The morning call., 1893-10-07
THE SPEED TEST.
To Be Made in Oakland
To-Day and Sunday.
HOW THE INDICATOR WORKS
John l.. Davie Arrested for Failure
to Pay His Wharf License for
Last Quarter.

A. D. Wilder, division superintendent
of the Southern Pacific Railroad, gave a
CALL reporter last night the following de-
scription of the running of the speed in
dicator that is designed to show the rate
at which trains are being run in Oakland,
and how the speed ordinance is observed.
Mr.. Wilder said:
"This speed indicator Is a mechanical
appliance equipped with dial and hand,
and shows how fast train il moving at
every moment. In appearance it is slmi-
lar to a steam-gauge. Almost every off,
GERS car has one built on it. When the
car is at a standstill. the hand points to
zero. and as speed begins and increases, 1t
moves the dial around. In the bottom of
the car Is second dial with an arrange
ment attached by which sheet Of tracing
paper can be brought in contact with a
needle, and so adjusted that the paper
moves slowly but in proportion 20 the
speed of the car. and a record of the run
is indicated in miles and minutes by a
waving line.
"Vice-President Crocker's car. which is
provided with a speed indicator. Will be
attached to-day TO the regular train which
meets the o'clock boat from San Fran
cisco and run through to Fruitvale. max
ing the regular trips all day. In this way
the car will leave the pier every hour and
a half. The same programme will be re-
peated tomorrow. but not after that. This
will afford sufficient time and opportunity
TO see that the railroad company Is acting
in good faith and complying In every de-
tail with the speed ordinance recently
passed by the Council"
"Who will ride in the special car, Mr..
Wilder?"
ANY one who wishes. There has been
no special committee of citizens appointed
to observe and test the workings of the ap-
pliance that l know Of. | shall be on the
car myself 10 explain every thing TO visit
ors. and | hope that every one who is III
terested in this matter will take advantage
of the opportunity TO inspect the running
of the trains"
"Why did you select Mr.. Crocker's
car ?"
Because the indicator on that car was
tested recently, and we know that 1t is
working perfectly. We made a trial run
with it on September q from the pier to
Fruitvale ana back, and were we'll satisfied
with the result"
John l.. Dayie was arrested yesterday
afternoon, charged with violating the Ii
cense ordinance in having failed TO pay
S25 to the Oakland municipality due for
the last quarter on the wharf at the loot
of Harrison street. He was released on
his own recognZance.
At the adjourned meeting Of the Ord-
nance and Judiciary Committee of the
Oakland Council last night there was
present the full committee Messrs. Dow,
Marshall. Capell. Barstow and Smell.
An amended cage ordinance or substi-
tute was handed in by Mr.. Smell and read
bv the clerk. 1t allowed half cages on the
cars, but stimulated that they must not be
locked, and must be so made as to be
opened from the inside by knob or latch.
After the ordinance was read dead
silence fell on the committee. Chairman
Dow men toned something about Quaker
meeting, when Mr.. Marshall, who was
very quiet at the meeting of the night be-
fore, stated that lie had given the matter
considerable thought during the day, and
mad come TO the conclusion that there were
other ways to keep off passengers than
caging them up, and he thought he would
favor the original ordinance.
do you make that a motion?" quickly
ask Capell
Yes; l move that the original ordi-
nance be recommended"
Second The notion" said Capell.
The question was put and Mr.. SnelPs
substitute was consigned to eternal
oblivion.
Those voting foi the Dow ordinance
were Dow. Marshall and Capell and those
against were Smell and Barstow.
Mr.. Smell explained that the substitute
was not wholly his, but that one section
had been recommended By Mr.. Barstow
and Mr.. Barnard, he said, also made some
suggestions in the matter.
The substitute ordinance was based ON
a sort of half gaze such as is used by the
New York elevated roads, and so sure Of
its recommendation were its friends that
it is said the railroad company was willing
to abide by it and was preparing to re-
model its cages to fit the Smell substitute.
Indeed, it is said the substitute had been
submitted to Master Mechanic Mckenzie
at the railroad yards and that he was very
much pleased with il.
1t is thought now that the original ordi-
nance Will 60 through the Council all right.