it, and
the scale upon which it can be used here
will furnish the incentive to inventors and
capitalists for making every possible i'm
provement in its application to render it
more effective and more economical. 1t is
the Greathead tunnel system and the cleo
tric motor that combine to give promise of
a speedy and satisfactory solution Of the
rapid transit problem for great cities"
Cost of Lighting by Electricity.
W. H. Preece has recently instituted a
between the qualities and cost
of gas and electric lighting, in the curse of
which he has brought out some very in
teresting details Speaking of the various
elements of loss in the use of gas, Mr..
Preece alludes to the tremendous waste of
gas that occurs through lights being left
burning unnecessarily. Persons who have
their houses and offices lighted with gas
know that servants, as rule, go and light
all the burners, unless a careful householder
goes round and cuts off those that are not
wanted. The result is this: From this
very element of waste there is 20 per cent
of gas used more than is necessary. This
fact is brought out thus: Taking the nine
principal towns in England and taking the
average numbers of hours of gas and
electricity burned, the average number of
hours for gus is 800, while the average num-
ber of hours for electricity is AGO. The
figure 460 is taken from the average of 200,-
poo electric lamps which are now alight in
London. While in gas, there is a tremend-
ous waste from these burners being left !
1aring, electricity causes no waste OF this |
sort. tits so easily lighted that there is a
species of instinct that teaches everyone
hat electricity is wanted only just at the
moment that it is required. The result is
hat the waste is brought down to mini |
mum.
Most people are under the impression
hat the cost OF the electric lamp is very |
nuch greater than that of gas, whereas in |
England the cost was found to be SS cents
'or electric lighting as against 81 for gas.
Mr.. Preece also pointed out the advantage
If electrical machinery over gas machinery
n the matter of occupying space. Gas re-
luires 100 feet by so feet, for every million
.ubic feet per annum; 100 feet by 90 feet is
Iuite sufficient with electricity to light up
|. large city. Mr.. Preece added: We must
lot neglect other points ). in max making ing our
hat when we deal with electric lighting we
re removing from our midst source of
to our goods, chattels, and
,ictures; we are removing something which
destroys our decorations. and dirts our cell