The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-06-05
RAILWAY PROBLEMS.
INVENTION AND IMPROVEMENT
BRINGING THEM UP.
Features That Were Unforeseen q
Few Years Ago Compel Study
10 Meet the New Order
of Things.

While the country is slowly accumu-
lating experience to guide it in just
legislation for the control of the great
railway corporations, invention and i'm
provement are bringing up new prob
lens
So rapid is this advancement, states
the Sentry that there is danger Of repe-
tition of past history in similar matters
before the laws are matured they are
likely to become obsolete.
Recent developments OF railway &C
tivity along the line of absorbing and
building electric lines as feeders to the
great trunk systems, introduce features
which were undreamed of a few years
ago, and hence could not possibly have
been provided for in any scheme looking
to the governmental supervision and
control of existing corporations.
The absorption of parallel and COM
peting trolley systems by railroads in
certain sections Of the country, par
ticularly in New England. has beer one
of the most suggestive episodes of recent
railroad history. More recently the
identification of considerable mileage
of steam roads to handle suburban pas
senger business or to meet special con-
ditions, as in the case of the New York
Central at New York, has introduced
another set of problems. In short, rail
road managers are waking up to the
possibilities of electric traction and tbs
more open-minded freely confess the
superiority of that form of operation
when applied to certain kinds of traffic.
The slowness with which the great
great railroad lines have taken up this
subject seriously is readily explained.
1t is only within a very recent period
that master mechanics have been re-
cruited from the ranks of technical
school graduates. able to take up readi-
Iy electrical subjects. The average
master mechanic, not understanding
the new power, looked upon the electric
car as a new-fangled affair and one en-
tirely out of the railroad field.
The railroad papers are accused of
silence on the subject for fear of the
effect on the sale of locomotives, but
this is a doubtful explanation and one
that is entirely unnecessary, since their
silence can be explained by the fact
that electricity was not considered as
within the field Of steam railroad econ
omy.
AS result of the Indifference of their
technical advisers traffic managers nat
urally did not appreciate the possibili-
les Of the innovation, and those that
did were naturally 10th to experiment
with new form of traction when re-
liability Of service was factor of prime
importance. Now that the path has
been broken there is no doubt that where
electric power can be applied with
economy it will be rapidly applied and
hat when the time comes for the COM
plete Identification of steam roads they
will be generally electrified.
The development Of the electric road
followed the line of least resistance It's
economy once proved there was a gen
aral call for the new form of traction.
The manufacturers were kept busy sup
plying the demand for cars and equip
ment and their technical stats were
absorbed in working out the various
problems that arose. The practical ex-
.inction of the horse and cable railways
indicates that the first demand is about
satisfied. Following close on the heels
If this initial stage came the develop
nent of rural and interurban lines. a
development much more sluggish. But
he demand from this source. together
With new urban business and the con-
dnuous raising Of the standards in the
cities first supplied has kept the plants
busy enough. but not so busy that they
nave not looked to the steam roads as
, possible market
This changed condition OF thfres
especially that feature which no,soI;
1ates long and important trolley sys-
ems, with the trunk lines of railroad
will be of vital interest to large classes
IF people. Manufacturers. merchants
md farmers will all be interested in
such changes as must instantly erect.
transportation charges and facilities for
prompt delivery Of products. and which
must bring producer and consumer still
more closely together.