The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-05-18
EARLY ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
First Really Built rs Years Ago--In.
ventor Died Without Reward.


/ ventor Died Without Reward.
II is generally supposed that the
electric locomotive is of recent inven-
tion. Comparatively young men can
remember the first electric cars which
were operated for public use, and it
will surprise many to learn that the
invention which has led up to the
splendid developments of today Is
three.quarters of century old.
There lived in Brandon, VT, in the
year 1884, blacksmith of the name
of Thomas Davenport He was not
only good smith, but a man of ad-
vanced thought, and possessed Of re-
markable genius for experimenting on
various lines; and in this year he con-
structed a model electric motor car
which ran upon few feet of circu-
lar track and was actuated by gal
vanic battery.
This was the first electric locomo.
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
its 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 a century
and gave the steam locomotive start
toward a magnificent development
which has only just been overtaken
by its rival.
When Stevenson built his engine his
power (steam) was readily available.
Its capacities were understoond and
its production was comparatively
easy His locomotive was invented
when the power was ripe for it. Da-
venport, on the other hand, was far
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
a few small battery cells, useful sole
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 Pacinotti,
invented the dynamo-the machine
which, connected to u steam engine
or other power producer generates
an electric current without the use of
batteries, the machine which has
made possible electric lighting, cleo
trct 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 machine more powerful
and more magical than he himself sus-
pected it. 1t was known that it could
be installed in an engine room and its
current used for electric lighting; but
the fact that its current could be car
ried over wires and used to operate
cars 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 uNerly neglected.
In 1879 Messrs. Siemens and Halske
of Germany built at the Berlin EXhi-
bition an electric railway about one
third of a mile in length with To-
comotive drawing three cars carrying
twenty people. This was the first
practical motor ever shown. 1t 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 it's
own living" Still, a year later. the
same firm equipped 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 flnan-
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 for 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.