The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-28
THE STORAGE CAR.
Surprise That It's Success
Leaked Out.
q The Call Congratulated on Its
Service to Science-Rumors of the
New Systems Adoption.

The intelligence published in THE CALL
yesterday OF the successful trial trip made
by the new storage battery electric car was
the sole topic throughout the day in eIectri-
cal circles
So quietly, not 10 say secretly, had the
Electrical Storage Company completed its
work that not a suspicion of the SCOPE Of
its abors had leaked out. Yet here was a
success in which the entire civilized world
was interested.
THE CALL picked out the important
point unerriugly," said one gentleman en-
gagged in an electrical house Yesterday. in
singing out storage battery work aud point-
ing out the Importance Of this invention
The CALL has done S gnai service 10 science.
A light, reliable storage 5att cry is the only
appliance wanted TO extend scores Of in
dustries, including that Of strertcaT trac-
ton. Il is extraordinary 10 me that the con-
stTuctiDg company has managed to keep its
progress so quiet for 20 long"
"Hatch's invention" said another els
constructive ch effy. Since the original dis
cOve.Y that electricity could be stored
there have been thousands Of 'grids' . tent
ed tor holding the active material 10 place
and in other WAYS giving more surface 10
the solution. but there has been no change
in the main idea Of charging the battery. 1t
has all been an evolution Of construction.
So is Hatch's idea; it is constructive. but
instead OF ella bOTating new cOnvOiuted grids
he cuts the G0Tdian knot and does away
with gTlds altogether. The idea is splen-
did, more especially as he makes buckling a
sheer lmpOsslbliy."
Up in the Electrical Engineering Com
pany on Spear street the gentlemen in
charge were talking about the electric car
when CALL reporter entered.
THE reason why stOrage-battery work
has attracted so little attention hitherto"
SAID one OF them, us. | think. the old story
Of the cry IF wolf Tie construction Of a
safe. light, inexpensive storage battery has
| been the dream OF many an electrical conf
pany, dream now believed almost in its
grasp and then again failing away.
Inventors with 'sure-thiDg batteries
have nearly driven the companies frantic
over the waste OF time and money they have
entailed, and al last 1t had come 10 lie IN
derstood that the thing was out Of the ques-
ton.
Now, however, that II has been shown
that Invention recognizes no such word as
impossible 1t is likely that the ubiquitous
American inventor will take heart again
and we shall have him coming round with
improvements on Hatch's idea.
But seriously, this discovery marks In
many ways a new departure and one of the
highest value from practical standpoint"
incidentally it was learned that the
Hatch batteries have been under test as
| light acCumulators for three months by the
! Edison Light and Power Company.
A visit to their quarters on Stevenson
street verified the fact. For three months. -
! said an emplOye. I'VE have used the bat
| terles, and they give a constant, brilliant
! light. They never get out OF order. require
| no attention and can be readily moved
| around. / suppose evaporation will necessi-
tate renewal. although it has not done so
| yet, but there is not much difficulty about
| adding little water once ia SIX months
| or So"
Gustav Sutro and George h. Roe of the
! California Electric Light Company visited
| the new storage battery car during the
! week and Inspected il closely. They APP
| peared greatly interested in the progress
made and much speculation was oecasioued
| regarding the purpose Of their visit 1t is
| thought not improbable that the residents
| in the Mission. now accommodated by a
! horsecar line, rs we'll as other outlying dis
| tricts, may benefit by the success OF the n lew
! battery.
Another trip was projected yesterday,
and it is possible that the new car may 90
| out now any time. The crisis is passed. as
| announced yesterday, bet curiosity is now
| thoroughly aroused among scientific people
and the general public to see The car and. IL
| possible, ride on it,