New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-31
RIP TAN TIyKLE WAXING IT.

The New-York, New Haven and Hartford
Railroad Company begins TO give evidence that
! it is not so far behind the times as many peo-
! pie feared Under the presidency of Mr.. Clarke,
several years ago, the corporation was notably
! progressive It made practical application of
| electricity 10 traction on its Nantasket branch
/ which was highly instructive TO other trans
/ portatiop companies. The successful use of
! the third rail a substitute for the overhead
wire, under the auspices of the Consolidated
established a precedent which has since been
widely followed. OF late. however, the COM
pany has been less enterprising, and even now
President Mellens welcome announcement that
electricity is TO be introduced on the branch
extending from New Rochello to the Harlem is
regarded with some skepticism. But aside from
the official promise good reason for putting
confidence in the latest announcement on the
subject is that the policy adopted by the New
York Central and Pennsylvania railroad com
Iauies renders imitation a necessity. Further
more, the recent mysterious and unfortunate
defeat of the projected Port Chester railway,
which threatened 10 become formidable rival
Of the NewHaven road, has doubtless lent fresh
courage TO the managers OF the latter
From the fact that four tracks are 10 be
operated electrically it looks as II two classes
of service would be provided. Short trains or
single cars, making frequent stops. may sup
ply one OF these. The other will doubtless be
characterized by higher speeds and almost CON
tnuous runs from New Rochelle to the junction
with the Second-ave. elevated road al Harlem
River. Expresses ought thus 10 reach tho Bat
terry in little more than forty minutes for The
whole trip. Equally good facilities could also
be afforded TO Mount Vernon If short bit Of
new road We're constructed from the suburbs
OF that city to the Harlem Branch near West
Farms That arrangement is said 10 he feat
MeilpD'E will La
ried into effect seems highly probable II the
New-HaVen company should ever cease to use
the tracks whereby il gains access 10 Forty
second-st.-tracks which, below Woodlawu be
long 10 the Harlem division Of the New York
Central-it would lose the patronage Of Mount
Vernon altogether unless it opened a fresh out.
let II 1t does SO, the ystcm Of roads Oh this
side of New-Rochelle viii bc shaped like a letter
I reversed Pelham and Mount Vernon will
be on the loop which will end at West Farms
and what is now the Harlem Branch" will be
come the main line. practically terminating on
the north shore of the Harlem River For
trains which are brought thther from Boston
by steam an entrance TO the heart Of the city
can he effected by tie proposed bridge to As
torla and the Pennsylvania companys tunnel
under East River.
Long before these changes are conSummatcd
it will doubtless become evident that the New
Il
use Of electricity for traction purposes than
II now announces. Already IN Connecticut and
other New England States It has bought or
leased number OF trolley roads Most Of
these, perhaps. viii be used merely as feeders
A few of them. at least, will probably become
links in a continuous chain running parallel to
existing steam lines. That is the course which
the New-lOrk Central has apparently decided
10 follow in various parts Of the Empire State
What the final outcome Of ii will be it Is i'm
possible TO foresee clearly. There are indica-
tiOns however that transition period of his
tory IS about to open, in which electricity will
dispace steam on trunk lines for all passenger
service. The transformation must be effected
gradually, to be sure. but it can proceed rapidly
when certain beginnings are made. The owner
ship Of power plants for scattered local roads
will furnish the basis for more elaborate sys-
TEN than is now openly discussed. The until
cation Of short lines will also be promoted by
the growing use OF n type of motor which makes
it possible 70 run car equally we'll with alter
mating and direct currents Great things are
certainly coming In the next five or ten years!