Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-05
THE LOCOMOTIVES EXIT.
The Wizard Says Steam Engines Must
GiYe Way to the ELECTRIC system.


OGDEN, n. J.. Oct 25.-Steam locomo-
tives have had their day, and electric mo-
tors will take their place. This new device
for whirling trains of railroad cars at a
minimum speed of 100 miles a hour is the
invention of Thomas A. Edison. The Wiz
ard of the electric fluid has completed his
motor, tested it, and is assured of its COM
pieteuess, and backed by Henry Wizard,
the well-known New Yorker, will operate a
railroad between Milwaukee and Chicago
by electricity. Thus the era of steam loco
motives, those tremendous machines that
have been the wonder of the age, will end
the 400th anniversary of the discovery of
America.
Mr.. Edison talked freely of the electric
motor yesterday, ard said it would displace
the locomotive for three reasons, viz, it
was speedier, safer and cheaper.
at will get One-horse power" he re-
marked, tout of from one to two pounds of
cheap coal, whereas six pounds of expen-
sive coal are used to make one-horse power
in a steam locomotive.
SIT will carry train at 100 miles or even
200 miles an hour, while it strains loco
motive to cover sixty miles in that time.
THE motor will be safer for the reason
that by means of an indicator in the power
houses which supply the electric current the
exact location Of every train on the road
will be known at every movement. That
will be al absolutely perfect block system,
and will insure perfect safety SO far as col
lisions OF trains is concerned. This will
also be a saving of expense in maintaining
the road
Z III. Edison said the trains would be run
IL electricity furnished the motors from
stationary power houses. 'The current will
pass from the stationary engine to central
Grail between the tracks, thence through the
mechanism attached TO the bottom of the
frai,rbt t1.ain nf
would need a motor because of the number
Of cars, although q single passenger car
could be run carrying its own motor be-
meath it, thence to the wheels, and thence
back by the side rails to the power house or
stationary engine. Three stationary en-
gines, each with horsepower Of 10000 or
II, coo, would run the whole Pennsylvania
railroad system between here and Phila-
delphia.
For practical purposes feel sure that a
100-pound rail on rock ballasted track
would stand the speed of 100 miles an hour.
The train will be stopped by air brakes, the
same IS now. On the road between Mil
waukee and Chicago we will run trains
every twenty minutes at the lightning
speed of not less than 100 miles an hour.''
YThe Wizard said the new motor could be
fYked Tor street railway purposes to great
(dVaftage. He continued: THE system
IN be the cheapest known. The plant will
mot cost half as much as the cable, and
there will be no tearing up Of the streets.
Why, under pressure could lay a mile OF
track for this system in night
"a pressure little heavier than the one
use would make horse lift his foot So"
and Mr.. Edison raised one of his own feet
about half an inch from the Office floor,
"but the pressure do use horse wouldn't
feel at all, nor would a man. You see, 1
employ the heavy current with the low
pressure. That is the whole secret of
safety. The principle is this, that stream
of water 100 feet wide which falls foot
gives the same power as stream one foot
wide which falls 100 feet. The wide stream
is my way
4 2be third rail for street railways viii be
StGded. Mr.. Edison says the difficulty
'of Gcking the current out of the mud has
bSen solved. There is absolutely no danger
u vehicles, pedestrians or horses.
4 Mr.. Edisoi said that il the CHICAGO road