Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-31
ABSOLUTELY PURE

York Central was run from Niagara Falls
TO Tonawanda between IL and II O'clock
June oath This electric road II con-
sidered the finest I'm the world, and the
cars are heavyweight palace coaches.
AT II o'clock both the trolley-car and
the express train pulled out OF Niagara
Falls. When the city was mile behind
the engineer OF the express suggested
race by giving many short, sharp blasts
from the whistle. and then opening the
throttle The motorman responded by
turning on all the power, and the coach
began TO wabble as she spun with light
ming speed over the level roadbed.
The electric-coach moved at the rate
of sixty miles an hour from Niagara
Falls city line 10 Lasalle. and ran into
Tonawanda half a minute ahead Of the
express train. 1t was the best race OF
the season. and IT was the most exciting
ever held in the history OF the road.
ECONOMY IN THE USE OF THE CUR
RENT.
In order 10 rebut the frequently-made
claim that a locomotive can make as
great a mileage as an electric-motor. ".
Baxter, Jr., shows what is done in actual
practice, and at the same time makes
the distinct statement that such com
pany as the Pennsylvania railroad could
effect a saving of over $4,000. or 1854
per cent OF its operating expenses By
the adoption OF electricity. On the rail-
road named there are ,103 freight-engines.
giving a mileage Of 2o.4OO35S annually.
In the passenger service there are AS To-
comotives, and the total miles run per
year by passenger trains is 14,e0SsDO.
Figuring on basis Of 20 per cent of the
engines I'm use. the miles run per year
would be 1850, and on an 50 per cent.
basis 5000 miles.
Trolley-cars making an average speed
OF less than ten miles an hour run from
5000 TO 5000 miles per year. At this
rate motor-cars drawing freight trains at
IS miles per hour could easily cover
| 5000 TO 1900 miles per year. and
those used for passenger work. and
making an average speed OF 80 miles per
hour. could run over 10000 miles per year
II so much greater yearly mileage could
be made by electric-motors II follows
that the wages OF motormen would be
very much less than the wages OF engine
men per train mile the daily compensa-
ton not being higher. and the distance
covered being far greater.
MONEY INVENTED.
We are constantly assured that cleo
| tricity is ''in its infancy" yet to-day over
10000 is invested I'm electric railways
i'm the United States. with 1.20O miles OF
road, and 1900 trolley-cars. says the Chi
cago Chronicle. In addition. s525 90
is invested in electric-lighting, with pri-
vate lightingplants valued AZ 500 O00.o coo.
There are estimated to be 10000 electric
motors in the United States, and our in
vestments are greater than in all other
| countries combined. Taken altogether
these investments foot up some 81 80 600
| 900, and are increasing at the rate OF
500 ZOO a year. All OF this investment
has grown up within twenty years and
most OF IL within ten years.
| SYSTEM on THE INCREASE IN
EUROPE.
The number of electric railways in
| Europe, according TO LIndustrie Elec-
! tridue. has increased during the past
| year from seventy-nine TO III with a
total length OF $50 miles, as against 1876
miles in the year before. The plumber
OF electric cars has In the same time in
creased from LBS 10 LA. According
to countries. Germany is far ahead.
with go miles Of electric railways and
/ S57 motor-cars. Next follows France
with but 81 miles and 225 motor-cars.
| Then comes Great Britain with only IS
miles and 1875 cars. while Austro Hungary
has As miles with 157 motor-cars. Next
are Switzerland, Italy Spain. and Bel
| GUM I'm the order given. while Russia
| has only one electric railroad with six
| miles of track and % motor-cars or
| the III European lines, 81 are overhead
| trolleys, Of which there were % in Ger
many u in Switzerland. 10 IN France,
| and each in England and Italy. and 8
| in Austro- Hungary. etc OF electric rail-
roads with underground current there
were but three at the beginning OF this
| year, one each in England, Germany.
and Hungary. Nine lines are provided
with an insulated central track, through
which the current Is conducted. eight OF
these railroads being in Great Britain and
/ one in France. The remaining eight
| lines are provided with accumuators
| OF these four are in France and two In
Austria and one each in England and
the Netherlands.
| A POLE AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE
CAR.
At HartlepooI, England there is a troll
ley system Of peculiar construction. In
order 10 avoid the use OF span wires
T. e., wires extending across the street
! from pole TO pole. forming the supports
| OF the trolley-wlre In the ordinary sys-
tenn, and also TO prevent the obstruction
Of the roadway by setting the poles In
| the middle OF the street as Is some
times done in this country. the trolley
wire is supported on short brackets placed
| on poles set along the curb. As the car
runs In the middle OF the street, this
| construction necessitates the trolley
wheel and pole being placed In a slanting
position, almost at right angles TO the
| car This construction is unique I'm troll
! ley system and to an American looks
decidedly awkward.