The sun., 1894-08-17
SWITCHED THE rRoL1Er CURRENTS.
a street Ger Row :. NorusIk whicn
Shook Up the Dynamos

NoRwALR, Conn. Aug. 16-The Norwalk
Tramway Company and the Norwalk and South
Norwslk Street Railway Company are at war
again. Eighteen months ago when the tram
way company was putting down It's tracks
through Wall street, where the street railways
tracks also run, there was disagreement be-
tween the two corporations. and the street
railway company got injunction against
the tramway that caused the latter an
expensive delay OF several weeks. The tramway
corporation did not forget this, and this after
noon tried for revenge. The railway company's
stock has recently changed hands, the road has
been double tracked on West avenue, and trolley
wires strung on the main line and the Winni-
pauk branch. Through Wall street the two
companies use the same tracks and, Of course,
the same trolley wires.
The street railway company started to-day to
run electric cars. Each company has its own
dynamos at the big power house Of the Norwslk
and South Norwalk Electric Light Company.
The question arose as to which should furnish
the electricity for the run through wall street.
II was finally arranged that each should furnish
the power over the common wires for six months,
hut which should furnish IL for the first six
months could not be agreed upon
This morning President L. J. Hill OF the street
railway company tclephoned to the tramway
company notifying them that the street rail.
way company had started its electric cars. and
that the tramway company would be expected
~ furnish power for six months. The tramway
run through Wall street soon after noon an
electrician climbed the pole in front Of the Fair
I" work 10 hut "mtn en be heavV esd s1u csSss
W. h. Acton, Secretary and general manager OF
the street railway company, came along.
What are you doing therep ?" he said.
"Oh. we can't seem 10 settle this Wall street
business Just right, and I'm putting on u meter
Just to see how much Of our electricity you are
using" responded the workman.
Acton thought the black box looked some
thing like c meter, and passed on. Then the
come into Wall street. followed by. street rail-
way car The tramway car would run rapidly
on ., barrel in front Of the bank building
push a lever in the cutoff and the street railway
car would stop. In a few minutes, when the
tramway car came back the, current would be
ahead. The street railway officials were puzzled
Tor some time. +. }. Hill and W F. Acton drag
Tor The trouble They sent messengers to The
power house. but nothing was out OF place.
scheme was ST apparen Heads went 1 tScether the is for
short time, and then street railway employee
apps ed IL iroII Of the Boston store. . corner
branch curves In He cut the Winnipnuk feed
cable. aud. armed with rubber gloves and two
block Of wood the end of the Winnipauk
;ani, mn, aad ,hat Of The main linz; When the
Joined the wires to give his company power from m
the branch wire. Iiut this brought together ut
the power houst two currents running In Oppn-
site directions. The dy amos began 10 burn ont
and the whole station was IN dongcr.
II" power house electricians oarnc tumbling
down town in hurry. They grabbed the oper-
alto. Ia front Of the Boston store.
You are tearing the whole building down."
they said.
The officials OF the street railway company
sobcred down. They own the expensive dyna-
mos which were being ruined.
-" We will furnish the current" said Mr.. Hill.
The operator on Wall street closed his box In
triumph, but n moment later messenger ar
rived IRON General Manager Mansfield OF the
tr;tInway company with orders 70 supply the
electricity until further notice. He
had not heard that the street railways Pres.
dent had given in.
"One days fighting gone" he said. when he
heard uf Il. and the President Of the street
railway remark ked to reporter at the Norwalk
Club this evening. The end II not yet"