Evening star., 1896-12-28
AIR MOTOR EXPERIMENTS.
Mr. Kane Gives the Result Of Some
InQaar1es He Has Made
10 the Editor Of TIE Erenipg Star:


Mr.. Kane Gives the Result Of Some
Inquiries He Has Made,
10 the Editor Of TIE Evening Star:
In favorably reporting to the House Of
representatives on the 18th instant the
JOINT resolution introduced in the afternoon
OF the day before to extend the time for
ar-motor experiments on the lexington
Belt lines in this city, Mr.. Babcock, chair
man Of the House District committee, in
asking for its immediate consideration.
said:
Mr.. Speaker, desire to say In reference
10 this resolution that the bill granting au-
thority to put on compressed air motors
was passed by the House last June con-
tract was let to one Of the business houses
OF this country. and an order was given for
Wnat are known as compressed air bottles
TO firm In Germany, owned by the Ger
man government. The contract was made
ior delivery. 1t being the only place where
these bottles could be satisfactorily con-
structed In that time. Shortly after the
contract was let the whole institution was
Durned down, and 1t has been impossible
10 secure them in time for use believe
they have now one car, and only one. Both
roads after the passage of the bill went
into the hands of receivers in September
A nearing as to the sale under the credi-
tors bill Is set for the 9th of January, and.
unless the extension Is granted, the court
Will decree the sale Of the roads, thus los
ing to the stockholders the full amount of
their stock"
l do not question for one moment Chair
man Babcock's belief in the absolute ac-
curacy of this little Christmas story that
ne related to the House of Representatives,
because he got his information direct, and
certainly fresh, from the MANAGEMENT of
these railways; but the people of Washing
ton have been so frequently entertained
ourlng the past two years with air motor
nursery tales that they are less credulous
than the genial chairman of the Districts
legislative committee, and therefore seek
ver1fcatton of statements emanating from
mis- source of Information before placing
credence enough in them to make them the
sole basis for legislation.
with view to ascertaining whether or
not there was any truth in the story of the
destruction of this German wind bottling
estaonshment, l wrote the agents OF the
concern in this country in regard to the
matter, and received from them the follow
ing reply, dated Adams, Mass, the oath
instant:
In reply to your favor of the 21st in
stant, to our New York office, we beg to
say that we manufacture bottles for com
pressed air in two of our German works.
l. e., at Remschied and at Bous o'Saar
The buildings where these tubes are made
are constructed entirely of iron so that no
hre Could interfere with this department,
Furthermore, we will be ready next spring
try"
This letter is signed by Mr. Carl Names
mann, treasurer of the Mannesmann Cycle
Tube Company.
We all know that air motors have been
In successful operation for some years OIL
steam railroad terminals, especially at New
Orleans and do not doubt that an air mo-
tor constructed like locomotive, after the
same style as those used at such points
would operate successfully on the elevated
roads In New York, but no one would think
OF putting such a machine on the streets of
a city for surface traction. The air motor
built for surface roads is an entirely diff
terentiy constructed machine and in this
1act lies Its failure thus far to receive the
indorsement OF any one of the street rail-
tried.
If the Senate committee wants to get at
the facts in regard to these air motors and
which they should do before permitting
any further time to be wasted in fruitless
experiments with them, they should not
accept the ex-parte statements of gentle
men who are much interested in com.
pressed air motors" but should consult the
practical railroad men on whose lines 1t
mas been given fair trial, and who have
concluded to incur the greater expense of
putting in the underground electric sys-
tenn to risk their money in novelty
the success of which, both mechanically
and commercially, 1t will take years to de-
termine.
To revert to the burned bottling estab-
lishment. / am also in receipt of informa-
ton from Rome. N. Y, stating that there
is no truth in the reported destruction of
these works by fire.
The other statement which Chairman
Babcock was deceived into making, upon
the authority of these same gentlemen. to
wit: that the court would order a sale of
the roads the 9th of January unless this
legislation was secured, is equally without
foundation, as am informed by one of the
attorneys representing bondholders' inter-
ests IN the court proceedings that no move
ment has been made looking to a sale of
the roads, and none Is in contemplation
Having no desire to be selfish with any
information l possess as to the methods
adopted by the Eckington-Belt manage
ment to secure legislation by rapid tran
Sit, and at the risk of this communication
being considered continuance of my I'll
rade' against these roads by my belated
convert TO the cause of humanity and pro-
gress, signing herself "Eckington" i'm a re-
cent communication to The Star, I submit
1t for publication for the benefit of those
who are deeply interested in this much-dis
cussed subject. TP KANE
No Alvana<a In nn<t.-