The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-23
small, very simple and insignificant af-

small. very simple and insignificant az
fair, consisting chiefly of an upright
engine operated by q battery. It was
placed some distance from the wells,
and from it, extending into each we'll,
was a small iron pipe. The pine ran
down each we'll TO a depth OF 200 feet.
When all was in readiness, and the
skeptics stood around to see the scheme
fall fiat. as they prophcsied, Mr.. Thomas
signaled to his engineer to turn on his
pressure OF nothing. In few moments
the result was apparent. One after an
other the wells began to spout oil high
INTO the air as though they were geyssrs.
In less than half an hour each we'll op-
Grated upon was emptied of its present
ent contents. and the work of weeks had
been accomplished in a few moments.
Now the Los Angeles we'll owners have
| purchased from Mr.. Thomas the right TO
I to use his compressed air continuance,
So much for his success in this direc-
tion.
HIS FINANCIAL SUCCESSES.
In other fields he has been euualIy
successful. though the unfortunate ool-
lapse OF the California National bank
few years ago made it necessary for
him to 60 into insolvency. Mr.. Thomas
was tbs president of the bank and
those who claim to know the circum.
stances of the failure say that ha was
defrauded by the successful conspiracy
OF clever rogues. He has been called a
millionaire without his millions" and
This because 1t was generally recognized
that ne had been openly robbed OF his
one-half ownership of all the stock of
the bank.
But his financial rsverses have not
discouraged Mr.. Thomas. He has still
the vigor and energy left to rear other
fortunes. de has great confidence in
his railway project and expects to &C.
complish great thinga with it.
My plan would be to build COM
pressed air tanke along the route in the
country, where the trains could stop for
8 moment or two and recupeeate their
motive supply. am Satisfied that this
would be cheaper and more satisfactory
IN the end than even electricity, but I
also realize the unwillingness Of capital
TO invest In untried and unproyeu
methods. Tharefore am willing to uee
an electric current, similar to that en-
ployed on the trollsy cars, for propulsion
power.
MIGHT DO FOR THE VALLEY,
I'm the cisy thu railway would have
to bs constructed 30 that the cars would
bs about 10 feet above the surface of She
street, but IN the country the elevation
could be made higher or lower az the
grads would make moro convenient. OF
course, cannot explain to you in detail
all chs minute workings OF the system
for popular Newspaper descri ton. but
thsss have all been carefully yorkad ont
and tested no ehss there is no longer anv
doubt about the practicable running.
1.-The construction of tho road ia an
eimplo as its operation. Tho cost and
labor Of grading will DO almost entirelv
done away with here, and except In
rare instances such things az bridges
and trestles will be unnecessary.
NOW, IL the San JOAQUIN vallsv
people want cheap, fast and ssfs
railway connection with Los Anpe-
les, this is the plan they rhoSld
look into first. All the expensiva
lectures Of railway construction srs
practically solved In this svstom.
OF course can't build railway where
none 10 wanted, bns If am given only
q little encouragement in this or that
direction you will soon SEQ nv system
in practical OPERATION"