73 2 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



ever traffic is dense and the distance to be traversed not too great, 

 the conditions are already present for the advent of this form of 

 locomotive ; and when we recall the rapidity with which city and 

 suburban railways have spread, we can not doubt that once the 

 problems of electric railway engineering are worked out, and the 

 necessary preliminary work of demonstration gone through with, 

 we will witness an equally rapid extension of electric traction to 

 the steam highways of the world. 



Ever since Faure started electricians on the quest of an eco- 

 nomical storage battery, the peculiar fitness of such batteries as a 

 source of power for pleasure boats has been recognized, and they 

 have frequently been used for such purpose. The slow develop- 



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FIG. 5. ELECTKIC LAUNCH. 



ment of this type of battery into an efficient instrument, the 

 absence of any means of getting the batteries recharged, and the 

 much greater cost of this method of propulsion, have heretofore 

 acted to effectually prevent its adoption by the owners of such 

 craft. But after riding in the launches of the exhibition one can 

 not help but wish for the early dawn of the day in which this 

 ideal method of water propulsion becomes generally available. 

 The exhibition launches are of a very graceful model, about 

 thirty-six feet long and six feet breadth of beam. They are de- 

 signed to carry thirty passengers, and have motors capable of ex- 

 erting four horse power. The batteries are placed beneath the 

 seats and flooring, and as the motor is also beneath the flooring 

 the cockpit is clear of any obstruction. Each launch carries sev- 

 enty-eight battery cells, which, by appropriate connections, may 



