Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-06-27
o..
Grasp This Post in Stepping on or
OF and Face
E'oRWARD!

II you follow this simple advice you will
have no trouble in getting aboard the rail
way without cars or tracks. The plat
form is moving along at n rate Of abont
two miles an hour, and if one goes about
it in the right way it is very easy indeed
to step on, even without grasping one of
the iron posts But it is better to follow
instructions and to take hold of one of the
uprights, for then it Is almost impossible
to fall But do not forget to ceforwnrd
That Is the secret of the whole matter, as
most men already understand. Some wo-
men do not understand it, and it seems
will never be taught one Of the simplest
principles OF movement and safety III the
wide world. Every day one may see women
endeavoriug to mount this exceedingly
gentle stecd, in utter defiance Of the for
ward" rule. There appears to be some
thing perverse in the feminine mind which
induces her to try to do things in way
different from that followed by the more
experienced half of humanity. OF course,
in this instance the perverse woman either
gets a little fall, not at all dangerous to
life or limb (for on the movable side
walk such thing as a serious accident is
well-nigh impossible), but certainly very
ure her full length on the floor, with a
show of Shoes and hosiery and disar-
rangement of hair and temper, in full view
Of the public; though | sometimes fancy
the younger women who are attended by
attentive escorts do like to slip their foot
ing on the moving sidewalk for no other
purpose tian to be caught in the arms of
those same eattentiye young gentlemen and
placed on their feet Alright.
Can anyone tell why women persist in
stepping off street cars with their backs
where their faces should bea Not one man
in I0,OCo no matter how little may I've his
experience with street cars, will make tins
mistake. At least one-tEird of the women
who use street cars every day Of thcir lives
allght with their faccs turned toward the
rear end OF the coach, so that any start Of
the vehicle will be sure to trip them up
and send them fiat on their back in an
awkward and sometimes destructive heap.
II the moving Sidewalk: has any useful
purpose to serve during the continuance
Of this fair ii is TO teach wcmcn how to
get on and off public vehicles. II serves
as a sort of object lesson in this simple
matter, and / am sure is doing q world OF
good.
lihNlIlp bUit EtttlLtu tilts HlDN III
platform the passenger finds he has tire,
options before him. One is to renal
where he is, another to walk in eithe
direction (hence the term Sidewalk ant
the third is to step upon an adjoining plat
form, partly covered with benches, an
moving in the same direction AS the Other
This seat-platform moves just twice as fis
as the bare platform, or at the rate OF
about four miles an hour. But since man
can easily walk at the rate OF four miles
an hour and tie first platform is moving
half that sp"e /, it follows that If he stays
on the first oae and WALL at the rate of
four miles an hour he will be covering
space at the rate OF six miles al hour, OF
one-half faster than the platform which
has the seats upon it.
The ride upon this novel railway is quite
enjoyable, particularly on hot day. The
roof overhead keeps of the rays of the
sur. and there is nearly always fresb
breeze blowing across the pier. Often the
little railway system is crowded to its full
capacity, and it will hold about three
thousand persons at once. The managers
permit passenger TO ride as long and as
far as he likes for one fare, so that the leis-
urely, lazy and greedy person may come
in the morning, drop nickel in the slot
and stay till midnight, riding all the time.
OF course very few people have the time CT
inclination to ride more than an hour, and
the proprie.ors CT the multiple speed ann
traction railway expect to cam very large
profits before the summer is over. There
is passion in the American public minc
for riding on something or other. and tni'
is about the most novel of the deTice.
which ingenious men have put forward t.
profit by this universal aspiration. The
expenses of operating it arc small.
The inventor Of this railway hoped ht
had solved with it the great problem o
rapid transit in cities. His plan was t.
have not alone two platforms moTing il
| parallel at different speeds. but five OF ii,
| platforms. 1t il easy TO see that If the frs
| platform moved at the rate of three mile,
an hour, the second at six miles and Will
an increase of three miles 1Sr each add
tienal part of the system. the sixth pia.
form would have speed Of eighteen nile
/ an hour. Capitalists have looked into tn
/ system. but their conclusion is that it j
/ too cumbersome and too likely 10 be trosi
| blesoFne for the use of elderly and infirn
| people, and that In crowds there would b
/ great danger of accidents. Therefore th'
| prol,a hilities are that the multiple spec,
/ and traction will never come into use fo
any purpose but that of novelty or pleas
| ure riding on such occasions as this.
Another novel railway here is known a
| the ice road. 1t is simply series Of tobog
gan slides, sharp declivities and gsntl
I ascents. Within an inclosure Of timber
/ made like large trough the cars run
! But instead Of rolling on wheels they slid
on pipes that are covered with ice, chemi
| ealiy formed Ammonia is pumped througl
the pipes on the same principle that ic
/ and cold brine are made for the brewerie
and other industrial concerns. A thcl
coating Of frost appears on the surface
the pipes, and along this smooth roadwa
I the cars. which are made to fit the pipes
glide with great ease. A. the bottoms