The herald., 1894-11-14
THE RAILROADS.
CONTINUING THE TESTS FOR OIL
BURNING LOCOMOTIVES.
conp arstive Expense of Electric and
Gable kailrosds-Tho Result in
Favor of tho Gable In San
Ffanoiscu.

Speaking about oil burning locomo
Nves, u Santa Fe official yesterday said
that the locomotive with which q test
ia now being made was operated during
the day between San Bernardino and
Orange. The work yesterday was with
q freight train, and the engine worked
satisfactorily. The same official said
that while the tests go far have been
satisfactory, there will be no jumping at
conclusions on the part OF the railroad
company. There have been some pre-
vious tests in this direction by the
Standard Oh company in the east, and
there are at present oil burning loeomo-
tives IN use ia South America. In the
east where coal is cheap, II has never
been 80 much an object to make the
change to burning petroleum as in the
west and on the Pacific coast.
NOTES.
Superintendent j. A. Muir OF the
Southern Pacifi, went north yesterday.
Mr. Isaacs, bsgsagemsster of the San
Ia Fe. went down to San Diego Monday.
EXPENSES OF STREET RAILWAYS.
A local authority on street railways.
says the San Francisco Call, has cue
cseded in gathering together several in
teresting facts about cable and electric
railroads, which have popularity been
regarded with considerable cuiiosity.
Among other things he takes public
opinion by surprise with O statement
that electric liEea cost more to operate
than cable roads.
In giving his views to Thomas Magee
he said: The San Mateo electric road.
az operated today, requires as much
horee power 60 operate it az the whole
original Market.street system--that 10.
Msrket street. Valencia, Haight, Hayes
and Nc Allister streets combined.
THE comparative cost OF the motive
power OF cable and electricity is very
much in favor OF the cable road, pro-
vided the number Of cars are in excess
OF say from 80 to 40.
mo single electric car can be operated
with less than from 10 to Is horse
power, this ratio remaining the same,
no matter how great the number of cars
operated from the one power plant,
while the average horee power ex-
pended for each cable car operated
here (Ssn Franciscc) lie less than s.
The ratio OF horse power per car de-
creases as the number of cars operated
by the cable are increased for example,
it would require from 10 to 15 horse
power to operate an electric line of one
car. and from 500 to 750 horse power to
operate the same line with 50 cars.
I'm the case OF cable line it would
require SO to 70 horse power to operate
q single car line, and about $50 horse
power to operate 80 cars on the same
line.
''On steep grade. where a single
electric car would require at least 80
horee power to propel the same, a cable
car would require no more and perhaps
less than on any other part of the road,
as the cars returning down the same
hill or like hill would balance those
going up. and the power expended to
propel either would be nominal.
rails used on the electric roadbed
must necessarily be heavier than those
used on cable, as an electric car empty
weighs more than cable car of the
came capacity and it's load comb bined.
With regard to the cost OF the came,
electric cars fully equipped with two
motors coet from $4,000 to $4,000,
whereas cable car OF the same capacity,
with grip and brakes complete, would
not cost to exceed $4,000. While the
cable road is cheaper to operate. the
cost OF construction 10 in favor of the
Electric road.
Each single track OF the present
Market-strset cable originally cost about
100000 per mile, but material-and
rails especially-wsrs expensive when
the road was built; rails costing at that
time $40 per ton, can be duplicated today
for $40.
Electric roadbeds do not necessarily
need stesl and concrete construction,
therefore electric lines similar to Mis-.
sion street can be built for half the cost
Of cable lines, or about $25, 900 per mile,
single track, while that on Kearney
street. that is with concrete foundation,
from $50, 900 to $35, 900 per mile. This
10 on the basis OF single track, but elec-
trio roads seem to be the most popular
today. The difference in the cost Of
building them, the speed obtainabls,
and the electrically lighted cars, are ali
inducements to the contemplating build
ers to use the same on streets with
gradients not exceeding ono in seyep.n