THE ELECTRIC RAILWAY. 



747 



This speed is realized with ease, but a much greater rate could be at- 

 tained, if it were allowed. 



It can hardly be hoped, however, that such a simple system as 

 this could be adopted for running cars in the streets of a city, for 

 other difficulties would be introduced. The fact that the rails in the 

 streets must, of necessity, be close to the surface of the ground, and 

 that they are to be stepped upon by men and horses, shows at once 

 the necessity of having the conductor out of the way, and the danger 

 of having the current traverse the rails. At the Electrical Exposition 

 held at Paris in 1881, Messrs. Siemens & Halske had an electric rail- 

 way in operation, in which a third or auxiliary conductor was used ; 

 but this ran along on posts like a telegraph-wire, the current being 

 conveyed from this conductor to the motor by means of a flexible con- 

 ductor, which was connected at one end with the motor on the car, 

 and at the other with a contact-carriage, or trolly, which was drawn 

 along the conductor by the car as it advanced. 



In mines, in tunnels, and in all places where the smoke of burning 

 coal is objectionable, it would seem that the electric railway possesses 

 unrivaled advantages. As the motor gives off no smoke, makes little 

 noise, occupies but a small space, and does not have to carry its own 



Fig. 2. 



