The Washington times., 1894-08-13
COLUMBIA RAILWAY CABLE
It's Construction to Be Commenced
Early in October.
TO BE IN OPERATION IN SPRING
Road Bed-Plans Of the Power and Car
Houses-Machinery to Be Used-speed to
Be Nine Miles-No Interruption to Travel.

lne CONSTRUCTION OF tne carie Htle Vi tno
Columbia Railway will be commenced about
October l. The system used will be in many
respects similar to that now in operation on
the Washington and Georgetown Railway.
| The Columbia Railway Company something
| over year ago decided to equip their line
| with some form Of rapid transit system, and
with this end in view made thorough inves-
| tigation Of the various underground systems
now In use. The best features of the Buda-
Pesth, Love, and other underground electric
systems were carefully examined, and after
much deliberation 1t was decided that the
cable was the most practical for their line.
The advantages Of u trst-class cable line
are shownIconclusively by the operation OF the
lines OF the Washington and Georgetown Rail-
way, and the citizens Of the northeast feel
much elated at the prospect of enjoying
similar road.
Mr.. Upton. the former mechanical engineer
OF the Washington and Georgetown Railway,
has been appointed chief engineer of the Co
lumbia road, and under his direction the
plans for the road bed and power-house are
rapidly nearing completion.
ROAD BED CONSTRUCTION.
The material used in the construction of the
road bed will be of the best quality, and no
money or pains will be spared to make it
model of its kind. The contract for this work
has been awarded to u. E. Sexton, who lit
the Washington and Georgetown cable, and
the actual work will be started promptly Oc-
tober and pushed to an early completion.
Traffic on the road will not be interrupted,
as the cars viii use temporary tracks In q
manner similar TO those laid on Pennsylvania
avenue. The tube will be similar in form to
that used on the Washington and Georgetown
road, but the yokes will be spaced five feet
instead of four feet six inches. as was the case
there. Special attention will De given 10
joints, and to this end the wheel rails are
made very heavy, and the joints will be
placed on the yokes. This is essentially a new
feature and. it is said. will obviate one OF the
most trying things incidental to street rail-
way operation ''low joints
The curves on the lines will be easy riding,
owing to the long radii used. no curve having
a radius OF less than $50 feet. electric Yields
will be used in making joints on curves,
which is the latest wrinkle in this line OF
work.
The crossing at Seventh street and Massa-
chusetts avenus will be similar TO that at
Senventh street and Pennsylvania avenue, the
Columbia cars crossing by gravity. The
work on the street railway crossings, six in
number. will be done principally at night. so
that there need be no interference with travel.
The steam railroad crossings will be Of the
same type used at Seventh street and Viz
ginia and Maryland avenues. The manhole
covers will set flush with the street surface
and there will be no projecting lugs, thereby
doing away with the noise occassioned BY
wagons crossing the tracks.
NEW BUILDINGS AND CARS.
The company intends to equip the road
with the finest rolling stock yet seen in
the operation will be entirely new. In select
lag the cars special attention will be given
- securing comfortable. well lighted, and
well ventilated conyeyances.
Plans are now under way for the power
and ear houses. which will be located at the
eastern terminus of the line, facing on Ben
ning's road. The power-house will be u one
story structure, so feet wide and 200 feet deep,
built of brick and iron. Steel and iron
trusses will be used for the roof, which will
span about eighty feet.
This building will contain the driving plant,
which will be of the rope drive type. The
latest improved Corliss engines will be used
with especially large fy-wheels. The cable
driving drums will be about fourteen feet and
the speed of the cable will be nine miles.
Tubular boilers with smokeless furnaces viii
be used and the building throughout will be
lighted with electric lights. Tension devices
of the latest improved type to indicate any
vibration there may be in the cable. will bs
located in the rear end of this building.
The clrhouse, which will be separated BY
a five-foot alley from the power-house. will,
in addition to storing the cars. have the gen.
eral Offices of the company. Contracts for
the erection of the buildings will be made
early in the coming month, and it is hoped to
have the structures under cover before the
cold weather sets in. The road bed will be
completed and ready for the ears somttime
early next winter. and the work on the power
house and machinery will be pushed for
ward as rapidly as possible
1t is expected that the road will be in oper-
alton early in the spring and, when COM
pleted, will be first-class in every respect.