The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-03-08
AN AERIAL ELECTRIC ROAD.
Vino Rapid Transit Scheme Proposed by a
San Francisco Capitalist.
A railroad on wiro.

OUCH is the scheme which d. r p
Thomas, San Francisco capitalist.
now has OH foot. He proposes to build
what he calls an aerial road from San
francisco to Los Angeles up the cole
DRAFTED San Joaquin valley. The cars
Will be suspended on cables and oporat-
ed by electricity. They will run at the
rate of 100 miles an hour. No grading
VIII DO necessary for tho construction
OF tbis road, no ties, and no rails, no
bridges and no fencing in of track No
section gang will DO required in its
maintenance
1t will, so its protector thinks, DO the
first road in America to DO absolutely
areo from smashups. Tho cars can't
collide head on because tho road is
double track, and they can't DO tele-
scoped because, by a simple little mech
anisln, If ono train comes too close to
another the electricity is shut of. No
distractions or blockades can Interfere
with its running. Tho cars cannot jump
the track. The wear and tear on its
mechanism and rolling stock is compar-
atively slight. It costs from ono-t third
TO two-thirds less to construct and
maintain than any other kind of rail
road. 1t almost solves the question of
tho right OF way Tho road may be
quickly constructed and will DO slightly
when finished.
This new railroad is not the invention
OF the capitalist, but of his blind broth
or. He planned it all out in his dark
ness" says Mr.. Thomas, land you will
see, ono of these days, that it is such "a
nnf Faon Il ~
that 1t will one day suporsedo tho sur
face roads, both in tho city and in tho
country.
Tho cheapness Of construction and
the high ratio of speed attainablo by
such a railway arc of course its main adj
Tantages. AS far as speed is concerned,
1T Is now only question of atmospheric
resistance. And this natural factor can
bo largely overcome by constructing tho
cars either como shaped or with pointed
ends like the Prov of Il boat But that
OF course Is an after consideration, and
no such device will DO needed TO attain
speed, say, of 100 miles an hour. And
such rate can bo maintained easily
and with entire comfort and safety to
the passengers in this midair railway.
track, for thcro is no track, and no
SHOWS or washouts can rctard the trains.
There are no dirt and dust or smoke and
SCOT to mako travelling hardship, 10
earring and rumbling and ear splitting
noises to make one deaf -
Concerning tho motive power, Mr..
Thomas believes that we shall eventual
iy find force superior to electricity
that is, compressed air, the possibilities
of which, Mr.. Thomas declares, are rs
yet but little known
My plan, says Mr.. Thomas, would
be to build compressed air tanks along
tho road in the country where trains
could stop for moment or two and re-
cupcrate tho motive supply. am salts
he'd that III tho end compressed air would
be cheaper and moro satisfactory than
electricity"
The road will be elevated from 10 to
20 feet above tho ground, according to
tho requirements of tho grade and
whether the road bo passing through tho
country or tho city. The cars will be
considerably smaller and lighter than
the present railway cars now in use.
They will DO lighted by electricity and
heated in this way also, and, for that
matter, could easily have telegraphio
communication all the time with tho
outside world
Tho California idea doea not vary in
Ats essential particulars from two rapid
transit systems which were exhibited at
the Worlds fair. One of these, known
rs tho Cook system, proposed 10 have
cars suspended from single track,
placed ut the top of series of polcs.
9ho idea was that the cars were to be
somewhat i'll tho shape of present rail-
way car cut lcngthwiso in twain. One
Set would move i'll ono direction on ono
side of tho pole. and tho other set OH
the other side in tho opposite direction.
dhls was All invention Of L. D. Cook of
Tacoma. who constructed n trial track
OH the outskirts of Tacoma and claimed
TO have run his cars successfully at the
tate of 100 miles All hour.
The only difference between the Cook
systcm and tho Thomas plan is that tho
iattor would suspend tho cars from Sc
rios of cables instead OF from an iron
track. Electricians believe that some
such elevated or suspended railway ops-
Gated by electricity will soon supplant
our present surface roads. They believe
the day is not far distant when it will
DO possible to mako tho trip from Bos-