Evening star., 1898-04-21
CAPITAL TRACTION ROAD
The Complete Equipment of the Lines With
the Electric System.
Devices Used In the New Power
HOuse-The Latter Said to BE
Thoroughly Modern.

The changes In the service of the Capital
Traction railroad which went into effect
yesterday were due to the completion Of
one of the engines in the new power house
Of the company on Water street, George
town, between SD and 33d streets. AS a
result electricity was substituted for horse
power on the section of the line between
the Capitol and the navy yard, and trail
ers were attached to the cars on the 18th
street line. Another engine is nearly
ready for use, and when that is avail
able it is expected trailers will be at
tached to the cars running between George
town and the Navy Yard. Workmen are
employed night and day. as has been the
case for some time past, In getting the
machinery set up and ready for use, and
it is said by those who are familiar with
such work. considering the fact that every
piece OF machinery is new, remarkab BILE
progress has been made.
A third engine must be ready before the
cars on the 9TH street line will be operated
by the new power, but the cable Is still
In use the necessity for haste is not looked
upon as being as pressing as with the
equipment of the other lines.
1t Is said the 9TH street line will be ready
for operation by the new system when the
power will be available to run it. One of
the results Of the change made this morn
ing In the method of running that section Of
the road between the Capitol and the navy
yard is that the company has some $50
horses for sale.
Getting Rid of Horses.
Since September last, when the company
was obliged to substitute horses for the
crippled cable system. about 500 horses
have been bought. but all have been dis
posed OF from tims to time with the excep-
ton of the number above named. AS illus
tIating the difficulty in running the road in
the temporary fashion that has been nee
essary, nearly all the horses that were used
on the navy yard section were driven back
and forth each day to Georgetown, as the
stable quarters at the navy yard end were
number.
Now that the horses ara to be finally got
ten rid of, the proposed change in the large
stable buildings in Georgetown is about to
be made. Men are engaged today IN tear
ing off the roof and taking down thu side
walls. 1t is the intention to transform the
building into car repair shop where all
minor repairs can be made. The portion of
the building fronting on NJ street will be
used as car house.
Modern Electric Plant.
1t is believed the new power house will
represent the best type of modern electric
power plant. Some Of the devices that will
be introduced are novel, especially those de-
signed to save time and labor. The auto
matte method of feeding the fires with coal
and removing the ashes is in use, as was
the case in the cable power house. A new
idea. however, is the automatic oiling of all
the mac hinery. An Oil tank is located high
up in the roof, and the oil by gravity is
distributed to the various parts of the build
Ing. BY simple device the movable joints
in the large pipe conveying steam from the
boilers to the engines are done away with,
and curved pipe instead of straight
one makes the connection between the main
pipe and the engines.
The purpose of the movable joints was to
allow for the expansion Of the metal, but
1t is said the curved pipe accomplishes the
same purpose and the annoyance arising
from the constant leakage of water from
the joints is entirely eliminated.
AT present the engines are being run at
what is called high pressure. but as soon
as the ccndenSers can be used then the
pressure will be changed. There are to
be five engines when the entire work is
and it is said that the plant will
produce not only sufficient power to -oper-
ate the present system, but about 100 per
cent in addition,