The Washington times., 1904-09-25
Putting and Screeching Monsters Must Give
Way to NoiselesS, SmokeIeSs, Dirt
less Electric Motors
Long Distance Electric Roads Installed in
All Parts of the United States and
in Other Countries

"A A UGH as the steam locomotive
mn has done in the development Of
this country. its career is
gradually drawing TO a close.
The handwriting has appeared upon the
wall. and its decree Is that the pant
ing putting. screechipg monster. belch-
ing clouds Of smoke and showering Gin
ders, must give way to the electric mo-
tor. without noise or dirt, not only IN
the transportation Of passengers. but
also Tor heavy freight hauling.
On short lines through densely popu-
lated districts electricity has for sew
er3l years taken the place of steam.
and thoroughly demonstrated its supe-
riority as a motive power. But railway
managers, while rather reluctantly adj
hitting the good points Of the electric
motor. declared that for long-distance
travel and heavy hauling the electric
motive power would be inadequate. ex-
cessivo in cost. and therefore tmprac-
teal.
Their argument was that electricity
must be generated by steam. and there
fore It would he more economical ana
practicable 20 apply the steam direct
in tie engines.
Result of Tests.
Actual tests made recently have dem
onstrated that the cost OF transportation
is greater by the steam engine than by
The electric engine. A steam train OF Eve
cars and a standard engine weighs $50
tons, and viii accommodate I6s passen-
Sers. II uses at fun speed l. 400 horse
power.
The electric motor and four trailer
cars weigh 2G0 tons. seat $50 passengers.
and use 1000 horsepower. The electric
train weighs less. uses less horsepower.
carries more passengers. and goes
faster
There are still some difficulties to be
overcome before steam can be done
away with One of the most serious OF
them is the question Of the motor unit.
u a steam locomotive breaks down.
ii Affects that motor unit only. But il
the motive power Of an electric road is
put out OF commission everything on
the read. or at least on a very consider
aole section of It. comes to a standstill
IN ether words. the electric road carries
al itg C=es IN one basket
Source of Danger.
Such condition of affairs is more or
less p-ecarious. Il would lay a road
open so clandestine attacks from un-
I-i1ciulcd and malicious rivals who
could b. seviSinE at the vulnerabI
SPOT, p3raiyzo the entire service. In
case OF strike tho attack OF the men
could hc directed exclusively upon the
pcwe-houses or. simpler than shat. des-
troy tho connections along some lonely
ano 'tlsoarIed section OF the road.
And chen there IS another thing. The
thirG rail seems to be an essential fea-
ture or the electric roads equipment. At
least, up 20 the present time there does
not appear TO be any entirely satisfac-
tory substitute for the third rail system
III anything ike heavy electric rail-
reading;
The strlnging Of these heavily charged
rails over wide section OF country in
wolves great possibilities OF Danger un-
less some better way of protecting them
is devised than any now in use. And
how arc they TO be protected II the shoe
Of the motor car is TO come in constant
contact with them. as It must II Il is 70
pick uD the power
Extensions Continue.
These are the difficulties that are still
to be overcome. But without waitine
for every obstacle to be surmoInted. the
extension OF the electric roads e. con.
tinuinc The New York Central is using
electric power on all portions of SIS
lines which have been operated by
steam at a loss Railroads all over tn,
country are following this eample. The