The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-18

rail than one whose WheeIS are TURN
ing and whose motion Is being retard-
| ed by the retarded motion of the
wheels still rotating. The motorman
can reduce the distance in which the
car can be stopped by releasing the
pressure on his brake, allowing the
wheels to rotate, by operating his sand
valve, and again applying the brake.
after securing sufficient. friction by the
use Of sand between the rail and the
wheel to stop the car promptly. 1t is
obvious, however, that the skidding of
the wheels, the releasing Of the brakes,
the application of the sand and the re-
application Of the brakes has con-
sumed valuable time and distance.
| Another factor in the condition of
the rail is snow and ice. This, of
course, can usually be perceived by the
motorman and the application of sand
often serves to hold the danger zone
within reasonable limits. There are
conditions, however, in which the ice
and snow pack in the grove of the rail,
when it is almost impossible to make
quick stop.
Another factor affecting the rail is
the summer shower. Just as the show
er begins, 1t makes the rail half wet,
bringing about slippery conditions.
After the shower is over, the rail be-
comes half wet and half dry again,
bringing about the same conditions as
at the beginning.
| Still another condition OF the rail is
produced by the tracking of mud and
grease from dirty streets upon the
rails. This condition is apt to exist at
one point and not at another, and un-
| less the motorman devotes his atten-
| ton to this particular condition of the
rail, almost to the exclusion of other
duties requiring his attention. it will
be impossible for him to detect this
condition until too late.
Besides the conditions of the rails,
that affect the distance Of the danger
zone in front of an electric car, is the
condition of the car itself. 1t is, of
course, only stating the truth to say
that it is impossible to operate any
piece of machinery at its maximum
efficiency continuously. Parts of ma
chinery will become worn and the best
results that can be hoped for along
the line of maintaining the machinery
in safe operating condition is to hold
the average condition of equipment as
high as possible. Inspite Of this fact,
there will be times when flaws and in
efficiency will develop in the most
carefully maintained and operated
piece of machinery. When the multi
plicity of parts of an electric car and
the delicate mechanism, particularly of
the electric motor, subject to unusual
strains and mysterious influences of
the electric current is considered, it is
remarkable that so few failures ac-
tually do occur.
Ir addition to the possibility Of fail
ure on the part of car mechanism,
there is the possibility that the power
may fail in the wires under which the
car is operating. This failure occurs
frequently due to a variety Of causes.
Accidents have occurred when it has
been claimed by the motorman that
the power was off. Then again, il the
utmost care is not used in reversing
the motors Of the car In order to make
most effective stop, the protective
device which prevents the unusual
rush Of current through the motors,
very often operates with the result of
breaking the electric circuit, thereby
rendering the motors inoperativ.
The danger from an electric car is
greater than from others because the
force impeding the car forward is
greater due to the rotating motion of
the heavy parts of the electric motor.
In addition to the conditions OF the
rails and the car itself, the grade con-
ditions of the track also effect the dis
lance of the danger zone in front of
the electric car. The difficulty of stop
ping a car is Of course increased in the
operation of a car on the down grade,
as in addition to the momentum Of the
car and the rotating force of the cleo
trio motors there is the additional
force OF gravity to be overcome before
the car can be brought to a stop.
All these possibilities far increase in
length of the danger zone in front of
the car, emphasize the necessity for
extreme caution on the part of pedes-
trians or vehicles compelled to use
that portion of the street over which
cars operate.
The leaflet closes with a list of
Thing Not To Do" From this list
we quote the following:
Don't cross the street when the car
is coming within square or block.
Don't roller skate on streets where
there are car tracks.
| Don't play ball on streets where
there are car tracks.
Don't get on or off a car until 1t
stops.
| Don't ride on the rear platform of
car. Nor with the motormau. One
| Is danparous and tha other diStra ~ 9
the attention of the motorman, and
may cost somebody his life, because
of an instant's delay on the part of the
motorman.
Don't touch any loose wire you may
see in the street. 1t may be charged
with electricity and hurt or even kill
you.
Don't send your little brother or
sister or little child across the street
car track to buy candy or do any
other errand.
Don't get off car backwards. AL
ways face the front end OF the car.
Don't jump on or hang on any
wagon or other vehicle in the street.
This is extremely dangerous, as you
value your life, do not do this. Par
ents and teachers should emphasize
this warning.
| Don't cross any street until you are
certain whether any street car, auto
mobile or other vehicles are coming
rapidly toward you.
| Don't cross the street directly behind
car. You are liable to be run over
by car going the opposite direction,
or nv an al1fo mr. nv sofna off1ay. x,at,{ola