[keeferj presidential ADDRESS 39 



ELECTRIC EAILWATS. 



Under present conditions tire superiority of the electric current to 

 steam, as a prime mover, is confined to positions where it is required to 

 move a single car or two, frequently, instead of a large number at wider 

 intervals. For the current the power is geuerated at a central station, 

 and must at all times he equal to any demand upon it ; while in the other 

 case it is self-contained in the locomotive engine, the number of which 

 may be increased or diminished as occasion requires. 



An electric installation to produce the same power as the best loco- 

 motive will cost nearly ten times as much as the single engine, and can 

 only compete economically with the latter where the demand for power 

 is continuous. Where a single locomotive could do the same work, the 

 interest upon nine-tenths of the cost of installation would handicap the 

 electric system. 



When ccal is used to produce the electric current, the cost per 

 horse-power produced is the same as for the locomotive. When water 

 power can be obtained the fuel cost is saved ; but, since this item forms 

 leas than 20% of the operating expenses of a railway, the amount saved 

 may be fully offset by interest charges upon the cost of electric instal- 

 lation, including that of the water power. 



For urban and suburban passenger traffic there is no comparison in 

 efficiency, economy, comfort and safety to passengers, between electricity 

 and steam : moreover, the frequency of cars and absence of cinders and 

 smoke lead almost immediately to a very decided increase of traffic. On 

 the other hand, a breakdown at the central station puts an immediate 

 and total stop to traffic, while a disabled locomotive would be dragged off 

 or replaced by another. Grades up to 10% and above are surmounted 

 by the electric car — because there is a motor under every car — while less 

 than half this is the practical limit on steam roads. A steam motor could 

 mount the same grade, but would .require a licensed engineer and a 

 dangerous boiler to every car. 



For heating purposes electricity requires 25 times the horse-power 

 needed to produce the same heat by steam: for tram-cars it will always 

 be preferred on account of greater convenience and cleanliness; and be- 

 cause of the moderate amount necessary, as compared with houses. It 

 will always be used for these cars when water power supplies the cur- 

 rent — and should be even with coal generation. 



We cannot foresee the future of this question. If the heavy locomo- 

 tive which carries no paying load, can be got rid of — lighter rails and 

 bridges than are now called for can be used ; and if the momentum of 

 trains can be utilized to produce the electric current, every car may be 



