Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-28
LAUREL HAPPENINGS.
Inquiring Into Electrical Motor Expert
Notwithstanding Up the Campaign.

Inquiring Into Electrical Motor Expert
Notwithstanding Up the Campaign.
Correspondence Of The Evening Star
LAUREL, ND, Oct. 90, 1892
There were several men in town yesterday
getting information relative to the expert
ments made here two years ago with an electro
cal motor. They informed your correspondent
that they were endeavoring to find the best
and fastest electrical motor in existence for a
new line of electric railroad to be built near
Washington, but just what road it was they
declined to say. The experimental road that
was built here was circular one exactly two
miles in diameter, and the engine and dynamos
were of the latest and most approved pattern.
The motor was about ten feet long and about
three or four feet high of cylindrical form and
with pointed OF cigar-shaped end The tracks
we're of light iron rails about three feet apart,
laid on crossties, and the electric current
supplied from third rail placed over the CEN
ter OF the track and above the motor.
The expectations of the company that
speed of five miles minute would
be attained were not, realized, but the last trip
OF the motor around the two-mile circle was
made in one minute and two seconds for the
two miles. The difficulty experienced in
keeping the motor circular track while
running at such high speed, and one was
/ surprised to see the cigar-shaped thing leave
! the track and tear its way hundred yards or
more through corn field. This ended the ex
peri nent at this place. the track and motor
were soon removed and the engine and dynamos
| disposed Of II this remarkable speed of nearly
| 120 miles an hour obtainable a poorly
| constructed circular track it is probable that
with still further impr ovement and experiment
/ a greater speed could be obtained on a straight
track. and then the of true rapid transit
would dawn.
| SEEKING LOCATION FOR RACE TRACK.
! For some time past a number of persons,
some of them residents of Baltimore. have been
| contemplating the lease purchase of a tract
| of land situate in Arne Arundel county and
adjoining the town Of Laurel for the location
| OF a training race track 1t il ciamed that the
| ground is level enough and that circular track
| o. one or even two miles could be obtained with
| out difficulty, and the location being midway
between Baltimore and Washington would
afford owners of good horses the opportunity
| to have them sent here to be broken and trained
and the great number of express trains stopping
at this station would afford every opportunity
to the owners to visit the track and witness the
progress made BY their horses and take a spin
around the course. 1t ia not proposed even
cOntempla' ed to make the track one on which
/ betting will be allowed.
THE ELECr RIG LIGHT MATTER POSTPONED.
| Last night the CITY council met in the town
hall in adjourned session to receive propositions
! for the erection of an electric plant here and
| the lighting of the streets with arc lights for
| the peru cd OF five years. This question. as
| ticed IN The STAR from time to time. has been
| before the council since last May, and nothing
hsa been done get, and all because the town
cannot afford to pay the prices asked by the
electric light companies now in existence. The
law of this state, which III some wa found its
way into the statute books. prohibited any
electric light company organized under the
general law governing the formation of such
I fru ~ cit
town or village for the supply of electric power
light without the assent of the legis-
lature. This law. which only exempted two
counties from its prohibition. amended by
the last legi -lature as to also exempt Prince
George and Montgomery counties. and now
any company organized under the general law
before since The passage of the amendment
may submit a bid All the members os the
council were present. "a were several represen-
tatIves of electric light and gas companies. To
the great disapDOint ment OF The town au;hori-
ties the expected bids were not submitted by
the companies promised. and several of the
most prominent business men of the town
asked pOstpOnemcnt of he whole matter for
one week to give them an opportunity to form
a home company and submit a proposition to
light the town with incandescent instead-Of arc
lights. The council being satisfied that there
was little probability of bid for arc light be-
ing submitted that would be within the amount
| at the disposal of the town for it, payment the
I
taken till next Thursday night.
The necessity for the streets being better
lighted than they are now by the few coal oil
lamps. that have way of being lighted
moonlight nights and not dark ones. has
aroused our business men. and they are now
/ convinced that whatever il done i'll this drec-
ton must be done by them The full amount
| OF the stock OF the proposed company has not
been taken yet, but meetings have been held
and much stock subscribed to insure the sue
| to canvass the town to see how many lights
| will be put in the residences and business
| places. and it Is thought that the sixty
enty business houses and AT least 100 residences
will put in incandescent lights. and that these,
with the street lights, vii. justify the erection
/ of the plant. The conclusion now reached by
| all is that if arc lights cannot he obtained the
incandescent ones will answer the purpose.
| DEMOCRATIC BAiLY AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
| The democrats announce that the last rally
of the campaign at this place will be held at
| o'clock on the night of Saturday. November
| 5. at the Academy of Music. The democratic
clubs of Bladensburg and Evansville. in this
county, and those of Savage and Scaggs' Cross
Roads. in Howard. have been invited and it is
expected they will be present with the
Branchyiile and Savage brass bands,
| which. with the full Laurel Military Band,
which has been engaged by the Laurel demo-
Gratis, will furnish plenty Of music. This, it Is
proposed. shall be JOINT meeting OF the de-
mocracy of the parts of Prince Georges, How
ard and Anne Arundel counties adjacent 10
/ Laurel, and Mr.. Compton, the chairman of the
state democratic committee. who is the demo-
/ cratic candidate for Congress and a resident of
/ Laurel, promises that the best speakers at the
/ disposal of the state committee will be present.
| NOTES.
| Politics are at a fever heat here. The re pub
licans, although in the minority and divided
among themselves, are working hard and have
! flooded the town and surrounding country with
| campaign literature of every description The
1 democrats are not idle. and they have Just put
ont pamphlet the force bill and its in
Equities.
In an interview with Mr.. Compton this morn
ing he expressed himself satisfied with dem
ocratic prospects in this state, and said the
only fear he entertained was that some Of the
democrats would think the state would go for
Cleveland anyhow and that he Compton,
would be elected without any trouble and re-
main away from the polls.
Senator German is in New York now and will
remain there at the national democratic head
quarters until after the election. He will not
return home TO vote. nor will he deliver his
customary speech at Laurel just Mt the close of
the campaign The Senator's family are still
at their country residence near here, but will