The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-27
INVENTORS OF THE ELEc-
TRIO RAILWAY.
Frank ]. Sprague Protests Against
the Share Of the Glory Assigned In
an Interview to Thomas A. Edison.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-ST: In
THE SUN of August 10 there appeared
a syndicated interview prepared by Ed
ward Marshall giving the views Of Mr..
Edison on the plight Of the electric rail-
ways and certain remedial suggestions
therefor. The opportunity created by
the Federal commissions inquiry was
used not only to discuss matter OF
urgent interest but to assign to the sub
ject of the article standing in the
electric railway field analogous to one
Justly occupied in that OF the electric
dustry whose greater growth has no
modern parallel.
According to the interviewer, the cleo
trio light interests Mr.. Edison the more
because It has increased the length OF
the human beings day. but 1t Is ad-
mitted that the perfection Of the trolley
has done an equal service to humanity
by expanding the livable area and prac-
tically adding to the span of life. As a
consequence, he In about equally proud
of the two memorials to his greatest
achievements" The claims thus ad-
vanced are similar to the statements in
the Book OF knowledge" which de-
clares that Mr.. Edison invented" and
perfected" the electric railway. against
his own wishes but on the solicitations
OF the late Henry Willard.
As the one responsible for the equip
ment OF the Richmond Union Passenger
Railway in 1875. known the world over
as the pioneer of the modern trolley
system, as the inventor OF the multiple
unit system of control, which has saved
the city OF New York over 500, 900, 900
In capacity cost of its first subway sys-
tenn and Is now used on every electro
cally equipped road where two or more
cars or locomotives are controlled from
single source, and as an engineer
whose persistent advocacy of the use
of high tension direct current motors for
railways Is typihed by the Chicago. Mil
waukee and Saint Paul installation. ]
must protest these claims.
While in the main the electric railway
is distinctly American, Mr.. Edison
neither invented nor perfected 1t, but
was one of the more prominent early
workers who experimental with small
electric locomotives with the idea of
replacing steam equipment; but a work
OF any character must be measured by
It's originality ana its influence upon an
industry The operation OF a car by
electricity was experimentally demon
strated by a number OF inventors
Davenport, Davidson. Farmer Page.
Hall and Greene-many years ago
some o. them handicapped by the ne
cesslty OF using primary batteries and
crudely constructed motors. or II not
| then by inability to secure proper gen.
orators Yet there appeared in a Urea
, tise on Railways" by Lieutenant Lee
count. published in Edinburgh in 1899,
the following remarkable prediction
We have no hesitation in saying that
electro-magnetism will at no distant
day compete with steam as a motive
power. and successfully.
The invention of the modern dynamo
and the discovery of its reversible
motor function. both indisputably OF
European origin. made possible practi-
cal results; and taking advantage OF
these discoveries Dr. Werner Siemens
operated a small locomotive, the current
being supplied from a centre rail, with
track return, at the Berlin Exhibition in
the spring of 1879. Following this
demonstration came various ambitious
I projects and the opening OF a short one
car line at Lichterfelde. in May, 1881
the first crude line actually operated
I for regular traffic.
About this period Stephen D. Field
J became interested in the use of electric
i ity for motive power. and was followed
by Edison at Menlo Park In 1880, these
| experiences being ampified in 1882 al
the instance of Henry Willard, and then
abandoned In 1880 the three inventors
became involved in patent interior.
ence, Siemens being ruled out by the
/ limitations as to evidence relating e
I work abroad. the immediate issue mar,
rowed down to Field and Edison. and
| was decided in favor of the former, 4
/ whom was issued a patent covering 'th;
combination of An electric motor operated
by means OF current from a stationary
source OF electricity conducted through
the rails" claim manlfestly absurd ir
view OF the previous art and afterward
voided on the ground that the mere sub.
stitution OF dynamo in the place of q
battery did not constitute invention.
Judged by his experiment and pat.
ents, Edison at first had no idea OF oper.
ating street railways electrically, and
the tests at Menlo Park, although on a
! longer track than other earlier ones, dis
closed no acceptable ideas OF novelty
over what had been done by other in.
ventors. and not a single ono OF any fea.
lures that may have been novel has
found acceptance in principle or detail.
Following the abandonment OF the
1882 experiments, the Electric Railway
Company of the United States, created
IN an attempt TO instil life In the Field
Edison projects. operated for two week.
in 1888 in the gallery OF an exhibition
building In Chicago a small locomotiv,
called the Judge. both current and mo
tive power being supplied by two Weston
dynamos And in the winter OF 1855
Field. using current from a battery o
Edison machines, made a short trial o.
an electric locomotive on the Thirty
fourth street branch OF the elevated rail
road. This experiment marked the eli
max OF this companys work, and II,
total collapse and impotency is indicated
by the value OF one dollar for 3,334 OF
its shares in the balance sheet OF III,
Edison Electric Light Company for
1897
Other than as stated. in the eigh
years elapsing between 1882 and tn,
absorption of my company In 1sSs-sO
years pregnant with opportunity ant
rich with accomplishment, know O.
no single constructive act which car
be credited 70 Edison In the cleo. ~,