New-York tribune., 1895-06-16
ELECTRICITY on THE ELEVATED.

rbo renort from Pittsburg that a contract hhd
-, ,,,,',o h, tho Manhattan Elevated Railway
COMPANY for the equipment or us lines WIN
electricity for motive power, hght ana hea''nS
proves TO be premature 1t calls atteh'ioh' ho"
oyer to the negotiations which have been gong
ON for some time between the railroad ana dlh'r-
ont electrical companies, ana the prospect ui"'
before a great while the patrons OF the eicVa'c"
limos will he whircd through the air without the
occomn,niment Of smoke and cinders. Such
substitution of motive power will be memorable
In the annals Of the development of electricity
nc = nr,cticol science We have seen this won
dcrfuI mower propclling streecars by ones ana
tvos. ot Chicago we saw it drawing small trains
oround Jackson Park and the experts have been
,ol,;ng us that there is no trouble in moving
heavy trains by it at the rate Of thirty miles an
hour wc hclieye them. but we have been walt
inc 70 see them do IT, When the Rapid Transit
commissioners were giving hearings on the lu's-
tion Of an underground road and were proceed
Ing on the theory that propulsion by elec'rici'!
was feasible. many people shook their heads wise
Il and predicted that when there was raplh 'ran-
81, in the tunnel there would be smoke pouring
ont Of the airholcs. Great electric locomotives
wcro all very well for the scientists to talk about
as perfectly possible, pu' '"'' """' '
something bigger than n strercar line in actE'i
opcration by trolley and find out now oi'eh "
would fail 10 meet its requirements.
Just at present the prospects are gooh 'ha' 'ilc!
will be able TO find ont the practcaDllliy Oh III
electric railway on a large scale without WaliihH
for any tunnel experiments. The n"g"tatlohS vi
the Manhattan Company perhaps, nave niue
significance for the electrician who KNOWS "na'
his fayorite power can do, but they are extremely
interesting to the general public. Here Is Il cor
noroton which IS not given 10 Scenilnc cAperi-
mont nor 10 the exploitation or schemes, now
ever alluring 10 give its passengers mover ana
rlcosant sensations Not even an improveh OH
lomp would be adopted except for distinct DuSi-
ness rcasons The equipment "f the '''"''N
railroads with electricity. il undertaken. VIII
mean that a body of harihcadcd business
mon are convinced that for heavy, 'N-
acting and almost constant irafhc the H'"
,,v,r has advantages over steam. Ana
ma, only that but has enough advantages to war
rant them in cxpcnding mllons-the report IA"
(, eight FOR the equipment of their lines. Inc!
.,,,II no, oven consider such a scheme merely
r. Get rd II the noise and the dirt of steam en-
rinos or to make travel plcasani'r Tor 'her pas
scngcrs They are planning for the chahg' p''
,,us. II PROMISES To- do the service theY require
~ well or better than 1t Is now done at an 'A-
n.ns. So far less n to ply the interest on an
/ Investment of millions.
Tint IS Il practical tribute 20 electrical progress
which the people will benefit 10y. ana they VIII
not quarrel with the Manhatlans larger dNl-
dends II the company will be- liberal enough 10
| divide. the profits with them in III" WAY "' b''''r
service The present ear, are m~'rapN ilIh''''
and electricity will hc a much-apprcchicd boon
| I'm that direction Perhaps IL Is too much ever 10
ask that in the busy hours trains should be run
rrcouenily enough 10 give all comcrs seats out
when the new power l. In use maybe the com
| n,uv can be- induced not 10 cut down lis service
! a, other hours To- the point ~ standing room ac-
! Communications. or 10 run it, trains ht'l' closer
| ,,b.n not crowded. Tor II * not r'as"nahb ~
keen few people waiting on platforms Tor lolI
snac,s u time Just bccauS" ther" are mol enough
~ Them 10 compel frequent trains to prevent th'
stations being hlockadrd. The history "i Inc
Manhattan Company gives no reason Z" S"Sl""i
II II philanthropy In the making "f improve
mouis Eui il j. 10 Doe hop"i that lis chang's
for profit may profit the public "a well as th'
/ 4. .b.,i.i.