The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-12
A Grent EIectrIcnI scheme.


Three or four Of the railway systems of
the eastern section Of the country are con-
Quoting experiments in the substitution
of electricity for steam in the operation Of
railway trains. They are equipping short
branches with electric apparatus. and ad-
Tancing by slow steps toward the full
recognition Of the locomotive power of the
future. While the east is thus moving
along slowly and cautiously, il is said
that Chicago. with characteristic pluck
and enterprise. mas jumped a long way to
conclusion. and has asked for estimates
for the supplying OF three great trunk
lines. centerlng in that city. with electri-
cal apparatus. TO take the place Of the
steam locomotives now in use. The names
Of the three trunk lines involved in the
transaction, which it is said will call for
the expenditure Of some 100000 to $12,-
0o.0o0 to supply the equipment, are not
available for publication at present. but
it is believed the story Of the scheme will
soon be made public, and that its magni-
tude and feasibility will rivet the atten-
ton of the scientific and commercial
worlds. The cost Of the electric locomo-
tives will probably decide the fate Of the
scheme. No heavy locomotives Of the
kind desired have yet been built, hence the
cost is an unknown quantity. Manufac-
turers of electrical traction apparatus
however, have now the plans and specifi-
cations in hand and are calculating the
cost. II the price is not too great to per
NIT of profitable operation, orders for
the locomotives will be given, 1t is said.
and the plans and scope of the proposed
changes In the roads will be made pub
lie
Information with regard to the matter
is to the effect that the trunk lines in the
scheme run through territory containing
immense coal deposits 1t is the purpose
of the roads to erect al the mouth of the
ccal mines great power plants. the power
from which Will be distributed along the
lines as needed in the shape of electri-
cal energy. Turning the coal into power
a. the mines will save the freight on the
coal. and the immense plants will reduce
the cost of power to a minimum. The
locomotives are to be run with storage
batteries of the chloride accumulation
type, and the plan, it is said. is to have
the batteries readily detachable from the
motors, so that "A fresh battery can be
supplied to the motor in the place of one
that is exhausted without any loss Of
time. At intervals along the lines charc-
ing stations are to be erected, the sta
tons being connected by wire with tn /,
central power station at the mouth Of
the coal minds. At the stations the
motor drawing train will drop its ex-
hausted battery and take on fresh one
the exhausted one being recharged in
time for the next train. This system. it
will be observed, is totally different from
the trolley system in use on street rail.
ways, on the Baltimore belt line. and on
the other lines that have been changed
from steam to electricity; and hence the
difficulty of ascertainng at once the cos,
of the equipment. The deposits of coal
at the command of the three railroads
referred to are said to be practically in
eNhaustible, and 1t is believed that power
stations which will rival the immense
power producing plant at Niagara Falls
will be erected at their mines in case the
change of the lines Of railroad from steam
to electricity is determined upon.