The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-04-09
the ELECTRIC RAILROAD.
A Few Facts IAbout the New Enter
prise To Re Established Here.

NOW that an electric railroad between this
city and Deering is to be an accomplished
TACT within few months, and the extension
OF the line to all that is now the horse car
line is only question of few years at the
outside, some little description of this new
thing may not be out of order.
Everybody knows. in general way, what
an electric railroad is,-a horse car without
any horses, queer whizzing thing down be-
tween the wheels, and fish pole sticking up
through the top and running along on a wire,
being the prominent features. While
these are we'll known, there are many de-
tails that are not generally known, perhaps,
and which might prove interesting.
An electric car is little more than mate
REALIZATION of the invisible force that makes
1t go. Nearly everybody knows by this time
that two wires are necessary to make an
electric circuit-one to carry the current out
and one to bring it back. In the railroad
there appears to be only one. There is
large wire suspended in the middle of the
track, along which the fish pole, otherwise
the trolley. rolls by means of grooved
wheel at the end. This provides for the out
going current; but how does it come back?
That is where the ingenuity of man comes
in, and also where the danger, that is so
much talked of, has its seat The current
runs along the wire to the trolley, goes
through the trolley to the car, lights it after
dark, actuateS the motor down between the
wheels, and escapes into one rail of the
track, which is provided with wire connec-
tion to the power house. 1t will be seen
that it is in reality the same principle that
runs an electric light, except that where the
light comes in in one case, a great boon to
tired humanity comes in in the other.
That the electric railroad is great boon
| cannot be doubted by any one who has seen
the cars running in Boston, or in Bangor,
where there are more things to overcome
than there are in Boston. Imagine string
| of cars such as is seen in front of the City
| Hall when Stockbridge entertainment is
over, propelled by electricity instead of
horses. The people would come out of the
hall and swarm into the cars, which are all
brilliantly lighted with incandescent lights
When all were settled, Mr.. Newman would
blow whistle, and the head car would start.
There follows no slipping and fioundering of
horses, no shouts of drivers or tow boys, no
fuss or confusion Of any sort. The motor
man lets the brake off just as he does now.
He then turns to another post just about like
the brake-mest, only that it has two handles,
and turns one of them slightly. The car
starts, moves, gathers speed. and is soon
climbing the slight elevation by Chestnut
street, and spinning along up Congress
street at a good pace. When the switch is
rQoahod af Hi0h if ha 20 hoyr
not to take it correctly, that is to 90 up Con-
gress when 1t should 20 down High street,
we do not hear the conductor and driver call
out, "All out gentlemen and lend hand
here" The mot0r-man simply moves the
other handle of the two at the motor post,
then turns the current on and the car runs
back. Over the switch the reversing gear is
set ahead once more, the current again
turned on, and away goes the car on the
right track.
There is no hill in this city that electric
cars could not climb, and there is surely
nothing on the Deering line to trouble them.
On level or decline there is practically no
limit to the speed that might be attained
were it net that the frequent stops that must
necessarily be made, would not allow run
ming at express speed
A few words in regard to stopping. Elec-
trio cars are more manageable than horse
cars. When the motor man receives signal
to stop, he first shuts off the power, then ap-
plies the brake, and ordinarily the deed is
done. There might be times when it would
be necessary to reverse the motor and start
1t backward, to stop the car, but this could
be done with the turn of hand.
1t will thus be seen that the cars are more
easily handled than horse cars are. the only
things that could ever trouble them being
loss of power and water on the rail that con-
ducts the return current. A broken trolley
| wire, of course, would tie up an electric line
| as broken telephone wire would render
| that instrument useless, and water on the
| rail would destroy the circuit and also cause
business to be indefinitely postponed Wa
ter would do another thing that might fright
en- the timid, but is in itself measure of
safety. This refers to the burning out of
the safety fuses in the motor. These are
placed there to collect the surplus electricity
and in the case of broken circuit come into
play.
This brings us to the subject of the danger
of an electric line. There is danger, un-
questionably; but so there is in a saw mill
that is running at full blast, and the caution
that applies to the latter can be applied
with profit to the railroad. Don't fool ,oith it.
If you see trolley-wire lying on the ground
| just recollect that you are not in the compa-
ny's employ, and retire to the sidewalk. Or,
if you must touch it, do not put your foot on
rail at the same time. II you do, the
electricity will make motor of your vital
organs for the transportation of your life to
the Great Unknown. Shun broken wire
/ as you would buzz saw, and you will be
safe. NEEDLE with one and you will never
know what struck you.
| In conclusion, it may be said that the blue
| fire that sometimes is seen around an electric
car, is harmless, being caused in the air, by
the trolley slipping off the wire, and on the
| ground by stones, or dirt or other foreign
| substances, breaking the circuit for second
or two. These little accidents, slipping of
trolleys from the wire, etc., are of constant
occurrence, but by means of string, which
is attached to the trolley, and the other end
of which he holds in his hand. the conductor
can almost instantly ''catch on" again. An
embarrassing feature connected with this
is found in the fact that when the trolley lets
60 the lights in the Car all go out, to return
| gradually after the connection is restored.
Even this, however, might not be unpleasant
to all people at all times.
To prepare the Portland Railroad for the
use of electricity, it would be necessary to
relay at least one rail, in order to get the
ground wire, and the overhead trolley-wire
with side posts and guide wires or irons
would be set. The cars would have to be
changed somewhat and provided with the
motors and other attachments. The electric
| car runs on the double end principle, as a
horse car does, the trolley being made to
swing around at the end of trip, and both
ends of the car being provided with gongs,
brake-masts, power-posts, and signal Ian
terms.
Congress Square Church.
At the annual meeting of the Sunday