The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-26
THE ELECTRIC MOTOR.
All the Railroad Companies
Watching Experiments.
PROFITS CUT BYTRoLLEY LINES.
The Steam Lines Cannot Anford TO
Experiment, but They Are study
ing the New Inventions.
New York World.

L
The managers OF the progressive rail-
roads Of this country are watching the
development OF electric traction. which
has during the last six months achieved
surprising success. The subject is being
especially studied by the companies hay-
ing many suburban lines. Trolley lines
have cut so deeply into their profits that
the adoption OF electricity is considered a
necessity.
The first railroad 10 make the change
was the Old Colony, which abandoned
steam on its Nantasket division out OF
Boston. and few weeks ago began
using electric motors So successful was
the experiment that other suburban lines
OF the same company are TO be equipped
next year.
This system, however, was but an en-
largement of the street car service and
not radical change applicable TO the
great trunk lines OF the country. The
railroad men say. and electricians gem
orally agree with them. that the trolley
can hardly be used successfully where
heavy trains are 10 he drawn long dis
tances at great speed. The trouble, ex-
pense and uncertainty of operation are
the principal objections. As these are
transition days for electric traction, no
company is willing to go 10 the great
expense of installing a system which may
quickly become obsolete.
The first electric locomotive in satisfac-
tory operation began running on the Balti-
more & Ohio road in Baltimore few DAYS
ago. II is in operation every day. hauling
heavy trains through The long tunnel un-
der the city noiselessly. swiftly and with
out smokeor noxious gases which usually
ill railroad tunnels. II operates by the
trolley system.
Great interest was manifest in cleo
trio and railroad circles when this loco
motive was put in service 1t was not the
first. but the demands made on IL were to
test tho efficiency of electricity for heavy
railroad traction.
To the General Electric Company, which
furnished the locomotive. the results were
of the highest Importance. s. Dana
Greene. manager of the company, said
yesterday that several weeks of practical
test had demonstrated that electricity WAS
the great power for railroads.
Just at present il is impossible to
speak except in general terms regarding
electricity on the roads," said Mr.. Greene
EVERYBODY is interested in the subject,
and many developments are expected dur
ing the coming year The progressive
railroad managers are wideawake to the
fact that change is coming. l expect be-
fore long TO ride from New York to Phila-
deipha behind an electric locomotive
which will do the work more swiftly, cas-
ily and cheaper than steam.
To-day we are In this position: Street
railroads are in operation everywhere
and have begun to stretch out into the
surrounding country. cutting into the
business of steam railroads. They are
operated successfully for distances of
twenty-five miles, and i'm some Western
states much longer lines are projected
They are carrying great numbers of
passengers. because people prefer 10 ride
behind the clean. noiseless motor rather
than the smoky steam engine. So IT has
become not matter of sentiment or con-
NPnienCa h9ft
question of finance.
The last two years have taught
operating companies valuable lessons In
economy that will prove of benefit i'm
demonstrating the saving electricity can
make over steam. The operation OF local
plants. street railways and suburban lines
has been reduced to a very low cost much
below that of steam.
II hardly think the trolley system can
he utilized simultaneously at present for
such roads the New York Central on
runs from New York to Buffalo The
principal objection seems to be that n
large number OF local relay plants would
he required and the railroads do not feel
like placing entire dependence on so
slender thing as a trolley wire.
Interruption TO traffic on n great
trunk line is a serious thing and the
company cannot afford TO take UP any
system unless its prac.icabilty and re-
liability shall be thoroughly assured Yet
II would seem from the present rand do
velopment that electricity is some day
surely going 10 displace steam.
There is in daily operation on tho
Northwest railroad of France. one of
the trunk lines leading out of Paris a
novel electric locomotive known as the
Holman. An American engineer who re-
turned a few days ago saws II is n decid
ed success. and perhaps locomotives OF
that pattern may BE the coming thing In
this country. 1t may be the motor we have
all been looking for
This Heilman locomotive generates its
own electricity. IL carries a triple exnan
sion engine that drives dynamo set on
the tender. The motors are affixed 10 the
trucks. This transformation of newer
may seem at first strange and useless hu,
tue engineers report net saving of 20 per
cent. in fuel over the use OF steam
This is due to the use of a ,rinl. ox.
pansion engine and the economical annli
cation of power Locomotives are very
wasteful OF steam. reducing the percent
age OF efficiency extremely low II IN f1r
ured there Is only n loss Of 10 per cent. OF
energy in applying electricity, and tho
same amount in triple expansion engines
This locomotive is hauling express trains
and is giving satisfaction
The success of the electric Locomotives
IN Baltimore suggests the possibility OF
using them in the New York Central TIM
mel in this city and the tunnels I'm Jersey
city. Suffering passengers. stiffed bv
smoke and heat, would welcome them.
Still, until the test OF the electric loco
motive places IL beyond question none of
the roads will make the change. Even a
slight block I'm tho Central tunnel would
cause great Inconvenience