San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-09-29
THE JNTRAMURAL RAILWAY At THE
WORLDS FAIR

its operation the puOllc visiting
the Worlds Fair is finding one OF
it's strongest attractions. The re,
markable extent of ground EN-.
braced within the boundaries OF
the Columbian Exposition, max
ing of the White City city among
Exposition of magnificent dis.
tances, rendered the question OF
adequate and satisfactory trans
portion of visitors from point to
point within the grounds one of
considerable gravity. Expedi
ents such as had been utilized at
previous EXpOsitions elsewhere,
when the best systems then
known were employed, would not,
the directors were convinced,
suffice to cope with the Immense
crowds, which would daily flock
to the greatest Exposition the
world has seen. The idea of u.s.
ing surface cars could not be
entertained on account of possible
danger on crowded days, and this
left but one alternative-an ele
waited road.
The Exposition was to be SYM
bolical of the highest point reach.
ed by nineteenth century civiliza-
uOn, the operation of the road by
steam was out of the question,
and the plan finally adopted was
an electric elevated railroad run
ming almost entirely around the
Fair and Obtruding itself as little
as possible.
The construction Ofthe COlumb.
, ian Intramural Railway, as well as
the furnishing of the entire cleo
trical equipment, was effected by
the General Electric Company.
The work of construction was be.
gun on August 3rd, 1892, and al.
though much of it had to be done
during the most severe winter
known in many years, cars was in
operation April Goth, 1898. The
heavy Dxl2 pine supporters carry
strong wooden traverses upon
which are laid two Longitudinal 81"
iron beams for each truck. The
road is doubled tracked, the ser.
vice rails being spiked to cross
ties laid upon the beams, Each
line of rail is guarded by wooden
stringers laid upon each side.
Parallel to these service rails.
between the two tracks, are four
addition rails, similar in size and
weight to those on which the
trains travel. They are raised
about twelve inches above the
level of the service rails upon ere.
OsOted blocks of wood, acting as
insurlatOrs, and serve as couduc
tors for the electricity, taking the
place, in fact of the usual over
heat trolley wires. The two rails
nearest the two tracks carry the
current for direct communication
to the motors, the Utmost pair
serving as feeders. The feeder
and each length of conductor rail
are connected together by a well
soldered connection. The return
circuit is completed by a careful
bonding of each rail, and a con.
nectiOn TO the longitudinal grid.
ers, which are also made part of
the return.
The line consisting Of 1880 feet
ofdouble track and 1000 feet of
single track, was not laid out I'm.
til after the work of construction
had been begun on nearly all the
Fair buildings and many of them
completed, and the line is necess-
arily circuitOus. It's Northern ex.
tremlty is just north of the great
Manufactures and Liberal Arts
Building, where 1t passes a loop
over the north branch of the La
COON, near the Fisheries and Gov.
eminent buildings. Thence close
to the German, Russian, Haytian.
French and Swedish buildings,
then east of the Art Palace, pass.
ing close to the Vermont, Mass.
achusetts, Connecticut, New Jer.
sey and Iowa State buildings. 1t
then turns to the west, passing
along the north side of the
grounds, giving a fine view of the
State Buildings as well as the
Art Palace.
AT the northwest corner of the
grounds glimpre is obtained
from the cars of tho cnrinnr 10