HIGH-SPEED ELECTRIC INTERUEBAN RAILWAYS. 313 



industrially, containing tin-plate and paper mills, knitting- factories, 

 and machine shops. Grand Rapids has a population of 96,000, Muske- 

 gon 26,000, and Grand Haven 5,000. The country near Grand Haven 

 is largely occupied as a summer resort by people from Grand Rapids, 

 Chicago, and Milwaukee. In passing through towns and cities the 

 road uses the overhead-trolley system, for which the cars are equipped 

 with a trolley arm, while upon the inclosed right of way through the 

 country the third-rail system is employed. The third rail is discon- 

 tinued at crossings, the current being carried under the highways by 

 conductors imbedded in pitch in underground conduits. The conductor 

 rail is of 65-pound section and standard composition, and is supported 

 upon reconstructed granite insulators. The power house, located at 

 Fruitport, contains five 250-kilowatt generators, three of which are 

 double-current machines, generating both direct and alternating cur- 

 rents, while two are standard alternators. All arc direct-connected to 

 Westinghouse vertical compound engines and are arranged for opera- 

 tion in multiple. 



Another interesting road running out from Grand Rapids is the 

 Grand Rapids, Holland and Lake Michigan Rapid Railway, extending 

 from Grand Rapids to Holland and there connecting with two short 

 lines to the lake shore. This road traverses a rich farming country, 

 thickly settled by Dutch and Germans, and the two lines to the lake 

 shore reach a favorite summer- resort district. The aggregate length 

 of track of the combined roads is 71 miles, the total distance covered 

 being 15 miles, 19 miles of this comprising the two roads running 

 from Holland to the lake. * * * 



While electric roads are approaching steam lines in t\'pe of con- 

 struction and methods of operation, many of the latter are finding it 

 advantageous to adopt electric traction, especially for short-haul and 

 suburban service. The Quebec, Montmorency and Charlevoix Railway 

 has in this way within two years increased its total yearly capacity 

 and receipts from $11,221 to $73,292. The overhead trolley is used, 

 and the cars are equipped with two 50-horsepower motors and air 

 brakes and are capable of running 15 miles per hour. The total cost 

 of the electrical installation for 30 miles of track, including 6 double- 

 truck cars and a 600-kilowatt alternating-current generating station, 

 was $169,375. On Sundays and holidays the road is used so exten- 

 sivch' that its resources arc f ull}^ taxed, and it has been found neces- 

 sary to increase the rolling stock so that, in addition to the regular 

 cars, specials ma}' be run at ten and fifteen minute intervals. It will 

 further be necessar}' to construct a double track between Quebec and 

 Montmorency. In addition to the electric traffic, steam, freight, and 

 special pilgrimage trains are constantly handled, and no collision or 

 other accident has so far occurred. 



