Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-11
DA-PESTH SYSTEM.
Mr. Wright Tells the District Committee
Its Advantages.
The Proposed Method for the 9th
Street Cars-wfres Underground-
Safe and Practicable.

The House District committee at fits meet
ing this morning listened to a statement
from President Stevenson of the Metropoli-
tan railroad Company and Mr.. Wright Of
tne nrm OF Misenburg and Wright the con-
tractors who have offered to install the
Buda Pesth system of conduit electric rail-
way upon the 9Th street line in this city.
MI. Wright was introduced to the com
mlttee by Congressman Black Of Illinois,
who said that Mr.. Wright and his partner
had operated in Chicago. where their work
had given satisfaction. that the financial re-
serves were all right and that they could
give ample guarantee of their. ability to
fulfill their contracts
Mr. Wright stated to the committee that
the city Of Buda-Pesth is a beautiful city
Of nearly 100000 Inhabitants. For a number
or years attempts were made to perfect
conduit electric system there, and IL has
now been accomplished. The first line was
opened In July, 1883. 1t proved to be a sue
cess and at last accounts the company
operating 1t had extended their lines until
there are now about twenty-five miles of
road In the city. The company has secured
a ifanehise to operate the system in Vienna
ana are asking for a franchise In Berlin.
In 1877 the road carried nearly 1e909e0
passengers in Buda-Pesth.
Mr. wright exhibited blue print showing
n
company would use the center slot rain here
as Is now used by the cable lines. The rela-
i've cost of building the cable or electric
concuit road Is about the SAGE The differ
trlc conduit system did not prove satisfac-
tory 1t would be easy to put in a cable in
the conduit. Mr.. Wright said he had put
IA ABOUT twenty cable roads in this country
Inc COST o. operating depends upon the mag
nltude OF the passenger business. He thinks
cable would not pay on the street line
owing to the length of the cable required
ana the number OF curves in the road. The
capie would wear out too soon, and il costs
about twenty-f cents per foot to replace
MI. Wright said that he had made an esti-
mate OF a cable for the F street road sever
al years ago and had reported against it.
The traffic on that line is not sufficient to
pay the interest on the first cost of con-
struction and the operating expenses He
had also reported against a cable on the 9Th
street line, both on account of the light
trame and the physical objections.
Superior System.
Mr.. Wright said he had adopted the Buda-
Pesth system after careful examination by
himself and his partner. He considered it
far superior to the Love system of under
ground conduit. In the Love system they
use a copper wire to conduct the electricity.
They put the trolley underneath the wire
and hold II up with a spring.
In the Buda-Pesth system the electricity
is conducted on an angie-iron, and the
shape Of ii is such that the trolley cannot
get away from the contact. Only 800 volts
is used. while the Love system requires 500
volts.
Mr.. Cooper of Florida asked II there is
danger to the public by possibility of COM
ing in contact with the electricity. to which
Mr.. Wright replied that there Is no danger
at all. Even in the case Of children playing
on the road and punching down in the slot
they would have to establish connection
between both angle-frOns Mr.. Heard
asked il the system is regarded, then, as
practically free from danger. Yes, re-
piled Mr.. Wright, "a person would have TO
exert himself to get a shock.
Mr. Cobb inquired as to the comparative
power of stopping the cars under this sys-
tenn. He was told that 1t depends Alto
gether on the brakes. as in any other sys-
tern.
Mr.. Coggsweli asked II it would be pos
s.ble to run the cars Of another system
over this line: for instance, IL the Love
that it would be necessary to use the tracks
OF the F street line for a portion of the dis
lance. could this be done. Mr.. Wright said
it could not. owing to the difference in the
power required to propel the cars of the
two systems. the Love taking 500 volts and
this one only 300. Mr.. Coggswell questioned
the ACCESSIBILITY of having two separate
conduit systems in a large city like this.
Mr.. Cobb asked what advantages are
claimed for this system over the cable. Mr.
Wright replied that with an electric car
curves can be passed more readily and there
is not such liability of total suspension of
traffic owing to an accident. II the cable
breaks the whole line stops, but IL an cleo
trio car breaks down the next car pushes
It along and travel is not interrupted. In
the electric system the expenses of opera
ton are more readily apportione6 to the
amount Of the traffic. If the traffic IL small
but few cars need be run. but with a cable
with its operation. regardless OF the amount
of business done.
Only successful System.
Mr.. Cooper asked what advantages are
claimed for the Buda Pesth system over
other electric conduit systems. Mr.. Wright
replied that up to the present time II Is the
only one that has carried passengers year
in and year out successfully. The Love
system has worked in Chicago. but only
spasmodically. He does not think the Love
system is perfected yet.
In answer to a question from Mr. Bah
cock, Mr.. Wright said that the climate Of
Buda Pesth Is more severe than that OF
Washington, approaching more nearly the
climate of Chicago. In reply to query
there Is no doubt as to the amount Of power
furnished by this system. The power can
be regulated easily, and the volume of II
depends simply upon the amount OF cleo
tricity generated at the power house. 1t
can yield more power than the cable sys-
TEN does. As to the time which would be
required to put the road In operation on
9Th street, Mr.. Wright explained that the
principal feature is in the preparation of
the material The road itself could be put
in within seventy days and could be made
ready for operation within a year from the
passage of the bill authorizing 1t.
Mr.. Heard asked more particularly about
the guarantees for the faithful perform
ance of the work. Mr. Wright said that his
company is ready to make sufficient guar
antees to the Metropolitan Railroad COM
pany, and II the road does not operate to
the satisfaction Of the company, he will
take II out and put In the cable.
Ready to Accept.
Mr.. Stephenson added that the Metropoh-
tan Railroad Company had placed the mat
ter before it's board Of directors, and is now
ready to accept the offer OF Mr.. Wright II
Congress gives its consent. He is salts
fed that the system can be successfully
operated. and is contented with the guar
antee Of Mr.. Wright.
Mr.. Cogswell asked Chairman Heard II
the committee is proceeding to hear the
Metropolitan Railroad Company upon it's
request before the courts have decided
whether IT had forfeited its charter or not,
for being in contempt of Congress? Mr..
Heard replied that that question Is another
matter. The committee today simply az
forded Mr. Wright an opportunity to pre-
sent a statement about the new system.
The committee then adjourned without
taking further action.
district GOVERNMENT.