Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-23
SECOND MOTOR BIC SUCCESS
koKssb and kOhlsT Take Party to Valley
in Car No. q
UEsTNTED PRAISE FOR The INVENTION
Experts Think 81 solves the PrObIen
and VIII supplant Locomotive
for Local Passenger
Service.

Unstinted praise was given W. r. No
Keen. jr.. for the unqualified success Of
the trial trip Of motor car No. 2 made Fr1-
day afternoon from Omaha 20 valley. Ac-
compRnying the car on Its ofioial trip was
a representative party OF men as the guests
Of General Manager Mohler OF the Union
Pacific. Among those in the party were
r. A. Nash. E. Rosewater. DR.. George L.
Miller S. r Woodbridge, Alfred Darlow.
Ira c. Hubbell OF Chicago. president OF a
locomotive appliance company; Clarence
Howard, formerly Of Omaha, now presi-
dent Of the Commonwealth Steel company
OF 81. Louis; Z. L. Huntly OF the Associ-
ated Press. r. NJ. welch. W. r. Kelley A.
H Mohler. Or. Jonas. Charles Dundey, Sen
ator Millard Frank johnson, Walter Ad-
ans II. p. Van Arsdale, p. o. Clements,
c. J. smyth and Charles L. Thomas Of The
Bee.
Motor car No ] was more OF an expert
ment although II is performing regular
daily service on a branch from Kearney to
Galloway. sixty-hve miles. but motor car
No. is nearing closer to the idea OF Mr.
McKeen and Mr. Mohler as 20 what IL
wanted for the branch line service.
Mr.. Hubben, a locomotive expert Of Chi
csEo. said:
Il cannot find words to express my ad-
miration for this car. Six years ago when
I saw the first motor car which was con-
structed I was struck with the idea and
said at that time that within the next
| twenty-five years all suburban and street
cars would be propelled by their own power.
| I helped 70 install the Council Bluffs-Owaha
line and am converssnt with all sorts Of
cars. but McKeen has the right idea. II is
all right and a success"
| F. A. Nash, president OF the local electric
! light company and western agent Of the
Milwaukee road, was also enthusiastic over
] the car and wanted TO buy 1t from McKeen.
| He said:
'McKeen will solve the problem OF local
! trafic and has car here which is fast Rp-
preaching the proper thing. When he gets
the larger ones built he will start the rail-
way world TO talking about him more than
| Il Is now"
The trip to Valley was enjoyed by all
| The car is so constructed that the ventila-
tion is perfect and no odor from the engine
whatever gets TO the passengers No record
was made for the entire distance as this
road is quite congested at this season OF
the year and several stops were made fol
| orders, but there were stretches on th'
| run when Mr.. McKeen let out few kinli
and the register as well as several stoI
watches showed that the car was spinning
along at the rate OF sixty-three miles al
hour, No trouble was experienced IL
climbing the hill from the Omaha station
TO the summit. which is the steepest stretci
OF road on the Union Pacific until IN,
Sherman hill Is reached.
Mr.. Mohler was pleased with the sue
cess Of the car that he has instructed
Mr. McKeen to proceed with the construc
ton OF two new cars with engines OF 200
horse power, the engine on motor No.
being half that The new cars will be con
structed on a different plan from the pres
ent motor. A trailer will be used 70 hau
the passengers and the motor car con
! structed to carry the engine. the high
| plant. q baggage room and mail section
| Work on these will be begun as soon a
material can be secured.
Everyone was of the opinion that tn
motor car was destined to run the locomo
tive out OF business on local trafic, becaus
of the lesser cost OF operation and tn
fewer men required 10 handle the tralr
One Of the most notable features Of tn
operation of the car was the total absenc
} OF jar in both starting and stoppln:
! Trolley cars well as steam cars com
} up with a sudden jerk and there is also
jolt at the start, but the motor car wa
both started and stopped by Mr. Mckee
without the slightest jar. Mr.. McKeen Wa
at the throttle during the entire trip.
These cars are built under General Mar
aEer Mohler's instructions whose conhdenC
and practical suggestions are said TO hav
] been largely responsible for the buildin
Z and ultimate success OF the cars.
b Bee Want Ads are :he Best Bushes