Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-30
Electric LOcOmOtiOn.

N considering the possibilities of
ITl electric locomotion one would be
kAk justified in saying they are un-
I00fN0I limited. In the present state of
SSSZsS Industrial prosperity transporta-
tiOn Is one Of the greatest factors in the
commercial world,
To illustrate the possibilities OF electric
locomotion for city trafic one might men
ton the Union elevated railroad OF Chi
cago, popularity known as the Union Loop,
whore 1.60O trains, ranging from two to
five cars each in length, pass daily. Dur
Ing the time of maximum congestion on
this line the average time between trains
is 1876 seconds. Since this service does not
take care of the traffic the local transpor-
tation committee of the Chicago city coun-
Gil appointed a commission to report on the
possibility of increasing the capacity of the
Union Loop, and in recent report this
commission recommended a plan whereby
the capacity of this loop could be increased
% per cent These results can only be OBJ
tained through the use of the electric
motor since the motors are mounted on car
Rxles and II necessary every axle in a
train may be made a driving axle. This is
not the usual practice. however, as the
possibilities OF rapid acceleration are not
limited by the available lower. but rather
by the comfort OF the passenger. and five-
car train is generally made up OF three
motor cars and two coaches.
In the eastern and central states for the
past fve years the city lines have been
extending TO the>suburbs and neighboring
towns and the past year has seen many OF
these great networks of traction lines con-
nected, and through limited service estab-
iished between connecting lines It is now
possible to travel hundreds of miles through
the states of Indiana. Michigan, Ohio and
Pennsylvania without resorting to the
steam roads and in cars rivaling those Of
the Pullman company. Bearing the same
relation to the electrics that the Pullman
company does to the steam roads, we have
the Holland Palace Car companX Offering
composite sleeping and parlor cars, buffet
and chair cars and observation cars for the
comfort OF tho public. These cars weigh
nearly fifty tons and are capable OF making
seventy-fvo miles per hour. A $50 horse
power motor is mounted on each axle, max
ing total OF GOO horsepower, or about one
fourth that Of our heaviest passenger loco
motive.
Al present the longest possible continuous
trip that can be taken on electric cars is
about $50 miles. but when projected lines
are completed II win be possible to travel
from ooO 10 Loo miles. These facts will
show that tho electric road has not only
successfully rlvaled the steam lines roI
local tralfic, but Is gradually encroaehins
ON their through service.
Tho advent OF the electric locomotive In
the field OF heavy traction has necessarily
been very slow; as all Of our steam road,
were in the hands OF mechanical rather
than electrical engineersi and In the minC
OF the practical railroad man an eleetrica
machine is a mysterious AFFAIR. possihl!
adapted to city or lnterurban tra1hc. bu
not 10 be considered for heavy or lonl
hnuls
The work at Zosssn. Germany. during tn
past year has demonstrated that the elec
trio locomotive Is capable OF obtaining
higher speed than he's yet been attempte'
BY any steam machine. The electric loco
motive has been adopted by the New YoTl
Central Terminal company. where the re
quirements are exceptionally severe, AM
the competitive tests between the FIRST loco
motive built for this service aud che ,bes
steam locomotive showed the great superi
0rity OF the electric over the steam ma
chine In this test the electric locomotive