Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-01-06

ySS Ess Joy
Edison Electric Locomotive Operated Ex.
perimon.sliy at Mcnlo Park, 1880.
Windsor, Canada; Appleton, Wis; Port
Huron, Mich; Scranton, Pa, and
Montgomery. Ala. In the autumn of
1884 Frank l.. Spraguc. whose name
is inseparnbly connected with electric
traction, began to attract attention
With his motors
Twenty Years of Achievement.
AT the beginning of 1887 there were
In the whole world less than sixty
miles of electric railroad track, and
only about one hundred motors and
motor cars. In 1905 there were nearly
thirty thousand miles Of electric track
In the United States alone.
This change was not accomplished
without opposition, encouragement
and financial difficulties. Mr.. Sprague
himself, who was so potent factor in
working this change. has told the story
of his first important contract. In the
spring Of 1887, the Union Passenger
Railway company of Richmond, Va.
engaged him to build nm electric rail-
way. The first car was run out one
night while the skeptical people slept,
TO make sure 1t could climb the hills.
1t started out in blaze of glory and
ANONYMOUSLY wins flowed back agnin
by four big mules. But Sprague per-
sisted until OH Feb. 2, 1888, in n
drlzzling rain, the road opened for
business.
From TINT time forward the future
or electric rallroading was assured and
events moved rapidly. City after city
adopted the new motive power; horse
cars became things of the past; in
terurban roads began to gridiron the
country everywhere, and in each In
stance commercial success was
scored. Electric lnterurban lines have
been money makers from the start.
The greatest development has been
in the east; but the west is not far
behind. The Aurora, Elgin and Chi.
cago Electric railway (the third-rail
system, which has been In operation
several years, Is famous. From one
central power station over two hun
dred miles of road are operated, or will
be as soon MS the line to Belvldere Is
completed. Electricity at wholesale Ia
sold to cities and villages along the
route for lighting purposes; electricity
for power is sold to farmers. Trains
of elegant cars run into Chicago Mt a
speed which would have seemed i'm.
possible a few years ago. Passengers
wave good bye to steam trans on a
paralleling railroad, which they pass
easily. A parlor and dining chr is one
OF the luxurles which the suburbanites
enjoy going to and from the city, and
the railroad seems yeritable gold
mine for Its owhers.-
The horse car has long since dsaD.
penred. VIII the iron horse, the great
steam locomotive, be supplanted also7
This question occurs to all who car,
see the significance of passing events.
Probably not for many years to come,
as far as heavy freight traffic Is con-
cerned, because steam is especially an
piicable to the hauling of freight. But
the action of the New York Central In
electrifying thirty-fve miles Of it's rond
leading out of New York, and the
popular agitation for similar improve.
ment in Chicago and elsewhere, would
seem to point to a time not far distant
when electric railroads Will connect
distant cities and greatly shorten the
hours of travel.
Chicago to New York In Ten Hours.
In fact such n railway already s
being built between Chicago and New
York by the Chicago-New York Tie...
trio Air Line Railroad comp, ny. OF
chicago. This company, hea6ed by n
group Of practical railroad men, pro-
poses to run limited trains, & aking not
more than three stops, through to New
York or Chicago. in ten bours. Tho
thought fairly takes ones breath ava,
at first, but the project s. considered
soberly seems practical enough. and
certainly Is "a consummatlon devoutl,
to be wished" Tie work of gratiins
began Sept. near LaPorte, Ind.
AS the new road will be an mir line
with few curves, the route SURVEYED
is 100 miles shorter than the Pen.,r, /!
yania Short Line, and 23O lille,
shorter than the Lake Shore and
Now York Central, Gael, of Which rms
trains covering the distance I'm eighteen
hours. Taking into consideration the