Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-08
Electricity VS.. Steam.


For number of years railroad experts
have been looking sanguinely forward to a
time when electricity would take The place
Of steam as motive power upon the rail
ways OF the country, but the remarkable de-
rslopment in speed made during the past
year, and the enormous increase in the vol
ume OF freight handled, have combined to
postpone consideration OF the substitution
Of electricity for steam. Tho trolley system
Of propulsion by electricity has not yet
reached point Of development where it
could be used economically on railroads of
ordinary pretensons, and the storage bat
terry system is even less advanced than its
wire line rival. Experiments in railroadng
are therefore tending at present toward i'm
proving methods OF steam locomoton until
n time when electric propulsion shall be re-
duced to an economical as we'll as practical
bic basis for general railroad purposes.
The wonderful fests of speed recently &C
complished upon different railroads and the
Increasing ability shown by the mechanical
engineers who make modern locomotives
have convinced many people and especially
railroad experts that electricity will not
Surpass steam as motive power unless that
great discovery is made which so many
.ciontists have hoped to make, of procuring
the energy which is in coal directly and
without wasteasa. II some way is discov-
cred by which electric force can be pro-
duced directly from coal, it will, OF course,
suppant steam power and revolutionizs
civilization. But railway men, while
not exactly incredulous yet are iu-
cl.ned to think that Edison and the other
scientists who say that this thing will be
done are too sanguine. Nevertheless, it is
said that experiments are now being made in
a laboratory in one OF New Works suburban
villages which possibly may give within the
next year or two TO the world a scientific
discovery perhaps OF greater Importance
than that made by Prof. Morse or George
Stevenson. II those who are engaged in
this research find that their hopes are just
fled they will be able to extract the hydro
gen which 10 in coal and 10 unite it with
oxygen, and mako a direct application of
the energy contained therein. In view Of
the wonderful discoveries and inventions
made during the past decade no one is will
ling to say that anything of this kind is
Impossible, and railroad men as well AS the
general public will wait patiently for the
next development in the intense struggle for
supremacy upon railroads between steam
and electricity.
In tha meantime the public must devote
Its attention to more practical problems re-
lating to steam and electric railways and
ono Of these ia tho manner in which the two
are being developed. The Philadelphia
Ledger has done the people service in
warning the public to guard against the
formation of trunk electric lines through
out the country, largely at the expense Of
the public. A moments reflection will en-
able any thoughtful mind to realize that
there isa vast difference in. the way in
which steam railroads and electric railways
are constructed, which consideration is of
particular Importance in country districts.
When ssteam railroad Is TO be built tha
company ia required to obtain its right of
way through private property by purchase
Or otherwise. 1t is not allowed to enter
upon a public highway, already graded and
finished with hard surface at the expense
Of the public, and take that highway for Its
roadway. During the past few years, how.
ever, electric railway companies have been
doing this very thing under the guise OF
street railways, and they arc extending
their lines from village to village and from
town to town with little If any expense for
right Of way.
A city may bo able to give right of
way to street railroad for the benefits