The herald., 1897-06-24
OFFICE OF THE HERALD,
Los Angeles. June q. 1897.

OFFICE OF THE HERALD,
Los Angeles, June %. 1897.
The use of electricity on steam roads is
the problem which is just now exciting
large amount of attention, in fact what
with the developments In the uses OF elec-
tricity and also of compressed air as mo-
tive powers. railroad investments may be
subject to some sharp changes In the not
distant future. According to an article In
the current issue Of Bradstreets, much
attention is being paid, both In railroad
circles and by the general public. to the re-
cent installation by the New York, New
Haven & Hartford Railroad Company Of
electric power for the local service on the
portion of it's line between Hartford and
New Britain. Conn. That company, in
fact, has been pioneer in the fleldi In
question. 1t will be remembered that 1t
had already successfully installed an cleo
trio trolley service upon the seven miles
of the Nantasket Beach branch Of it's Old
Colony division, and that with the excep-
tion Of the use of electric power in moving
trains through the Belt Line tunnel of the
Baltimore & Ohio, at Baltimore, the New
Havens experiments are the only demon
stration of the practicability of substitute
ing the electric motor for the locomotive in
the operations of ordinary railroads. This,
Of course, excludes the elevated railroad
systems of the city of Chicago, to which
electric power has been successfully ap-
piled. the conditions in their case affording
little difference from those involved in the
operations Of the ordinary surface trolley
roads.
The latest move Of the New Haven in
this connection is regarded as very i'm
portant one for the railroads generally. In
fact. somewhat exaggerated view seems
to prevail as to the possibilities 1t in
wolves. A disposition has been shown, par
ticularly among those unversed in the
technical part Of either railroading or cleo
trio mechanics, to consider that the appar-
ent success of the New Hartford
line with electric power is long step to-
ward a revolution in the character of the
power on our transportation systems in
general. The innovations upon previous
methods are in this case striking. The
thirteen miles of track from Hartford to
New Britain is provided with a third rail
IL carry tuc tIcCtTiC pOWcT lOT Tie UlOtOTS
instead of with the overhead trolley. In
the laying of the third rail some novel ideas
were for the first time put into practical
use. 1t should be noted that President
Charles p. Clark of the New Haven Com
pany has given the matter in question his
closest attention, and that under his direc-
tion a number of experiments were tried
which tend to upset preconceived theories
about the transmission and utilization of
the current The third rail, for instance,
is a heavy 100-pound to the yard steel
affair." shaped like a wedge, with fiat top.
This affords large conductive body with
plenty of surface for the "shoes" which
convey the current to the motors to act
upon. Insulation is provided by simple
blocks of wood, which, to the surprise of
the experts, have been found to answer
perfectly well, the loss of current being
practically insignificant. At Crossings,
switches and stations the current is con-
Quoted underground, while an ingenious
automatic arrangement operated by elec-
tricity, provides compressed air to operate
q whistle for signaling. The experiments
thus far made by the New Haven Company
would demonstrate that neither snow,
damp or floods interferes with the eff
cheney Of the system.
This demonstration is undoubtedly of
great value to all the railroads of the coun-
try. The use of electricity on the New
Haven is naturally confined mainly to local
passenger trains. The line runs through a
populous district. including a number Of
important manufacturing villages and
towns. 1t is precisely the kind of a situa-
fion in which the competition of the
ubiquitous trolley car has worked such
havoc in the local passenger traffic of
many railroads. In fact, such competition
has been for some time past factor Of no
small danger to the steam railroads, and
has made its presence felt upon their earn
ings in large number of instances. The
New Haven's experience would show that
they can utilize electric power upon their
present plants with considerable advant-
age. while 1t must not be forgotten that,
owing to their more solid construction and
location. the steam roads can with safety
maintain much higher rate of speed
than is possible for the trolley roads, built,
as the latter are, in lighter manner and
adhering for the most part to the ordinary
highways. On the New Haven's new elec-
trio line speed of thirty to fifty miles Is
maintained with ease while 1t is simply
q question of construction Of motors to
keep up speed of eighty miles an hour.
Furthermore, 1t is claimed that there is no
dead point In the revolution of an electric
motor; 1t is the ideal solution of the trans
portation problem, and while some further
questions have to be determined by the
practical experiences with the new prin-
ciples extending over longer period than
has yet been possible. 1t is apparently true
that the way has been opened for further
advance toward increased economy, speed
and utility in transportation.
With the mills now in course of con-
struction or arranged for, and those being
enlarged. the total milling capacity of
Cripple Creek will in a short time be 1850
tons per day. These will work low-grade
ores which are now not handled, and 1t
Is claimed that with the continued ship
ments of high-grade ores to the smelters
the output Of the district will be doubled.
or brought up to about $40, 900 900 a year.
provided the mines will supply the ore. AN
present the mills cannot handle the ore
now offered, and with increased and
cheaper milling facilities no doubt many
new producers would be developed
4 +
The Importance of accuracy in every step
IN securing legal title to mining property
- Illustrated in the contest over the Hull
City placer of 1S0 acres on which the town |
site OF Independence in the Cripple Greek. |
colorado, district is located and which is !
rated In value at from 81, ,OOO 900 to s5 900 OOO
validity OF the patent issued to the placer
claimants is assailed on the one point of |
whether or not $500 worth of work was |