The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-15
Few persons who are closely watching

the progress of the great revolution in
traction methods which has just begun
can have failed to notice how cheap
water-power is being utilized all over
the country, by conversion into cleo
trlcity, which Is transmitted to a dis
| tance for variety of uses. For in
stance the Baltic dam, near Norwich,
Conn. is thus made to run a mill at
Taftville, four miles away and to run
street cars from three to four miles
more. No doubt dozen similar in
stances can be found up In New Eng
land alone. Scores Of them can be found
in Switzerland. Italy. France and Ger
many. Among the most striking devel-
opments in this direction, though. are
the Pacific coast enterprises. From
power plant at Folsom, Cal, capable Of
developing several thousand horse
power when needed, electricity Is sent
over the wires to Sacramento. twenty
four miles away. and there distributed
about the city for driving machinery,
propelling street cars and affOrding
light Another such line starting from
San Antonio Valley, supplies Pomona,
fourteen miles away. and San Bernar-
construction of other works on the Col
umbia, 10 give Portland light, heat and
power, Is well under way. while plans
are well advanced for the same pur-
pose along the st. Lawrence at La
chine Rapids, and on the Potomac
above Washington. Then there Is Nj
CARA. with it's practically illimitable
possibilities, SO far as the quantity of
available power is concerned, and
which, If there was a sufficiently large
demand. could economically minister to
places as far away as the metropolis.
though of course Buffalo and Rochester
will be the first served. These prece-
dents are sure to be followed by shrewd
business men all over the county dur
ing the next few years. Cheap water
power cannot fail to be an important
factor in the development and operation
of electric railways.
STEAM. FOR LONG HAULS.
Several questions in regard to the
near future are now practically settled.
The hauling of freight trains for long
distances will be left for the present to
steam. So will the great through eS-
presses, with their enormous dead
weight and infrequent service. The in
dividual trolley-car will continue to
possess city streets and run out a little
way into the suburbs. But the most
immediate and radical change which
this age is likely to see is the use of
electricity for running frequent, light.
fast trains over the tracks of existing
steam roads, or entirely new roads.
which will compete with old lines. 1t
seems probable that service of this kind
for distances of ten. twenty. fifty or
perhaps q hundred miles, will be abun-
dainty afforded within the next five
years. The type of coach to be used
will be very much like the best elevst-
cd railway cars. The utmost effort will
be made to reduce the percentage of
dead weight to the live weight carried.
The trains will be composed of from two
to five cars. according to circumstan-
ces; but the tendency Except on ele-
waited railways) will be toward fewer
cars and greater frequency Of service.
1t seems unlikely that an Independent
electric engine will be used to haul
the trains. Instead, as on the Mount
Holly and Nantucket branch reads. the
leading car will be equipped with cleo
machinery. type dHtduy
adopted on some Chicago elevated roads
will perhaps be tried at first. This is a
regular passenger coach, with steel
frame and electric motor on each Of it's
four axles and controlling devices in
a cab a. the end. Such cars would
really be double-tenders. just as our
trolley-cars are.
CONSIDERATIONS OF SPEED.
The speed to be developed would de-
pend more largely on the track than
anything else. 1t would be practicable
to make 100 or $50 miles an hour. The
latter is considered the maximum of
safety by some experts. But to attain
even 100 miles an hour it would be nee
essary to have no grade crossings, al
most no switches. and exceedingly gen.
tie curves. Grades are of little conse-
quence. Electricity is more Indifferent
than steam to such difficulties. especial
ly as the electric motor of the future
will doubtless be momentarily changed
into a dynamo when going down hill.
and transform the force of gravitation
into stored electric energy that can be
utilized for the next climb.
Another thing which is pretty well
settled Is that while direct currents will
continue to be used on street railways