Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-17
REJECT AIR MOTORS
Continued from First Page.)


pounds. Reserve at end of trip $50 pounds,
or sufficient for a run of about one and a
quarter miles, Made thirty-four full stops.
including one at 9th and c streets, and
again OF Louisiana averue on the return
trip, when restarting was done without diff
ficulty.
The Compressor Plant.
1.-The compressor used for experimental
purposes is temporary affair." answering
fairly well for purposes intended.
''The general plant of power, plant and
ccnduits. as outlined by Superintendent
Todd of the lexington road, consists of a
central station near 10th and H streets
southwest. This location is selected TO
permit the use of river water and would
pipe-one to vicinity of 18th and b streets
northwest and one to 18th and D streets
northeast
I'm concluding the results of Mr.. Nc
Farland's investigation he finds the opera
ton OF the cars tested (Nos 81 and 400, in
the main, entirely satisfactory and suitable
to the purposes intended, though he sug-
gestS a few minor changes in the arrange
mont of machinery, such as a slight ems
largement of the diameter of the cylinders
and a reduction of wheel bases Of the cars.
The Objectionable features Of the fire
pot and stove pipe in car No. 81 have been
eliminated in car No. 400. The vibration of
the car while in motion he does not con-
slider serious, though the noise from ex-
haust air In starting and in ascending
grades is quite noticeable. The danger of
rupture of air bottles, while not impossible.
is improbable, and decreases proportionate-
ly with the distance from the starting
pc int. The dust arising from the motion
of the car was not appreciate.
Availability Discussed.
Regarding the advisability of granting
permits for the equipment of these lines
with air motors Of the HoadIey-KniSht
pattern, 1t has been admitted 10y various
authorities, and notably in an interview
with Gen. Herman Haupt. that this sys-
tenn was rejected in New York city IN
favor of the underground electric. 1t has
not been tested on the various sections of
the roads over which it is expected to be
operated. 1t has not been demonstrated
that these cars would carry sufficient OK cess
of power to enable them to reach a charg-
ing point in case Of loss through leakage
or defective machinery, to assist a dis
abled car to the power house. The length
o. time required for recharging the reser-
Voir AT the proposed charging points is not
obtainable. 1t is also stated on fairly sub
.stantial grounds that the people who are
Interested in these roads are also interest
ed in this particular system of air motors
ana consequently desire it's adoption. L:
seems proper that a schedule should b,.
n adc public and the cars run on such
schedule for IA period of several successive
days. The fears of the public of danger
ailayed by actual tests to the point of de-
struction, and results published Has such
test been made of the different systems
as a. would ordinarily be required under SIM
l'ar cohdlllons by railroad men wishing to
ADOPT change in motive power2 Are III.
advantages offered for the a,option of tho
Hoadiey-knisht system sufficient to war
AM AM l.s selection IN preference TO others in
view OF the following facts?
In order to get the tracks of these limos
III Cohdltloh TO render satisfactory service
ana AT the same time withstand the heavy
ialiic Incidental to the use of the air mo-
.ols, L nave prepared an approximate esii-
ing to $Sl, 43O amount
Under date of November 7 ,sac tho
president Of the American Air Power Cow
pal'y of New York city submitted q, mo-,
osi'loh to equip the two roads in oIcs,io,
WIN compressed air motors of tho Uor,io
system, consisting of sixty cars nro,ido,
with air brakes Pintsch gas annl;,nces
storage capacity sufficient for n run of a
ieaSt ten miles. with a large reserve "a
pdpie OF being operated at the rate OF ten
10 Twelve miles per hour together with /,
lclly equipped compressor and steam nIant
exclusive OF buildings of sufficient capac-
lty TO run all the cars continuously and
10 denver the whole equipment ready for
operation within six months of date or
execution or contract, for $3.50 900. On the
~
mas computed that their price wouId no
So14.O0O. which would include an allow
ance of $4,000 for buildings and SD oO
for pipe lines.
Claims Made for System.
To this amount, however. should be add
ed the cost of track repairs as above Iss7.-
400, making total cost of equipment I'M
der the proposition of the American Air
Power Company. 500, 4s6.
concerning this system, the Hardie. 1t is
claimed to have been in successful OPERA
ton on 12oth street in New York for the
past nine months. In all weathers and con-
ditions, without interruption, and able to
run when cables and underground trolIeys
Is rot obtainable but Mr.. Frank Richards,
NJ. A. S. c. E.. in a letter published in the
New York Sun of May 10, 1897, states that
1T can be proven and guaranteed to be
lower than that of any other system
Under date of November . 1896. the pres
idcnt of the compressed air company sub
mittei a proposition to equip these lines
with the HoaGley-knight system. consist
ing of eighty complete car equipments lex
elusive of car bodies), including Pintsch
gas appliances compressor and boiler
plants Including building), storage re-
servoir. pipe line. etc, complete. to be fur
nished within twelve months from eXecu-
ton of contract, for the sum of $5OS.OUO.
ITO this also should be added the cost of
track repairs (sS1. 400, making the total
cost of equipment under the proposition of
the Compressed Air Company. $3.50, 40.
"A combined proposition from the General
Electric, the American Wheelock Engine
Co. and E. SaXton was submitted for the
equipment of the roads with an electric
underground trolley system, similar to that
in use by the Metropolitan Railroad Com
pany of this city, making the total cost for
the equipment of the roads according to
the receivers reporD, $l,791. 1O5.
An Estimate of Cost.
IT have also prepared an approximate es-
innate Of cost of equipping these lines with
the same system as above from data be-
leved to be reliable, based on cost of the
Metropolitan railroad, on the basis Of 255
miles single track construction (withn the
city limits), SO motor cars, 2 power stations,
with complete equipments. including cables
and all necessary adjuncts, etc. amounting
to 81, 445OOO.
1.-The Westinghouse Electric and Manufac-
turing Co. also submitted a proposition for
equipping the roads with the electro-mag
netic system at cost according to the
receivers reporD of s2,075,036, to which is
added the estimate of the American Vince
lock Engine Co. for steam equipment.
amounting to $l95.O00, making the total
cost of electromagnetic system $2,2IO,O36.