The Alaska citizen., 1917-04-02


 for heavy terminal work and that the equip mcnt thus employed was more lasting than any other Since this time the New York Central has electrified its terminals around Ne" York City in order to give a quick and economical service The Pennsylvania and New lorE, New Haven X Hartford proiitcd by these example, and followed suit with the identification oi their terminal lines, and the New Haven has since added a part of its main line. The Norfolk X W cstern has proven ..'uc.u~iycy that this is the most efficient power for the handling of heavy trains over big grades On two per cent grade thirty mile, long it formerly required three big Nal let compound engines to move a 5,OOO-tOn train. making an average speed Ot seven miles au hour. After identification 3,25O-tOn trains were hauled over the same grade us ing only two electric locomotives and an average speed Of fourteen miles an hour was maintained, This speed, combined with the admiration of delays which occurred in us ing steam locomotives, resulted in the mak ing ol from three to four times as much mileage per day as formerly. These eastern roads have demonstrated the superiority ot electrical power over steam for OVcrWOrked ines and for big loads in mountainous coun- tries.
 The nearest parallel to Alaska, however, is found i'll the Milwaukee system. The orig inal plan of the Milwaukee was to electrify only the mountainous portions of the road Ihi, Is about 44O miles long. Statements is sued by this company declare that both pas ~cngcr and freight trains are hauled at a much higher rate of speed than formerly and that, instead of being handicapped by cold weather, as Is the case of steam roads, the electrical equipment worked best under SC we're cold weather conditions. The superb Jrlty OI the electric locomotives over the steam ones ill bucking snoWdrifts has been conclu- -iNely proven. So marked was the efficiency ot the electrical portion of the Milwaukee that the identification of the road is still under way, and it is planned ultimately to run the entire system with this source of power. The saving in many ways has proven the dcsirabiIity of this. The overhead cost ol maintenance Is almost cut in half One l division of electrical road covers from two to three of the old steam divisions thereby re .lucing greatly the shop forces and repairers
 In announcing its decision to ecctrifv the entire system the Milwaukee had the fol 1 lowing 10 say about the electric locomotive | Tt operates on several steam divisions: is always ready to start; has no ashes or dump or 1lucs to clean; no boiler to inspect; power | to operate through the heaviest SnOWdrfts :; i is noseless, smOkeless and jerkess; operates best III cold temperatures where steam loco motives have the most trouble; is thoroughly l dependable in all temperatures; is easy on tracks and rOadbed at all speeds; its motors when reversed on down grades becomes gene rat0rs and return from twenty-five to fifty per cent OI the power used in climbing.
 The Milwaukee does not furnish its own power, but purchases it from another cor poration, and still finds it cheaper than coal The government owns the water sites and could install its own plant from which to ob tain power for its road. Surely there is no question as to what source of power should be used i'll the face of this evidence
 i In addition to furnishing it's own power it i could also furnish power to the entire coun- | try, for there appears to be almost no limit to the distance that it can be transmitted In i Minnesota the farmers use 1t for pumping, separating, feed grinding, lighting houses barns and outbuildings, irrigation and field work. The same advantages could be offered l here, and at as least as cheap rate
 ! Electrical stoves are now being used that excel either wood, gas or coal stoves, for both cooking and heating purposes Reliable figures show that a complete breakfast for four persons can be cooked at about two cents a person, with decreasing cost for additional 1 persons
 What is the necessity, or what advan- l tagcs can we derive from the use of coal for steam power, as compared to those offered by electricity? And by using electrical power where we can it makes coal all the cheaper for use where it is absolutely necessary.
 Now is the time to get busy on this propo- sition if we desire it. That there are water