New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-06

adapted to all the different styles OF mo'o'' =.
which we hear 10 much nowadays IL o"o' ""'
matter whether the latter are OF the op'"e
Walker General Electric. Westinghouse OF ally
other approved type In certain detahs' Pe'""p''
the shoe which Mr.. Willard employs on '"e
under side of the car 10 moro or less Original
but there is no great novelty in this feature Ok
his equipment.
GETTING UP SPEED QUICKLY.
perbans no advantage possessed by electric
svstems of traction Is so conspicuous IN SUD-
urban service as the ability to start a train oor
n car, quickly again after II has once come 10
standstill. Railroad experts say that II 10 not
the actual number Of seconds or minutes spent
at the station that counts In making up ume
table but II Is the frequent slowing down 'eas-
ily accomplished with the aid OF brakes ana
then developing full speed again This IS paruc-
ularlv true on the elevated roads where the
stoos seldom exceed ten or fifteen SECONDS IN
length Now II is a notorious fact that electric
ity admits of greater "accelerat!on. or quicker
increase Of speed than steam engine lot
reason TINT the merest child can understand
When the motive power Of a road IS dlVioeo
ND into separate units. one at the head OK each
train only a single unit Is available AT ne
most critical point in the whole operation or the
train-getting under way. But when the motive
power required for all the different trains LOT
cars) is consolidated at central station any
one of these cars can. at any instant. ara" OH
the reserve fund to twice. thrice. ten times tne
extent OF It's average consumption OF power vi
course II all the trains on the line were 10 az
tempt this at the same moment the scne"'e
would not work. But only very smal proPo'
ton OF them will happen to be starting III a"y
given time: and all the others, being under luii
Roadway, will be drawing less than their iuH
quota from the one grand reservoir or power
Thus much larger quantity Ia left avaiiap'e io'
the critical operation OF starting Actual tests
have proven that for rapid transit thar Is
fully worthy Of the name steam cannot hoid
candle to electricity.
INEXPENSIVE CONSTRUCTION.
After Mr. Wizards visitors Cat his offices NO.
q Williams ST. New-York City, have looked INTO
the working principles OF his safety rail-. they al
WAYS ask him how much 1t costs to equip a road
in this manner Such a question must occur 70
every practical business man. And II is one
that Mr. willard has himself considered with
great care. His assurances on this point are Oh
the most gratifying character. He says that the
increase in the expense is a surprisingly small
percentage OF the price Of steel rails, which are
growing cheaper and cheaper every day. mat
percentage may we'll he regarded a good invest
r,ent as an insurance against more expensive
accidents and suits for damages This phase OF
the subject Is one on which the young inventor
speaks with great enthusiasm and intelligence.
Flattering things are said to Mr.. Willard al
most every day by new visitors to MS once
(where his working model Is in operation); but
the most significant thing about his experience
here Is that he has found moneyed men VINO are
willing TO back him, and that one OF the pest
known steam roads operating In this city ana
vicinity IS willing to give his system trial.
Even though such trial does not commit the
managers Of the road to anything further II Is
quite clear that they would not have made even
this arrangement with him had they not dis
covered that at least his invention was superior
to the great majority Of other traction systems
which have been proposed by ingenious men IN
the last decade.