The Van Buren press., 1895-11-09
m the ELECTRICAL woRtn

The utilization Of the Great HaIiD
Of tine Potomac for electric rever pro-
ducing purposes is apparently asssfmr
ing definite shape. A wealthy nsrsff-
srn capitalisr. represented By Mr.. Her>
scs s Cummings, OF Washington. D
G.. is reported rs heing actively en-
gagged in developing this ensernrise.
The Chicago Gisv Railroad ee. b
now using an electric ncser to drive
the two lengths Of It's cable On S1ato
street. south of Thirtv-ninth street,
This company has been engaged Tor
the Pasa two months II enlargiag tn
electric power to drive iss cables Ihin
seems TO be the irst instance ca ree-
ord where surface eahle zeasAf have
adopted electricity ter driving aAa 60
hlea
On sunday. July - rail IN the
track Of the Walpole q Wrensham line
of the New York. New Efaven 4
Hartford. At North AttIeharo. Mass.
was melted BY an electric current. 50
badly Is to materially impair 10
strength. and L sha accident aad ns<
been seasonahly discovered aeraif-
nent might have ensaed. The place
where the damage occurred WAS on sas
iron bridge over Mt. Hope street. and
the current ssrsyed from the trolley
wire OF street railroad running be-
meath the bridge, IN consequences ek
the breaking Of an insalster1
The steel ring fer ene ef the gen
orators Of the Niagara Power ee.Aa
plant has Just been finished at the
works os the Bethlehem lron Co, and
is described as the largess ring af The
kind ever cast 1t is II feet II iaehea
inches in diameter. about 1--WE fesa
high and weighs s-.eao pounds fhe
process of manufacture Is interesting
A nickel steel ingot sla feet Ia diams-
ter at the bottom aud 65a Feet Long WAS
eRst A hole was then bored through
il. lengthwise. A block Of the proper
weight was then cut from the ingot.
and the cylinder thus obtained was
heated and. under hydraulic pres
sure OF t4,0o0 tons expanded to tna
present size.
Regulations in regard 10 the cross
ing of electric railways ~ grade have
been issued ey the Msine Central rail-
road. At everv crossing where there
is sigral post . red ball Or red llsnt
at the top of the post requires al
trains to stop before reaeksng the eresa.
ing, and the watehman mast hoist the
ball or light before any electric car
crosses. whether = train Is due er not.
Gates must hslowered and aags shown
a. IL no signal were used. and when =
train is approaching or expected. great
caution aust be exercised not te let =
car OF team on the crossing untesa
there is ample time to cross without
stepping the train All trains mnst
approach such crossings under control
and be- ready to stop IL the signal .
displayed
\ The town Of Fresno, Cal. has just
secured supply Of electric power saf-
&cirnt for AL it's requirements Of light
heat and power shrough the utilisnr
ticr Of water power which hitherto
has run to waste. The soarce of the
power is y stream and waterfall in the
foot hills of the Sierra Nevada. thirty
three miles distant from the town. a
column Of water eighteen inches in di-
ameser, falling down . preeipaee Liza
feet. drives dynamcs giving LOO hsrsa
power. The lighting and street eAz
svstem Of Fresno will BE- run with thfs
power, and it is estimated that the
force in the harnessed river will b
ample to supply the town with al the
electric power IL may need when It haa
increased to ivs times it, present -
, 900 population