Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-21
EDISON SURE HIS
GAR HAS SOLVED
STORAGE PROBLEM
But Declares He Will Subject 1t
to Severe Tests Before
He Decides.

After the successful tests of his new
storage battery yesterday afternoon in
West Orange, Mr.. Edison announced
his intention of giving the battery 9
test of the .razzle-dazzle', variety
which will bring out its strength and
usefulness or weakness in the practi.
cal finishing touches of experiments
ton.
Mr.. Edison, who will go South in G
fortnight, is confident he has al last
solved the big problem of a feasible
storage battery for street car service
The enthusiasts on the trip with hin
yesterday predicted for the new cal
the death knelI of the overhead trolley
and the deadly third rail OF the other
style of electrical propulsion.
The runs to the car barns were made
at good speed, without a hitch. The
car ran like clockwork, with no Jars OF
vibrations to speak of. The storage
battery gave the car a speed of twenty
miles an hour, even up the 4 per cent
grades of the road.
The first a experimental with some
months ago was an ordinary single
truck car, but it was found much toe
heavy. Then another make of a was
tried. with no better result. Finally,
Il. II. Beach designed the present car,
which Is t~wenty-six feet long. weighs
five tons and is almost a duplicate, as
far as inside appearance goes. of those
run in the Hudson tunnels. The car
has seats for twenty-siX persons, but
thirty. Eve were on board for the trial
trip.
The following particulars were given
out by Mr.. Beach: The cost of operat-
ing these. cars is one cent a car a mile
for the power. This is half the cost
of running In ordinary trolley car of
the same size. Two twenty-seven and
a half horsepower Crane motors,
geared to the axles of the car by
chains. are supplied with power from
200 battery cells stored under the seats.
The lighting is supplied by separate
batteries, but no other provision than
coal stoves is made for heat. The car
has ordinary zane bottom seats, but
much wider and far more comfortable
than those of ordinary cars. The in
terror above the windows is of white
enameled sheet iron with white en-
ameled gas pipe standards and strap
rods, without straps, for standing pas
sengers to steady themselves by. The
ornamental brass brackets and TRIM
mings, through which the signal cord
runs, are highly FURNISHED and shine
brilliantly against the white enamel
finish.
II am very we'll pleased" said Mr..
Edison after the trial. That is, so
far as we Ave one But when we
put the "a through the 'razzie-dazzle'
tests, nj give her a few hundred mile
runs through the country, over UP and
down grades. W, shall know more about
her"
The storage batteries when charged
are good for from a hundred to a
hundred n fifty miles. 1t requires
about four hours for re~charging. When
in active service the system can easily
be maintained, 1t was said, by having
an extra supply of ready charged cars
to help out during the busy hours, and
thus meet any emergency thai might
arrive.
The Public Service Corporation was
represented by Thomas Leahy, general
foreman of the distribution depart
ment; P. S. Adams, master mechanic
of the rolling equipment; Charles
Thorne, superintendent Of the Orange
division; T.. J. Dunno, superintendent
of the distribution of power, and Will
lam Pierce, supervisor of the Orange
aid Passaic Valley division.
All congratulated Mr.. Edison when
the carhouse had been reached upon
his success, and Mr.. Edison smiiingly
thanked them.
This is certainly a great success
said Mr.. Dunno. land the storage bat
terry no doubt will in time revolutions
ize the present system of overhead and
underground wires. 1t wouldn't be a
bad idea to have this car run on one
of the lines of our company for some
time"
II am sorry" returned Mr.. Edison.
"but the car is already disposed OF
n will run on one of the New York
lines inside of a week. 1t probably
will be run on the Belt Line. They are
very anxious to have the car over
there. But we will build some more
In out new shop and then we will be
able to make some arrangements with
your company"