The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-31
Electrical Progress.

An electric system of intercommunica-
ton for trains Is being tried on the Lon
don Southwestern railway, doing away
with che oeyrhead cord Tor communicating
from any part OF the train to the locomo-
tive.
The New York Lenox avenue conduit
road underground trolley has emerged
successfully from the tests 10 which the
severe storms Of the last winter sub
JeCted IL. The equipment OF TINS line is
10 be increased.
A local electric light company al Spring
field, Mass, utlllzes water power a.
Indian Orchard, SIX and One-halt miles
away. The installation Is a 3,OVu-Nolt
twO-phase system, with present capacity
of 325 horse power.
The commissioners in charge OF the dc
sign and construction Of an electric rat
way 10 the top Of snOw-clad Jungtrau, IN
Switzerland have offered an information
al prize of 5000 for the best solution OF
certain detail problems IN the cOnstruc-
ton Of the road.
Alternating current trolley lines. which
are destined to supcrsede the present con-
tinuous current trolley on account OF the
attendant economies OF operation, csyec-
Tally on long distance inter-urban traihc'
have received their first application at
Lugano. Switzerland.
Telephone line construction in high alu-
tudos of the Rocky mountains presents
many peculiar difficulties. on the Lead
Ville-Aspcn line. near Cripple Creek, 10
was necessary to blast places Tor the
pole holes, 800 pounds OF giant powder
being used FOR each hole.
The GIN Paper Company at Niagara
Ialh and another company an Water
town. y. T., have added 10 their steam
plants electric equipments, IN order 20
obtain the advantages of greater stradl-
ness Of speed secured 10y running thcis
paper machines by electric motors.
comparison OF the costs per train
mile for two years Of two English cleo
trio railways. one an underground ana
the other a surface road. SHOWS cost
OF 29.O2 cents and 1854 cents, respectively.
A considerable item of expense in the un-
derground roads was found to be the
hydraulic elevators by which the passen-
gers reached the surface or trains.
1t has been observed that poplar trees
are particularly subject TO be struck by
lightning. Recent experiments show
that woods containing fats are poor con-
ductors Of electricity, while those contain
ing starch are better conductors. 70
the latter class belong poplars oaks and
willows. consequently they form natural
lightning rods. Some authorities are
OF the opinion that poplars planted near
buildings would afford excellent pr0tec-
ton from tightening.
4 silyer-plated tool-rOOm lathe has been
won by cornell University III contest
for the most popular technical or meclan-
zeal school in the United States. over
LOCO. 900 votes were cast. Cornell led.
with s5,SlS. the Jewish training school Of
Cleveland second with 81 600 and tho
Cincinnati Technical School third with
5000 votes. All the prominent technical
schools Of the country were interested.
Including Massachusetts, Institute OF
Technology. Armour Institute Of Chicago.
Leland Stamford University Of Califor-
mia. Pratt Institute Of New York and
many others.
The Heimann electric locomotives nre
sef-contained. deriving their power from
a boiler, engine and dynamo mounted on
the same truck with the motors. and are
reported 10 have been very successful
10 Is found greater percentage OF the
indicated horse power OF the engine in
communicated 10 the axis the eniciencies
being 60 per cent. for steam locomotives
aiiv 20 for these electric locomotives.
| Besides the high speed obtainable with
| the electric locomotive IL Is claimed that
they possess advantages in ascending
| and descending grades. The Heimann
| locomotives have been in operation for
year in France.