The times., 1897-07-11
ANAc0sT|A PEOPLE HAPPY.
Rapid Transit Becomes a Reality
Beyond the Eastern Branch.
THE FIRST ELECTRIC CAR
Successful Test of the Brown Sur
face System Greeted With Cheers.
How 1t Differs From the Troll
ley-Twenty Miles for One Fare.
The Bridge fficulty.

A loud cheer, followed by a succession
of hip" ''hip," ''hurrahsr' reyerber-
ated through the hills Of Anacostia, as
cleaning with innumerable electric lights
system swept up the steep hill leading TO
the insane asylum and disappeared in the
blackness OF the night.
All day yesterday the electricians and
engineers of the new road which will run
Tomorrow from Congress Heights up to
the Navy Yard Bridge Were busy prepar-
ing for the final test The people of
ABacostia were intensely interested in
these proceedings, as their success meant
their getting into town in less than half
the time taken 10y the bob-tailed cars now
running across the river.
At d little after IL O'Clock the current
was started and the lever OF car No.
was turned on at Congress Heights, and
the car began slowly to approach the crest
of the long asylum hill, which stretches
out toward the river for considerable
distance. In q short while the pace was
quiokened, and soon the wires fairly
hulnmed as the car carrying a half hun
dred people went spinning down the slope
After the overhead trolley had been
thoroughly tried, the most important test,
that of the surface system was made.
Mr. MiIt Brown, OF Johnstown, the In
yentOr of the new system, was preseut
and watched the prog TESS or the car with
intense interest This is the first time
that his plan has been put In actual opera
tion, although ii is now being tested in
Johnstown.
The Brown system is a most simple and
economical one. Placed at equal intervals
between the car rails are boxes made
of iron and vitrified brick. The top piece
is OF soft iron at each end, and very hard
in the middle Beneath this latter piece
is cup of compressed mica haIf-flled with
mercury, on the top OF which is "a small
lion ball.
Beneath the car trucks are placed two
shoes made of tin and rubber Magnets
placed at intervals beneath the cars con
meet witt the soft iron of the box, and
charge the mercury with electricity.
The ball in turn is likewise charged
aud Is brought TO the top Of the box touch
ing a piece OF carbon, over which is
placed the hard or non-magnetic metal
The entire arrangement is so simple that
at first sight ii appears to be part OF the
,obblestone pavement, in which 1t is sunk
There are no slots, nor in case of trouble
is it Necessary TO 10 anything except uu-
bolt the top of the box and remedy the
evil
There was no trouble in the working OF
the system last evening. The car giided
smoothly along as though connected
with the trolley without the slightest Jolt
or shaking.
The Capital railway VIII start its cars
regularly tomorrow. There will be free
transfers issued at the navy yard gate
20 the Capital Traction Company cars,
making. under this arrangeTne nj, con
nection from Chevy Chase Lake out TO
Congress Heights, distance OF almost
twenty miles.
The officials OF the Capital Railway Com
pany well as all the citizens of Ana
costa Were very much disappointed at the
refusal Of the Commissioners To issue the
proper permits TO cross the Anacostia
Bridge, but President Randle said he would
not complain, as his company had been
treated fairly we'll, and AZ the CGfu.uIs-
siohers were honorable gentlemen he was
shIe they would within the next few DAYS
treat his company with kind consideration.
number OF business men who Witnessed
the successful tests OF the compauv's
plant, however, were bitter in their de-
nunGation OF the District officials.
MI. A. f. RandIe, president of the Cap
ital Railway Company said he did not
care to discuss the matter, but he thought
that tho Commissioners, after careful In
ves1eauon of the provisions Of his COM
pary's charter, would grant him the proper
permit TO cross the Anacostia Bridge.