The Washington times., 1895-03-10
The Whole Task Virtually Accom-
plished in One Night.
TNENTY-FOUR HORSES USED
Greatest Difficulty Experienced at Seventh
Street Bicycles Were on Hand to Convey
Messages To and Fro-First Trip to Be
Made Some Time To-day-Trains to Be
Put on radually-Equipment Of Line.

There was a straining of harness, a creak-
ing of chains, and the cable of the Columbia
Street Railway had started ON its way to the
Treasury Department. Sparks flew from be-
meath the horses hoofs as they tugged at the
heavy coil of rope.
The first night was a chapter of accidents
and delays. Every piece of harness broke in
every possible place, and so many breaks oc-
Cured that three hours were consumed In
going three blocks.
The next stretch as far as Seventh street
was quickly covered, and the first nights
pull carried the cable as far as Ninth street.
The second night had a better beginning.
In eight minutes the cable was carried from
Ninth to Fifteenth street, but it was early
morning before the cable was back at the
power house.
mammoth reel in the rear of the power
house held the six miles of cable From there
it was drawn by hand into the power house,
and thence into the conduit.
TwENTY-FoUR HORSES PULLED.
Three teams of eight horses each, driven
in pairs, were hitched to three slender bars
of iron about twelve feet long. To these was
fastened the cable, which was held in place
by several men standing on 1t. The teams
were placed about twenty-five feet apart.
The greatest difficulty was at the Seventh
street crossing. Here the cable had TO go
| underneath the Seventh street line and had
to be pulled through by hand.
At Fifteenth street the cable had to be
taken out, and was with much difficulty car
ried around the great wheel to commence
the homeward trip.
The arrangements were perfect Two
bicyclers were on hand 10 carry messages to
and fro, and the hurry wagon kept along
with the men in case of any accident to the
cable or fxings. At the power house the
chief splicer and his assistant watched the
cable as 1t ran through TO see that all kinks
! were kept out. ~
Whenever the horses dragging the cable
would stand still the reel, which kept going
from its own momentum, had to be quickly
stopped to prevent the, coiling and twisting
of the cable at the entrance to the conduit.
1t took ell OF yesterday to splice. tighten,
and dress the rope. The first trip will be
made some time to-day. A car will be
started out, drawn by horses, and will be
driven very slowly to see If the conduit is
clear. Then If everything seems 10 be all
right grip ear will be started out at the
usual speed of horse car. 1t will be in
charge OF an experienced gripman from the
Broadway line.
The horse cars will be taken off one by
one as the men become qualified to operate
the grip. Most of the old men will be re-
tanned. Only few, physically incapable
to perform the work. will be laid off, All
the men will be required to learn the duties
both OF gripman and conductor, SO that they
can change places at moments notice. The
object OF this is to obyiate the necessity OF
employing so many extra men.
The power-house is equipped with two
large 225 horsepower engines. In case of
great snowdrifts both engines can be used at
once simply by the insertion of z key IN the
shafts. At the same time II one engine
breaks down, the other is ready for use.
REGULATING THE TENSION.
The tension Of the cable is regulated by a
tension carriage which moves on long rail-
way. II the tensile strain on the rope be-
comes too great 1t is indicated on the disk,
and the carriage is moved up toward the
wheel, thus paying out more rope into the
conduit.
At the opening where the cable leaves the
power-house an electrical signal notifies the
chief splicer if kink forms in the cable, and
he. by means of electric bells, notifies the en-
gineer to slacken or stop the engine.
Putting in new cable after one has been
laid is an easy tack By means of reeling-
in engine the old cable can be taken out and
replaced by new one in about two hours.
The new cars are thirty feet long, being
larger than any in Washington, with the ex-
ception of some on the Z street lines, and
they are eighteen inches wider than the ordi-
nary car. The platforms are large and COM
modious, and protected by large bumpers.
The interiors are finely upholstered in red,
and the large windows are something of
novelty in street cars. The cars are all
equipped with the duplex wheel mechanism,
commonly known as the Broadway grip. The
distinctive color is a very light blue.
Fifteen OF the cars are already here, and
twenty-five more are to come. The entire
cost of the plant and rolling stock will
amount to half million dollars.
The cable was started at Sis last night and
run until midnight for the purpose Of stretch
ing it.