The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-18
ELECTRICAL PROGRESS.


From the Troy Times.
Ten years ago the electric railway was
almost unknown, but during the year
1887 the trolley system was introduced III
this country, and at the close of thet
year there were thirteen street railways
using electricity and operating about 400
cars Two years ago the number of elec-
tric roads was in round numbers 800,
the mileage was 5000 miles and the cars
in use numbered $4,000, the aggregate in
vestment in these plants being more than
S4OO, Gee, GOO At present it is estimated
that there are more than 1900 miles OF
electric railway in the country, while
the cars number not less than 10000
Last year 1900 miles of track were con-
structed and 5000 new motor cars added
to the total rolling stock This Increase
is truly remarkable and for two reasons.
In the first place it was a dull year
and street railways are directly affected
by dullness in general business. In the
second place, the work of substituting
electric motor cars for horse cars on
street railways was practically conclud-
ed some time ago. There are compare
lively few horse ears left, and the in
crease in the electric railroad mileage
now means virtually new roads or new
extensions
DR. Bell, of Newton, Mass, an author
ity on matters appertainirg to electrical
power estimates that the gross power of
the electric motors used in the United
States today is not less than l,25OOO0
horsepower. The total seems enor-
nous when it is considered that only
few years ago electrical power in all its
forms was almost unknown. Even the
total power five years ago was not more
than one-fifth what 1t is today. From
this comparative showing it will be seen
that the aggregate power has been in
creasing even more rapidly than the
railroad mileage, and this is accounted
for by the fact that electric power is
being generally introduced in many m
dustres. 1t has been found that cleo
trio power may be obtained at small
cost, and especially is this the case with
respect to mining plants located in To-
| calities where coal is expensive and wat
er power plenty one example is cited
| by this authority in which an electri-
cal installation for mining purposes paid
for Itself at the rate of five per cent. a
| month.
There is every reason to believe that
| electricity produced by water power Will
| at no very distant day furnish the bulk
| of the industrial power of this country
| The problem of transmitting power over
| long distances still presents many difl-
culties, but the electrical eXperimenters
have already surmounted many obstacles
| and are likely to surmount those that re-
| main before many years have elapsed.
| The history of the harnessing of Niagara
| Is familiar to all, and the transmission
of the current from the cataract to Buff
| falo is looked upon as a great electri-
cal triumph. Yet even this has been sur
passed, In California rapid progress has
| been made in the long distance trans
mission of electrical power, and at the
present time Fresno derives power from
waterfall thirty-five miles away, the
| line being eight miles longer than that
between Niagara and Buffalo.
There are many electrical investigators
who are undoubtedly dreamers but even
the most thoroughly practical now be-
lieve that the day is not so far distant
when the 100000 hydraulic horsepower
available in this country will be utilized
for electrical power, The Transmission of