Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-13
What Mr.. Kane's Investigation of
Them Shows.
NO COMPANY MANUFACTURING them
His Letter to Chairman Babcock
on the lexington Railway.
AN EIGHTEEN MONTHS LIMIT

Mr. L. +. Kane, the representative or the
railway committee of the North Capitol
and lexington Citizens Association, has
addressed the following letter to Chairman
Babcock Of the House District committee:
The failure to reach a vote in the House
on the lexington and Belt Line railway
lin has caused much disappointment and
anxiety among a large number Of citizens
of this city deeply interested in this meas
ure. AS understand the situation, the bill
ill not again come up in it's regular order
before next District day, the 25th instant,
which will be SO close to the probable date
of adjournment as to render it's passage
during the present session exceedingly
doubtful, especially If the discussion is pro-
voked which was manifested yesterday by
the motions made by several members.
AS the representative Of the railway COM
mittee Of the North Capitol and lexington
Citizens Association l would, therefore,
earnestly suggest the ACCESSIBILITY and pro-
priety of holding a night session for the
consideration and passage of this bill. It's
Importance to the people Of Washington
certainly warrants such action, and 1 ur-
gently and respectfully request It,
In this connection allow me also to urge
that when the Senate and House conferees
meet to reconcile the differences of the two
houses on this bill that the House amend
ment to the Senate bill be insisted upon,
electric system within eighteen months
from the date of approval Of the act if the
compressed air motors should not prove
satisfactory, after trial of three months
Eighteen months is the utmost limit of
time that should be allowed for all pur-
poses Of experiment and actual equipment,
and within that period these companies
should be required to have in actual opera
ton over all their lines within the city
limits an approved modern system of rapid
transit.
The Air Motors.
II is not believed that the representatives
of the lexington company privately enter
tain the confidence in the success of the
air motor system which they publicly pre-
tend to have This belief is warranted by
the fact that while expressing themselves
to members of the Senate committee as be-
ing entirely satisfied with the provisions of
the bill as it passed the Senate, requiring the
adoption of the underground electric system
within two years In the event of the air
motors proving unsatisfactory after a trial
OF three months, they protest to members
of the House committee that the incorpora-
ton OF this provision in the bill virtually
means a cOnfiSca ton of their property.
This action on their part is not only con-
Vinclng proof of want of confidence in
the air motor system but Is also an evil
dence of bad faith. If the compressed air
system possesses the merit that its advo-
Gates claim for it, ample authority is given
under this bill to practically substantiate
this claim and to adopt that system all
the lines OF these companies after demon
stratlns Its success by an actual test.
therefore, II the representatives of the
lexington company sincerely entertain the
confidence in the air motor system that they
publicly pretend to have, they cannot con-
slstently object to the requirement in this
bill in regard to the underground electric
system, as the success of the compressed
air motors would render that provision In
operative.
The wide discrepancies between the pub
lie statements of these officials and the pri-
vately ascertained facts in regard to the
present stage of development of the COM
pressed air motors are not calculated to in
spire confidence in the minds of the public
in the success of this system nor to
strengthen their belief in the sincerity of
the statements of the company's agents in
regard to them.
The propelling forces of this alleged rival
OF electricity, we told, are found in a
mingling of natures elements of wind and
water-cheap. plentiful and inexhaustible
ingredients-but for weeks and months I
have pursued this ignus fatuus of the
lexington company from city to city and
from place to place, wherever it was said
to be either in actual existence or in pro-
cess of generation, and have found moth
ing but wind, wind, vitiated wind.
What His Investigation Shows,
Since my last communication to you on
this subject, giving the result of my inves-
legations up to that date of the migra tory
wanderings Of these air cars and the vagar-
isms attributed to them, 1 have continued
the Investigation, based upon the state
ments which. you will remember, were
made by representative of the lexington
company at the public hearing before your
committee on the 10th ultimo, that this
vaporous compound was then being con-
cocted at Worcester, Mass, that he had
been there himself the week previous, had
4ctullly rit inr h,,t
had ridden upon it; that it was a great
success, would supplant electricity as a
propeller OF street cars. and that an order
for ter Of them would be filled in thirty
days.
L had an investigation made at Worcester
to see what there was real in these state
Hents and received the following report:
Il visited the Osgood Bradley Company in
Worcester and asked them about this air
motor. They are the only car builders in
Worcester, and have never heard of any
such motors being built there. There Is a
construction company in Worcester, but
they build tracks only. will write to some
Westfield parties about it, as the street
railway up there was run by some such
motor for while last summer 1t is tho
only road in Massachusetts that know of
that has used this sort of power
Under date of April 81 received a fur
Their report, follows:
"A man connected with the Worcester
street railway informs me that some party
American Wheelock Engine Company and
is experimenting with an air motor This
company has been formed recently and Is
composed of New York parties. The Cramps
(shpbuilders) have some interest in it,
Under date of April 80, received the fol-
lowing:
Il learned through the Blackstone Valley
street railway that Mr.. Hammill is ex-
perimenting with air motors at the shops
of the American Wheelock Engine Com
pany in Worcester. They say he Is expert
menting only and not building cars for any
company. as the machine is not complete,
From all I can learn, ] am of the opinion
that his work, or any other on air motors,
Is experimental only"
Under date Of May 4. received the fol-
Lowing from Mr.. Hammill, the expert
menter, himself:
II received your letter of the I'd instant.
seeking information in regard to compress
ed air motors. I can confidently say that
no company has them in operation in the
United States, and that no company In
Worcester Is manufacturing them. At the
present stage the car Is running smoothly.
and with few more alterations will be a
complete success, but 1t will be cheaper for
you to manufacture them yourself than to
buy them"
Mr.. Hammill seems to have got the i'm
accf0 hot ta1 -