Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-17
REJECT AIR MOTORS
District VIII Refuse Permit to Eek
ington and Belt Line Roads.
VIEWS OF ENGINEER COMMISSIONER
An Exhaustive Review Made of
the Plans Submitted.
THE DATA SUI PP Ii Z d

T III + DA T y SU p p l. l Z D
The Commissioners will not permit the
lexington railroad to adopt an air-motor
system for the propulsion of its cars. This
vas practically settled today when Engi-
Eeer Commissioner Black submitted to the
board of Commissioners his report upon
the subject. Briefly. he holds the recent
tests made 10y the lexington railroad are
rot conclusive that the air motor is in .ll
respects a ft power for propulsion of cars
over the streets of Washington.
Commissioner Black has been at work
upon this report for some time. and has
given the entire subject the most careful
consideration. After Assistant Engineer
Mcfarland had made his report, which
was published at the time in The Star
Commissioner Black detailed Assistant En-
gfneer En.ack to make a further investiga-
tion, taking in several points which were
not covered by the former engineers re-
port.
Capt. Blacks Summary.
After brief description of the two
branches of the lexington system, the
kinds of rails used. the weight of the cars
in operation and other data of a similar
import, his report says:
Since the carly spring of 1897 the Off
Gals of the above named railways have
been conducting experiments in compress
ed-alr propulsion under the above system
and claim to have obtained satisfactory
results from the beginning. Though dur
ing the past two months there have been
received at the office of the Commissioners
number of protests from patrons and
residents of the vicinities of said railways
against the issuance of permits for their
~ rat ny a air
power citing as objections to such system
its rejection in New York city after a
thorough test: the disagreeable odor and
heat from the fire pot and stove pipe pass
ing through the ear; the cloud of dust en-
tcring tfe car through the rear door and
windows in dry weather: the oscillation
and vibration OF the car. due to its great
weight ana working of machinery: the liza
t-hty OF the air tubes or bottles to explode
urptr the heavy pressure to which they are
subjected: the noise of escaping air in
artinG ana IN ascending grades and the
inability of The ear to make regular and
uninterrupted trips over the various Sec
tlOns of the roads.
The 0iiciaI Inspection.
"On or about June 10. 1891. the superin-
teEdent OF the water department, Mr.. w
y Mcfarland. was detailed by the Com
missioners TO inspect personally the con-
struction and operation of the experimental
N'-AS AAA N9t on ti4tSt illtS ana TO make a
complete report thereon, which he sub
mitted, under date of June ~, 1897. supple
menicd by further reports on June 2G and
y. lN1f. After giving u fun description of
the mechanism of the cars Mr.. Mcfarland
states that car No. 81 was on regular
service between the power house at 4th
and l streets northeast. and 10Th and q
streets northwest, making four round trips
per day, the heaviest grade on this route
beng short one of 30 per cent at the
upper end of lexington place; the next
In Importance being long ) per cent
grade on New York avenue. The length
of this run and return is "a miles and in
clUdes sixteen curves
June Ii and II he reports four ordinary
runs over this route, the motor car being
niGch impeIed in its progress by the pres
ehce oi horse cars using the same tracks,
IN th- average time of 46 IA minutes a
rate Of about seven miles per hour in
cludin-s stops averaging about one minute
lhe car starting with an average pressure
In the AIR bottles of 2,V92I2 pounds per
square inch and returning with an average
reserve of 3t4l2 pounds per square inch
ne compressed air is carried in seam
ieSs steel bottles under an initial pressure
OF from $500 To 300 pounds per square
inch, gauge pressure, and is fed through
d reducing valve said to reduce the air
pressure TO about 2DO pounds per square
dsrs
The I2th instant the car was run over
TIE Maryland and Washington track as far
as the District line, where a probable speed
OF about eighteen miles per hour was at
taineI-
car No. 400 arrived the 10Th of June
and the hrst test run made the 18th. on
tIo iHth this car left the power house with
80 pounds gauge pressure and made the
t1H II 10Th and G. streets northwest and
return with fail in pressure to ...n pounds
ON the third run the longitudinal brace IIn-
der the motor struck a high place in the
15tht- pavement at Florida avenue and
r -
EtHe-sltatIns the use of a trolley car to
free her.
Most Difficult Grade
"A run TO Brookland and return was
made the 10Th of the month. distance
j mics. maximum grade. > per cent: fall
In pressure. 40 pounds. The 2lst run was
RAJ. from the power house to Tth and
i streets northwest in twenty-one minutes
Tbs run. includes the most difficult grade
t't'n"t per cent? on the whole system
On winch are two sharp curves viz on
ON street and Louisiana avenue from ID
10 'th streets northwest.
II ascending this grade on the return
i..i q failure to control the ear occurred
tF' details of which are given in Mr. NJ
f|rilrds report. II is proper to state in
> connection, however. that Mr. Nc
|e .&rd verbally attributed this failura N
IN" fact of the track at the head of the
louisiana avenue grade being greasy prior
I" tHe test. and the car wheels beconipt, .,
''frs'"' WIN grease IN attempting %
lEe curve slipped on the rails when the eff
1or' was made 70 descend for the purpose
O. seHuring greater headway
Immediately after the above-named
;-Hu"ie the car went up the grade at a
iood speed. and reached the power house
Win a reserve pressure of about 800
.0J.ds ~
Two trips We're made the sd from Fox
!.StoE 70 10Th and G. streets. to Brool;Iand
TO lexington, and from lexington TO Cen
ter market to Brookland. to lexington.
Starting with pressures of :. 300 and . 80
ponds running sis and miles, and re-
tl' ing without incident. with pressure of
l." ana 2po pounds, respectively. No pas
se9SerS carried.
Ihis ear. the 18th. under full service
conditions, carrying about twenty passen-
Seis. made the trip without difficulty from
.tk and streets northeast TO Center ma
ket. 10 Brookla2d. and return TO 4th and T
streets, making thirty-seyen full stops in
ciudiuS one In each direction on the heavy
grade Louisiana avenue between htb
ana oth streets. Starting with pressure