The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-11

away and level track because OF tho great
number OF towns On the way and the billy
mature Of the country. Between Chicago and
d. Louis we found the conditions T. be per
fect. We have surveyed the air line an
absolutely straight line between the two
citSs, and the distance Is 2iS miles. by
tue Chicago and Alton railroad il is PSI miles.
ana by the Wabash road IL Is still further.
ouf route lies between these routes. and Is 81
miles shorter than the Chicago and Alton
we have already acquired over 90 per
cent OF the right Of way and Vie will soon
nave The rest. The road will cost $4,000, 900
anu viii be in operation when the Worlds
talr opens. For 200 miles OF the distance tho
country Is a. fiat as the surface OF a billiard
thDie Our maximum grade will not exceed
two .eet IN 100 and that will occur at only two
points IN Madison county. Az present there
are '@DO through passengers between chicago
anu NJ. Louis on the railroads and the trans
portation # the through mails costs 100000
per annum. We expect 10 transport 100000
words Fair visitors at 20 apiece for the
round trip.
We will have two central stations Oh the
line one at Wilmington or falrbury, ILL.,,
ana The other at Ldinburg. At the lust we
have bought coal mine. and at Wilmington
there Is lO,OOO-hOrse power waterfall which
we VIII lease. 50 that We can furnish our
power al a normal cost We will divide the
Ioau into four sections. or equal circuits. Az
first we will build TWO heavy tracks FOX
through express trains. They will travel AT
the average rate OF 100 miles per hour. and
VIII make no stops between the two cities.
We VIII build spurs out 20 Springfield. De-
catur. bloomington and other large towns.
From Springfield and Decatur through
trains will run t. Chicago without stop, at
the same rate Of speed. Eventually we viii
have four-track road, with the two outside
tracks Tor local traffic. The local trains will
stop every mile. and will constitute practi-
cally continuous street-car service between
Chicago and ~. Louis. Our trains will run
into the | Mon station at st. Louis over On
elevated railroad. and the Chicago terminus
VIII DO az the Far grounds. We have secured
the rlglt Of way for twenty-nine miles out of
Chicago, and we are all right at the St Louis
end. Inc rOadbed will be sloping with u
porous bottom. and there will be ditch be-
tween tho two Gets of track and ditch out
SIDE o. each set. This will prevent the set
ting of the tracks.
" viii use the seventy-pound California
continuous overlapping rail. with stone bal
last, aAl all crossings will be overhead our
ROAD. The trolley or overhead wire system,
Will be used. The wire will run along about
on "a level with the side Of the roof of the car.
The cai will weigh only fifteen tons, and will
carry forty passengers. The roof will be only
ninety feet above tho top of the rails. Every
cor wi, be a motor car and passenger coach
combined. The passenger compartment will
be III the middle section Of the car. The for
ward end OF the ear will have the shape Of q
bali cone, and will come down 10 point near
the ground and between the centre Of the
tracks The motOrman will stand in the
front compartment
There Will be pilot wheel on each side Of
the cor at the front and rear and driving
wheel ix feet IN diameter at the front and
rear. The shape Of the front OF the ear Is
calculated TO decrease the atmospheric resls-
lance. and 10 viii also serve as a cOw-catcher.
Al the rear OF the car will be compartment
for mails and baggage. On each driving
whee Will be motor weighing 6i32 pounds,
and capable or 2JJ-hOrse power at q speed OF
5OO revolutions OF the wheel per minute. The
armature will be mounted rlgldiy on the
axle of the driving wheel Each car will be
equipped with air and electric brakes.
Ihe poles for the trolley wire will be 50
constructed that the wire will not sag and
thus interfere with the speed and motion Of
the train when travelling at hign velocity.
There Will he but single wire for each set Of
tracks. and through tue wire we can develop
an electric power of $4,000 voltage. The
TROLLEY wheel will be twelve inches IN diane
ter. The entire road will be fenced in and
will be divided into twenty-five sections with
q transforming station at the centre of each
section. By our system the cars Will not
wear out the rails and rOadbed. and we Will
need o. conductors or brakemen."
DR. Adams illustrated his lecture with many
stereopiicon views Of the proposed road, cars.
motors etc. At its conclusion several men,
bers O, the club expressed mild regret that
he had not given away tho actual secrets Of
his motors and the method by which he
transmitted so much power through single
wire. Dr. Adams smiled. but did not further
elucidate. Civil Engineer George Forbes of
London. commended the scheme of the pro-
posed rod. but confessed Il puzzled him.