Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-10-27
To supersede Steam.

3tSan-4 9cecm attVeS nave naO tD6lE uaS,
sad electric motors will tako shsir place.
This new device for wbirliua trains OF rail-
read oass ct minimum speed OF 100 miles
sn hour is Sbs Invention OF Thomas A. Eds-
son. Tho ward Of the electric f1!d hss
completed Ills meter, tested it. ard Is sassured
OF its completeness, and backed by Henry
Willard, the well-kaown New Yorker, will
operate railroad between Milwaukee and
Obicago with electricity. Thrs The era OF
steam locomotives. those tremendous ms
ch;oes that have been the wonder OF thts
age, viii and ca tbs 400ih anniversary OF
the discovery OF America.
Mr.. Edison talked freely Of tbs electric
motor yesterday, ana ssid 10 would dlsp!ace
tie locomotive for three reasons, VIZ tt Hns
speadier, safer cad cheaper.
sit will get one-horss power" be remark
I'd, "out OF from one 10 eWc pounds OF cheap
coal, whereas six pounds CT expensive coal
steam locomot!vn.
"I; will carry train a. 100 niles Or even
200 nnilae Ell hour, g3hia il atrelus l1cooc-
diva 10 oavsF 60 miles 10 that tiune.
"TAe motor viii: be ssier fer the reato J
thai by meara CT an indicator Ia the power
houses which eupply the electric current the
exact location CT every train on the rosd
will be known at every movement. That
will be 30 absoluteleiy perfect block sys-
sem,' ard will Insure perfect safety go far es
collision OF trains is concerned. This will
also DE ssVsng OF expense in maintaining
the road"
Mr. E iieon said the trains would be run
nv electricity furnished the motore from
stationary power.hou5es. "The current Will
pass from the stationary engine TO central
rail- between the tracks, thence through the
mechanism attached TO the bottom OF the
cars or mot9r. A freight train, Of course,
would need motor because OF The number
of cars. although single passenger car
| ccud be rup carrying its own motor be-
meath it-theDce to the wheels, end thence
bsck by the aide rails TO the power.honse OF
atati9ner engine. Three stationary en-
| eires. each With horse power of 10 0O0 or
| u 600. would ruu the whole Pennsy ylvsnia
Railroad system hstween New York and
| Philadelphia.
For practical purposes fesl cure that a
| 100-pound rail on 8 rock bsilas'ed track
would stand tbs speed OF 100 miles en- hour.
The train will be stopped by air brakes, the
same as now. On the road between Mil
waukee aud Chicago we will run trains
every twenty minutes at the lightning speed
OF not less thsn 100 miles an hour"
The Wizard sajd the new motor could be used
| for street railway purposes to great advsntsge.
| He continued: The system will be the cheap.
est known. Tho p ant will not cost half as much
| as the cable, and there will be no tearing up OF
| the streets. Why, under pressure l could lay a
mile OF track for this system in q night "a
pressure little heavier than the one use would
| 6, h, faot opd Mr.
raised ono OF his feet about half an inch from
the Office floor, but the pressure 1 do horse
wouldn't feel at all, nor would man. You see,
employ the heavy current with the low pres.
sure. That is the whole secret Of safety. The
principle is this that stream of wster 100 feet
wi which falls 70 1T gives the same power as q
stream / foot wide which falls 100 feet. The
| wide stresm is my way"
TIE third rail fot street railways will be dis
| c,rded. Mr. Edison says the difficulty OF picking
the current out Of the mud has been solved.
There is absolutely 10 danger of vehicles, pedes-
srian5 or Eorses.