New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-11

Although America is occasionally indebted to
Europe for a valuable suggestion in regard 10
the lighting of railway trains, il would appear
that ON the whole the Old World is somewhat
behind the New in this branch of industrial art
In the current number of The Engineering
Magazine" NJ Guerin declares that not only In
Russia, but in some parts of Germany also
candles are used altogether for this purpose
Even in France they are not unknown. Oil has
long enjoyed a great popularity on the other
side of the Atlantic and is more generally re-
tanned there than in this country Some timld-
fly is stl felt 10y Europeans concerning the
safety Of petroleum, and preference is mani
Tested, especially in France, for animal oils
This practice is rather antiquated but in in
stances there is one redeeming feature On
some OF the French roads the lamps have tubu-
lar wicks. and thus a more powerful light is Sc
cured. Where that custom is observed the re
suit is probably better than that obtained from
petroleum with the Hat wick almost invariably
used with oil in this country
The greatest advance in car lighting until
very recently was the Introduction Of gas The
system with whose development the name of
Pintsch has been SO cOnspicuouSly identified has
certainly given highly satisfactory results Al
though it originated in Europe ii is probably
than there. Indeed. Americans burn gas on
some Of their street railways a. well as on the
leading trunk lines The great advantage Of
this illumlnant is that I'm case Of a wreck il
never sets fire 10 the woodwork The peril of
travel IS thus appreclably Iessened An i'm
:rovcmcnt on PintSch gas is nevertheless pos
sbe. BY mixing with II a given proportion OF
acetylene a light of great brilllancy Is produced
The idea Is not altogether new IN This country
Immense quantities Of acetylene are used by
American gas companies 20 enrich the water
gas commonly burned in all large cities In the
application Of the practice to ear lighting
however. the Germans appear 20 have taken tho
lead. In ono particular. al any rate. railroad
managers in the United States can probably
profit by a foreign example
As Vet the use Of electricity for lighting the
coaches Of steam railways Is rather limited al
though a number - experiments have been
made during the last fifteen or twenty years
For a time difficulty was experienced IA hitting
upon a thoroughly practicable plan. Even now
there Is some variety 81 usage in Europe. one
plan il 70 rely entirely upon big storage hat
tcries which must 10 exchanged for freshly
charged cells AT frequent intervals such "A
procedure may work well on short lines like
those in switzerland. but 81 never could md
favor on roads more than a thousand miles long
II Is not likely 10 get foothold I'm America
\ second scheme Is 10 operate the lights on a
train by a dynamo carried on the locomotive or
tender ON some European roads this SYSTEM
Is in vogue hut II has one disadvantages When
the engine IS detached the train IS IN darkness
However. 10y putin. Il few electric accumulators
In each car the difficulty may be obyiated
These will hold current enough 10 tide over any
temporary interruption In the supply Of motive
power The same embarrassment was On
countered when first the dynamo was placed
on the car axle instead OF on the locomotive
AMI the same remedy was applied This last
method Of employing electricity which makes
each car independent Of every other IS In this
country regarded superior 81 the two previously
mentioned and Is practically the only one in
service here. Americans appear 10 have been
quicker 10 see It's advantages than Europeans
AS yet electricity Is not extensively used on
railways even on this side Of the Atlantic rs
1t might be II has a formidable rival i'm
fintsch gas. The glow Of an incandescent
lamp. though. Is more pleasing 10 the eye on ac |
count Of its orange tint than a gas flame Since
progressive railroad men recognize the fact that
beauty has commercial value more general
adoption Of electric lights may be confidently
expected.