Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-24
JOCKEYING THE AIR MOTOR
how the Compressed All Machine Was Run
Up Hill.
A Speed Trial That Has Given the
Promoters of the System
Great Glee.

The air motor departments continue
daily and nightly. The snort Of the bot
tles' as they emit their squeezed atmos-
phere Is to be heard occasionally along New
York avenue and 5th street. on G street,
and sometimes in the vicinity of the hill in
front Of the Police Court. where the motor
the other day demonstrated its capacity to
supply retrograde rapid transit at short
notice. When the original motor was
brought to town a schedule of trips was
arranged for the alleged benefit Of the
public the car leaving the power house
at lexington at $50 am, $3.50 pm, and
$3.50 p. m, the times of the heaviest traffic.
The later sample of the compressed air
system, which combines the features of
the two leading rivals for public favor in
this line. has followed much the same
schedule, though the route has been
charged q trfhe.
Today there was filed with the District
commissioners letter that bears interest
fngiy upon the performances of this second
motor and upon the methods in vogue to
put 1t through its PAGES. From this docu-
ment 1T would seem that there Is some
1ockeying being done in order to land
the motor on the crest Of Louisiana avenue
MIL and into official approval The letter.
which was signed by Mr.. T. P Kane, a
resident Of lexington. and a close observer
OF all the air motor experiments. is as fol-
lows:
About 10 o'clock last night the new
air motor made a trip from the power
mouse In lexington to the Pennsyls ania
depot, with gates all closed to pre-
vent any one from getting aboard. Mr..
W. g. Henderson. president of the North
Capitol ard lexington Citizens Associa-
ton, and myself. seeing 1t start in took the
next car and followed for the purpose of
witnessing its ascent of the Louisiana
avenue grade on the return trip. We
reached 9th street and Louisiana avenue
Just as the car was turning into 9th street
at the depot on its way back. When it
crossed Pennsylvania avenue full power
was turned on and the car was started I'D
9TH street. with all four gates closed and
bell changing for everybody and every
.nlng ID get out of the way. and by the
time 1t reached the foot Of the Louisiana
avenue grade, where Mr.. Henderson and
l stood. 1t had acquired all the speed II
was capable of attaining and momentum
sulHcient to carry it two-thirds of the dis
lance up the hill.
This rorning the promoters of the air
motor boosted of the splendid achievement
OF the car last night In making this ascent
wow. l wish to enter my protest against
any such performance as that which I
witnessed last night being considered a
practical test Of the climbing capacity of
ms car. Under ordinary conditions 1t
sGoulo De able to stop at c street and
again at the foot Of Louisiana avenue to
take On passengers. as the horse cars do
otherw1se those who wish to board the car
at these points will have to walk to the
up VI 'ie NIL Whlle the air car waits there
1or them to come up. If such a contrivance
should be permitted to be temporarily
adopted The fact that they do not ston
the car at these points to permit any one
10 get on Is an admission on the part of
those who are endeavoring to foist this in
icrnaI machine upon the people of Wash
lngton that 1t cannot take the grade at
this point under the ordinary conditions 10
which street car is subjected, hut that
II Is necessary for them to get a momen-
tum to the car sufficient to carry # two
, thirds Of the distance I'D the hill in order
10 make the ascent. and that, too, with no.
body on the car except those who are ex-
perfmenting with it,"