Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-04
THE ELECTRIC FLYER
Between Chicago and st. Louis Causes
Considerable Discussion.
EXPERTS TALK ABOUT THE SPEED
And Some Relieve Idams Has . Secret
That Will Secure It
ELECTRICITY FOR NEW YORK's L LINE


NEW YORK, June 3-Dr. Wellington
Adams scheme of building an electrical
railroad between Chicago and st. Louis
that will run passenger cars at the rate of
100 miles an hour, proved an interesting
topic of conversation for the electricians of
this town to-day. Mr.. Adams told the story
of his project vaguely to the members of Il 9
Electric Club on Monday night and rather
startled his expert listeners.
To-day the electricians debated among
themselves as to whether tine project vas
practicable. Opinions seemed to be divided
about it. One of the editors of the Electric
World said this afternoon that he saw no
reason to doubt that the thing could be ac-
complished. Gas I understand it, from
Mr.. Adams somewhat guarded explanation
of his method" he said, "he is going to
adopt the three-phase current to develop
the motive power. The three-phase current
differs from the alternating current in that
it has three wave motions instead of two
The alternating current has a forward and
backward wave motion. The three-phase
has third, which is produced by the pecu-
liar construction of the dynamo generator
That is a secrst that Mr.. Adams does not
reveal. The three-phase current is used be-
cause it is better adapted to Transmission
over long distances and is operated with
less loss of energy than the alternating cur
rent, and is consequently more economical
than the alternating current.
Thinks 100 Mile. an Hour Is ObtaInabie.
"Mr Adams description of his energy
producing method indicates that it will be
similar to the system exhibited last year at
ho Elarfriool Eyh tyh
is called the Frankfort-Lauffen system. The
motive power was generated by waterfalls
at Lauffen and transmitted over small
trolley wires to Frankfort. a distance of
something more than 100 miles, anu used in
Frankfort to operate motors. To attain his
proposed speed of 100 miles an hour Mr..
Adams will have only to gain 25 miles on
the speed already attained by steam power.
and the scheme is therefore a comparatively
easy undertaking in the advanced state of
the art of electrical propulsion.
"Prof. CrOsby's experiment., referred to
at the Electrical Club discussion, of attain
ing 120 miles an hour speed, was made last
year with an electric motor car on a con-
tinuous circular track at Laurel Hill. Md.
The track was about mile and half long,
Mr.. Crosby had his motors built in a special
car, which worked on the locomotive plan,
and was designed to carry passenger cars as
the locomotive does"
DR.. Louis Bell, who is a consulting en-
gineer for number of electrical projects,
is one of the experts who doubts the prac-
ticability of the Adams scheme. DIR. Bell
said that the road bed of the 100 mile an
hour Chicago Air Line railway would be a
serious problem from an engineering stand
point. He himself would not think of con-
structing road of this kind without being
certain that he could secure the finest and
safest road-bed. 1t would have to be care
fully and thoroughly tested before the ex-
pertinent could be tried of driving cars at
such an enormous speed as 100 miles an
hour. Prof Crosby had found the road-bed
unsafe in his experiments last year in rum
ming an electric car 12O miles an hour.
The L May Become Electric.
The elevated road is considering the ad-
visibility of adopting electricity. A re-
porter asked Colonel Hain what system
Prof Short, of Cleveland, o. had proposed
for adoption by the 'L" road. He replied
that SO far as he comprehended it the cleo
tricity was to flow through rail between
the tracks.
'Prof Short gives me to understand" he
continued, "that he has overcome all the
obstacles that have heretofore beset the
electric companies. He says the current
may be cut OH or turned OH at any point on
the line, so that the operation of trains
would not be interfered with whenever
there happened to be big fire or anything
else that caused an obstruction to traffic at
any point. 1t is claimed that We can have
20 900 horse power, which is the maximum
amount of power we require at certain in
tervals during the day.
"Prof Short has given two months to a |
study of the requirements for electricity on
the elevated road and saws he will submit |
plans to the company. While am not en- |
cally sanguine of his success am
certainly hopeful" |