The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-15
Electricity and Copper.

From the Salt Lake Herald.
Copper continues 10 boom. Mines of the
red metal are eagerly sought. Eastern
syndicates are buying copper shares and
properties wherever they are available.
a big deal was closed zip by Mi. Newhouse
the other day involving very valuable
Bingham propertes.
one reason copper is in such demand
is the part it plays in the work Of cleo
tr.c1ty. This magr force Is reVolutloniz-
Ing industry as well rs medlclne.
Electric lights are shining almost every
where. Telephones and telegraph lines
are rapidly taking the place of the pos
tai service and threaten. under new
system, TO do it altoge her And the whole
country is becomng a veritable network
of trolley wires and steel rails. In the
East and South and Middle West towns.
villages and settlements are connected by
trolley lines and the cars are getting to
be almost as thick as carriages in some
sections.
The electric street railway, like many
other progressive innovations, is essen
TALLY an American product. All its prin-
cjpal features were invented and devel-
oped here. Europe was slow to adopt
electricity as the motive power for its
street car lines, or tramways, as they call
them over there. But they are making
up for lost time now. Germany leads the
countries Of Europe in the mileage of cleo
trio roads. 1t has built 1OI miles and uses
2493 motor cars. France comes next with
246.5 miles and 664 cars, and Great Britain
is third by wide margin with 94.6 miles
and 252 cars. Switzerland Is close up with
9os miles and 237 cars, while Italy has
S2.2 miles and .311 cars, Big Russia is
ninth on the list, with only 10 miles and
65 cars, and Hollands 1.9 miles ranks
18th. The United States companies ope-
rate 1000 miles of electric street railways.
employing more than 10000 cars in their
service.
Even Japan, comparatively new to mod
ern civilization, has more electric rail-
ways than almost any Of the European
nations. and new lines are being built in
Australia, Egypt, India, Ceylon. Mexico
and the South American republics. Amer
lea supplies not only the ideas and plans
for these foreign enterprises, but much of
the material and machinery for construc-
ton and operation well. England pur-
chases engines, dynamos and motors here
for her latest and best railway systems.
Spain patronizes us. too. in this respect.
The new electric roads in Madrid aud
Barcelona are equipped with material
made in America.
Statisticians tell US that the pay rolls
of the electric railway companies in the
United States contain the names Of 100000
men. These include executive and operat-
ing officers, electricians, engineers, fire.
men, car and track mechanics, motor
men, conductors, inspectors, laborers and
several other classitCations.
Electric roads are no longer restricted
to city traffic and thickly settled commu-
mites. They are being used in the devel-
opment of newer lands. The day is not
far distant when they will take the place
of steam roads. The horse may stay, too,
but the steam locomotive is doomed 1t
has done its part in the march of pro-
gress. 1t has conquered empires. But
its star is declining, Its years are num-
bered.