The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-02-15
POWERFUL ELECTRIC ARC HEAD
LIGHTS SUCCESSFULLY TESTED
BY EXPERIENCED MEN.
CAN SEE TRACK MILE AHEAD
HAS ALSO NOVEL SIGNALLING DE.
VICE ATTACHED.
Nothing But CarelesSness on Part of
Engine Men Will Permit of
Collision With These.

CHICAGO, Feb. ia practical dem
onstration Of the utility Of a. new de-
parture, which, it is claimed by rail-
road officials will effectively prove the
solution in a large degree Of the rail-
way collision problem, was made last
night on the Chicago, Milwaukee & st.
Paul road near here.
The device consists of an exceedingly
powerful headlight, which not only per-
fectly Eliminates the track with an in
tensely brilliant light shaft of light for
distance Of a mile, but also embraces
the striking and novel feature of beam
Of light Of almost equal brilliancy pene-
trating over seven hundred feet above,
which can be clearly seen ten miles
distant.
It is thereby possible for approaching
trains to absolutely locate each other
by this vertical shaft Of light, though
miles apart, and it this feature which
officials claim will eliminate the posi-
bility of collision. This vertical beam
will, in billy country, especially where
curves in the track are numerous, so
positively fix the location Of trains,
that nothing but carelessness on the
part of enginemen will permit a col
lision.
Electric Arc Headlight.
The apparatus consists of a powerful
electric arc headlight, dynamo and
steam power, all of which occupy the
space on the engine usually devoted to
the headlight The dynamo which gen.
crates the current for this veritable
searchlight occupies space Of less than
Is inches wide directly behind the head
light and is operated by a moter driven
by steam impact on q turbine Wheel
The current is 5000 candle power, which
can be reduced to any degree of bril-
liancy at the will of the engineer.
One Of the heaviest passenger engines
of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
experimentally equipped with this head
light drew a special train a number Of
miles out of Chicago last night and a
practical demonstration OF the working
apparatus was given, under the super
vision of Charles w. Adams, formerly
assistant general passenger agent Of the
Pennsylvania system.
Could See a Mile. Ahead.
At distance of half a mile the tele-
graph poles and framework Of the SEM
aphores were clearly defined while the
track bed itself was ~diatanetly- seen for
one mile. Straight above the locomo-
tive a shaft of light as thick as a
mans body penetrated the darkness,
and persons posted ten miles away, re-
ported that it was clearly distinguished.
This is an entirely new departure in
headlight illumination and railroad sig
nails. It is further proposed to convey
signals of distress or other communica-
tions when trouble occurs between tele-
graph points, by the use of colored glass
to color the vertical ray of light.
Among those aboard the special last
night were H. R. Williams, general
manager Of the c. M. & St. Paul; w. J.
Underwood, assistant general manager;
A. J. Woodward, general superintend-
emit; F. A. Miller, general passenger
agent and j. F. Gibson division SUPER
intendent, and it was their unanimous
opinion, that the headlight was thor
oughly practical and would become one
of the future requisites in railroad
ing.