Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-17
ELECTRIC RAILWAYS
Are Knocking Out Steam Transit
Wherever the Two Compete.
SOME CURIOUS RELIGIOUS IDEAS.
Cure Of Nervous Diseases by the Application
of Strong Light.
ME CURIOUS RELIGIOUS IDEAS.
THE BEST LLUMINANT FOR READING
rpRErAREp For THE prsPArcu.1


While discussion is still being very 40
lively carried on as to whether electricity
can compete with steam in long distance
traction, electric motors are steadily gain
ing ground in way that is very significant.
The controversy will soon have to shift to
some other points. One of the most re-
markable of recent developments is the suo-
cess of the electric road between Minneapolis
and st. Paul, and the announcement of the
steam railroad lines that they intend to
withdraw from competition with It for local
passenger traffic. These roads have been
operating 20 years, while the electric road
did not begin until last fall. Between
the two cities the single fare has been 30
cents, the round trip so cents, and then gen.
orally there would be another 10 cents for
street cars, making an average of 60 cents-for
the whole journey of 20 miles. The electric
road, however, is making money at a 10-cent
fare, or 20 cents for the round trip, with free
transfer at either end to the connecting
street car lines, so that virtually the inter-
urban trip of ten miles costs only IL cents.
Moreover, the steam trains run on stiff
schedule which a man has to time himself
by, whereas the electric cars are just as fire.
quent as the demand calls for and RUN on
quite short headway.
up, the present motor cars are to be replaced
by larger ones, which will pull tow cars, thus
giving trains practically every minute. The
line Is doing wonders in uniting the two
cities, and has added in q most striking man
ner to the value of the real estate lying
along its ten-mile route. The saving on
fares is alone an irresistible inducement to
travel, and hence what the steam roads nave
not succeeded in doing in score of years
the new electric service has accomplished in
half dozen months, in effecting practical
union of the two communities.
The facts enumerated above are attract
ing great attention out West, and more than
one large city is getting ready to give it's
suburbs electric rapid transit in the same
manner. Whatever may be the prejudice
that has been skillfully worked up against
electric traction in such places as Brooklyn,
the Western cities at least are fully alive to
the opportunities of modern system whose
cars are now running 100000 miles day in
this country, employ 10000 men and carry
three-quarters of q billion of passengers
every year, without single death vet re-
corded from the current. If this is the
record in street car travel, it is only fair to
reason that cross country tavel will also be
safer and cheaper when electricity is adopted
for it.
Sacreligious Lightning Rods.
The curious accusation of heresy has been
brought against a hardshen Baptist down
South in Georgia because he has put hight
ming rod on his nice new house. 1t is argued
against him by those who are firm in the
faith that this is resisting the divine will,
and that if the Lord wishes to hit that house
with q thunderbolt he ought to be allowed to
do so, and not be annoyed or frustrated by
such protective devices. One would have sup,
posed that we had got beyond the time when,
as in England, steamboats, were denounced
'gainst wind and stream. Yet it is not sos
long ago that similar objections were raised
Palestine, and still later objections hav6
been made and enforced against the electric
light in churches because 1t blasphemed in,
some very terrible and very inexplicable
raised, and has not yet 1T is said, been settledl
is as to the propriety and efficacy of cont
fession made by telephone. The penitent i6
is claimed, must be present in person to REG
ceive absolution from the priest. On the
other hand, the telephone is proving exc
tremely useful in enabling sick persons to-
more and more resorted to for their benedR
as the apparatus becomes perfect.
Electric Lights in Nervous Complaints,
The electric light is being used in Russia
as cure for nervous complaints. A promo
inent Moscow physician enumerates Il cases
in which he has found this treatment re-
markably successful. He employs an incan.
descent lamp, which is provided with q fun,
nel-shaped reflector of 46 cm. length, and
rectly on the part of the body where pain is
felt. The application in cases of nervous
headache lasts, for from 10 to Is seconds,
other neuralgia pains are treated for from
three to five, and sometimes even for 10
minutes, until the patient feels a pleasant
sensation of warmth. Surprising results are
said to have been obtained by the treat
ment.
Telegraph Extension Under Difficulties.
The successful extension of the telegraph
line from Yunuan to Momein, on the borders
of Burmah, has led to the suggestion that
the officers engaged in the work shall receive
rewards on the same scale as is accorded in
practice for the safe transmission of urgent
messages from the field of battle. How well
such awards are deserved is shown by the
accounts of the conditions under which this
arduous enterprise was carried out. The
distance from Yunuan to Momein is $50
miles, and the route lies through q noun
famous and densely wooded country, where
frequently no trace of habitatiOn occurs for
over so miles. The work of eonstruc-
ton was carried on by day under blazing
sun, which caused intense thirst, while
by night the men were obliged to camp
out in the open and had to be con-
stantIy on their guard against the attacks of
wolves ard tigers. Three treacherous and
turbulent rivers, each of which was in fever
stricken localities, had to be crossed. The
waters of one of these rivers, the Salveen,
are muddy and unwhOlesome, and are said
to be so deadly that the feet of men and
the hoofs of horses rot and drop off from
contact with them. The officers and men of
the expedition crossed this river on RATS
constructed of coils of wire, and reached the
opposite bank only after hard struggle.
The malaria was most virulent, and no fewer
than ten members of the party succumbed
to its effects during the three days occupied
in carrying the telegraph line across the
river.
The Ideal Artificial Light.
An oculist, in speaking of the merits of
the various kinds of light, says that most
persons like the electric light better when it
is new, as it is then whittier and more
brilliant than it is after being used for few
weeks He considers this a mistake, as it is
the dazzling white light that harms the eye,
and he enlOins the use of light that has
changed to pale yellow, which is the ideal
color. just as in MONDAY brightness,
human sight is not so clear and far-reaching
as at the yellow sunset, so a new incandes,
cent burner is not so good for the eye as the
old one.