Evening star., 1907-10-29
TO GET RID OF SMOKE
Substituting Electricity for
Steam on Suburban Traffic.
EXPERIMENT AT NEW YORK
Every Railway Manager in the
Country Interested.
TWO SYSTEMS BEING TRIED
John F. Wallace Tells of Investiga-
tions of the Subject in Connec-
ton With Chicago Travel
TWO SYSTEMS BEING TRIED
BY WILLIAM F. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.

Several weeks ago Mayor Busse OF
Chicago, Controller Wilson. Mr.. Don
nelly chairman of the committee to
suppress the smoke nuisance; Alder
man Foreman. DR.. Evans, health off,
GER. and Mr.. John NJ. Glenn, secretary
of the Illinois Manufacturers Associa-
ton came to New York to study the
new electric suburban service of the
New York Central and the New Haven
railroads, with a view to making rec
concentrations concerning the electrifi-
cation of the Illinois Central suburban
trains and those of the twenty-five e
other railroads coming into that city.
They spent an entire day. in charge
of Mr.. William J. Wilgus. fifth vice
president of the New York Central
who has haG charge of the installation
of its electrical plants and the recon
struction Of the great terminals at 42d
street. They studied the situation par
ticularly with view of abolish!ng the
smoke nuisance on the lake front, but
generally toward the improvement of
the suburban facilities in Chica 60. They
invited Mr.. Wilgus to submit a plan
for the reorganization of this service
for the guidance of the common coun-
Gil and the city officials, but the matter
was left in allegiance because there is
no appropriation from which he can
be paid.
1 asked Mr. F. H Hartman the other
day whether it were possible or prac-
ticable to operate the Illinois Central
suburban trains with electricity in or
der to abolish the smoke nuisance. He
replied that he supposed it was, but
could not discuss the subject intelli
gently, because he had never given it
any study or thought. He remembered
that such plan had been agitated at
the time of the worlds fair and perhaps
on several occasions since, but he was
not familiar enough with the situatt ton
or the plans then proposed to form an
opinion. He said that Mr.. John F.
Wallace, formerly chief engineer and
general manager of the Illinois Cen
tral, would know all about 1t.
John F. Wallace's Views.
Since he resigned from the Panama
canal service Mr.. Wallace has been
made president of very important cor
poration which controls large electric
plants in different parts of the country
and is constructing others, No one Is
better qualified to scuss the subject
than he, first. because of his famil ar
ity with electrical development. ana, sec
ond, because he was connected with the
Illinois Central railroad for the grea er
part of his career, and for several years
was al Inc nedQ Oh a commission 10 re-
organize and improve it's suburban
service.
The chief reason why such an expen-
sive enterprise as tie electrlfica ion of
the suburban service of the linois Cen
trail is not likely to be undertaken at
present is the general condition of the
money market" said Mr.. Wallace in re-
ply to my inquiry. Il unders and that it
is the almost universal opinion among
moneyed men that we are to have ces-
sation of activity in railway construc-
ton and similar matters, not in this coun-
til the slack has been taken up. as you
might say. Without discussing the rea-
sons, capital is exceedingly timid just
a present, and nobody cares to assume
tfe responsibility of financing expensive
enterprises Plans that are in progress
are likely to be carried out, but very lit
tie that is new Is contemplated. and I
suppose these conditions would apply to
the Illinois Central.
Another reason, almost equally impor-
tant, for deferring such an expensive and
important undertaking is that the first
genuine service test of electric power for
heavy traffic has recently been under
taken by the New York Centrai and the
New Haven railroads, and 1t would not be
advisable for the Illinois Central or any
other company to take any expensive
steps until il sees the results Of this ex-
pertinent. There are two systems. and
very different ones involved in the ex-
pertinent. The New York Central has
adopted a direct current, lowtens.on,
third rail; the New Haven has adopted
high-tension, overhead trolley. single
phase system. There is a decided differ
ence of opinion among engineers as TO
which is the better and whether either
one will stand the test of such an enor-
nous traffic as is handled by those two
roads. By waiting year or two the
whole world will have the benefit of the
experiment. The weak and the strong
points of both systems will be demon
strated, and until then l ASSUME that
all other big electrical traffic enterprises
will be postponed"
There have been plans for electrfying
the Illinois Central suburban service?"
Electrifcation Twice Considered.
for the worlds fair at Chicago, Henry
Stacks. superintendent of machinery. and
myself were appointed committee to In
vestigate the application of electricity to
the Illinois Central suburban service. We
made an elaborate investigation and re-
port to the directors. We investigated
compressed air also. The result was that
we stuck to steam. AS the worlds fair
business-that is. the great bulk OF it
was only temporary, ii was obviously In
expedient to make any large expenditure
for facilities which could not be adapted
70 the permanent service thereafter. and
The development of electricity as a mo-
tive power being in its infancy and SO
rapid in its progress, We concluded that II
was advised to wait.
Several years after another committee
was appointed consisting of Mr. Sullivan
general superintendent. Mr.. Renshaw, su-
perintendent Of machinery, and myself tt
watch the development of electric trans
portation, and TO report from time to time
to the board of directors. Everybody
realized that sooner or later its applica-
ton to our suburban service would be de.
strable. We employed experts; we made
personal Investigations; kept the di
rectors informed, and wrote several re,
ports. During that period l filled various
positions, from chief engineer to genera
manager, and was constantly considering
| the question of change of motive power
| The progress of electricity was rapid, bui
the situation never assumed such a phase
| that would justify its adoption from q
commercial standpoint. While It was de
sirabIe, on account of smoke and coIven.
| fence. we were never satisfied that the
| Illinois Central could ADOPT electricity as
| a motive power with economy. The ex
| pense of operation was so much greater
| than by steam that it would be neces
| sary to increase fares in order to cover
| the loss. The commission also recognized
| that the reliability of electricity was no
| yet assured.
Demand of Suburban Service.
"A suburban service is very sensitive
1t cannot be trifed with; we could no
afford to take any chances; our patron,