Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-05
The New York Metropolitan Road
and the New Motor.
BUILDING LARGE AND COSTLY PLANT
Positive Statements in Regard to
the Use of Air.
S METHING OMIN G

assurance given few days ago, as then
published in The Star, by Mr.. Thomas Dolan
OF the Elkins Widener-Dolan syndicate,
that If compressed air motors prove sue
cessful on the Metropolitan railway in New
York they will be placed on the Soldiers
Home and lexington and Belt Line rail-
ways of this city during the present sum-
mer has excited great local interest in the
subject. A Star reporter who recently went
to New York saw those interested in the
air motors ard some of those connected
with the Metropolitan Traction Company Of
that city, and was afforded an opportunity
to inspect what has thus far been done to-
ward putting the new power into success
full operation
There is now being erected on an i'm
trense plat OF ground, at the corner Of
l41th street and Lenox avenue, a power
house. in which will be placed the mechin-
cry necessary to run the cars by air. All
kinds of valuable machinery, including
boilers, engines, ETC., are on the spot and
most Of the foundations have been built
Tor the placing of the various pieces upon
them.
Have Confidence.
The utmost confidence is felt as express
Ell to The Star reporter, by the officers of
the Metropolitan Traction Company the
owners of the motor patents. and every one
of compressed air in this connection, and
yet. every subordinate, from general su-
perintendent down, has received orders
from the president of the railroad COM
| pany to refuse to answer any and every
question in regard to the motor.
Nevertheless there are some persons con-
hected with the road and motor company
who We're willing to give The Star reporter
interesting information relative to the new
power. One of these men said: we regard
compressed air as a means of propulsion
LOT street cars as an assured success. If it
We're not SO. do you think that as reasona-
bic thinking business men We would invest
the thousands Of dollars In machinery that
you nave seen at the site of the new power
house?
1T is probable that not nearly so much
attent1on would have been paid to the de-
Velopmelt of compressed air motors had it
rot been for the enormous price put by the
General Electric and Westinghouse COM
panies upon their productions Of course
the overhead trolley is out of the question
and for two reasons, the people would not
let us nave 1t, and we regard it as causing
too much Disagreement of the streets
But there is still another cause for the
rapid development of the new motor. The
| people Of New York have become sick and
ureo OF the way trains are on the ele-
waited roads. They have long been wearied
by the discomfort caused by the smoke and
| noise of the little locomotives. and more
especially since other means of rapid
transit, besides steam, have been brought
into use.
Air Motor for l. Road.
1t is no Islander of Mr. Russell Sage
who with Mr.. George Gould, controls the
Manhattan system of elevated railways
which practically occupy almost every ave
nue. running north and south through the
city. to say that he does not hurry himself
in the matter of needing public opinion:
out both Mr.. Sage and Mr. Gould have ar
rived at the conclusion that something
must ne done to appease the public an
tlpathy to the elevated railway trains or
the time will soon come when their rev
enues from this source, which are now
colossal will be curtailed to an immense
extent.
LAS a proof of this 1t can be stated on
authority that at the request of the
former Gen. Hueb, the eminent engineer
who built the Hoosac tunnel and who has
been life long friend of Mr.. Sage, has re-
Gently made a thorough study of the com
pressed air motor which the METROPOLITAN
hallway Company is about to try, and is
now meeting Mr.. Sage in conference from
day to day on the subject.
1T Is generally understood among rail-
way men that the time having arrived
when change of motive power must be
made on the elevated lines, the manage
inent of the latter will test the values of
both the electric locomotive and the com
pressed air motor, and whichever of these
proves the more satisfactory will be
adopted.
| prefer the adoption of the latter power If it
can be made to work as well as electricity
on account of the great cost Of the con-
struction of the latter.
Great Cost of Condufts
ITO equip ten miles Of underground cleo
trio railway In the city of New York, not
including the cars or the building of the
power house, means an investment Of not
less than S2,OOO,0OO. The cost of the same
system on the elevated lines would not be
quite so great 1t is likely as there would
he no eXcavating to be done. With the
compressed air motors the great exDense
would be in the case of the elevated lines
and also of the Metropolitan system in the
hrst cost of the cars, it's tracks now in use
being laid so as to permit the operation Of
either electric cars or compressed air mo-
tors.
1T is doubtful If Mr.. Sage would be at
all disturbed by the action of any other
railway company in New York besides the
metropolitan, and this can best be ex-
planned by stating the fact that the Metro
politan system parallels the elevated sys-
tenn on almost every street, and in some
instances It's cars are run on the surface
OF the same highways as those upon which
the elevated trains are operated
THE Metropolitan company does not in
tend to rest satisfied with the developments
made by the inventor of the motor, and in
order to ascertain If any improvements
can be made thereon the chief engineer
a few weeks ago went to Europe. where .
now is, busily engaged studying the sys-
TENS in several of the continental cities
where compressed air has been used for
street car propulsion for some time past
1t Is also stated that the man to superin-
tend the running of the first cars by COM
pressed air in New York has been select ted
and that he was formerly warrant officer
in the United States navy where he had
special charge of the COMPRISING of air
for the firing Of dynamite guns
a Definite Program.
The following authorized statement in
reference to the new motors was given The
Star reporter at the residence of Mr.. John
d. Crmmins:
ut is intended, as soon as the company
which has been organized to make the mo-
tors on a large scale Is in position to fill
heavy orders to place air compressors on
every cable, electric and horse car opera ted
by the company. If no important changes
are found necessary in the first installment
of cars, after trial, the Belt line, the 9th
and Sth avenue lines the avenue line
and the Fulton, Chambers Odd and 5Dth
streets cross-town lines will be fully equip
ped with the new power, and the Broad
way and Lexington avenue cable lines will
follow.
1T Is claimed that while the new motive
power is but little, If any, cheaper to in
i coll