Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-30
Ran q Trans {.

There ought to be no subject more IN
teres.ing TO the people OF Richmond
than that of rapid transit through its
streets. The successful operation here Of
the Richmond Union Passenger railway
and other street railroads has totally
changed the circumstances under which
large city may be built up. A city ten
miles long and ten miles wide has its
several parts Just as closely connected
now as in the ollen times the several
parts of city two or three miles wide
or long .Iere connected. There Is now
no excuse for tenement houses. There
is no excuse for building ali over your
lo.-no excuse for making corner lots
nuisances on the cross streets or draw
backs TO the dcsira bility of residences
on the main streets.
We may say so much, taking the street.
railroads as they now are in Richmond.
But if we may credit the Wizard OF
Menlo Park, then reet-railroads &
the locomotive railroads OF to-day are
not worthy to be mentioned in connec-
ton with the street-ralirosds and locomo-
tive railroads We are soon TO have.
We gave day or two ago some OF
MIR. EDIsoN's recent outgivings on this
important subject, which indeed are
doubly important and interesting in the
light Of the results Of the ire In this
city Wednesday. A reporter for the New
York Hcraid has interviewed him since
he said what We reported him then us
having said. In that interview he said
that electricity would displace steam.
at will displace it, continued the in
ventor in an olr-hsnd way. eli economy
as we'll as speed is factor OF locomc-
tion-not because it will make easily a
speed of hundred miles an hour while
steam strains itself to make sixty. but be-
cause it will get one-horse power out OF
from one to two pounds Of cheap coal,
while out of six pounds OF dear coal a
locomotive engine only gets that same
one-horse power. 1t will displace 1t be-
cause it will be cheaper" We now
quote Mr.. EDISON. He said i:
But In pioneering You have TO begin at the IT.
tie end. SO went into the electric light. And
In pioneering you have TO have man with nerve
TO adopt your ideas. have found the man lie
Is Henry Willard. II Is hts idea TO have this sys-
tenn In operation between Chicago and MI sau-
kee during the Worlds Fair. He Intends TO de-
monstrate that there need DO no such thing az
waiting for trains between cities now considered
n long distance apart. He intends TO run train,
say OF two cars, every twenty minutes. l would
not be surprised after that TO see him introduce
tho svs,em over the whole OF the Northern Pact
&c lines, though no would not be compelled tc
introduce II all at once and throw away all oil
his locomotives. By this system electricity can
be- gradually introduced, more trains being sand
vicbed between the steam trains as tho locomo.
tives wear out"
.How can that be done, aud how will the cur
rent be applied?"
"Icannot 20 into details" replied Mr.. Edison,
afor fear Of injuring my rights on the other side
Of European patents, but I will say briefly that
the current will pass from the stationary enigma
10 a central rail between the tracks, thence
through the mechanism attached TO tho bottom
OF the cars or motor. A freight train, OF course
would need a motor, because OF the number oil
cars, although single passenger car could be
run carrying Its own motor beneath it-thence
10 the wheels, and thence back by the side rails
70 the power-house, or stationary engine"
"And how many Of those stationary engines
would DO needed"
"Three OF them, with . horsepower OF ten
or twelve thousand. Each would run the whole
Pennsylvania railroad system between hero and
Philadelphia"
"Freight, local, express trains, and ALT"
IAN Of them. Tho depreciation OF rolling.
stock and road-bed is much less than undeI
steam propulsion. Every cxortion Of sseam
power Il In tho nature Of an explosion, and
when you take into consideration tho fact thai
four or flye hundred engines are on Q road like
tho Pennsylvania sr ono time. each exercising q
different degree Of this explosive power. the dc
probation Il great factor. But with electricity
II n always tho smooth rotary motion impaired
IN the same way BY the Same mon ct the stetion-
AIRY engines"
"Csn equipment bs devised which win stand
the strain Of this system at full speedf"
Tho Wizard smiled. "Full speed OF this sys-
scm," said he, "h, OF 500 no reason why Il
should not Do, two hundred miles IN hour. But
- for practical purposes feel sure that one
hundred-pound rail on . track ballasted would
ssand the speed d one hundred miles an hour
"And how viii your train b stoppsdf"
wRv air.brakaa The name e e present. and
thas b about I'll the one man Who would TAXA
the place Of engineer and two nfemsn would
have 70 do--ksep lookout spl mindhis brake.
Let MOI The rssdss suppose that Mr.
EDISON does NOT know vhal hs b talking
about He has entitled himssli 10 |
heasils On any aahiese Witch b eheeee'