Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-05

The Metropolitan Railroad Company has
Investigated the subject Of rapid-tran sit
motors and has satisfied itself that It can
safely expend large sum of money In the
construction Of an underground electric
system. 1t has asked to be permitted to
install this system, and the House has
passed a bill granting II permission to 10
DO. Upon the various points at issue be-
tween the Metropolitan road and the public.
The Star has freely expressed itself from
time to time, and IL has decided opinions
concerning the conditions which should be
imposed IN a virtual re-chartering Of the
read But. assuming that the railway "a to
be re-chartered. The Star thinks that II
should be permitted to make use OF such
understandable motive-power as IL sees fit
to adopt: In which category Is classed the
underground electric.
II Is therefore a matter Of regret that the
Commissioners, In reporting upon the Met
ropolitan's bill. should enter upon a slash
ing crusade against about all of the I'M
proved motors, while recommending greater
hberality to the road in its choice of a
motive power. The provision recommended
by the Commissioners gives the COM
pany the right to use surface motors
other than steam motors. or an underground
system other than cable system. and 1t
would not apparently prevent the road from
using the underground electric system.
which 1t says that It intends to adopt. The
change viii be only such as is necessary
sor its equipment with the motive power
which It selects.
There will consequently be no advantage
to any one in the show Of greater lberality
n N he Of in he
selection Of a motive power. And in con-
nection with an enlargement Of the priv
ilege Of selecting among rival motors which
the railway does not want. since 1t has al
ready made its selection, the report siurs
the admirable underground electric system
Of Buda Pesth. ignores the successful I'M
dergroand trolley in this city, and con-
dennis and prohibits the cable system,
which Is reasonably satisfactory when sub
3ected to proper municipal regulati tons con-
corning speed. adoption Of tenders, sc.
Its sole suggestion Of relief Is a gas motor
now used at Nedfchatel and Dresden.
There are pneumatic motor street railw avs
successfully operated at Paris Nantes,
Berne and other places. and storage bat
terry cars at the Hague and other Euro
psan cities, and 1t is hoped that in time the
capital may exhibit the use of the best
models OF all these different motors, that
the ittest may survive for universal adop-
tion- But it will not be wise to scorn the
successfully operating conduit systems of
the present, which are now being accepted
as notable improvements upon horse power
and the overhead trolley, in order to grasp
at gas motors. or pneumatic motors. or the
motor of the future, whatever 1t may be.
The way in which the overhead trolley
hav naI
upon the cities which they affiict has been
by disparaging every practical substitute
for the trolley as 1t appeared, such as the
cable and the electric conduit systems. and
suggesting something else as better. after
which they have set the public to chasing.
proceeding meanwhile undisturbed in their
business Of dishguring and obstructing the
streets and endangering lives. The Com
missioners and the people of Washington,
who do not love the overhead trolley. should
not fall into this trap.