The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-12-09
TWO WONDERFUL NEW i : I,
RAILWAY PLANS TESTED

OF the monorail principle was made as
much as 20 years ago by E. Moody
Boynton of Newbury, Mass. His APP
paratus of similar instruction, has been
used in all subsequent attempts at
monofail construction in this country.
The first road built was installed as
e novelty at Coney island, and proved
very successful although operated only
for short time. In 1892 an elaborate
plan for the construction of a road on
Long Island was evolved by Mr.. Boyn-
ton and Frederick w. Dundon of New
York. 1t was built in the neighbor-
hood of Beueport, but was never con-
t.nued. although apparently a success,
because of opposition on the part of
the Long Island railroad These early
roads were operated by tseam.
Jay Gould who at this time con-
trolIed the elevated railway interests
i'm New York. became interested in the
device, and proposed installing it on
his lines. but no steps in this direction
were ever taken. A monorail road was
operated at Windsor Hills, near Baltt-
more, for some time, and one was run
at the jamestown exposition. All these
attempts were said to be successful.
but for one reason or another the sys-
tenn was never developed.
The present or fifth attempt to in
troduce the system to the public was
undertaken by the Monorail CON
struction Company of this city. The
company purchased the Bartow-City
Island horse car line from the Inter
borough after considerable opposition
from the latter and the public service
commission. The Interborough now
holds some of the Monorail stock, but
the officials c1 the latter say it does
not own a controlling interest.
Bion L. Burrows, president of the
Monorai company, speaking of the
plans for the Bartow-City Island line,
today said that the cars would be able
to carry passengers at the rate of 100
miles an hour over one portion OF the
road, a / IL mile straight-away in
Pelham parkway He said this speed
could be maintained with perfect safe
ty. as the swinging and Earring of the
ordinary cars are eliminated in the
monorail The ordinary car is sub
iect to what is called horizontal con-
cussion. which tends to make it leave
the track while the motion of the mo-
norail car is vertical, insuring stabil-
ity.
The electric motors which run the
monorail car are eight in number there
being two on each of the four tandem
wheels. They are contained in the
wheels and revolve with them. The
current used is not so strong as that
required for the ordinary trolley car.
About $50 volts will be used. The
wheels have flanges on both sides to
keen the track. There are two guide
rails to help the car maintain its equi-
'poise. Three cars will be used on the
route, which will be ample to main
tain the schedule because of their high
speed.
| MI. buIIOWo 10 COIlIuClI NllelI biAS
system is the one best suited to all
kinds of city traffic, subway or elevat-
ed. He holds that an elevated struc-
! ture composed of one series of poles
would suffice for a monorail roaH.
Four tracks would therefore be posi-
Bile in one street Contrary to the
popular sentiment, he is more hopeful
of the future of the elevated than the
subway as a means of transit.
The Monorail company holds all the
monorail rights in this country, and
1T has an agreement with Louis Brene-
nan, who is experimenting on mooo-
raj system of his own in England. Mr.
Brennan uses no support for his cars be-
iyond the single rail- the equilibrium
being sustained by the use of a gyro-
scope or revolving top.
| In Germany there is one monorail
road, the Barmen, Elberfeld & Web
: Wrinkle, which has been in operation
! for a number of years but is based on
an entirely different principle from
/ the American and has none of the lat
ter's advantages. 1t is hung from an
overhead track and operates on the
pendulum principle.