The evening times., 1896-01-11
POLE GAS MOTOR CAR.
New System to Be Put In Operation
Here

El6T0.
A new street car motor is to be put on
the Anacosia and Potomac Railroad. IL
is to be a gas engine. essentially the same
as that described in the Morning Times by
the United States consul, W. s. Carroll, as
seen by him in operation in Dresden, Gei
many. This motor, however, is owned by
an American concern. The Pole Gas Motor
Car System of thiscity, ofwhich Mr.. Thomas
c.. Pole is president and engineer; Mr..
John o. johnson, treasurer, and Mr.. 3.
Herbert Giesy, secretary and attorney.
The company has control of nine acres of
ground at Dcanewood, and with the new
year commenced operation for turning out
its first motor upon the Anacostia road.
The inaugura ton of the enterprise means
work for number of skilled mechanics. As
soon AS the first engine of this pattern is in
operation others like IT will be built, until
the Anacostia road is equipped throughout.
II all that is claimed for the new motor
is demonstrated TO be true, 1t will soon
replace all other systems of street car
traction. With every adyanta ge for
speed and comfort that is offered by the
best OF the others, il reduces the cost of
operating to figure which leaves no
ming the Columbia railroad here during the
past year, shownsby the report OF President
Baker, is ! 2 L. cents per car for ach mile
Of tile car service. The cost of running
gas motor Is cents per car mile. The
cost of operating for other systems as
shown by a long system OF comparisons.
is as follows:
Trolley, 10 cents per car mile; horse cars.
cents per car mile; underground electric,
IA cents per car mile; compressed air,
such as proposoo for the Belt Line, IL cents
per car mile, and cable, Is cents per car
mile. The difference In cost is largely due
To the fact that the Pole system has no
power house or other expensive plant to
keep up 10 operate It's cars. The gas en-
ginc is upon The car Just as in the case of
n steam engine, ard has no connection with
any line of wire or cables. II accordingly
is not subject To the delays and hindrances
which hamper the other systems. The ma
chine will produce better results than with
steam with n Cost of one oue-hundredth as
much. Furthermore, the engine is sim
pie In It's Construction That a skilled man
is not necessary la operate the motor.
it can be given at once to the men on any
line who are running cars already in use.
and does not necessitate any change of
force. The mOtounaD has very simple
duties to perform. There is one lever for
him to watch. One motion puts OH the
clutch and sets the car going forward at a
lively pace another motion in the Oppo-
site direction takes off the clutch and at
the same time puts on the brakes. This
gives a ready control Of the car and at
the same time allows the motorman time
to watch the track and signals. The motor
which is being constructed at DeanewoCd
is according to an older method OF oper-
ating than that seen by Mr.. Carroll at
Dresden, and has certain advantages over
1t. 1t was first taken up about eleven
years ago, but owing to delays in gaining
protection for its patents, and to the
severe business depressious. the company
have only now begun to put its engines
In the field.
Tests were made OF the engine at Camden,
n. j., in 1885, and were quite successful.
There was a committee~of weli-knowu
Phladelphians to act as judges OF the
trials. They reported that the motor was
successful in reducing high pressure gas to
the city pressure, and running 4 gas en-
gine which was mounted thereon. That
us dClion WIS CfiiISeu ny u slHSie move
ment OF the lever, which controls the motor
and leaves the engine running in one dr.
rectiOn, while the motor was moved in
another direction. That the light OF the
motor was kept under perfect control; the
gas under easy management OF the motor
man, the motor easily started stopped, and
reversed, and the friction attachment to
operate the driving wheels entirely sue
cessful.
Litigations have been in progress until
lately for the protection of the comrany's
patents, and they are now secured by the
decisions OF the court. The company has
the sole right to use a gas engine in the
street car motor in the manner and system
set forth. and will now push its business
in all directions.
The patterns have been ordered and i'm
proved since the tests at Camden, so that
it is now ready to furnish very Zine motors.