The Indianapolis journal., 1892-11-04
rRoLLEYs FOR FARMS.
Uses to Which Electricity May Be Put In th'
Rural Districts.

Uses to Which Electricity May BE Put In the
Rural Districts.
Philadelphia Record
TIE improvement of tho country roads
around Philadelphia III the past few years
and the cheapness of coal here would seem
to make it possible TO use electricity In
ways that were not dreamed of few
years ago. The advocates of the new plan
say that in good farming country. where
there is o creditable amount of stuff 10 be
hauled to the city, 1t is entirely plausible
to establish central power-house and
from this to generate electricity for q
number of uses. The wires could be
run along the main road If the
power-honse ie situated on one.
and from this branches extend in as many
directions as the business would warrant.
Aside from the carrying of passengers.
which would be conducted IN the same way
as now, the electric railway connecting
with some steam railroad, the electric cnr-
rent could DO used In q variety OF other
ways.
With traction wagons suoh as are COM
moner in the West than here oil the haul
ing of tho eighborhood could be done. 1t
would reQuire no change in the constrnc-
tion of the farm wagons for they could be
loaded as now and picked up along the
road by the traction wagon. The only
limit to the number of wagons that might
be taken in one train would be the power
and strength of the hauling ma
do would be to have his load made
up in the morning and then to stay at home
and attend to his work while his wagon
was taken to town In. the electrical train.
and the contents disposed of there by an
agent. There would be no limit To the load
which be could ship at one time except the
capacity of his wagon. Most of his horses
could be dispensed with, and shipments
could be made more quickly and in greater
quantities than now.
The use of the power from the trolley
wire need not be limited to traction on the
road, however. The wire could be tapped
for every farm and the power used for gem
eral farm purposes. The mOwlng-machine
could be drawn by electricity, instead
of horses. The threshinR could be done
without the use Of travelling steam
engine, with its expense for fuel and at,
tendants. Even butter could be churned
by electricity. and the drudgery of farm
work generally reduced.
Carrying the idea still further. it is even
suggested that the country roads could be
lighted with electricity ana electric lights
introduced into the farm house, illumInat-
ing it brightly and making 1t more cheer
From the stand-poinr of the suburban
resident every railroad station OF any I'M
portance would be connected by trolley
railways with the country lying about jt,
able for suburban residences would be
greatly enlarged. Small manufacturing
establishments, as we'll as the farmers.
could have their freight carried to and
from the stations. saving the teamins that
now often eats much of the profits.
Electricians look forward to these devel-
opments as the natural growth of a few
years. Philadelphia, with its great
suburban population, and rich farming
country all about it. would seem to
be peculiarly locality where such
ideas could be ipur into profitable
practice. Unfortunately, however, it can
not be SAID that at present there is any
perceptible progress toward their materi-
aliZation.