The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-27
REGAN'S MOTOR.
The Trial Trip Proves a
Successful One.
OVER THE RAILS WITH EASE
Now the Owl Cars Will be Put on
the Road.
TO BENEFIT THE MISSI0NlTES.
An Invention That Will Do Much to
Revolutionize the Car Sys-
tenn of This City.
TO BENEFIT THE MIsSIoNITES.

A
Of air. an expansion cylinder and a Gun
uingly contrived motor machine served to
pYopel a carload of passengers over five
miles of the Mission-street car tracks
without the aid of horse. steam or electric
power.
Daniel S. Regan's automatic car motor
was described in Thursdays CALL Last
night 1t was tested before the general pub
lie
At IL o'clock the special dummy car built
for the experiment and containing the
unique and wonderful invention started
from the corner of Mission and Thirteenth
streets. continued south to Twenty-sixth
and returned via Mission to the ferries.
Mr.. Regan himself, his hackers. re-
porter of The CALL and carload of pas
sengers were present TO witness the trial.
BY the Inventors request no display wa:
made In connection with the affair. for Mr..
Regan Is modest man and make no pre-
tensions until he is sure of his ability TO
prove his claims.
The discovery of a mechanical device for
the propulsion Of streetcsrs, which does
away with all external force, which even
requires no central power-h house. like that
necessary for electric storage battery car
riages, was e1Ougl at least to pardon
vanity or any fervid Observation-Disclosures
The thing has been sought after by in
ventors for years, has been prayed for by
every man who ever had to do with the
difficult and hitherto almost insolya-
Bile problem Of rapid transit In great
. Ties. and OF LATE has assumed such
= Importance that a prize OF 100000 has
been offered In England for the contriyance
That would most effectually supplant the cleo
= tnc trolley or the cable.
2 In this, II the work of last night Is safe test
from which 10 judge. Mr.. Regain has succeeded
Not only has he dey loped motor power that
Will operate within the car which II propels, but
he has devised that that motor power shall be
cheaper, more secure aud more easy TO handle
than any now applied for similar purpose.
But all the honor of it Mr. Regan bears
meekly. He appeared neither nervous nor
anxious when the mOrorman pulled the lever
and gave the the first impulse for the critical
journey II was about to pursue. AS II TO
demonstrate his confidence and as If to EN-
phaSlze that he was not bringing before the
public machine whose every detail had not
been thought out and perfected, the inventor
did not handle tie lever himself, but set over il
a mechanic from his shop.
My aim all through, said Mr.. Regain. has
been to perfect motor that any man of com
mon intelligence could handle as easily as the
Gripman or motOrman does his work"
- The mechanic had merely 10 pull one lever
and the car was started; another and 1t
stopped. There was no complication - no
steam-engiDe throttle or safety-valve or reverse
leVer-merely two levers and a brake-haD
AT precisely l o'clocS down came the first
lever, the pistons moved, the cOgs caught, the
wheels turned and the car was of. From the
email copper tank placed almost ont of sight
under the roof OF the car had fallen
TO two cylinders beneath one or TWO
drops OF gasoline. They mingled with ten
cubic feet Of air. expanded into from
two TO four feet Of cubic gas themselves, then
an electric spark was touched to the mixture
Instantly the applied heat expanded the gas 10
the large pressure OF 200 pounds to the square
inch. The pston-rOds were driven forth and
back; the motion was communicated to tile
ground wheels Dy a series OF cogs, and The pas
sage was begun.
On the ear the action OF the machinery was
scarcely felt-nOt more so. at least, than it is
In the cars OF well constructed electrician,
There was DO unpleasant rumble. The car
aid smoothly over the rails and the gaping
or owds stood wondering where the power
came that made the thing 60"
For 60 It dd, at an easy rate OF six or seven
miles per hour, now and then squirting to ten or
twelve. The turn at the end OF Mission street
was taken easily, the crossings of other car
tracks caused no trouble, switches and other
difficulties In line made 10 impeachment.
The motor had its evident advantage over the
cable, for 1t could increase its speed and vary
It at VIII. il had advantage over the electric
line, for its machinery was held high above the
track and free from dust.
The inventor claims ii will work equally we'll
In all weather and on all grades. Its cost is
from 30 to 40 per cent less than the electric
car and its weight as a carriage only halt that
Of the latter.
BY :be use Of it in the city all lines will be
enabled to run an all-nigbt service cheaply and
effectively. Ii covers the distance from the
ferries TO Iwenty-sixth street and return 10
thirty minutes
The Misson-street line expects 10 place
three night cars on the road at once so that
FIVE or ten minutes service Will be possible
at all hours.