The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-02

principle the utilization of the direct cur
rent, OF which the conductor was to be
the so-called third rail. The other was
the alternating current system, which re-
CURED the construction of overhead con.
uuctors somewhat similar to those en-
ployed upon highway trolley lines.
President Mellen from the first was
strongly attracted by the proposition that
electricity be substituted for steam upon
the lines of the great railway systems. In
vague way he realized that in New Eng
land, for instance, adequate power might
be generated through the utilization of
the many water powers which have done
so much to make New England industry
possible. Very likely man of less cour-
age or of less powerful Imagination than
President Mellen would have said, "Since
we are compelled to use the direct current
and the third rail for at least 10 miles to
and from the Grand Central station, It
undoubtedly would be the better plan, II
we are to electrify the whole system, to
adopt the third rail and the necessary
electrical equipment for that rail for the
whole distance between New Haven and
New York"
Wait on Experiments
President Mellen, however, thought that
the better way would be to wait until
long continued experimental tests had
been made before deciding whether the
third rail direct current or the overhead
alternating current system was the bet
ter.
There has been no problem created by
any proposition to employ electricity for
commercial and Industrial purposes aside
from the telegraph and telephone which
offered greater difficulties than did the
one upon whose solution would depend the
action of President Mellen in selecting the
equipment and electric system for the
New Haven line.
He decided to experiment with the over
head alternating current system, having
learned that the inventors We're certain
that they could construct motor capable
of operating either when served with the
direct current energy or when served with
the alternating current overhead appara-
tus. Many very careful tests were made
at the exact point where the third rail
system ends, Just north of the northern
boundary of New York city which is also
the point where the New Haven railroad $
own line meets the tracks on the Harlem
railroad. These tests showed that the in
ventors had constructed a motor car
which could take up the overhead current
at the precise moment when it dismissed
the direct current and could do that with
out the slightest appreciable inconvenience
so far as the passengers were concerned.
Therefore the electrifcation proceed at
somewhat heavy cost for the installation,
the alternating current overhead being
used for % miles from Stamford, Conn.
Operated Over Two Years
For little over two years all of the
passenger trains have been operated by
electric energy between Stamford anu
New York. So far as is known. there is
not much difference between the direct
current system for third rail and the
overhead system which utilizes the alter
mating current, yet there must have been
advantages in favor of the overhead sys-
tenn, for after the two years tests be-
tween Stamford and New York President
Mellen decided to equip the entire main
line with the alternating current plan.
The surmises have been very strong
that as soon as the financing of the equip
ment of the main line through to Boston
can be satisfactorily accomplished the en-
tire line between Boston and New York
will be operated by electricity both for
passengers and for freight. The New
Haven company, therefore, is the pioneer
in the discarding of the steam locomotive
and the utilization of electric energy eor
hauling passengers and for freight.
Mr.. George Westinghouse has long been
persuaded that when financial conditions
in the United States are satisfactory or
normal, capital will be secured in suffi-
oient amounts to electrify, first. The
greater railway system and ultimately the
small ones. Mr. Westinghouse believes
that within the next % or 30 years elee-
trio energy will be almost exclusively
used upon the railroads of the United
States 1t is the incidental advantages.
what may be called the by-products. which
are likely to make electricity more eco
nomieal than steam power in all trains
upon American railroads. Furthermore,
the tests upon the New Haven road seem
to show that the equipment of the line
with electric energy has tended considers
ably to increase passenger traffic. and this
illustrates an axiom of railway transpor-
tation, including urban and suburban Nr
highway transportation, that the greater
the facilities the greater the traffic.