New-York tribune., 1902-03-24
ELECTRICITY on STEAM ROADS.

The announcement that the New-Haven road
is planning TO use the projected underground
station OF the Pennsylvania road in this city
raises an interesting question. 1t is not credible
that the Pennsylvania company will abolish
steam for its own trains in the tunnel across
Manhattan Island. and yet tolerate its use
there by some other corporation. Hence it may
be safely inferred that when the way is opened
from Forty-second-st. TO Thirty -third-st. cleo
tricity will be employed either by or for the
New-Haven line.
At the outset it is not unlikely that such
trains as enter the Pennsylvania station from
the north will be hauled for a few miles by the
Pennsylvania electric motors. the latter being
substituted for ordinary locomotives at some
convenient point. like Mott Haven. The adop-
ton of that programme is the more probable be-
cause the Pennsylvania company is expected
TO Use electricity in the same manner for its
own trains and those OF the Long Island road.
So far as its plans are known at present, it does
not intend TO employ the new style of motive
power west of Jersey City nor east Of East
River. The New-York Central company, by
the way has pronounced it impracticable to de-
tach an engine of one kind and attach one of
another few miles from the terminus. Unless
there should be a change in its convictions.
therefore perhaps two different systems of
electric traction may be in service on the steam
roads entering New-Yorl City within the next
three or four years. However. the Centrars
opinions and purposes are not now under dis
cussion.
Whatever temporary arrangement the New
Haven company may make for getting into the
Pennsylvania station. It cannot too soon con-
slider the expediency of much more extensive
use of electricity than is here contemplated and
of providing its own equipment for that pur-
pose. Under the presidency of the late Charles
P. Clark this corporation showed an exception
ally progressive spirit and afforded the rail-
road managers of the United States some men,
orable demonstrations in electric traction If
The Tribune is not mistaken. the third rail was
tried on the "Nantasket branch of one of the
New-Haven company's leased lines long before
it was adopted on the Brooklyn Bridge or any
of the elevated roads of the country. II was
also introduced Oh a short section of road run
ming out Of Hartford during Mr.. Clark's admin
istraton. SO successful were those ventures
that it is hard TO why the same system
might not he applied advantageously to the sub
urban traffic of the New-Haven road in the
vicinity of the metropolis OF course If bet
ter method OF using electricity can be found
we'll and good. 1t is risky. however 10 wait
too long. One of the most common develop
ments of the times is the practice OF paralleling
steam roads with electric lines twenty fifty
and even a hundred miles in length. If the
New Haven company does not reorganize its
suburban traffic on this basis in the near future
somebody will steal a part OF its business by
building a rival road. The superior attractions
of a transportation system which dspenses
with smoke and cinders would guarantee to
such a line splendid patronage. and It might
be able to offer lower rates. How long will the
New-Haven company continue TO invite this
irreparable injury to its interests?