Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-07
ELECTRIC POW R
Its Substitution for Steam Where
Practical and Safe.
PLAN OF PENNSYLVANIA R. R. CO.
Successful Experiments Made on
Jersey Short Lines.
A RADICAL DEPARTUR RE

Ike ItHLSylNdHld falirOaC company has
about determined to substitute electricity
for steam wherever this can be done with
safety and commercial success. This state
ment is made Upon what is believed to be
excellent authority. 1t is we'll known by
all readers of The Star that the Washing
ton, Alexandra and Mount Vernon rail-
road, which is operated by electricity, is
practically controlled by the Pennsylvania
Company, and that this controlling inter-
est was acquired with the view of making
experiments as to the relative values of
electricity and steam motor power
While the equipment Of this road has not
been as heavily built. SO far as the cars
are concerned. as are electric cars on many
suburban lines. especially in the north and
west. it is known that the results thus far
secured have been entirely satisfactory to
its owners
Meanwhile the Pennsylvania Company
has been experimenting on some of its
branch lines in New Jersey, the first step
being taken when the company established
trolley system between Mount Holly and
East Burlington, dis lance of about seven
miles. with view of making a thorough
test OF the strength and speed of electric
power. This test has just been completed,
and the decision of the engineer depart
ment of the re- ad is that it will he for the
interest of the company to substitute cleo
trlcity wherever practicable.
Testing the system.
When the trolley system was put on the
short line mentioned in the place of the
steam engines, three large cars, fitted up
r,uch like the parlor cars on the Pennsyl-
Vania road, were put into service, and
heavy passenger coaches were drawn over
the road at every trip to test the strength
of the trolley. AT the same time three en-
sines were put into service, and their
q hnr nf triyN
rs the trolley at the same expense was
tested. In a short time it was shown that
the trolley system could make three times
as many round trips between the two towns
mentioned as the engines, and be kept up
at a less cost. The engines were Of 12oO-
morse power. and were capable of drawing
heavier loads of freight than the trolleys,
each of which had only 10OO-horse power
motors, but for the regular passenger SER
vice the trolley was much superior to
steam. it is said, that there was hardly any
comparison between the two
AS soon as this test was figured down to
minimum, the railroad company began
to make tests of speed with the trolley
IRE roadbcd was put in perfect condition,
ana the curves were do~e away with as
mucn AS possible. 1t was not an unusual
thing for one of the tro!lcys 20 run the dis
tahce between the two towns In nine min
utes but this was not considered to be
nearly Their capacity.
Coed Rate Of Speed.
l>tst week d motor car was nut into X
cellent order. ara several representatives
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
made trial TRIP to test speed AT the end
of the route ii was shown that the motor
lad been running a the rate of seventy
four miles an hour. This car is as large
ana heavy as the Ordinary passenger car
used by the Pennsylvania Company and
the fact that it could make such speed
with such weight was surprise to every
one.
1t Is pretty well understood IN railway
circles that the time is not far distant
when there will he constructed an air lire
electric railway between this city and New
York. and 1t is believed that the Pennsyl-
Vania Company will be largely interested
Ill the scheme. AT the Baldwin locomotive
mo!ks IN philadelphia the statement was
recently made by one of the managers that
they Were fully expecting electricity to
take the place of steam within very few
Years. and that their company and the
Westinghouse of Pittsburg had constructed
an electric engine, which had developed a
speed of moro than one hundred miles an
hour. i
Necessary Precaution.
before this engine can be put into practi
cal use for the hauling Of trains. however
according to the opinion of the Baldwin
manager above quoted. 1t will be necessary
mat the tracks upon which it IS to be used
Should be relaid with rails about p per
tSit HtdNItT IMAM tnOSe now Also
tfat all curves he Strengthened as much as
possible. 1t was not the idea of the Raid
WIN man that the trolley should be used
Tor roads OF any considerable length and
experiments are, he said being made with
a third rail, which. it is hoped can be made
both commercial ard mechanical success
Wbile the overhead trolley is conceded to
be a great success for distances up to- say
twenty miles. 1t is not much to be de-
sired, it is said for the operation of cars
for longer distances or in most cities At
present the third rail, by means of which
the electricity is conducted according to
that system, is regarded as too dangerous
to tie pubic to ADMIT of its rcneral use
and those roads which employed it are com
PEELED to have their lines fenced on both
sides their full length
When Work VIII he Begun.
1t is believed that when a third rail is
brought to the perfection that it is abso-
lutely essential to attain in order that it
n ay be used with economy and safety, the
practical work of establishing the air line
between this city and New York will be
begun. it is also pretty we'll understood
that the capitalists who interested in
the Columbia and Maryland railroad have
in view the probability that their road Will
be a part Of the greater scheme. The Penn
sy.vania Railroad Company WILL it is be-
lieved, either change some of it's tracks
between Philadelphia ard Jersey City. to
conform to those now being built between
Ills city ana Baltimore, or VIII parallel
their present tracks with electric line
north of Philadelphia ard to the Hudson
river. 1t is explained that while the Penn
sylvania now has a four-track route be-
tween Philadelphia and New York, the
traffic is so great and is so steadily in
c1easing that it is believed that before the
beginning of the new century all their pres
ent facilities Will be needed for the trans
portation of freight alone between the
north and the south
THIEVES ARE BUSY,