Evening star., 1907-10-29

ity for steam for the entire distance
would have approached ten million dol
lars.
Electricity is adapted to the movement
of small. light. frequent units of trans
portation like street cars Steam is
better adapted to the movement of heavy
units of train transportation over long
distances at infreo.lent intervals; but cleo
tricity Is continuaey extending its adapt
bilty and encroa ching upon steam. The
most important example of this encroac CHI
ment may be found in the recent install
lation by the New York Central and
New Haven companies. But thus rar
their service Is not complete; they are
substituting electric for steam trains
gradually, and the changes are made. not
SO much for commercial advantages. as
to satisfy public clamor and obey the
will of the Legislature
Some of the steam passenger trains
weigh from five hundred to thousand
tons: the interurban trains weigh from
fifty to hundred tons. and that differ
ence in weight has got to be considered q
whenever the question is taken up me
greatest progress in the application of
electricity to transportation has occurred
in this country, and every railway man
ager in the country is watching the ex-
periments on the New York Central and
New Haven roads and anSiously await
ing the results. There is nothing III
Europe to compare with II.
SLOChuOloSTS W DC GU"
This subject must be judged from sew
eral standpolnts. The railway must in
crease its receipts so as to justify the
additional investment. and must be sure
of the certainty of operation so that its
patrons will not suffer any delay or in
convenience. Every railroad will adopt
improvements to satisfy the public If j
can afford to do SO. but in cons q ring
tic .r1tn re n pn n
lie does not stop to think Of the stock
holders who have to stand the increase
in operating expenses, and cost OF plant
that is always necessary when new IDEAS
and improvements are introduced. There
is no doubt that electricity IS to be pre-
ferred to ST ,am. because of its cleanll-
ness and convenience. but the public
should not forget that luxuries and ad-
vantages are Of.cn purchased at great
risks and IN this case ii Is still! an ex-
pertinent of technical accomplishment.
If trains are detained. or if anything un-
favorable happens the patrons OF ROAD
always blame the management, altnough
the management is not always at fault
and Is doing the best possible under the
circumstances. With steam, if one train
breaks down, the rest of the service VIII
continue unintorrupt" dly. In electricity
there Is a constant liability to aCcid onts
which will tie up an entire system. inns
liability, however, IS iminishing every
year. and will soon be reduced to a mini
mum During the fifteen years was
connected with the Illinois Central It's
suburban service was never ted up more
than two hours and the worst etantlons
were usually due TO snoWstorms. but we
managed to get our people to town with
out serious delay
The Illinois Central suburban service
IS probably the greatest in the world. II
IS greater than anything in London or
New York and more people are dependent
on it than upon any other road in the
country. Up to the time I left, the man
agament was continually studying the
subject and hoping that the development
of electrical, science would enable them
to make the change from steam to cleo
tricity without substantial loss. IL mas
always been the intention to do so as soon
rs cond tions would Justify it. That inten-
ton is illustrated by the adoption OF the
steel car now in use. which was designed
for. and especially adapted to- an cleo
tr,caI service Severa! complicated prob
ems are involved in this question tba'
the public does not appreciate or even
understand. They appear on al roaos
handling an Irregular traff1c, Which is
very heavy at certain hours of the DAY
and very light at others. Power has to
he provida ID and maintained for the maxi:
mum traffic for the heaviest trains or
the day, and the eXpansa of maintenance
must be calculated upon that basis. l
have no doubt that the Management IS
alive to the situation. and tha demands OF
the times, and will prove itself equal to