Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-08-16

A Big Railway Project.
A Baltimore Sun special gives par
ticulars of a projected electric railway
over which passengers and mails are to
be whisked between the metropolis and
the capital at the rate of 1870 miles an
hour. Bearing in mind how the much
advertised electric road that was to con-
meet Chicago and ST. Louis in season
for the Worlds Fair traffic did not
materialize, and has since ceased to be
heard of, the reading public may be
excused for not taking much stock in
similar projects until they show signs Of
becoming more substantial, but some of
Che names given of men who are said to
be prepared to back up this new yenture
seem to indicate that there may be
something in it. Among these are
Hamilton Disston, the great saw manu-
facturer and retainer of the Florida
everglades; Moses Sweetzer, the CAPT
talist of Parkersburg, w. Va; l.. A.
Grant, ex-Assistant Secretary Of War;
Samuel NJ. Bryan, President of the
Potomac Telephone &C.; Isaac Hetzel Of
Philadelphia; II. I. Wells of Indiana;
ex-Congressman AN. Bliss of Brooklyn;
sx-Congressman John j. Hemphill
of South Carolina; General ]. ]. Rey-
nolds, II. G. Turnbull, and others of
Baltimore. The projectors are asking
/ Congress for charter under the name
of the National Rapid Transit Railway
Co.; bill for this purpose having been
introduced in both houses ard in each
branch referred to the judiciary com.
mittee. The would-be incorporators
have applied to Congress for this act Of
incorporation because they believe that
in this way they can more readily OBJ
viate legal difficulties. As yet no report
on the application has been made in
either house, but the projectors are hope,
: full of securing the desired legislation, il
not at this session then at the session be.
ginning in December. 1t is stated that
The judiciary committees Of both House
and Senate object to giving the desired
franchise because they do not like t.
convey privileges which they believe
should be granted only by the State.
through which the proposed road is t.
run. If legislation is not furnished bJ
Congress, the projectors will then apply
to the State legislatures.
The bill of incorporation sets forth
that by the construction of such roat
the United States mails can be conveyed
with greater celebrity and security be
tween New York and Washington; tina
United States marines and soldiers cal
be transported in less than half the TIM
now required; and that the road vii
greatly facilitate interstate commerce
cheaper the transportation for passen
gers and mails, reduce the time of transi
more than one-half, afford create
security to life and promote the genera
welfare. The road structure and it
supports arc to be made of iron 0
steel, of sufficient size and strength II
permit the passage Of cars over the sam
at a speed of 1870 miles an hour, and III
conduits for the electric current are t
be so adjusted as to prevent any persOI
coming in contact with or receiving
dangerous shock from the same. Til
roadway is to be elevated 50 tina
the tracks shall be two feet 0
more above the ground and PROVIDE
with one or more side rails at such elt
walton as will reach above the floor an
nnder the stills of the windows of til
ears, to prevent derailment. Where til
,oad passes through the streets of
city or town or interseCts any publ
highway, it is to go either overhead {
underground, so as not to interfere wit
vehicular traffic. The plans and draw
ings for all bridges across nayigabl
streams on the route are to be submitte
to and approved by the Secretary
War The charge for transporting pa
sengers is not to exceed two cents pt
mile, and the work is to be commence
within one year and to be completed
five years. The cars will run bicyc
fashion on central rail, wi
small wheels to engage the ST,
guard rails referred to, but it is beliov,
there will not be much use for the
side wheels, as the car once in rap
motion, like a bicycle, will run upon t
central rail and the greater the spe
the less the tendency to topple ov,
But little grading will be required +
the roadbed, as compared with stea
railways. Should the project be CARR
out, the running time between Ne
York and Washington will be cut doy
to about two and one-half hours, Al
proportionately between other cit
along the line. Surprising it should ia
in Wilmington en- route, the eff,
would be to bring this city within fife
minutes Of Philadelphia.
The First Step Taken.