The herald., 1895-01-01


liant orange groves and beautiful villas.
vines and shrubs. connection Is made at
Altedana with . mountain electric rail-
way. This is trolley line run by easy
grades. nowhere exceeding ~ per cent.
to Rubio csfion, attaining an altitude of
1900 feet. This trolley section is exceed-
ingly we'll constructed. The trolley wire
10 supported by side poles with long
brackets, and is made to conform to the
curvature of the tracks by means of
span wires stretching from pole to pole,
or from the ends of the bracket arms to
which it is attached by pull-offs at short
intervals, and the track curve con-
structed as is necessary, in view OF the
large amount OF curve of short radius.
There are no less than IL solid timber
bridges between Altadens and Rubio
cation. Part of the road was cut through
solid granite. This was accomplished
by letting the workmen down with
ropes from the cliff above; while dang
ling In mid-air they drilled and blasted
and made possible this part OF the
journey.
OF CURIOUS INTEREST.
Tho little power house at Altadena is
of curious interest. 1t contains two
Otto gas engines OF 60-horse power
each. These drive an Edison generator
Of adequate capacity, and duplicate
plant is held in reserve. Fuel gas is
made from gasoline. the csrboret.er and
storage tank being situated near it. 1t
10 proposed to utilize water power by
means of q Pelton wheel placed at Ru-
bio pavilion. in the canon at the foot OF
the "Grest Gable Incline" as the steep
mountain railway is called. The water
pipes for this system are laid and final
arrangements nearly completed. Cur
rent 10 not only furnished from Altade-
ma to the trolley road direct. but is also
delivered to a Keith motor of 75 horse
power, which drives the mechanism OF
the cable road leading to the summit OF
Echo mountain. We have here the
curious instance OF electricity running
1t the same time and from the same
plant trolley road and q cable road.
DELIGHTS AND SURPRISES.
The trolley roads ends at Hotel Rubio
in Rubio canon, most beautiful and
romantic gorge, full of rare and luxuri-
ant floral anG forest growth aud embrac.
ing eleven picturesque waterfalls. By
means of rustic bridges. stsirways and
galleries, it is made accessible to tour
lists. The botanist and geologist revel
here in the delights and surprises which
appear in this wonderful cafion. The
power of one of these romantic waterfalls
Is already utilized in affording electric
lights along the Great Gable incline and
for two hotels. one at the foot, the otner
It the summit of the mountain. The
s'csble incline" consists O. three rails,
the inner one being used with either
outer rail. Two cars are in use, operated
bv the same cable, one beginning the
descent a. the other commences to as
cend. and they pass each other automa-
ticaliv on q fouY.rail turnout about half
way M. by an ingenious invention OF
Professor loves. This track il about
3OOG feet long, and unfolds to the pas
senQer an unsurpassed panorama of
mountain and valley views, covered with
semi-tropical vegetation.
AN ENDLESS CABLE.
The cars are permanently attached to
an endless wire cable one and one-hali
inches in diameter. capable Of carrying
100 tons, although the car. with ito
neayiest load, weighs but 80 tons. They
are perfectly balanced. 30 that the call
Tor extra lifting power is not great.
They are mounted ON ordinary four-
wheel trucks; eseh ID composed OF three
opera. box open apartments or sections,
With floor and seats pitched 80 % to
give the passenger = level footing and
esat when the oar 10 ON tho incline.
Each section has door 1t either side
I nd il capable Of holding about So pas
81 myers. There Il one point ON the in.
cline whore the CAFE croGn Z trsstle 200