The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-04-04
the ElEElE ROAD
Arrangements Alenl Completed for
New Electric Road.
HAS MANY ADVANTAGES
e. T. Drei.v In Charge CT the Pro.
Isot-Aii the MATERIAL Nov on the
Ground To be started soon.

T.. T. Dreier, son OF Manager Dreier
Of Eleele plantation, Is in the city on
a business trip, having for its object
further electrical improvements for
Eleele, OF which he is the electricion.
Mr.. Dreier spent some time in Ger
many perfecting his studies In this line
and the advanced work on the planta-
ton has either been under his direct
supervision or the work of his hands,
while many of the best ideas are strict
y his own.
The most notable work that has been
accomplished up to the present time
Is the Inauguration and completion of
the first section of the new electric
plantation railway. This section is but
one quarter OF a mile in length, but
sufficiently long to practically demon
strate that the scheme was a complete
success.
The first car was run over the line
last Friday afternoon with Manager
Dreier in person handling the levers.
thus giving him the distinction Of be-
ing the first person to run an electric
car in Hawaii.
The trial was a complete success and
the management were more than
pleased at the result, for, no matter
how well satisfied they were as to the
nf hn
nothing like seeing the line in actual
operation to prove their theories.
With the dynamo showing but $50
volts of GO amperes the motor car was
run up and down per cent grade
without the least difficulty. The dy-
namo has a capacity, however, of $50
volts of 80 amperes, which is more than
they anticipate needing, as $50 volts of
80 amperes is considered ample to haul
six 3-ton cars over 4 per cent grades,
which is as high as they are obliged
to go.
One of the strong points made in
favor of the electrical road for the plan
tations is the lessened liability Of fire.
1t is only few days since a neighbor-
ing plantation had blaze started
from the plantation locomotive. The
blaze was instantly extinguished, to be
sure, and without its doing any dam
age, but 1t shows what might easily
happen on any Of the plantations. This
danger is entirely obviated by the use
Of the electric motor.
Another item worthy Of mention and
one which will recommend itself to all
the economical managers Is the cheap
ness OF operation. In this particular
case the dynamo Is operated directly
from the main, engine in the mill and
this engine is fired entirely by the cane
refuse, thus practically disposing Of the
expense Of fuel. The only running ex-
pense figured on Is cost OF motorman
and necessary repairs, and there ap-
pears no reason why the last item
should not be very much less than with
a steam railway.
Mr.. +. Il. Dreier kept close watch OF
fall the construction work on the line
and personally did all of the real cleo
trical work. He justly feels proud OF
the showing made, to the success OF
which he has so greatly contributed.
All of the material to complete two
miles of road Is now on the ground and
the extension will be pushed to compile
ton without delay.
The switch-bo and dynamo came
from Chicago, the frame work OF the
motor car from the Baldwin Locomo-
tive Works and the motor proper from
the Westinghouse Co., the orders hav-
ing been placed through the Hawaiian
Electric Co.
| Mr.. Dreier has other improvements
OF Importance we'll under way, one of
the most important of which is a
method Of running the centrifugals by
electricity, thus doing away with all
the overhead belts. He has already
applied for letters patent on this Idea,
which he expects to have in full oper-
alton in a short time.
A demonstration of the success of
the electric plantation railroad, which
now seems fully assured at Eleelt, will
have tendency to revolutioniZe plan
tation methods Of transportation.