New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-17

SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT ON , CONDUIT ROAD
AT COMFY ISLAND

SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT on CONDUIT ROA ,
At COMFY ISLAND.
About thirty railroad men and electrical engineers
took part in the mixing Of an immense mud
pie at Coney Island last Friday. With such com
hinatiOn OF talent the mud pie success. OF
course So was the experiment in which the mud
pie was an important factor The mud pie was
compounded in about 100 feet Of conduit of IN"
line of experimental electric road when has
been in operation al Concy Island this summer
The object was to prove that the road would "pef
ate as we'll when the conduit had it's stomach
full of mud pie az when ii in a less dyspeptic
condition. That object was fun" accomplished.
OF course the idea Of running the conductors Of
an electric road in conduit and having the car
make contact with those conductors by shoe or
plough that goes down into that conduit through
a slot is old. one Of the first electric roads In
America was operated that plan. The Inflated
FuIton-st electric road was designed TO run on
that plan. but never The trouble with bare
conductors running in conduit was that proper
Insulation was impossible. Water and dirt got into
the conduit and nearly al the current leaked away
The Coney Island mud pie TO prove that the
new conduit system was superior to mud and
wafer and would operate just well when fuH
to the slot with that delectable compound
The proof was absolute After the conduit had
been filed TO the brim with several carloads oi
dirt and the product Of the Coney Island water
works 'all in the presence Of the passenger the
Mace where the conductors and contact pieces
were submerged in a lake Of mud. plunged through
the same stopped in the middle Of II. backed
ploughed back and forth through the mud pie ana
danced species Of dance over the con-
ouered enemy Of its progress. Then the spectators
wandered back to New York in the rain convinced
that mud was no longer lin it, as an obstacle to
conduit electric traction.
The principle OF construction which enables me
nev road to triumph mud and water is the
complete waterproof insulation of the conductors
EXCEPT at the moment the car is passing. Then
the shoe carried by the car presses In contact
arm or lever which thereby makes connection with
the conductor that point and gets the current Tor
the motor on the Careful measurements snow
that practically part Of the current Is lost 10y
this complete immersion OF the contact points
shoe and conductors. The inventors say mat inc
electrical part OF the installation costs less than
that of trolley road. OF course the advantages
Of n conduit road over a trolley road as 10 safety
and sghtliness are familiar to the public. II only
II will work regularly and economically. me pro-
moters of this system maintain that II mis- 'hese
requirements completely Albert Stetson the man
aver and electrical engineer OF the lnverSal rI.c
trio Company which has built the experimental
road is an experienced critic Of Inventions. anu
his Endorsement means good deal. Al the ekprrl-
ment described Mr.. Stetson offciated as nlotorinan
on the car and chief concoctor or muu pies VIII"
equal dignity and success In either capacity