Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-08-03
GAs-ELECTRIC VS.. TROLLEY.
'Southelm's New Gasolcne Car Races
Trolley to Anderson.
(Greenville News, 29th.)

S'-hoih "iiSIie, anu us uHlQueueSS
In the no-pushee, no-pullee way, the
gas-electric car over the Southern
Railway made It's first trips yester-
day on schedule time. Quite a num-
ber of people from this city went
over the line yesterday either in tho
morning or In the afternoon, and
comments seem all in favor of the
innovation.
The car runs by electric power,
generated In the front end by gaso-
lene engine, whence the name. The
front portion Of the car Is set aside
Tor this most important department,
the two thirds Of the car remaining
being given up for the use Of pas
sengers. The car now in use is one
which has been used on the Rock Is
land line In the North, and 1t Is prob
ably only makeshift, until the
brand new cars, which are now being
made by the factories for the South
ern Railway, arrive. 1t is rather
smaller than the ordinary coach, and
on account of the portion devoted to
the motor and driving apparatus, it's
seating capacity Is much less than the
larger coaches, ii is probable, how
ever, that its seating capacity will
be large enough to accommodate the
travellers over this line, in considera-
ton OF the other passenger service,
which makes several trips to and
from Belton every day
The afternoon train left Greenville
yesterday afternoon about $50, and
made the trip on schedule time. AS
the queer, round-end bulk passed
over the track in the neighborhood
OF the public roads, people Journey
=, ing along comfortably IN wagons and
Mbuggies craned their necks and fol-
lowed the phenomenon as far as the
eye could see it, aud then probably
turned around with remarks to their
, companions. At each station, as the
pounding Of the gasolene engine
ceased, crowds Of villagers gathered
and looked over the car from end
to end, and then stood back and
smoked and looked at the car with
quite knowing look, as if they
knew its every secret.
When the car arrived at Belton
there became apparent at once the
keen spirit Of competition. Hitherto
the gas-elcctric had been queen of
the walk, but now on the other side
OF the track stood the trolley of the
GreenVille, Spartanburg and Ander-
son Railway, tinkling It's bells with
an eaGemcss to be gone.
with the trolley on one side. ready
10 go, and the gas electric on the
other, with an air of waiting no tell
ing how long, and between the rather
warm interior Of the gas-electric, and
the cool, open cars OF the trolley line,
there appeared Il little advantage on
the one side. Then to the trolley y
number went, and in a few seconds
the long drawn whistle of that con-
veyor had sounded, and the car was
soon moving rapidly in the direction
of Anderson.
Not TO be outdone, the gas-elec-
trio was off a few seconds later. the
tracks Of the Blue Ridge Railway
running not far from those OF the
'rolleN line. After the trolley had
gone some little distance out Of Bel
ton passengers caught sight of the
ga"-Hiectric in the rear on the other
SIDE, and many rushed over TO that
side Of the car to see ihc rocc
Ilandkerchicis were waved across
the space Intervening between the
cars, and the bulk OF the gas-eloctric
with its low. squat figure, showed
up TO advantage against the opnosite
horizon. Very soon. however. hills
intcVencd between the racers. and
the gaS-clrctric was seen no more
until after Anderson had been reach
ed. There was considerable spccula-
ton rs to whether the newcomer
had gotten ahead
when the city was reached, how
ever. and the trolley crossed the
coveGsd bridge over the railroad.
crowds were seen congrcgating over
the railraod, waiting for the an
proach OF the far-famcd electric Wis
itor. The trolley arrived about five
minutes ahead Of the railway car.