The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-23
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY ass, 1907
STILL EXTENDING.

Speaking of the wonderful spread and development of electric roads, or, as they are now generally designated, trolley cars, The Manchester Union says that no one was surprised when the announcement was made some months ago, 'that a snowman was thinking seriously of putting circus upon the road which should be re- etricted to the trolley lines, and in many cities the use of the special elec- tric car has grown until it is in fre- quent use by people who wish to make a trip around the city, while for par ties of some size 1t Is obviously the cheapest possible means of transporta- tion as well as one of the pleasantest Now comes a suggestion from the su- perintendent of the Cincinnati city hos pItal that a street car be fitted up as an ambulance. He would have the cars so arranged that a patient could be laid on a cot suspended from the roof by steel springs. This could be used not only in emergency cases, but where 1 sick person was to be conveyed to a hospital for treatment. The idea is one that is likely to be heard of again, not only with reference to the large cities, but for application in rural sec tions through which trolley lines have been constructed. Indeed, it would seem that the need of such a car would be more apparent in country districts than in the cities themselves"
 When we get down to actual facts, there should be little surprise felt or expressed at any addition that may be made or proposed along the line of electric travel. Only few days ago, if we are not in error, the finishing touches were given to a connecting system which would complete an elec- tric railway from some point in New York to a town in Michigan, the total distance as we now remember the &C., count, being several hundred miles, and 1t was intimated that the line would be carried still further West. It is not impossible that the present generation will have an opportunity to ride from the Atlantic to the Pacific on trains drawn by electricity just as they can now traverse almost any city in the Union.
 Of course this change will not come at once in such manner as to put steam power and steam machinery out of business at one blow. Street cars were in use a long time before electricity superseded horses and mules. and In many of the smaller towns the ami maIs are still pulling tho cars as of old. The use of electric motors grad ually took the place of animal power in this instance, and 1t is bound to con- tinue reaching out until 1t gets com trol of the railways of the world. It will come in such way as to not seri- ously injure steam properties, but that 1t is bound to come seems to be an in- evitable result, judging from what we already know of it.
 The suggestion of the Cincinnati physician is merely evidence of an- other step in electric development. The one disadvantage connected with the proposed scheme is that the electric ambulance would be confined to streets where there were railway tracks and could not reach many of the sections where 1t would be needed This will be overcome in the near future. how ever, and such an ambulance. fitted with rubber tires and carrying its own electricity, can go Into any section of a city Independent of rails or wires That is bound to come. we have no doubt, along with many other wonder full results of electrical development. There seems hardly any limit to what may be expected of this new servant of man.