Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-09-08
ELECTRICITY ON THE CENTRAL.
The Extent to Which 1t win be used.

The Extent to Which It viii be Used,
New York Trtbune.-Of the two
methods Of using electric power which
the New York Central is preparing to
adopt, that which will be Witnessed in
its suburban service will possess no
novelty for the people of this city.
1t is practically identical with the sys.
tenn already in vogue ON the elevated
roads. Several of the cars composing
train will be equipped with their own
motive machinery, and the motorman
in charge will occupy compartment
IN what happens to be the foremost
coach. The through traffic will be
handled in q different fashion. Spec
ial electric engines will be attached to
trains for Chatham. Pittsfeld Albany
and the West before departure from
the Grand Central station. When
White Plains, on Harlem division,
have been reached these engines will
be detached and steam locomotives
will be substituted. The procedure
will be reversed at the same places
with southbouud expresses. nasmUch
as that plan will be comparatively
new to the metropolis. the description
of the electric motors now being bUilt
for such service will attract attention
One important feature Of these ma.
chimes is that they will rum equally
well in either direction, both ends be
ing alike. Hence no time need be
wasted by the use of turn.table
when a trip is finished. An engine
will be unnecessary to stop for sup
plies of coal and water. 1t will also
be observed that two or more Of the
new electric engines can be coupled
together and operated as one, under
the direction of a single motorman
Provision for srch combinations was
made a year ago or more with the lat.
est motors employed by the Baltimore
and Ohio company in hauling trains
through the Baltimore tunnel. The
first electric engines built for that ser
vice were not so designed. In eXter-
nal appearance the motors for the
New York Central resemble the latest
ones bUilt for the Baltimore and Ohio,
but they look cleaner and will prob
sistanCe when running at high speeds.
Again, they are expected to generate
a little more power than the Balti-
more engines, the maximum capacity
of two in combination being 1000
horsepower, whereas those now on
duty in the Monumental city develop
only 1900. Finally, while they may
not be permitted to travel faster than
IS or so miles an hour it IS announced
that they will he capable Of going fully
IS miles an hour when the condition
of the track renders such a velocity
safe. Though the preliminary tests
and the actual service OF these ma
chimes will be awaited eagerly, the ut
most confidence may be felt in the re.
suit, The Central could not have
found better technical advisers than
1t has anywhere in the world
On one part of its policy the com
pany is still rcticent 1t wisely con.
forms to establish precedent in adopt.
ing the third rail as a means Of con
dUcting the electric current TO its
trains, but 1t does not yet say whether
il will try to protect It's workmen from
injury by coming in contact Herewith.
Several methods Of securing immun-
ity are already known 1t is possible,
for instance, to place some form of
shield over the third rail. The latter
may also be arranged in such a way
that all sections will remain" dead ex.
cept those Immediately under a train
So far as the outside public is con
cerned, it is entitled to little consider
ration. Persons who trespass on a
private right Of way. do 50 at their
own risk. The company's own ser
wants, though stand on different
footing and deserve kinder treat
ment.