New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-01
ACHANGE OF MOTIVE POWER
THE METROPOLITAN TRACTION COMPANY
NAY EXTEND THE UNDERGROUND
ELECTRIC SYSTEM.
ALL WILL DEPEND ON THE BEHAVIOR OF THE
LENOX-ANE EQUIPMENT IN WINTER
WEATHER. But THE coMPANY's OF

WEATHER. But THE COMPANY's Of
FIcERS LOOK FOR GOOD RESULTS
The Lenox-ave. Underground electric system Of
the Metropolitan Traction Company has proved
70 be SO successful during the short time It has
been operated that the company has decided that
Il the coming winter weather does not interfere
with the operation Of the Lenox-ave. system the
other railway lines IF the company shall be ulti-
natey equipped with he same appliances and
operated with the same motive power the
LenoX-ave. line
The LenoX-ave. road. equipped with the under
ground electric system was opened on July p 1t
begins at the Columbus-ave cable road. and
running through One-hundred-an Ninth-st..
Manhattan-ave. Observation-Disclosures
and Lenox ave. ends near the power house
and the Harlem River. During heavy rain
storms there have been no bitches or
breaks. and it is operated so smoothly,
safely and cheaply that the company has
concluded that the underground electric sys-
TEN shall be used in the operation Of It's other
lines as soon as they can be economically
equipped-always provided that the snow. slush
and cold Of winter do not show that the system
Is detActve.
WINTER WEATHER NOT LIKELY TO INTER
FERE.
II Is not thought that snow, thaws and freez-
ing weather will be obstacles in the way OF sat
isfactory operation OF the LenoX-ave line but as
the system has not beer tested under the severe
conditions Of winter the results produced during
the approa ching winter months may have much
e. do with the companys final determination IN
the matter. 1t was SAID by ofhcers OF the com
many Yesterday that the system had never yet
been thoroughly tested in this country. Results
on the LenOx-ave. line having been tnoroushly
satisfactory 50 far. and as the company expects
be OF great interest 10 the officers OF surface ra-
way companies all over the country. the rea-
sons that have Influenced the company are as
II costs abou: twice as much TO construct and
equip cable road it does 10 build one IKE
the Underground electric traction system operat-
ing expenses result In a saving OF -FOUR Genus
milo in COMPARISON with cable lines ana elgh'
cents a mile compared with horsecar lines.
Then the road is much safer than the trolIey
system as there are no exposed wires 10 menace
tho lie Of the wayfarer. Moreover, the electflc
motive power can be transmitted with rapldiE
and an economy Of space that make II possiple
tosreinforce one line with the power Oi dH"ti|e'
cheaply and Immediately ,
The Metropolitan Traction Company having
an annual car mileage OF about lSuVOOVO HllIes
estimates that II all its lines were equipped Win
new system it would save SOOooeO annuaiiy n
operating expenses
THE TwENTY-THIRDsT LINE NEAT'
The TIVE, &c. hird-st cross-town car line is that
which the cor pany expects TO equip next with
the under-round electric system The large
nover-hous, nov being completed IN East
Twentv-ffth-st will have a splendid new plant
for the production of cable power and II Is likely
10 be used until il needs extensive repairs or re-
r,lacing So the LexingtOn-ave. cable, soon 70 De
running. will drag the cars on that Inc row
ever / ere is plenty Of room in the new power
house for a large electric plant when can De
TOO Then the Nirth-ave line will probably re-
ceive attention and after that the Belt line
Other lines will be successiVely equippeu uiit
there Is not hOrserar on any OF the company
lines 49,, ,.
OF course. all this depends largely on the way
the IenOx-ave. plant and equipment DenaN rs
when snow slush and freezing weather put the
Inc under the severest test That II VIII result
satisfactorily the company hopes ana expects
because the conduits and mechanism are IN
measure. protected from INJURY from the ere
,nants II trouble arises il may be the means OF
causing proper notifications OF the system IN
tha other lines Other local lines 1t is said, are
already experimenting with a view 10 Adopting
the underground system. and the street railway
rnagnates of other cities. particularly OF the nu-
merous Philadelphia trolley INES are Watching
DEVELOPMENTS with interest.
EQUIPMENT OF THE UNDERGROUND sYS-
TEN.
ANY one who has ridden on the Lenox-ave
line mus. have noticed the smoothness with
which the cars are run there and the absence or
wires suspended overhead. in trolley lines
The equipment has the appearance Of the cable
road Of which IL is the continuation. Lad De-
tween the rails appears the exterior Of the metal
work with a slot opening along its length through
which connection il made between the cars motor
a,d tho electric current running below. Instead
OF grip such as is used on the cable cars there
Is "piough" Of non-conducting material. with
lying plates" on either side each making con-
-ac,tSn With cha -ged and insulated channel iron
on eitho~ side of the plough. These channel irons
ere 70. luctOrs OF the electric currents or
nressi,, Of $50 volts generated In large dynamos
~ the 10 ver ta'ions The course % the current
&c along one conductor or channel iron through
one come citing wing plate OF the plough TO the
car's motor: thence down through the otner wing
Diste n the other channel iron and back 70 the
Iove--h.use An improvement contemplated Is
The supplying Of power to the far end OF line
through copper main, thus increasing the mo-
five mower OF the line.