Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-10

from each man-hole 70 carry off the
drainage. The current IS transmitted
through iron bars or wires. These bars
are suspended by insulators twelve inches
below the surface and three and half
inches away from the centre and sides.
There is one on each side, so as 10 com
plete the circuit. and not use the tracks
for that purpose, as in the overhead
trolleys. These bars are strongly sup
ported and well insulated, one from the
other. and also from the ground.
The current is conducted from the
car motor through plough suspended
from the centre and side OF me
track. This plough consists Of three thin
plates Of steel bolted together, but with
one insulated wire running down through
these plates TO the feed bar ana one
running down to the return bar. Ldch
Is supplied with steel flap shoe, more
commonly known as a trolley. Inc cur
rent passes through the flap 20 one WIRE
Of the plough, which carries II 10 the
motor. After it docs its work IL is con-
veved down through the other wire Of
the plough and through the flap on that
side TO the negative conductor. The
whole mechanism is remarkable for its
simplicity
MANY IN OPERATION.
"Wbere are underground electric roads
running" asked the reporter.
In Washington, D. c. seven under
ground roads are now running. ana the
Seventh-street cable road IS now BENG
changed. making eight roads with the
nov system. including branch roads feed
ING the main lines, giving q complete ne"
system for the entire city. The Metro
noIitan Street-RailrOad Company OF New
Work CITY. last summer and this winter
ravo had 5o00 men at work ON Fourth
avenue. Flfty-ninth street, TWenty-thlrd
etreet Amsterdam avenue. the Boulevard
from SiXty-hfth TO Seventy-irsG streets
and Second avenue running from Aslol
place 70 the Halem river, Madison ana
T.erov avenues. II will cost this company
s19 30 600 to change and put in their un-
dereround system.
.tNfarch c. 1888. the new underground
trolley road below Eighth street Gown
the Bowery TO Broom street across 70
centre street and thence TO the BROOK
Ivn bridge was put in operauohi caI
hound no town run through NIaHu
e+raet from Centre street 10 the Bowery'
In one more year all cars III N"
Vorl, will be operated by the underground
trolley Baltimore. St. Louis, Omaha, ana
q good many western cities all nave some
wires underground. and are gradually
forcing the overhead trolley wires from
the streets. II is only matter or uHIe
when al cities will use the underground
system. In the near future Brooklyn clty
win have 10 make some changes, Tor the
electrical experts place the damages done
TO uipes in the city at 100000 annually
RuSapcst and some Of the other Tor
eien cities nave the underground system
at present.
THE DESTRUCTIVE POWER.
.i+ 10 easy for any one TO figure out
the destructive power per ampere OF the
current. one ampere GssolNes -,
erammes of iron in an hour mulupleu
nv $500 (or the number Of hours III
vearl the result is 4,375 pounds OF IRON
dissolved per year per ampere more than
two tons.
Iron ships fitted with electric plants
suffer rapid deterioration OF their pipes
having direct connection with the sea-
due to electrolytic action. The unsightiy
poles and wigs are not the worst Tea
lures about this trolley business. You
can see above ground, but what happens
below Of course you cannot"