ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4540, 16 May 1889, Page 3

ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

The application of electricity to street railways m America is proceeding rapidly (eaya Engineering). Already nino linc3 ore fully equipped and running, while 22 are being built, and 15 others have been contracted for. In Bichuiond 12 miles of track are being operated ou the overhead system. The earrent is convoyed by a contact wire }m m diameter, and at an electro-motive force of 450 volts. The running stock consists of 20 closed cars seating 22 persoos each, and 20 open care seating 40 each, fitted with a Sprague motor. The running Bpeed is seven miles and a half an hour on the average, with a maximum of 15 miles an hour. The gradients ura very severe. Tho worst is one of 10.1 per cent, but it is very short; another 9 2 per cent for 100 ft, whilst gradients of 8 5 per cent occur on curves of 40ft radius, and gradients of 5 3 per cent on a radius of 27ft Gin. In New York the Julien Company are oxtending their system. On the Fourth-avenuo lino tho cars are now running three round trips, or 3G miles without change of battery. Twelve miles are run with the expenditure of 15 electrical horse-piwer. An electric power transmission plant was lately erected on tho Big Bend river of California. Two five horsepower Bprague motors at the end of an eightmile circuit succeeded m clearing a shoal of water 600 ft square by 10ft overage depth m tho bottom of the liver channel. Tho efficiency obtained at the point where tho pumps were located was 65 per cent. The situation was such that no other form of transmission than electric could have been employed.