The San Francisco call., 1895-07-20

not sufficiently enthused over it to tolerate
the carrying of a ton of dead weight in
battery cells. Both the conduit and the
storage battery in this striving for the lead
In race where victory meant an enormous
fortune have been constantly evolving
material improvements, and practicable
railroads of both types have been in
stalled within the last year or two, as
rule with somewhat limited success.
Early this month the electrical engineers
of New York were invited to inspect new
conduit system, which was at work in the
upper part of the city, The result was a
surprise, and the conviction was general in
the minds OF the visitors that at last the
commercial electric conduit for street rail-
way work had been attained. The system
has had universal commendation, and it is
said that many cities that would not adopt
the trolley are already taking steps to in
stall the new. conduit, which is an Ameri-
can improvement upon a German sys-
tenn, on their streets Following i'm
mediately on this most important
event comes the announcement of an
invention of the greatest significance in
storage battery manufacture. The inventor
claims that by simple and ingenious pro-
cess he can make the lead plate of the bat
terry so porous that while having all the
efficiency of the ordinary plate, it will have
half its weight. If this claim be substan-
tiated. within thirty days two solutions
will have been reached of the problem of
streetcar traction which has exercised
electrical engineers for decade, and elec-
trio dogcarts and electric vehicles of all
descriptions will soon share the popularity
of the bicycle.
THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE BUFFET
TRoLLEYoAR.-The trolley party fad which
last year seized the staid city of Philadel-
phia has reappeared in pronounced form.
Formerly the ordinary car, provided pos
sibly with an extra supply of lights, was
chartered by party for certain number
of hours and after taking 81 brass band on
board sped merrily countryward. This
year momentous innov ration has been
made. The great event of the excursion
season in Philadelphia is the introduction
of "icecream trolley-cars. These cars are
among the most beautiful vehicles
that were ever turned out of
shop. Handsomely finished throughout,
they are inclosed all around the sides with
bronze grill frames, and have cushion rat
tan seats with comfortable backs. An aisle
runs down the center, and between the
seats are tables of the detachable pattern,
such as are used on Pullman buffet-cars.
On these icecream and light refreshments
are served to the passengers during the
trip. How gay and inspiring the icecream
trOlley-car can be made to look NAV be
gathered from the fact that recently one
was equipped with 265 colored electric
lights the lamps running all over the
roof and even up the trolley pole. Sun
day-schools and church congregations are
said to be the best customers of these buf-
fet-cars. The cars have also struck the
fancy of the lay picnicker. In many cases
it is possible to shunt the car on to an en-
tirely different system of lines, so that a
ha 10
car can be engaged for several days and,
stocked with its own provisions, make an
extended journey over any section of the
country on which line connection can be
secured. The fad is in high favor with old
and young alike, and the trolley, which on
it's introduction on the city lines was bit
terly opposed and reviled, is now on the
top wave of popularity.
REVENUE FROM ELECTRIC HEATING.EAn
electrical journal calls attention to the
fact that Ottawa, Canada, has proved itself
one of the most progressive utilizers of
electricity on this continent. The running
OF $4,000 lights in a city of 10000 inhabi-
tants speaks volumes, and it is doubtful if
any other city in the world can approach
such figures. But even more interesting is
an item in the report of the local central
station, Just presented, showing an income
OF $42l from heaters. This is new item
IN similar balance sheets. Although the
amount is small, it is much larger than the
motor account used ordinarily to be. and
as 1T involved only an outlay of $12, it is
sound as well as promising business.