Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-13
THE THIRD RAIL SYSTEM
Discussion of Its Merits by Congress Heights
Citizens Association.
to BE Made to the Com
missiOners for Its Installation
A Comparative Statement.

Heights Citizens Association was held Sat-
urday evening to consider a report that
efforts were being made by interested par
ties to defeat in part the plans of the Cap
ital Railway Company for providing rapid
transit between Congress Heights and shc
Eavy yard gate.
A number of speeches were made in ref
erence to the report, but the principal ad-
dress was by Mr.. H. Schultheis, who, among
other things, said that an application woulc
be made at a very early date to the Dis
trict Commissioners for permit to install
the third-rail system along the lines of the
Anacostia and Potomac Railroad Compa ly
in Washington.
''lt is well known" said NJ. Schultheis
that the patents covering the third-rail
system. which 1t is sought to introduce in
the District. are owned by the General
Electric Company, which also controls q
system such as is used by the metropolitan
Railway Company. ard that they have no
idea of doing anything with the third-rail
system. as is sought to be impressed en-
the minds of the people.
THE fact is he continued, 1.-THE General
Electric Company has become jealous of
the success. thus far of the Brown system,
and intend. If possible, to work the third
rail racket as a cats paw to injure the
johnson Company's new system. l know
that prominent Official of the Anacostia
and Potomac Railroad Company will go
Monday morning to see Capt. Black in re-
gard to the third-rail system, hoping to get
hasty action on the underground electric
question"
At this point a gentleman in the au-
dience said
sit
Mr.. A. F.. Randle said he had no doubt
that such was the wish of those interested
in the third-rail system, but he did not be-
Heve the movement would be successful.
Capt. Black was, he said, a very cautious
official, as well as an expert electrician,
and he devoted three weeks to the investi-
cation of the Brown system before the
Commissioners would grant the permit for.
its installation by the Capital Railway
Company. Not only did Capt. Black inves-
tiSate the merits of the Brown system for
himself. said Mr.. Randle. but before rec-
ommending favorable action on the appli-
cation for a permit by the Capital Railway
Company he sent Capt. Beach to Johns
town. Pa, where the Brown system was in
practical operation, to see how it worked
there. In conclusion, Mr.. Randle said that
he did not think there need be any fear of
hasty action on the part of either Capt.
Black or his colleagues, Messrs. Ross and
Wight.
In Place of Steam.
Resuming his remarks, Mr.. Schultheis
told of visit recently made by him to
Philadelphia, where he had a conversation
Locomotive Works in reference to the de-
velopments being made in electrical ma
chinery for the propulsion of cars. There
was no doubt in the mind of the Phila-
delphian, Mr.. Schultheis said, that e.cc
tricity will take the place of steam as
motive power for passenger cars and
freight also. The difficulty in the way is,
ne said, to find a successful means for the
transmission of the current. The over
head trolley and the underground system,
such as is used in Washington by the Me-
tropolitan company, and by a somewhat
similar plan by the street railway company
of the same name in New York. Each is
he said, a success for comparatively short
distances, but can not be run over long
routes on account of its great cost for fire.
Quent renewals, which have to be made
when too great pressure, such as running
heavy trains. is put upon it, and as is the
case at the Belt line tunnel in Baltimore,
when the overhead trolley is used.
The Baldwin official, added Mr.. Schulz
theis, said that manufacturers of electri-
cal railway appliances are looking anxious
ly for an invention which will operate cars
at a reasonable expense, and the use of
the third rail had been suggested.
First Electric Line.
Unfortunately for the latter, this was the
plan used for running the first electric line
in the United States, and which extended
between Baltimore and Woodbury., a great
cotton manufacturing suburb of that city.
The road was laid about twelve years ago
to meet great demand for a quicker
means of transit than could be secured by
the use of horses, but many accidents
to people and stock occurred, that the au-
thorities compelled the railroad company
to remove the rail and the overhead trolley
was substituted.
THE trouble experienced at Baltimore
was that the current necessary to move
the cars kept the third rail in a deadly
dangerous condition at all times, and if by
chance person stepped upon it-as was
frequently the case-in crossing the tracks,
he or she was certain to, at least, receive
severe shock, while in some instances
death followed. In the case of animals
that happened to step the third rail-
death was certain to ensue Immediately
and this was notably SO with horses
In order to make use of any of the
third rail devices thus far brought out, 1t
would. in the opinion of those best in
formed, be necessary for the railroad COM
pany doing SO to fence its tracks on both
sides from one end of its lines to the other
and this would entail an expense such as
no corporation would be likely TO under
take
Our Strokes Ring on the Anvil of
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