The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-09-01

cratlve avenue of Investment, it is not
surprising that n considerable number
OF diverse methods of street car pro-
pulsion have been devised and ex-
plotted. The trolley, the electric
storage system, the ammonia motor
and several types Of gas-engine motors,
are but few of the many creations
OF inventive minds in this direction.
! In considering Compressed Air Tor
Street Railroads." in Casters Mann-
zine, Whitefeld Price Pressinger re-
minds us that the advanced methods
OF street car locomotion in general
to-day are practically represented by
two systems-the electric trolley and
the underground cable. He adds th at
any system OF street car propulsion, to
merit favorable consideration in com
petition with the two prevailing meth
DDS, must be capable of installation
and operation ut lower cost. We
are always confronted with the posi-
blllty OF some neglected gentleman OF
scientific attainments and advanced
ideas turning the whole or any part
OF our schemes Of civilization topsy-
turVy, but at the present writing,
passing from the trolley and cable
systems, we naturally turn to the next
important method Of power transmits
siou-compresscd air.
| Compressed air does not scintillate
with the unknown possibilities which
have been eiectricity's chief attraction
to the imaginative mind of embryo
genius. Its limits are clearly defined.
Hedged IN by answering mechanical
| and thermo-dynamIc laws presenting
| no avenues of research for the accom-
| plIshment of results hitherto unnt-
tanned, compressed air, though longer
known to science, has been over
shadowed by its more snowy con-
temporary. But the boundaries of
electrical possibility in the sphere of
mechanics are more clearly defined,
and to-day the fold OF usefulness of
compressed air exhibits n marked ex-
tension. 1t occupies n recognized DO
sition in almost every branch of the
arts, sciences and manufactures, and
many new and important methods and
| processes are based upon the utiliza.
ton Of this power.
The very greatest point in favor of
compressed air locomotives is their
absolute safety from fire, which can.
not be claimed Tor any other form of
motor, either steam or electric.
The first compressed air motor to
he tried IN America, at least, was the
Hardle motor, which was constructed
at the Baldwin Locomotive Works, at
Philadelphia, and tested in New York
City about 1881. Subsequently the
Judson system, taking its power from
n continuous compressed air conduit
the entire length OF the line, was test.
ed aud abandoned. Then'the Atmos-
pheric Propulsion Company built an
experimental car and progressed no
further. The rights of the Mekarski
system, extensively used in France.
are controlled in the United States,
and cars have been run there, but il
has not fiourished as in the land of its
conception.
All these motors, with the exception
OF the Judson, were designed upon
the storage system, being provided
with cylindrical receivers carried uu.
der the car body. These receivers were
charged at central station with COM
| pressed air to high pressure and the
air was supplied to- the motor cylinder
on the car, ut the requisite working
| pressure, 10y means OF pressure reduc.
| ing valves. Provision was made for
| restoring the radiated heat energy to
the air before it was used and air
brakes were employed. On down
| grades no air was consumed and, in
fact, the motor cylinders could be
utilized rs COMPRISING pumps, TO re-
! store air under pressure 60 the r..
ceivers whenever the car was propelled
| by gravity, The entire mechanism
was controlled by the motormnn from
/ his place on the front platform.
and required no higher grade of ability
than in managing n cable car or trolley
car.
In this employment Of compre ssed
| oir power, ns in others, Continental
/ Europe and particularly France made
the earliest demonstrations of any
magnitude. In the Buburbs OF Pnris
and at Nantes compressed air tram
ways have been in operation for sew.
eral year,.
In report on motor builS by the
. General Camp, Capsain G.. J. FIe.
berger, Corps OF Engineers, Unite1
States Of America, says: "Durinc
the last decade great improvements
have been made, both in tho cOustruc.
ton OF air comprassors and reservoirs.
/ RcspOnsible manufacturers will fur.
nlsh compressor5 capable of compress
ing my needed quantity Of air per
minute to any desired pressure at
moderate price,, aud guarantee per.
formauce. Rivoicd reservoirs, which
could only stand n moderate pressure
are now superseded by reservoirs OF
mild steel without Joint, weld or seam.
tested 30 double the highest WORKING
/. pressure without exceeding the limit,
/. OF elasticity, oul capable of holding
tho maximum charge with perfect
safety. With such reservoirs, run.
can be = ode ,onr 81 i've times as LONG
rs was formerly possible with ths
rlyeted cylinders, and capacity for
overcoming grades with an ar motor
That is equal to that o. steam loco
motive, being question simply of
cylinder capacity md OF adhesion.
When troilers are carried, nm nlr.ost
unlimited increase ofreseryUir capacity
can be provided 10y putting reservoirs