The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-24
ELEOTRICIrY's RIVAL.
The Advantages of Compressed Air
for Street Car Propulsion.
Froya fbe Euofneerf11o An0oziue

The Advantages of Compressed Air
for Street Car Propulsion.
From the Engineering Magazine
In view Of the objections to the overhead
electric system for propulsion of care on
surface roads In cities, the annoyance from
tearing up streets and the cost Of plant and
maintenance Of the cable lines, the expense
of horse power, with the sanitary evils re-
sulting from the location Of stables in popu-
lous cities, the fact that pneumatic motors,
after a successful demonstration of their
superiority, have been largely overlooked
seems ipexplicable. These motors not only
are entirely free from the Objectionable
features of the other systems, but they
furnish mode of propulsion which is more
safe and more economical than any other
with equal velocity OF transit. These asser-
tions are made advisedly and are based on
actual demonstration. In 1873 and 1879
five pneumatic motors were run for several
months on the Second avenue railroad in
New York with perfect success The posi-
ton taken by the officers of the horse rail-
road companies, both IN New York and
Philadelphia, was that any car running
along city streets without horses in front
| would frighten horses cause runaway &C.
cidents and subject companies to suits for
damages. This objection of course applies
with much greater force to the cable and
trolley systems, which are accompanied by
loud hrmming noise, while the pneumatic
motor can have noiseless exhaust.
| But no argument or explanation awaited
| in the face of this senseless objec-
ton. One railroad president de-
clared that II the motor were adopted
by his company 10 would be necessary to
Kill soma Of his old horses, st uff the skins
I and mount pair of them on low truck in
front of each car. Conditions existing now
seem favorable for the introduction of a
motor which, from the objections to all
| other systems. with no defects of its own,
may be considered as perfect. No fears are
| now entertained that the car running with
| out horses in front will make a stampede Of
all equines on the streets traversed, and this
in 1879 was the only reason urged in oppo-
sition TO the Introduction OF the pneumatic
motor. The system would be particularly
adapted to suburban localities and would
afford better facilities for rapid
transit than are now afforded by elevated
roads, for while the speed would be equal to
twenty miles or more per hour, the stops
need not be limited to stations, but could be
made at any point. With the small class
of motors three cars, or two in addition to
the motor, can ascend grades as steep as
any usually found on horse railroads. This
| Is a point Of the greatest value for public
accommodation. It will enable a com peny
TO utilize all Its old cars aud supply addi-
tional cars at the hours when the rush of
travel requires them without additional ex-
pense for power or conductors. The pneu-
matic motor would be peculiarly adapted
to underground roads, as the escape of pure
air would assist in the ventilation, but IL is
the best possible for ell urban or suburban
roads, whether elevated, surface OF In tun-
nels.