Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-26
TO sUPPLANr THE TROLLEY.
Washington Leads in the Great and Neccs-
sary Work Of Reform.

Washington Leads in the Great and Neoes-
sary Work OF Reform.
From The New York Times.
Congress would not permit the overhead
trolley system to be used in Washington. and
because Of this prohibition there may now be
seen in operation in that city an underground
trolley line which deserves the attention Of the
authorities In other cities where the poles and
overhead wires have been set up or where per-
mission to set them up has been sought upon
the plea that there is no other practicable
method Of applying electric motive power to
the cars of a surface road. The company which
uses this underground system within the city
limits moves its cars on that portion Of its line
which lies beyond the boundary by the over
head trolley, because the first cost of the over
head plant is less than that Of such an UNDER
ground Plant as the company has put in, but it
Is reported that 80 per cent more power is
obtained by the use Of the subterraneau wires
and that the cost Of operation is less by so per
cent than IN the case of the overhead system.
ihe Electrical Engineer of the 18th instant
publishes description Of an underground sys-
TEN now in use in the city Of Hartford This
system II is said, has been in practical OPERA
ton Tor the past four months meeting with the
most severe winter experiences, aud has shown
Itself to be practical success and capable OF
=
thoroughly insulated conductor runs under
meath the surface Of the street between the
raiis. connection can be made between this
csoie ana the car motor only at openings six
teen feet apart, but even at these openings the
cable is not exposed. The medium OF cornuu-
nication is q thin metal ribbon attached 10 the
car. This touches q little wheel az each open-
ing, depressing this wheel until the framework
tnat supports II touches the cable below. The
l,ooon OF metal is more than sixteen feet long,
openings it 10 in position TO take the current
from the second before IL has ceased 10 take Il
| from the first ~
III VIII be seen that so far as danger arising
rom tne exposure OF the cable that carries the
1 ~ - concerned this 10 q harmless system
.ne cable Is insulated throughout its length.
Al me contact openings there can be no lesk-
age, Tor the spring clips below the little wheels
through the medium Of which contact is made
are carefully insulated. The wheels, which
are ,he only parts Of the system that are visible
=. tne openings, are not In circuit except when
| the car Is directly over them. ana they .r.
harmless TO the touch as soon as the car has
| passed The system is harmless where the
overhead trolley 10 dangerous. The machinery
anu tne conductor are concealed and offer no
| ousuucuon, while the overhead trolley Is uu-
slightly end cumbersome. The cost Of com
sfruction is said 70 be about &C. 600 per mile.
| speaking OF an assumption on the part Of
the public that electricians are blindiy conn
| mitteo 10 the trolley, and unfavorable TO
any other method Of electrical tranepoyts,ion
the Electrical Engineer declares that electri
cians do see that the perfection OF some further
means OF electric traction is TO be desired and
| that invention and capital have been busy ON
new systems, in which the use Of overhead
wires can be avoided. The Enqineer also saws:
Our own faith in the ultimate success Of
other means than the trolley lie stronger than
ever, and we are glad to note that the maeni-
tude OF the prize still tempts adventurous capi-
tai The later attempts have certainly gone
| nearer the goal than any that preceded them,
| ana every month sees an advance A few
weeks ago we described some excellent storage
battery trips In this city. Last week we de-
scrioeo very promising conduit road in WASH
ington. and this week Mr.. Shaw describes a
conduit road he has just inspected at Hartford
Evidently there is abundant effort to drop the
| trolley In the conduit slot Altogether. there
1 fore, the time Is near when the public eager
for rapid transit. but in dire fear of the
| deadly trolley, will be able TO get the fun
benent OF something better than it has hitherto
enjoyed"
| In all cities where the streets have not been
given up to the overhead trolley poles and
| wires the authorities should not permit the
| dangerous and uusightly overhead system 70
| be introduced. IL q safe and practicable UNDER
ground system be not already avsilable-and
| there seems TO be satisfactory evidence on
TINS point, not only in the statements Of SO
1 competent q witness as Mr.. A. c. Shaw and of
90 prominent journal as the Electrical Enof-
| neer, but also In other testimony--the predic-
| ton may be made with confidence, we think.
that after q few months have elapsed no one
will be able to defend the use Of the overhead
trolley on the ground that a harmless, unob-
| iectionable and equally practicable method of
electric traction for city and suburban Railroad
that can take the place of IL has not been per-
| fected.