Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-09
RUN CARS WITH AIR.
The POpUS System 10 Be Put Into
Operation in Richmond.
HOW THE SCHEME OPERATES.
The Condensed Air Carried Through
Pines Like Gas and Injected Into
Storage Cells by an Automatic
Proccss-Thcir Plans.

Street-cars run by airi
Sounds rather strange 10 be sure, but
this Is what tn people Of Richmond may
see in a few months.
Victor Popp. of Paris, France is The in
ventor Of the remarkable system for
which so much IS claimed, Colonel John
G. Calhoun. Of New York, has contro.
Of the American rights. and Mr.. Georg=
f. Fisher, Of the Richmond Railway and
Electric Company. IS the medium through
which il IS expected to put the scheme
into operation her.
Colonel Calhoun and Afr. Fisher are In
the city, accompanied by Mr.. Emil
Lehrner. chief engineer Tor the Popp COM
pressed air system IN Europe. The last
named gentleman is here for the purpose
Of doing the preliminary work, making
estimates, and getting things in readi-
ness for the coming OF Mr.. Popp. who IL
expected TO arrive in New York the oath.
BOUGHT THE ENTIRE RIGHTS.
Colonel Calhoun f. well-known
southern man, being a nephew OF the
great statesman Of the same name. lie
visited Richmond frequently While mem
Der of the Terminal directory and vice
president Of one of the large roads IN
that system While in Europe some
months ago he made an examination
into this compressed-air enterprise anu
bought the entire rights for the
United States. Canada, and Mexico. lie
nodestly told a Dispatch man In his room
AT Nurphy's last night that h did not
care 10 praise or boom his recent acqul-
siton. but he did not conceal the fact
that he thinks he has struck good thing.
1T has been demonstrated" he asserted,
"by practical tests IN Europe, and espe-
cially I'm Paris where Victor Pop has
one Of the largest plants for compressed
air In the world, that his system - the
cheapest for al kinds Of power, and that
under his recent inventions II is partlcu-
Larly well adapted for street-car traction.
II is our purpose 20 equip one OF the Rich
mond lines with this system and demon
strate to the world its cheapness In point
OF construction. in operation, and very
much cheaper in maintenance OF way than
any other system known at this time
LINES IN EUROPE.
Mr.. Popp." Colonel Calhoun continued.
has been awarded contracts to equip
lines in st. Qunton, France. Vienna.
Athens. Constan,inople. and also one az
the most important lines in Paris. which
Is now being equipped Mr.. Lehrn has
been sent here directly from Athens.
where b. has just laid out the work TOT
a plant. TO take charge OF equpping Hne
in this city. which viii be the first one
put In operation IN America"
Colonel Calhoun told about Mr.. Popp
extensive Paris establishment. and added
that while Il had been known for many
years that compressed air wis a success
for power purposes. but only recently mas
IL been demonstrated that IL can Do so
used economically. Colonel Calhoun says
he prefers TO make the first mon-tration
OF the workings OF his system In south
ern city. and he regarded il as appropriate
- give il the initial lrial here IN Rich
mond where the trolley was nrst used.
Messrs Calhoun and Fisher had
a very satisfactory interview with Colonel
Cutshaw yesterday. and VIII meet him
again this morning 70 talk over the mat
ter Of what line should be adopted.
Though retlcent on that point, II H. be-
lieved that they greatly prefer the Broad
street route. IL is claimed that the
heavy grades can be assembled with ease
and that, with the compressed air-brakes,
the hills can be descended with entire
safety. Mr. Fisher says II the people
want a good car-seryice on Broad street
for the fair this fall. and the Confederate
reunion next spring. his company h
ready TO furnish II. and he don't think
anybody else can or win
HOW 1T OPERATES.
II would seem from the explanations
given by Messrs. Lehrner and Calhoun
that the compressed-air system is "A very
simple one. After beirg compressed. the
air Is transmitted to reservoirs. like gas
receivers, and drawn out through pipes.
These pipes do not have to follow the
car tracks, but run from the reservoir 10
the wells or stations ~ which the stor.
age-cells or cylinders under the cars are
charged by an automatic process. These
wells are about four miles apart. and
are covered with metal plate i2NiS
inches The fange Of the front wheel
Of the car touches a spring that opens
this well. and the pipe connects with
the cylinder, which becomes charged In
few seconds. Then the rear wheel
closes the well. and the car goes ahead.
The entire propeillng machinery Is under
the car. and there Is neither trolley nor