Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-23
Copyright. 1911. By william L. Aitdorfer.)


~ LECTRIC mules for the Panama
canal. Uncle Sam Is about to
advertise for electric mules to
pull vessels through the locks
and other places along the
canal where they may not be able to
pass under their own motive power.
This marks the next step in the progress
Of tho canal. and shows how near the
work is approaching its end. While the
ordinary everyday mule will pull per-
haps twenty-five hundred pounds. cleo
trio mules to be used on the canal will
have an average pulling or towing
power Of more than twenty-five thou
sand pounds per mule.
The electric mules contemplated by
Uncle Sam are in the nature Of cleo
trio engines or locomotives These
locomotives are unique, and probably
the first Of the kind ever built. They
were originally designed by engineers
on the isthmus to meet the peculiar de-
mands Of the titanic work which will
be required OF them. AS nothing so
Immense as the building of the canal
only one Of the many original things
where the engineers have been thrown
entirely on their own inventive re-
sources to meet tho extraordinary re-
C0ilcu
While there are several kinds Of cleo
trio locomotives now in use on one of
our railroad systems in the United
States. there never has been a loco
motive constructed like this before,
probably because there has never been
any reason for the inventing or the
building OF such locomotives. The
electric engines now being tried out for
railroad purposes are Of an entirely
different construction. They depend on
their traction power alone, the tractive
power. OF course. being derived from
their great size and weight.
The electric mules for the canal,
however. will not depend on their
weight alone to pull the immense ves-
constructed on the principle Of running
on track. but In the center Of this
track there will be an ARRANGEMENT
having the appearance Of a rack-a rail
about ten inches high. each tooth about
six inches apart.
A clearer idea Of the tracks upon
which these electric mules will run
track to gigantic saw, with each
tooth OF the saw ten inches high The
engines will have ordinary car or en-
sine wheels. and In addition will have
wheels in the center. each cog in the
wheel fitting into cog or tooth of the
confer track. By this means the en-
gtnes will be able to exert terrific pull
ing power. There will be not only the
weight Of the engine. which is the
case with the ordinary steam or cleo
trio engines. to give II tractive power,
but in addition the engine will be prac-
tically tied to the track in such a man
ner a. to make 1t impossible to separate
the engine from the track without pull
ing the track with 1t. or until the
OPERATOR or driver releases the mechan-
ism.
After inventing this extraordinary type
Of engine, the next thing to confront the
engineers was how to prevent 1t from
topping over when the terrific strain OF
pulling the vessel was applied. While
the problem Of uniting the engine and the
track had been solved. still there was the
daneer--on account Of the side pull Of the
towline-of the engine turning turtle. The
solution Of this difficulty was found In
the applicat ton of a slip drum and extra
horizontal thrust wheels on the side. the
wheels bearing on the side of the track
next the canal. thus throwing the create
mart OF the weight of the engine away
from the canal.
These engines are TO be used for towing