Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-10

1851 40
Where block paving is taken up in exist
ing tracks and relaid this price is reduced
to $40. $50.
These figures are for a straight, single
track, mile complete, but they include moth
ing for laying ducts, drains. subsurface
distractions, special track work or any
extras.
The power station, located at Four-and-a-
half and streets southwest, contains
compound condensing Greene engines,
made by the Providence Steam Engine
Company, directly connected to 800 K W.
generators, made by the General Electric
Company. The engine speed is slightly re-
duced to lower the voltage from that of
the ordinary overhead plants fifty volts
l. e., the voltage is $50 at no load COM
pounded to 800 at normal load Wafer for
condensing purposes is taken directly from
the river by ten-inch pipe and overflow
from condenser is fou..een-inca pipe
Equipment. twenty-five motors, twenty
five open trailers twenty-five closed
Twenty trains kept on street, Roadway be-
tween two and three minutes.
z-- Rock Creek Park.
The board of control of Rock Creek Park
consisting of the chief of engineers, United
States army, and the Commissioners CT
the District of Columbia, assumed control
of the park January l, 1898.
The Commissioners directed to superin-
tendent of police to detail one mounted
police ofncer TO take charge of the park
under the orders of the secretary.
Private ]. T. Morgan was so detailed and
has performed the difficult duty of lolicing
this extensive area to the complete salts
faction of the board of control.
Many of the old cabins which had hither-
to been left standing were destroyed and
removed under his supervision, without
cost to the District A few Of the places
DER authority of Congress.
Special Reports.
In pursuance to ORDERS on October 81,
1884, an inspection was made of the Me-
karski compressed air motor at Westfield,
Mass.
The motor examined is of about eight
tons weight, sixteen and one-half feet in
length, inside measurement, and twenty
three feet over all. The compressed air
is stored in tanks under the car body, from
which it is passed through reducing valves
into tank containing hot water, and from
there to the engine cylinders. The total
capacity of the air tanks is about eighty
nine cubic feet, and of the water tanks
twenty-eight gallons. The engine is placed
in rear of and connected with the rear
wheels of each car only. Arrangements
are made for connecting the rear and front
wheels If deemed necessary. The diameter
of cylinder is 5A inches, and the stroke
wheels, twenty-seven inches. The hot
water tank is a vertical cylinder placed
upon the platform.
The mode of operating is as follows:
The is brought to the power house,
where the air tanks are connected with
Rand compressor, and in about fifteen
minutes charged to pressure of about $50
pounds. At the same time the water in
the tank is heated by steam to about 320
degrees The car being charged, the mo-
torman, by means OF valves, lets the air
into the hot water tank and then into the
cylinders. and controls his engine as he
no aiv,sr rr-if ,,
brake is also worked by compressed air.
At the time of my visit, three of these
cars were in operation upon line two
miles long. The motors were charged at
the end of each run of four miles, though
/ was informed that by careful operating
they could make double run with single
charge at 100 pounds pressure.
The track is ordinary street railway
track in fair repair, generally level, but
with one short grade of perhaps per
cent.
The ordinary pressure in the cylinders
when running bein, from one to two hun
dred pounds, the available pressure is the
excess of this.
the cars which We're examined We're rum
ming on their regular schedule time, SO no
record of speed was attempted.
1t might be added that this motor is
French invention, which has been intro
duced into this country by Mr.. James
F. Lewis of the Rand Drill Company, to
whom 1 am indebted for the privileges
granted ME.
Upon February p, 1895, an examination
was made of the Hardia compressed air
motor at Rome, New York.
The motor examined is about eight and
a half tons weight and is of the size of the
Broadway, New YORK, or Columbia rail-
road caoie car.
The compressed aic is stored in cylin-
drical cases of steel "Manncsmann bot
ties from which it passes through reduc-
ing valves into a hot water tank, placed
under the body of the car. From this
tank it passes through tubes to the valves
located upon each of the platforms and
thence to the engines.
The operating mechanism occupies less