Evening star., 1896-12-21
COmpressed Air.

The proposition TO equip two of Wash
ington's street railroads with compressed
air motors causes the people here To take
direct interest in the progress of the
experiments with that form of motive
power that are being conducted In New
York II is an especially interesting mat
tor just now, when the local companies
that propose TO try the air cars are before
Congress asking for n considerable exten-
sion Of time in which to make the expert
ment. Evidence tending TO show the sue
cess of the air motor for surface traction
is furnished by Herman Haupt. the we'll
known civil engineer of New York. who
wrote under date of December Ii to one
OF the newspapers OF that city:
The compressed air cars are now sue
CesSfUlly operating 12ath street. and
have been in regular service since August
:. performing a daily schedule These
cars nofseless in their operation They
equipped with air brakes so that they
can be quickly stopped gently stopped.
Each motor is independent. so that nothing
can happen to disturb the entire line. They
can be- gradually introduced into service
upon ordinary tracks OF the street railroad
companies. thus doing away with all tear
ing up of streets and all resulting damage
to property interests.
This reference Is to the Hardie motor.
one of the two now in experimental use
AH We" ioIh. dLu the OHc EeJtCtcu DS NE
receiver of the lexington and Belt roads
in his recent report to the District court.
Since Mr.. Haupt,s words were written he
other motor. the Hoadley. which the re-
cever recommended for local adoption. is
reported to have come to grief as to one
of its experimental cars through the ex-
plosion of its air tank. causing the wreck
of the car. The danger of such explo-
sionS through defects In the tanks or over
pressure in condensing the air is. however.
al objection which mas been urged against
all forms of air motors.
Notwithstanding the practical success of
compressed air cars in France and Switz-
erland during several years. there seems to
be some mysterious reason why they can
not become servfceabie In America. The
street railway companies, hesitattng to go
to tn. great expense of adopting the pres
ent days most satisfactory electrical sys-
tenn, the underground. prevented by wise
public opposition from using in cities the
overhead device and impatient at the dis-
advantages of the cable. are seeking a So
luton In the form OF safe. swift and re-
liable independent motor Yet their exper-
fments with air cars do not appear to be
sufficiently satisfactory to cause them to
adopt the system Indeed one of the New
York companies conducting tests on this
line recently voted to equip with the rn-
derground electric.
In view OF these facts. the Senate should
and probably will. give to the requests OF
the local companies more consideration
than was bestowed by the House. 1t would
he more satisfactory and convincing to
have a test of the motors made here under
the eyes Of Congress and the interested
public. than to take the evidence Of exper-
iments made in some other city. Rapid
transit Is demanded on these local lines.
and 1t must be given or the companies In
default must go out of business. They have
practically ignored one congressional man.
date. and now ask for an extension. In
granting 1t. the House should give no more
than was offered by the original act. ana
should couple the privileges with severe
and unavoidable penalties in case of further
default.