The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-09
BY COMPRESSED AIR.
THE TROLLEY TO GIVE WAY TO 4
NEW AND CHEAP POWER.
A Line Of the Richmond Railway and
Electric Company to be Equipped
With the "Popp system"

Colonel John c. Calhoun. OF New York,
is in the city, accompanied by Mr.. George
e. Fisher. vice-president OF the Richmond
Railway and Electric Company, and Mr..
Emil Lehrner, chief engineer OF Mr.. Vic
tor NJ. Popp, the eminent French engi-
neer, whose works and plant IN Paris
for furnishing compressed air for street
railways and all kinds OF power Is the
largest in the world. Mr.. Fopp is said 70
occupy the relation towards compressed
| air that Mr.. Edison does towards cleo
tricity. The ingenuity OF his great com
pressed-air plant in Paris. and the cheap,
ness with which that city IS furnlsned
with power for various kinds or worn,
demonstrates his right TO this position
Colonel Calhoun. while in Europe, had
his attention called 10 Ny. fopp system
and he is very enthusiastic over the IN
ventlon. He is here now with Mr.. flsner
and the French engineer named above ior
the purpose OF equippng one OF tne
present street railway lines with the coni-
pressed-air system, I'm order 10 demon.
strate the economy Of this system over all
| others in the points OF construction
operation. and maintenance OF way
Tue COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEM.
Colonel Calhoun says that after a care
ful study Of the question himself and
employing the best American and French
engineers 10 report on the system, n.
| felt convinced that Mr. Popp had solved
the question Of cheap power especially
| for street railroads. and he entered into
a contract with the French engineer Tor
/ control OF the system In the United
States. Canada, and Mexico.
1T has been recognized for years mat
! compressed air has been successfully used
/ as a power. but the main point Is, now
co1 this power be used most economical
Mr.. Pom. through his plant IN Paris,
| has accomplished this end. and by recent
| Inventions is now able 10 apply IL 70
street-car traction more economicaliy
| than any other power known az this tiine.
Mr. Fisher has offered every facility 70
| Colonel Calhoun for the practical demon
stration OF the system on one OF tne
! Richmond lines. and says that ne VIII
produce one hundred thousani dollars, II
/ necessary. 10 insure the line II the neces-
sary privileges for establishing the sys-
| tenn are granted by the city. II the priVi-
| le.es are obtained Colonel Calhoun says
| the work will be pushed 20 complexion
at as early a day as possible.
| for putting in his system at 81. 0uinun,
| a city In France OF 1900 population, ~
| Vienna IN Paris. in Constantinopfe, ana
| In Athens. Greece
FRENCH ESarSEER.
Mr. Lehrner the young French ensiheess
now here superintended the erection OF
/ the plant IN Constanunople ana came
dsrs,, - Richmond Via New York from
| Athens. where he also superintended me
erection Of a similar plant, and was sen.
BY Mr. Popp to America on Few Few n'"''
/ notice 10 look after the work mere
| Mr. I4hrner Is an accomplished genue-
| man. and speaks English with ease. ne
expressed himself az much Inpressse
! With the size and great ousihess 9pstss
tiOns OF this country. and Delighted Nitn
| the comfort and speed or the railway
| trains.
Mr. Popp will himself sail for America
! on the nth instant. and VIII arrive an
New York about the ztn. "lei III NE w,
unite with Mr. Lehrner in perLecuhs .
| line I'm this city according 20 ms MOST
! recent improvements -,
In discussing the advantages OF COM
hover. Colonel Calhoun said they are so
| numerous and we'll known that II Is hai'-
Nv worth while 10 enumerate them.
/ The principal ones however. are tht
| getting rid or overhead wires anu '.
| danger which accompanies them ana 20
| DESTROYS the beauty OF the streets. Also,
| the electrotasis. or charging or the eartn
| with electricity, which has In some elues
| done SO much damage 10 water ana gas
Mr. Addison G. Rand. in his book
! on the uses Of compressed air, says. &c
application OF compressed air WhlSh w
| Paris system presents IS as Naii.. a., a.
| the requirements for power. IN Ha-'
rar,s ~ the city this convenient ana IN
extensive power is used 20 run the o. "a
mos 10 generate electr:c ~ for lighting
and other purposes. The value OF tne
system is apparent. There is an absence
OF danger and annoyance SAVING al
| snace. reduction OF insurance anu, me-
| 5~.au,, il derived the very important
advantsee OF pure cool air. the value OF
| which in some Cramped shops can scarce
| " be exaggerated
SINGULAR COINCIDENCE
In this connection it Is OF interest 10
| recall the fact that the nrst pla0 ,,.as
| trolley line in the United states wa
ooerated in this city, and II the plans Oh
| Colonel Calhoun and Mr.. Popp are rea ~,
| "a Richmond will be the hrst 10 III"
| street-cars by compressed air