New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-01
SCIENCE AND MECHANICS.
From The Weekly Tribune)
THE LIMITS OF ELECTRIC TRACTION.


WILL THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE SOON become
THING OF THE PAST?
Not only has the electrician displaced the horse
car very extensively all over the country. but 1t
has proved rival OF steam 20 some extent. IT Is
being adopted on elevated railways, and In the
suburbs OF large cities 1t has taken away good
deal OF the local patronage from the steam lines
Indeed several companies operating roads OF the
latter character have themselves put electric
motors on short branches; and a few days ago, on
the Nantasket extension OF the Ola Colony road.
now controlled by the New-York. Ncw-Haven and
Hartford Company, electric locomotive was
tested which developed speed OF eighty niles an
hour. Experts declare that II the demand ever
arises for speed several times greater than that
It can be attained simply by gearing the machine
up the right point. The New-fork Cen'rais
famous 800" which has made more than one nun
drei miles minute probably does not marx the
bounds OF possibility In steam engineering: out, as
THE Railroad Gazette" observed a few days ago,
obviously the boiler and hrebox must set phy-
steal limi, somewhere" For two or three years.
therefore, the question has been extensively con-
sidered and discussed. How far Will the d.splace-
ment OF steam by electricity as traction agent 80
before II steps?
Two or three opinions this point have LATELY
been expressed that deserve respect. H. q. Prout
in The independent" remarks: when the work
can be massed in few heavy trains. direct steam
Will be better. When the Work must De zone IN
small quantities. and very frequently II VIII De ad
vantageous to transmute the energy Of the steam
into Electricity" The same IDEAS expressed by
f. j. Spraguc In The Engineering Magazine In
slightly different language. The electric motor
will monopoze most OF the street and suburban
traffic including that on elevated and underground
roads and IL will prove an important auxiliary TO
steam lines &c. feeders; but for large trains and
long runs the locomotive will hold its own. As
for freight. according to Mr.. Sprague. this can be
handled in trains OF thirty. forty or h'ty cars with
A small crew much more economically by steam
than by electricity.
Another consideration Is pointed out by The
Railroad Gazette" Judicial decisions in Pennsyl-
yania and elsewhere indicate that trolley COM
panies will soon be compelled very generally TO buy
their right OF way across private lands, instead OF
taking the common highway out in the country. TO
fence their tracks and to keep road and rolling
stock in frst-class condition. Again. as soon as
electrician lines attempt to do any long distance
business they must provide baggage-cars. baggage
rooms baggage-agents waiting rooms and other
costly facilities which will increase their expenses
and reduce their profits. II must also be remem-
bered that owing 10 the leakage OF current 1t Is
necessary to have a fresh power-house every ten or
fifteen miles and 10 haul coal 10 the stations sup
plying the current Fuel is not so cheap in the
country as the city. owing to the cost OF trans
porat.on In fact. present the trolley roads are
largely dependent steam lines for their coal
supply All OF these circumstances tend 10 cor
roborate the views already given. The locomotive
IS not doomed. by any means; II has heId which
Is not likely to be invaded for many years; but 1t
Is for the interest OF the steam lines 10 utilize cleo
tricity on OF their branches.