Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-26
Make the Terminal SmokeIess.

1t cannot be questioned that the tendency
in railroading is toward the greater use of
electricity. Electric motors have been used
in tunnels for number of years. especially
for the shifting of trains. On some lines
motors have been substituted for locomo-
tives on suburban and interurban trains.
There is just now in hand a report from
New York to the effect that work is under
way which will result by the LIST of next
September In the Identification" of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford road
between Woodlawn-a very short distance
out of New York-and Stamford Expert
ments are being conducted with individual
electric motor cars for comparatively short
runs. and some work Is being done in the
development of the individual gasoline
motor car for similar service. 1t is APP
parent that the thoughts of practical rail-
road men are being turned toward the goal
of the elimination of the steam locomotive.
with its noise and smoke and gas and its
positive limitation of performance due to
the restrictions of the reciprocating action.
1t is not too much to expect that within
a comparatively few years the greater part
of all suburban and interurban traffic, such
as that between this city and New York,
for example, will be on an electric basis.
Certainly those who look to the develop
ment of this form of traction expect to see
the great terminals of the country eventu-
ally made more cleanly. less noisy and
more attractive in all respects by the ap-
plication of the electric current in the
handling of trains within cities. Railroad
authorities have from time to time been
quoted as saying that the use of the cleo
trio motor at terminals will serve to in
terrupt traffic and Increase the complica-
tons of track management Others, how
ever. believe that it is possible to work out
a system which will reduce the delays and
the difficulties caused by exchanging mo-
tors for locomotives to a low point the
advantage gained being much greater than
the disadvantages involved.
The Washington terminal now in course
of construction is designed upon a scale
which will cause it to stand forth as one
of the model railroad stations of the world.
However monumental in design, or per-
feet in equipment, the local station will
not be such a model IL it is the scene of a
smoke nuisance of the first magnitude. To
construct a beautiful building, with all
forms of improvement, and then continue
the old denominations in the way of smoke
and gas emissions, when there are ways to
avoid them, would not be step toward the
evolution of the ideal terminal which was
contemplated by Congress when it passed
the act now in force 1t matters not
whether the train shed Is of character to
confine the noxious vapors within a limited
space and so TO choke the occupants of the
shed or the station itself, or Is of type TO
permit them to escape into the outer air
and pollute the atmosphere and befoul the
structures within a wide radius. What
should be given to Washington Is a smoke
less terminal. with all its features the best
obtainable, considered from the point Of
view OF the safety and comfort and health
of the public.