Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-08-30
This One is Overhead Affair
IS Operated by Electricity.
FOR FREIGHT OR PASSENGERS
Experimental Car TO Hold Five Per.
~
sone-lnventOr Says 1t VIII Make
IL,
fsIxty- Miles an Hour If Given Fair
Show.
ID

$F
p
An invention looking to the sulu.
ton Of the problem of transportation
i'll rural communities where, by reason
oGphysicul obstacles, steam and elcc-
tfiG line cannot well he used, is now
being perfected by b. w. Harris, of
Wayeland, Ind. In brief, the invention
INCLUDES an overhead system of cables
that hold up the car beneath these
cables not only furnishing support
but also carrying the current of cleo.
trieity for power The car thus opcr.
nted can he used for either freight or
passengers The experimental cur
that MIR. Harris has constructed at
NATION. ILL.,, where he is now work
ingi will hold five people. The cables
supporting the car are in turn sup
pQrtrd by poles. Uneven breaks in
the ground, little hills and valleys,
have no effect on the level plain of the
cable, as the poles arc cut to q length
that keeps the cables level
Vshc long aerial car is of aluminium,
coming to sharp point at both ends,
to do away with as much resistance
as possible. At each side there is
small door, by which the operator en-
teFg. The propclling power-clcctric-
ity&is derived by the brass wheels
upon which the car glittes from the
cable which form the track
Nhc four wheels. which are about
IA. inches III diameter, arc deeply
grooycd, thus making 1t impossible for
thefcar to leave the cables.
Dir. Harris can control the car ut all
times from within, having levers and
switches by which he can reverse,
start or stop tho car instantly. The
current is turned into the cables by
switch ut 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 expected to assume, for 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 burdens at first, although the
Inventor expects it will gradually be-
come carrier of passenger traffic
Mr.. Harris expects that in time his
invention will supplant the rural de-
livery wagon in many communities,
holding that delivery can he made
more readily and in less time than it
is made at present, and with much
less expense, and that theros can he
absolutely no Interference The car
would make the trips In all kinds of
weather. as atmospheric conditions
would have no effect upon It, At
present 1t is absolutely impossible for
a team to make the route over some
of the country roads during the win
ter.
The inventor expects to add to his
equipment for carrying rural mail a
smaller can of the same patterns, to
be operated automatically between tho
regular route of tho transit and the
homes of farmers mt some distance.
The smaller car could be maintained
ut practically no expense, and the
inventor has demonstrated that it cal
be operated successfully, having done
this with Il small car which he ut first
constructed.
routes. who inspected tho car last
week, states that he knows of IL num-
her of places where the car could be
successfully operated.
~ stock, company has been formed
to manufacture the car, with capital
ization of 100000, Some of the stock
being owned by Indiana persons. The
ROdbling Company, which constructed
the famous Brooklyn bridge, is MAX
ing special cable for the cars.
The cost of constructing the rail
way will not ipxcccd $3.50 mile, 1t Is
said. aIll in many instances it will be
evet less. After the cables are strung
there will be practically no expense,
at least for several years. The in
ventor asserts that with track Of
sufficient length the car will attain n
speed of GO miles an hour and hold
it,
b. w. Harris, The inventor, has in
vented many articles of general utility,
among them an acetylenc gas-produc-
ing device. an acetylcne gas system
for lighting public streets, an accty-
lene generator. Some of his invcn-
tons are now in uso in Indiana towns.
1t is said that several lines Of this
system will be in operation III Mis-
souri, and, Wisconsin before the close
of the cr.-Indianapolis News.