Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-02-18

.1sh~fa
Edison Electric Locomotive Operated EH-
PerImentaIIy At MenIo Park, 1880.
Windsor, Canada; Appleton, Wis; Port
Huron. Mich; Scranton, Pa, and
Montgomery, Ala In the autumn OF
1884 Frank l.. Sprague, whose name
IN Inseparably connected with electric
traction, began 10 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. Sprsgue
him self. who was 30 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 70 build An electric rail-
way. The first car was run ont one
night while the skeptical people slept,
to make sure II could climb the hills.
II started out in blaze ~ glory and
Ienomlnlously was towed back again
by four big mules Put Sprague per
sisted until on Feb. 2, 1888, In
drilling rain, the road opened foF
business.
From that time forward the future
OF electric railroading 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 grldiron the
country everywhere. and in each In
staucs commercial success was
scored. Electric Interurban lines have
been money makers from the start.
The greatest development has been
In the east; but the west Is mo- far
b.nind. The Aurors. Elgln and Chi
caeo Electric railway (the third-rail
sysSem which has bean In operation
several years, is famous. From one
central power station over two hun
drsd miles Of road are operated. or will
be- az soon as the line to Belyidere Is
completed Electricity at wholesale Is
sold 10 cities and villages along the
route for lighting purposes; electricity
for mower is sold to farmers. Trains
Of elegant cars run into Chicago at
speed which would have seemed Inn
possibIe a few years ago. Passengers
wave good bye to steam trains on
parallelina railroad, which they pass
easily. A parlor and dining car IL one
OF the Injuries which the suburbsnltes
enjoy going to and from. the city, and
the railroad Seems veritable gold
mine for its owners.
The horse car has long since disap-
peared. VIII the iron horse. the great
steam locomotive, be supplanted alsol
This question occurs TO all who can
see the significance Of passing events.
Probably not for many years 10 come.
M far as heavy freight traffic Is con-
eerned. because steam Is especially ap-
pIicable to the hauling Of freight. But
the action OF the New York Central In
electrifying thirty-hve miles Of its road
leading out of New York, and the
popular agitation for similar improve.
ment in chicago and elsewhere, would
seem to point to time not Far distant
when electric railroads will connect
distant cities and greatly shorten the
hours OF travel.
Ohics 70 20 New York in Ten Hours
In fact such railway already Is
being built between Chicago and New
York by the ChIeago-New York Eleo-
trio Air Line Railroad company, OF
chicago. This company. headed by a
group OF practical railroad men, pro
noses to run limited trains, making not
more than three stops. through to New
DIRK or Chicago. In ten hours. The
thought fairly takes ones breath away
at first. but the project considered
soberly seems practical enough, and
certainly Is - consummation devoutly
10 be wished" The work Of grading
began Sept. ! near LaPorte. Ind,
As the new road Will be an afr line,
with few curves, the route surveyed
Is 100 miles shorter than the Pennsyl-
yania short Line, and 40 miles
shorter than the Lake Shore and
New York Central, each Of which runs
trains covering the distance Ia eighteen