Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-02
THE ThoLLEY's ANNIVERSARY.
Progress of the Electric Railroad in Its
First Quarter Century.
From the New York Sun

From the New York Sun.
The year 1904 brings us to the quarter
century mark since the Siemens Company
of Berlin first connected an electric motor
to truck and initiated the electric rail-
way. The car was crude, and the railway q
small affair so yards long. and of feet :;
inches gauge. the third rail being used. y
species of sliding trolley on an overhead raii
was invented two years later. In 1855 Van
Depole invented the under running trolley
wheel, making feasible the use of overhead
wire conductors and Wellington Adams
mounted the motor directly on the car axle
the practice up to that time having been
to mount the motor A separate frame
and connect with the axle by chains or
belts.
These two inventions, the under running
trolley and the direct connected motor, are
perhaps the only features in electric car de-
signing which have survived the contest of
changes and Improvements in the equip-
ment of electric lines.
In the early cars a couple of 15-horse
power motors were thought to be ample.
Today an electric locomotive is in opera
ton on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
propelled by eight 223-horsepower motors, a
total of 1.S00 horsepower. The first cars
built had a seating capacity of sixteen
Sixty is the number Of passengers that can
be seated in the latest designs. In arrange
mentS for long distance trolley lines. the
middle west states are taking the lead. In
Indiana five roads, each over 100 miles in
length. are finished or in course of con-
Struction.
Columbus. Ohio and indianapolis. equip
ped with sleeping and dining cars of the
most advanced type. Extensions of this
line are being pushed through to Wheeling.
w. Va, and to Pittsburg, and plans are
being made for connections with Cincinnati
This service in another year will cover
stretches in various directions of from 300
to 800 miles in length. Solid trains run
consisting of sleeperS, dining cars and day
coaches, all of the most improved design
and construction the sleepers costing over
$50 600 each. State rooms with two berths
are used. instead of open compartments.
The roadbeds and tracks are built as sub
stantially as on steam roads, and a speed
of sixty-five miles an hour is regularly
made on some stretches. Indeed, the Chi
cago. Elgtn and Aurora railroad is plan
ming an equipment capable OF 100 miles an
hour for everyday schedule.
Trains leave the indianapolis and CO.
iumbus terminals at 1870 o'clock every
night, and finish the 200 mile run at 6
o'clock in the morning. The operation of
the road has shown that there is smoke,
cinders or dust. and that sleeping car pas
SengerS win be able to open their windows
in summer. The charge for a berth and
fare between the two cities is So. which is
less than the day coach fare on the COM
peting steam railroads. Although in the
eastern states the development of the cleo
trio railway has not yet reached stage
where sleepers and dining cars are in use,
still the improvements in the equipment
and fittings of the ordinary service cars
are keeping pace with those of lines in
other parts Of the country. The Fonda,
Johnstown and Gloversyille railway has put
on new palace cars. which are said to be
the largest and most expensive ever seen.
They are fifty-five feet In length and
III, 60 IL
Sble seats. finished in plush. with roll head
rests and footrests increase the comfort OF
the passenger. Each car seats fiftysix
persons. Over each seat is an electric
light, and the electric pushbutton keeps the
passenger in close touch with the con-
ductor. A telephone connects both plat
forms. so that the motorman and conductor
can talk with each other and also with the
general offices of the company. The cars
are geared to forty-five miles an hour.