New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-24
Westinghouse and His Works.
STEAM Al

SERVICE OF MAN.

airy /. 1875. .,.
has proved an important factor in the econom-
ical handling of traffic. Thus there is an
incentive for even the poorest roads to adopt
its use. To-day the successful operation OF
nearly three-quarters Of million locomotives
freight and passenger cars in the United States
alone depends upon the Westinghouse air brake:
Owing to the rapid growth Of the business OF
Westinghouse Air Brake Company they were
Obliged to seek more spacious quarters.
They began work in Pittsburg and afterward
moved across the river to Allegheny and thence
a dozen miles or so east of Fittsburg to WIZ
merding. on the main line Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad. where they have one of the finest
manufactures in the world The air brake
works two miles east Of the works OF the
Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Com
pany and the Westinghouse Machine Company.
In order TO more readily supply the demands
of other countries the Air Brake Company has
established works in England France. Germany
Canada and Russia.
The Pttsburg works cover an area OF six
acres. having a floor space of 1O1k acres.
The first air brake works had capacity for
turning out twenty brakes per day. Some Idea
OF the magnitude of the present plant can be
gathered from the fact that they are capable
of turning out a complete brake every minute
Each brake is valued at from $40 to 500
or more.
At an hours notice the company can fill an
order for 1000 sets of air brakes for freight
cars.
The works have an annual capacity OF brakes
for 2500O0 freight cars, 600 passenger cars
and 10000 locomotives.
We have In the United States about 100000
miles Of railway-nearly enough to belt the globe
eight times. Most of this mileage has been
built since the Westinghouse air brake was in
vented. and at a cost of over Sll.9o0OO0Oo
At the Air Brake Company's works can be
seen in glass a collection Of models show
ing the long succession of experiments which
led to the present perfection of the product.
The evolution of the brake leads one to reflect
on the distance that human inventiveness
has travelled from the rude stick used as a
chalk in the wheel of a wagon to the air
brake with its essential factor. the triple valve.
Previous to the invention or the ar brake III
1863 a journey accomplished in Few
hours occupied many days, and was often
attended by now forgotten hardships aid dan
gers.
In the days of the old hand brake ii was rela-
lively further from New York to Buffalo than
1t is from the metropolis to San Francisco.
Such has been the effect of the air brake upon
the transportation Of the world that, as re-
suit vast territories have been given to asri-
culture which otherwise would have been a
desert. dry and barren; while human life Is now
proverbially safer in travelling than in staying
at home.
Scientists realizing the Importance Of the air
brake n life-saver. as a controller OF traihc,
and an aid to communication. have ranked 1t
with the best achievements of human invention.
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANU-
FEATURING COMPANY.
This is taken as whole the most important
electric company in the world. 1t Is also the
largest Of the many interests with which the
name of Westinghouse is associated 1t was
organized in 1886, and began operations in
small factory at the centre Of smoky Pittsburg.
Here Mr. Westinghouse gathered about him
corps Of the ablest electrical scientists of the
time Shallenbergef was one Of these. He be-
gan his researches under the direction Of Mr..
Westinghouse. His first work was an examina-
ton into the alternating current system. which
had just been heard Of in Europe. The advan-
tages of this system were at once recognized
by the inventor of the air brake. who secured
the American rights Of manufacture. This work
was new Scarcely anything was known OF me
characteristics OF the alternating current. The
task of designing and constructing the appara
tus for an alternating current plant. including
generators. transformers, measuring instru-
ments and switching devices. was mmeasurabiy
greater than it now u.s. when the principles and
laws are well understood and the manufactur-
ing facilities are all at hand. Mr. Westinghouse
gave Shallenberger every opportunity.
The electric meter subsequently adopted by
the British Board of Trade as the standard was
also result of Mr.. Shallenbergers work at
Pittsburg
Electrically and mechanically the Westing-
house designs gave the direction to what is
best in constructive practice everywhere.
Tesla soon followed at Pittsburg with that
brilliant series OF experiments which gave us
the now celebrated Tesla Polyphase System OF
Electric Transmission of Power. and the Undue
ton Motor, involving the Tesla principle Of the
rotary magnetic field. The Tesla patents were
acquired by Mr.. Westinghouse
Here also Stilwell perfected his regulator;
Scott invented the two-phase three-phase sys-
tenn: Lamme, electrical engineer second to
none was initiated into his work; and Wurts
discovered the non-arcing properties OF certain
metals. which were emuodied in the lightning
arresters for which the Franklin Institute saw
fit to award its medals.
The Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing
Company the pioneer in the manufacture
of alternating current apparatus. The TACT that
they installing power transmission APP
paratus at Telluride, Col, when some of the