The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-12-06
EARLY El Ec!H:::o LOCOMOTIVE
First Really Suit rs Years Ago-ln
uertor Did Without P2Nard

First Really Suit rs Years Ag@ln.
ventor Died W;thc-t Heward.
1t is generally supposed that the
electric locomotive is of recent inven-
ton. Comparatively young mea can
remember the first electric cars which
were operated for public use, and it
viii surprise many to learn that the
invention which has led up to the
splendid developments OF today is
three-quarters OF g century cid.
There lived in Brandon, VI, in the
wear 1891, blacksmith of the name
Of Thomas Davenport. He was not
only a good smith, but nan OF ad-
vancei thought, and possessed OF re-
markable genius for experimenting on
various lines; and in this year ne con-
structed a model electric motor car
which ran upon lew feet OF circr'
lar track and was actuated by gal
varic battery.
This was the fr:t electric loconc-
tive ever built AT that time Steven
sons first steam locomotive had been
in operation only about ten years.
This model was exhibited at Spring.
field, Mass, and later at Boston, and
it's priority is unquestioned.
There was a vast difference in the
conditions under which these two trac-
tors--one Of steam and the other OF
electric-were born, difference
which delayed the development OF the
electric locomotive for half century
and gave the steam locomotive a start
toward a magnificent development
which has only just been oveftaken
by its rival.
When Stevenson built his engine his
power (steam) was readily available.
It's capacities were undsrstoond and
it's production was comparatively
easy. His locomotive was invented
when the power was ripe for it. De-
venport, on the other hand, was Tar
ahead of his time and died without no
tice or reward His memory has been
unhonored up to this day, but the de-
velopment of his idea made seventy
five miles an hour two weeks ago
His locomotive was invented when his
! power electricity was little under
, stood and was obtainable only from
few small battery cells, useful cole
ly for laboratory experiments. NO
method Of obtaining electrical energy.
force, or power from any source but
these batteries was thought OF until
thirty years later.
In 1861 an Italian named Pacir otti,
invented the dynamo-the machine
which, connected to steam engine
or ether power producer, generates
an electric current without the use OF
batteries, the machine which has
made possible electric lighting, cleo
trict traction and electric power for
all mechanical purposes.
When the dynamo was first intro
duced only one-half of its capabilities
were understood. The inventor had
produced a machine more powerful
and more magical than he himself sus-
pected it. It was known that it could
be installed in an engine room and its
current used for electric lighting; but
the fact that it's current could be car
ried over wires and used to operate
ears miles away was not known or
acted upon for nearly twenty years.
The minds of men during this period
were engrossed in the perfection OF
the dynamo and the problems Of arc
and incandescent lighting and the
railway motor was utterly neglected.
In 1879 Messrs. Siemens and Ha'ske
! of Germany built at the Berlin Exhi-
bition an electric railway about one
third of mile in length with To-
comotive drawing three cars carrying
twenty people This was the first
practical motor ever shown. It was
! followed the next year by another
from the same works, which was put
in operation at the Zankerode mines.
This was the first electric locomotive
in the history Of the world to earn its
own living" Still, year later, the
same firm equipped a railroad from
Berlin to Lichtenfelde, distance of
one and half miles. This was the
first electric railway for public ser
vice and it was an operative fnan-
cial success from the start.
And then the world awoke to the
possibilities of the new system.
| Very few engineers are bold enough
to say that they know the limitations
of the electric current; very many ad-
nit their own limitations as to the
control of the giant The question
as to its availability fer locomotive
power is settled. No steam locomotive
has ever been built to develop three
thousand horsepower. The questions
Of conducting the current over long
distance trunk lines and the economy
of operation are yet to be settled.