670 TRANSACTIONS OK SECTION G. 



It is different witli tlie United States. A comparisou made between the two 

 kinds of lamps tells a very discomforting tale against our manufacturers. 

 Standardisation, the grading of voltages, testing and the enforcement of the 

 Trades Mark Act are the remedies. The Incorporated Municipal Electrical 

 Association should take the matter up. The limited liability companies are too 

 much disunited to hope for joint action. Something is wrong somewhere. ' Made 

 in England ' is becoming a reproach to us. 



3. Tlbe Advent of Single-phase Electric Traction.'^ By C. F. Jenkin. 



The author called attention to the rapid advance of electric traction on rail- 

 ways, pointed out its advantages, and described briefly the system ou which it 

 should be carried out. c ^ ^• 



Electric traction will not be adopted simply to reduce the cost of hauling 

 trains. The cost of electric hauling may be more or less than that of steam, 

 according to circumstances. The real advantage of electrification is that it will 

 make the line pay better. It will provide a faster, more frequent, and more com- 

 fortable service for the public, and consequently will attract a much larger traiiic. 

 It will provide means by which this increased traffic can be carried where this 

 cannot be done by steam. Further, it will enable new methods of handling the 

 traffic to bo adopted, such as extending the railway service on to the tram lines, 

 providing an express service to every suburban station instead of stopping trains,^ 

 and developing the traffic on branch lines on an economical basis. Examples of 

 these methods were described in the paper. The advantages of increased travelling 

 facilities to the inhabitants of towns have been pointed out by Mr. Charles Booth, 

 and the author pleaded for a relaxation of the extravagant precautions now 

 demanded for the public safety, and pointed out that these result in far more 

 lives being lost in the crowded slums than are saved by the avoidance of rare 



accidents. . . . 



The merits of the two alternative systems— alternating-current transmission, 

 continuous-current distribution with low-tension third rail; and alternating- 

 current transmission with high-tension trolley wire— were discussed, and the great 

 advantages of the latter were pointed out, together with the superiority of single- 

 phase over three-phase. ., , , i, ,, • 



The equipment of a single-phase line was then described, the lollowing points 



being touched on :— 



Overhead construction of three different types. 



,, under bridges and tunnels. 



Section insulators. 



Iveturn circuit and its self-induction. 

 Sucking transformers. 

 Electrolysis. 



Interference with telegraph and telephone circuits. 

 The advantages of high tension : its safety and reliability. 

 Trolley bows for high speed. 

 Single-phase motors : the compensated repulsion and compensated series 



types. 

 Control. Contactors. Single-phase magnets. 

 Generation of power. 



In conclusion the author urged the railway companies to proceed with trial 

 lines in order to convince themselves of the advantages and possibilities of the 

 single-phase system. 



Published in the Electrical Beview, August 17 and 24, 1906. 



