New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-04
ELECTRICITY prspLAC1NG STEAM.

Experiments have been in progress during the
last few weeks in London to ascertain the
feasibility of substituting electricity Tor steam
as the motive power of the Metropolitan ana
Metropolitan District underground roads Inc
possibility that such a change might become
necessary to the prosperity of these INES mas
long been recognized; and tests were made sew
eral months ago with that idea In mind. IN
adequate electrical equipment and cars OF less
than the normal weight were used at first, how
ever and nothing of value was then demon
strated.
A special train was built for the more recent
venture, composed Of coaches as large as any
now in service, and provided with motor car
at each end. This train has been run, shuttle
fashion, on section of road at the West
End, between Hlgh-st., Kensngton, and Earfs
Court, nearly a mile in length. One motor car
hauled the train in one direction and the other
pulled it back again The Board OF Trade regu-
lations forbid pushing from the rear, The ex-
periments were tried out of the ordinary traffic
hours either on Sunday early in the morning
No passengers were carried, but that was not
an essential feature of the trial The first OBJ
ject was to find out if the system was mechani-
cally satisfactory; and to this question, ii is
gravely announced, an affirmative answer has
been returned.
To American readers this statement has an
amusing sound. Indeed, with two tunnel roads
already In operation in London, and third
about to be opened for business, even English
men must smile at the conservatism here be-
trayed. Still, in certain minor details the ex-
periments of the old underground roads of Lon
don possess novelty. A modification of the third
rail plan-what might be called thirGand-
fourth-rail system-was employed in these pre-
liminary trials. The current was not allowed to
return by the metal on which the cars ran,
Is done on the Brooklyn Bridge but was led
back to the power station by second extra
rail- supported on low posts beside the track
The invention of proper sliding shoes, and con-
Quoting the current down below the level of the
track at switches and crossings although easily
managed in America, doubtless bothered the
English engineers enough in advance TO leave
some doubt in their minds about the outcome.
However. they have succeeded In their under
taking, and are now confident that it Is feasible
to extend the system TO the whole of the Timer
Circle of roads operated by the Metropolitan
and Metropolitan District companies
After all, the chief question with which those
corporations have TO deal is not mechanical, but
financial. Were they about TO construct and
equip an entirely new road they would prob
ably have little hesitation in adopting electricity
But the conversion of a steam road into an
electric one means the abandonment or sale
at a sacrifice of lot of locomotives; and this,
of course, is serious consideration. 1t was
one of the causes that delayed the adoption of
electric traction by the New-York elevated rail-
roads. Moreover. in London only to a limited
extent did the new underground roads threaten
competition with the old steam lines; so that
a stimulus which has been felt in New-York
was lacking there. Yet the improved speed a
supply of electric lights for the carriages and
tunnel free from the foul gases of combustion
are sure to tell on the revenues of the COM
panes. No public announcement has yet been
made as TO the intention Of the two organiza-
tons which operate together on the Inner Circle
beyond a purpose to ask Parliament this winter
| for authority to construct a big power station.
| But the complete transformation OF their lines
| into electric roads within the next three years
is not at all improbable