New-York tribune., 1899-02-07
ELECTRICITY on ELEVATED.
PRESIDENT GOULD DECIDES on NEW
MOTIVE POWER.
SAYS THE CHANGE WILL FACILITATE AS
WELL AS CHEAPEN THE RUNNING OF
TRAINS-OPEN CARS AFTER THE
SUBSTITUTION

SUBSTITUTION
After a meeting of the directors Of the Man
haitian Railway Company last Wednesday 1t
was decided to equip tie elevated roads
promptly as possible with a system Of motive
power other tha1 steam, and to provide for the
expense OF the substitution by an issue OF
S1SO000O0 additional stock which should be
offered for subscription at par to the present
shareholders. meeting Of stockholders has
been called for February 2s 10 ratfy the action
Of the directors in regard to this proposed
issue. which has been underwrtten by Kuhn,
Loeb q Co. The directors at Wednesdays
meeting left it to President George J. Gould to
decide which Of the various suggested systems
Of motive power should be selected for installa-
ton on the Manhattans lines. ard Mr.. Gould
has reached the conclusion that some form Of
electrical equipment should 6e adopted. He said
yesterday:
The public has very little idea how thor
oughly the management Of the elevated roads
has investigated the subject Of electrical power.
The Investigations which have been conducted
during the last year relating to a change Of
motive power have embraced the generation,
distribution and use Of electrical power on both
elevated and surface roads by every important
plant in this country, particularly those in
therefore furnished our company represent the
combined experience Of the largest producers
and consumers Of electricity in the world The
results are something marvellous. The most
careful and conservative estimates made by
experts show a saving OF 211 cents per mile on
the entire car mileage made on the elevated
roads. AS We are now running over forty mill
ion car miles a year, the saving in operating
expenses alone will be over 100000 year.
which, with other economies possible, is suf-
fcient to pay : per cent on the new capital
which It is proposed to the stockholders to put
into the elevated roads. and l per cent addi-
tional on the present capital; in other words. to
put the whole property on a sound per cent
basis"
Mr. Gould said that this result would be ac-
compshed even II the road should not add an
additional passenger to the present traffic. He
continued:
There is no question in the minds Of the
management that the new motive power VIII
add largely to our traffic The increase in speed
will be from rs 70 i per cent and the increase
in capacity Of our trains during rush hours VIII
he ~ per cent, enabling the company TO hahdle
its traffic in very much better shape during
those hours OF the day when trathc Is hght our
trains now run on some of the lines on SIX
minute headway. The application ot electHCly
will enable US 10 run cars without any addl-
tional expense on a headway of a minute and
half SO that persons who will not now risk
wait Of four or five minutes Will he induced by
the rapid and frequent service 10 patronlze our
lines
Mr. Gould said II was the view Of the man
agement that the application Of electricity Would
greatly facilitate the handling of trains at the
terminal points There would be no locomotives
10 stop FOR water or fuel. and trains could run
in and out again Immediately without any de-
Law except the necessity Of loading and unload
ing passengers.
He said in closing
"Our cars stations and stairways, too will be
better lighted, and ii will he perfectly feasible
10 install elevators al important stations 10
carry our patrons up and down. Another pos
sibiitv that the Introduction OF electricity viii
give TO the public will be the use OF open cars
I'm the summer time There will be no smoke
and cinders which might annoy passengers II
open cars We're used on the structure.
The issue ~ the S1S.OOOom additional stock.
which will be offered 20 our stockholders az
par will provide not only for the substitution
~ electric motive power but for a new plant
and equipment the undermining OF all its ia
cilitiee for the comfort and convenience Of the
public thereby increasing the efficiency and
economy of its service. well as the net earn
ing capacity of the system. Any surplus from
tho SIS 900 OOO can be used by the company FOR
the enlargement and improvement of its prop
frtN.'