New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-18
ELECTRIC UNDERGHOTND IE-1CIION.
EXPERIMENTAL TRIAL OF NEW SYSTEM At
COMFY ISLAND.

EXPERIMENTAL TRIAL or NEW SYSTEM At
COMFY ISLAND.
An interesting trial was made at Con"y Island YES
,crdav Of new system of underground electric irac-
ton The officers Of the Universal Electric Company
owner Of the system. and several wall street menus
and electrical experts. went down to SEQ I'll" expert
ment. The company has leased a quarter 4 mi"
Of track near the Culver route railroad station. from
the old bicycle traction company. in which General
Henry W. sOcum i, largely interested. CONNECTION
was made with an ordinary car from overhead trolley
wires ana the car WAS run smoothly and successfully
through the afternoon.
The principal drawback to all systems Of under
ground electric traction heretofore cXpermcncd with
has been The leakage or L., from induction. The
systems have generally involved slotted conduit con
tanning bare wires, The most successful and the
longest confined experiments were made some years
ago by Bentley d Knight. in Cleveland Allegheny
City and Boston. On account Of in>upcrahlc diff
cules the scheme, were abandoned ~ commercially
inpracticaLlc. Albeit St-on. electrician for TIA" new
company -aid with regard 10 it, project: We hav"
tried in This system to avoid former defect, by pro
tcc,ne the wire from all prsshl" leakage employing
bare wire, in the conduit and having the electric
current only AT th" moment the car pa,,", the
particular contact box
The system Is the invention Of John J. Green. Of
Eoonton. y. J. IT, distinguishing feature il the
shoe" by which the current j., taken into the car.
This, instead Of being short device similar 10 N"
cable srp7 is made nearly The length Of the ear.
being feet a1, Two inches long. II i, constructed
ncNibly, in such manner 10 enable The t.
take any cnvc however sharp ana ~till preserve
absolute contact with the boxes.
The new system consists essentially Of an insulated
oad-cOvcrcd cable. extending In The conduit, both
sides. the entire length Of the track. Inside the con
tact box the ca bic J, stripped bare 70 She wire and
contact device fastened on 10 IN" cable. Up 10
tn" bottom Of the cable the contact box !, filed win
solid paraine, and the remainder IF the hon filled
with high grade paralln" oil. NJ the top Of the bDt
projects an arm fastened - Il rod. ~ the lower end
Of which Is copper brush for making contact with
The cable pieces The position of the contact arm
30 controlled 10y stout spring that when 10 car j,
passing the brush j. In it, normal position aud no
current i passing either 10 The ground the rail or
In any way involving leakage .ndang ring life.
he popularity ol the arm is that it j. n-lrucl,d
on IN" plan Of the TELESCOPE. 80 that the car may
back and Ct the current without any strain bc .
Brought on the box the cable Til an .-Scnt al
feature. for without il tie shoe" pressing upOn the
contact arm. would produce tD.gc Joint and very
likely tear the box from the side Of the conduit
Mr.. Stct~on claims for the system the merit OF
simplicity Of construction and operation. the limn 4
possible" protection against leakage Of the current
and the ability 10 work perfectly in conduit partially
or wholly flied with mud or water. The system NAV
readily lie applied 70 The ordinary trolley mO,r bv
taking Wiz" from the top Of III" car ti" hoe
The officers Of tn" Universal Electric COMPANY are
Thomas {. Buck, pr sidcnt Julien +. Myers, vic.
president, ana H. L. Keen secretary and treasurer.