The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-10-21
4 CAR ON CABLES.
An Aluminium Device for Operation
in Rural Districts.
(Philadelnhia Mans

philadelphia News)
An invention looking TO the solution
Of the problem of transportation in ru-
raj communities, where, by reason of
] physical obstacles, steam and electric
lines cannot well be used is now being
perfected by G.. w. Harris Of Nave
land, Ind. In brief. the invention in
cludes an overhead system of cables
that hold up the car beneath, these
cables not only furnishing support but
also carrying the current of electricity
for power. The car thus operated can
be used for either freight or passen-
gers. The experimental car that Mr..
Harris has constructed at Mattonn,
where he is now working, win hold I'VE
people. The cables supporting the
car are in turn supported by poles. IN
even breaks in the ground. little hills
and valleys, have no effect on the level
plain of the cable. as the poles are cut
10 a length that keeps the cables level.
The long aerial car is OF aluminium,
coming TO a sharp point at both ends
TO do away with as much resistance as
possible. At each side there is a small
door, by which the operator enters. The
prOpeiling power-electPicity-i de-
rived by the glass wheels upon which
the car giides from the cables which
form the track. The four wheels. which
are about fourteen inches in diameter,
are deeply groVed, thus making il i'm
possible for the car to leave the cables.
Mr.. Harris can control the car at all
times from within, having levers and
switches by which he can reverse. start
or stop the car instantly The current
is turned into the cables by a switch
at one end Of the track. and when not
in use this is turned off, thus making
a saving in power. The present car,
which is of the type which all are e&-
pected to assume, for a time, at least,
will provide comfortable room for five
men. The car is expected. however, 10
be used in transmitting mail. express
and freight. rather than human bur-
dens, at first. although the inventor eX-
poets that il will gradually become a
carrier of passenger traffic. Mr.. Harris
expects that in time his invention viii
supplant the rural delivery wagon in
many communities, holding that deiiv-
cry can be made more readily and in
less time than it is made at present
and with much less expense, and that
there can be absolutely no interference.
The car would make the trips in all
kinds Of weather, as atmospheric con-
ditions would have no effect upon il.
At present it is absolutely impossible
for team to make the route over some
Of the country roads during the winter.
The inventor expects TO add 70 his
equipment for carrying rural mail a
smaller car of the same pattern, 10 be
operated automatically between the
regular route OF the transit and the
homes of farmers at some distance
The smaller car could be maintained
at practically no expense, and the in
Ventor has demonstrated that il can be
operated successfully. having done this
With d small car which he first con-
structed. A government inspector of
rural routes who inspected the car last
week states that he knows OF number
of places where the car could be sue
cessfully operated.