The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-04
ELECTRIC ROADS
DOWN SOUTH

II Is not unlikely that the next import
ant step i'm the adoption OF electricity on
railroads now operated by steam will be
seen in the South, perhaps between Balti-
more and Washington. Between these two
cities the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
operates about so passenger trains daily,
and the Pennsylvania railroad operates
even more than that number.
The local traffic on both Of these roads
Is very heavy, and the promoters OF
high-speed electric railway which is now
being built TO connect the two cities evil
IDENTIFY believe that the business can be
greatly increased through the induce
ments OF cleanliness and convenience
which are presented by electric cars run
ming over the surface OF the streets into
the heart OF both cities, whore passengers
may board them just as they would for
ride about town
II is not unlikely that one or the other
OF the steam roads (probably the Balti-
more and Ohio, because 1t already has
limited electrical equipment and Is other
wise advantageously situated for the
adoption OF electric motive power will in
stall within a few years an electric SER
vice between Baltimore and the national
capital. q
At present however, no such move has
been hinted, although the determination
10 convert the Baltimore and Annapolis
Short Line railroad. q miles long, from a
steam TO an electric line has been APP
proved by the stockholders OF that com
pany.
With reference TO the Baltimore and
Ohio. IL must be noted that IL is in
particularly favorable position TO COM
pete with electric trains against any other
service. It's Belt Line tunnel runs through
Baltimore. traversing the heart of the
shopping district. and IT would be com
paratively easy for the company to estab-
lish a station for electric trains at point
where shoppers and other travellers could
take the cars just as conveniently as the
passengers on the New York subway
board the trains there Indeed when the
Belt Line tunnel was constructed, II was
proposed or suggested that station
should be built in the shopping district,
and at a point farther downtown work
was actually begun upon a tunnel termin-
al, although II was never built, the com
pany deciding to continue the use OF Cam
den station as a passenger as well as
freight depot
While this article Is not intended to be
prophetic regarding the next probable
a steam road IL does point out situation
for the relief OF which IL is not unlikely
that electric engines may be adopted.
This seems TO be all the more probable
because the two roads named are building
at Washington what will be the handsom-
est passenger station in America, such
one as BELTS the capital OF great coun-
try and there will doubtless arise de-
mand that every means be adopted to pre-
serve Il In as clean and attractive con-
dition as possible. This would suggest the
use OF electric locomotives as means to
that end.
Some railroad men are inclined TO be-
lieve that we are upon the eve of great
revolution OF railroad motive power. They
think that the step which is about TO be
taken by the New York Central railroad
is but the beginning of plan to operate
the entire line with electric engines. III
success be the reward Of the change on
the TIne from New York tn trotorf, with
economy equal TO that afforded by steam
there will no doubt come from other rail-
road companies demands for electric
operation I'm such volume that the build
ers OF electric locomotives and electric
machinery will be taxed to their utmost
for an indefinite number OF years TO sup
plv them Manufactures Record.