The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-07

breakdown" test OF 5000 volts IN dry
atmosphere and 2S,09 volts through thir-
teen and one-half hours of submersion in
wafer. The machinery in use on the cars
or the Ninth-street line have a capacity
or 1000 volts. and. as before said. IL has
only been necessary so far in hauling
trains of three loaded cars to apply a pres
sure of 800 volts II will be seen that there
is plenty of lecway for AL the power that
might be necessary.
The amazing pressure that these insu-
lators Will stand opens up a great pros
pect for the introduction of electricity as
q substitute for steam on steam railroads.
and the General Electric. people, for the
nrst time, believe that they can very soon
offer a system that will revolut.on.Ze
transportation for long as well as short
distances. They are suffused with a glow
or pleasurable anticipation at the great
things they believe to be in store for the
public, the railroad world and Themselves
in the near future. Ii their expectations
are anywhere near realized great events in
transportation are at hand, and the next
few years will witness wonderful happen
ings in this field.
Mr.. Connect, who. by the way. appears TO
be an intensely practical man. figures an
important saving in the cost of maintain
ing his underground electric system as COM
pared with cable. He says also that liz can
be run considerably cheaper than the over
head trolley and at infinitely less risk TO
the public, to say nothing OF the effacement
of the horrible overhead Disagreement The
original cost of track and equipments for
an overhead trolley line is about 10000 per
liiiic tic IOuIu viii C~cl Oily
from $4,000 to $500. depending upon the
character of pavement that has 10 be re-
placed in the streets. Underground electric
roads can be built for about 50 per cent. OF
the cost of cable, and is subject 10 vastly
less strain and wear and tear in mainte-
nance.
Mr.. Connect is not prepared to say that
the underground system that he is putting
in would serve as well as cable for the
heavy business on the principal cable lines
IN Chicago. In fact, he hardly be-
lieved Ii would. although upon that point
he did not pretend to pass Judgment. He
able study and is fully acquainted with the
practical difficulties confronting the engi-
neering departments of the three great Chi
cago surface systems. That makes him
what may or may not be best for Chicago
further than to say that off the lines of
specially heavy traffic the system in use
on the North Ninth street, Washington.
line cannot fail to be an unqualified success.
He has no fears of serious interference on
account OF the snow OF winter. although
his opinion on that score is very far from
being conclusive. He will be able to form
better judgment next spring on that point
and will also have the benefit of the ex-
p~erience of a New York company which
has put in several miles Of experimental
his own, although differing in many essen
tial details.
In several important particulars the con-
from anything that might be attempted
in Chicago. Here there are no inside con-
struction'' companies to swell the cost or
the work and despoil the stockholders.
minimum cost, which is a guarantee OF en-
durance. In Chicago-wel, everybody
knows about the way street-railway con-
to the terrific and uncalied-for ultimate en-
largement Of the capitalization. But that
is another story.