The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-13
cURRENTs ONDER GROUND.
subway Electrical system Described by
Mr. Yeakie.

Much attention has been paid TO the
new system OF underground electro pio-
pulsion recently inaugurated in New lo'H
city. Several electricians OF Baltimore
have inspected the system rec sni " q
experimental line Is being ouilt IN the
INNER end of Manhattan IsiunL wh'ie
Amsterdam avenue borders the high siop-
ing banks Of the Harlem Ri"r. The pne
commences al one Hundred and Eighty
NTH street where the cable system opera
ted bv tho Third avenue coIaI any ehoS
and extends the short distt1 20 ~ or
George. All that IS visible OF the tracks
and condults looks exactly like cal lc
road with the central slot between ttch
set Of rails. Mr.. James b. Ae"Nle OF -
city. describes the system as follows
Aboard the motor car when II is run
ming the motion is smooth and steady.
moro easy and continuous than that Of 4
cable car. il starts gently without jerk
inc paesengors off their feet, and attains
"a good running speed without 2 Jolt Inc
line is TOO short. Of course. 10 permit Oh
q high rate of speed as the average troll
lev notorman INDUCES in when the street
is clear ahead. There SIS little noise much
less chan on many trolley lines. ms
may be largely due to the soldliy ana
leyelness Of the roadbed.
tho attention of motorman IS precisely
| the same as on a trolley car. stops ana
starts are made with the same ease.
since winter weather set in neither ram
snow nor frost has delayed the car. Inc
grade I'M the road should facilitate drain
AGE Of She conduit and as for snow, no
more trouble is experienced than WIN
cable car. The same powerful sweeping
machines are sent over the road at inter
walls dependent upon the severity OF the
storm.
| Chicago experimental working or the
/ Love system five years ago was the loop
/ limo al Fullerton avenue in connection
/ with the North Chicago Railroad Com
many The system was. however, crude
and imperfect. compared with that now
/ working In New York. A wire was used
| under ground 10 conduct the eiectilclty
/ from the power-house 10 the motor cars
/ There was no provision made Tor IT'S eN-
mansion or contraction. and as the ROAD
| was equipped during zero weather lhe
wire heightened considerably during the
warmer weather which followed and caus-
/ ed incessant trouble.
.This wire has been replaced In tho
/ inproved system 10y two continuous cop
| nor bars the cross sections OF which are
| shaned Ike capital G.. nattened at the
! hack The trolley wheels. of which there
arc two 10 each car. roll upon the edge
! OF the bars These bars or more eNactF
1 conductors. are fixed In the conduit one
/ ON each side Of the slot and parallel 10 H..
I They are near the top Of the inside or
| the conduit. so as TO be well out OF ire
wav OF water which may flow in through
! the slot. ,-..
/ "Each conductor is made up OF short
lonrths of copper bar tapered at the ends
/ and secured by plates. giving slnins
/ contact. Consequently. no matter now
extreme the changes of weather may TIE
/ the straightness Of the conductor is never
altered
The reason for having two conductors
| is 70 provide not only for the power cur
rent but for the return current TO the
/ dynamos.
| There Is another feature Of construc-
/ ton which 70 Is asserted gives the Love
system an advantage over any other
/ The vertical portion of the slot is much
decper than in cable road. This gives
n large bearing surface for the 'pi)W
| which extends down from the bottom Of
! tho car and carries the trolley wheels.
] This takes up the lateral pressure ana
consoouont wear. which. when the car is
B., motion. would otherwise fan on the
conductors. and also steadies the contact
If tue trolley wheels. These trounlci
have caused many stoppages ana m1cn
,vrcneive repairs I'm other underero lid
systems baltimore American.