The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-25
BOTTOM VIEW OF CAR.

fastened in the center fattened pin.
This pin is 70 be dropped into the slot. Ii
is controlled by lever which by simple
motion raises the pin and frees it from its
connection with the cable below. The
springs on the movable rod are to relieve
the aDruptness OF the stop, which on the
line In operation in Harlem gives a severe
jerk. The sliding frame has the brakes at
taehed 10 IL, and the same motion of the
lever that controls the rod that frees the
pun from the cable moves the sliding frame
IN such way as to act as strong brake.
The underground. arrangement is also
very simple. Instead OF a tunnel taking up
the whole space between the rails Gross
tunnel Is but eighteen inches wide by two
feet deep, Instead Of five feet, as the Broad
way and Ihird-ayenue lines. Ordinary
tracks can be used and need rest on no iron
work. The tunnel consists of the slot, and
at The bottom is miniature set Of rails. On
this miniature railroad runs the cable,
which Is chain With wheels fastened on ii
about every third link. When the flattened
pin from the car drops into the slot il falls
into the link OF chain and to be released
1t requires only that single lever be moved
to raise the pin.
Gross says the cost of building the lines
In this city Is more than twice what it need
be. The tremendous expense of building
tunnel i've feet deep and the whole width
oil the track is an immense waste compared
10 Gross's tunnel. On the great cost of the
curved iron frames that support the tracks,
Gross says, there could be big saving by
reducing the tunnel 10 the size recon-
inendsd. This would also save the laying
OF new tracks.
The miniature underground railway in
the tunnel on which the chain runs would
not cost as much as a cable, Gross says.
Among other OF the many criticisms that
the inventor has to make on the methods
employed in building these lines is
that the cable, in addition to being
hair
wheels, Is more dangerous. Should the line
wires OF the cable snap the grip could easily
be caught fast and nothing could stop the
progress OF the car. Again. the grip. when
III clutches the cable. gives the ear a sharp
lnrch, which would be absent on line of
Gross pattern. Instead of the grip there
would be the pin. which would simply fall
into link of the chain. and the springs on
either end act as cushion. Another diff
Guilty would be overcome. Gross says. 1t
would not be necessary for cars to Jump
over the big drive wheel at tire termini and
slide along until the grip finds the next
cable. There would be no biz wheel neces-
sary.
II was in the fail of 1868 that the model
was perfected. Gross saws he took il TO the
office OF the Delamater Iron Works. There
he was introduced to Henry Bergh, late
President OF the Society for the Prevention
OF Cruelty to Animals. Mr.. Bergh became
greatly interested in the invention, because
1t would save the use of horses on stTeetcar
lines. Mr.. Bergh took it 10 Albany.
About this time there was a great dema nd
for rapid transit. and MIR. Bergh tried to get
the Legislature to approve Gross plan.
But no one had ever seen such thing be-
fore, and Gross failed to secure the passage
OF the bill. The inventor then became
anxious to patent his model, for he felt sure
that some day it would be conceded that the
invention was good thing. he asked Mr..
Bergh to loan him S25. for Gross did not