Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-28
THE AIR MOTOR ON TRIAL
Successful Test Made Under Favorable Con-
ditions Yesterday.
Superintendent Mcfarland, Repre-
able RepOrt-Company's Claims.

Operated under the most favorable cir
umstances, the air motor, proposed to be
adopted as a new means of motive power
Tor the lexington road; made a successful
round trip yesterday from the power house
to the market, University Hill and return
1t was an official test, the representative of
the District, Superintendent Mcfarland, be-
ing on board. Several other tests had been
made, but Engineer Commissioner Black
ordered the operation of a filled with
passengers. The car, with a pressure of
1000 pounds of air, started yesterday after
noon from the power house, with forty-six
passengers on board, including the repre-
sentatives Of several newspapers. The
motor glided off smoothly and made the
run without incident.
The severest test was stated to be that
on Louisiana avenue between 5th and 9th
streets. There is per cent grade here,
and every one watched the car make the
climb A man had been employed before it
arrived at this point to sand the tracks,
and he had them in fine shape when the
motor appeared. Several times the car was
brought to stop on the up grade, and only
once did it falter, and then it was so brief
that little note was taken of 1t. 1t took
place about half way up the grade.
A Slight Hitch.
Superintendent Mcfarland had ordered a
it came time for starting again, there was
a hitch, and it was necessary to reverse
the car short distance before 1t would re-
spond to the forward impulse.
When the car reached the top of the hill,
the drivers and conductors who made up
the load applauded vigorously. They no
doubt appreciated the difference, for the
drivers are sorely taxed, even with four
horses, to get a car up this grade. There
was some kissing added to the noise of the
piston, but it was not thought by the sup
erintendent from the Commissioners office
to be isagreeable.
The return Of the car to the power house
was uneventful. At the suggestion of Sup
erintendent Mcfarland, thirty stops in all
were made. When the power house was
reached, 1t was suggested that the full trip
De completed; that the car be run to Brook
land. But upon reference to the pressure
gauge, 1t was found that there was not
sufficient power in the cylinders, and only
a part of this branch was run over 1t was
that from the power house to the univer-
sity gate.
The motor took the hill with apparent
ease, although the speed was considerably
diminished. 1t was as fast, the represen-
tatlVe OF the railroad claimed, as that made
by the trolley. Special attention was called
to the running of the car under low pres
sure the speed maintained being as fast
as though 1t were being operated with fully
charged cylinders.
DeSCF1Dt1On.
At the power house, the operation of the
car was described by Mr.. T. Vogelsanger,
the engineer of the Hoadley-Knight COM
pany. 1t required less than a minute to re-
charge the cylinders, he explained, and the
cylinders could be made any reasonable
size to insure full round trip.
Superintendent Mcfarland has already
made two reports upon the operation of the
motor. both of which are favorable. He
expressed himself as satisfied with the
test of yesterday. In conversation with a
reporter of The Star, he said there was no
doubt in his mind that the motor would
successfully operate the road. The only
drawback he knew of to an air motor was
its liability to explode. 1t was claimed that
the one tried here was proof against ex-
plosion, and the company claimed the
cylinders were not taxed anywhere near
their strength, and that even if they were
to explode, which was not at all probable,
they would simply tear out, and not scat
ter into fragments
The final report upon the tests was made
this afternoon. AT the next meeting of the
board of Commissioners the subject will be
taken up for consideration, and the Com
mssioners, to satisfy themselves. will prob
ably make test for themselves.