Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-09-01
ELECTRIC LIGHTS ON TRAINS.
A New English system OF uIumfna-
lion Chenper Thnn OIL or Gns.

A New English system OF HIumfna-
ton Cheaper Than OIL or Gas.
One OF the most lucrative professions
Of the day Is that of the oculist. The
American eye is sadly out Of gear,
and we are told 1t VIII be more 50 MS
the point is reached al which the Gu.
mulatiYe effect Of the aliases 10 which
1t is subjected asserts itself. No more
ruthless way OF impairing the eyesight
could be discovered than that Of read
ing by the light Of the ordinary railway
lamp. Even with the best light il
would be better not TO read at all
under such conditions of vibration and
oscillation as exists in moving cars;
but II we feel that we cannot alto.
gether afford TO waste the large pro-
portion Of our time we spend in tray
cling, II is a source Of satisfaction 10
know that we now DO such reading by
light that inflicis the minimum in
jury on the eye. An admirable train
electric lighting system has been sub
tected 10 a years practical test In Eng
land with the most successful results.
according 10 the ST. Louis Globe-Demo-
cTat There has for some time been
a considerable amount Of prejudice
against electric lighting for trains on
the score of expense. but the details
given concerning tie actual working
Of the system referred 10 show that not
only Is Its Illuminating power more
than adequate 10 all needs. but that IL
Is cheaper than any other method for
car lighting. II is easy 10 install and
still easier 10 operate, as the working
Of the whole plant is automatic
The system embraces a dynamo and
accunulators, or. as Americans pre-
fer 10 call them. storage batteries,
which, for convenience. are generally
placed In the baggage car. although In
some cases, such as with Pullman and
Wagner cars. il is more convenient 10
place a small set Of accumulators I'M
der each car. so that in the event OF
such car being detached from the main
portion OF the train for any length Of
time. the lamps IN the car may be sup
piled from their own set of cells. In
the report OF the working Of the sys.
TEN on the London. Brighton & South
Coast railway for the last twelve
months. II Is stated that the electrically
lighted trains were found 20 be more
serviceahle than gas-lighted trains.
principally because the extra haulace
necessary 10 run the latter 10 the
charging stations was saved. The Eor-
mer were always ready 10 go any
where and there was no need 10 in
qulre and calculate whether the reserve
power was sufficient for the journey
The electric lighted trains are estimat-
cd 10 render about II per cent more
service than gas-lighted trains. which.
taking the cost OF building a train Of
ten cars even at only $4,000. means
saving Of some importance In the CON
struction Of one hundred trains The
report gives figures comparing the first
cost. weight and maintenance per train
81 ten cars. Of gas. oil and electric light
according TO actual tests. The first
cost Of gas. including travelling cylin-
ders. buildings. engines. etc. was about
S3.2J0 10 $3.50 per train; Of oil about
5000 per train. not including cost Of
buildings. etc, for cleaning and repair
ing lamps: 81 electric light. s.. COO The
price includes undergear, and when
once equipped the train Is Independent
and carries its own lighting plant with
n. and can be sent anywhere at any
time The weights Of the respective
plants are: Gas, 3 tons cwt; oil,
Z cwt: electric light. . tons II cwt
The cost Of maintenance was: With
gas enough 10 give fairly good light, |
5000 per train Of ten cars per annum;
with oil the expense varied from $3.50 |
10 $3.50. according 10 the quantity OF |
oil and amount Of labor used: with the /
electric light the actual cost Of main. I
tcnance on thirty trains on the London /
Brighton railway for the whole year 4
was S243.00 Figures like these will 4
appeal forcibly TO railway directors.
SOME SECRETS.