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[Entered at the Posi-Offlce of New York, NA'., as Second-Class Matter.] 



A WEEKLY .NEWSPAPER OF ALL THE ARTS AND SCIENCES. 



Seventh Year. 

 Vol. XIV. No. 349. 



NEW YORK, October ii, li 



Single Copies, Ten Cents. 

 ^3.50 Per Year, in Advanck. 



ELECTRICITY IN MINING. 



That the electric current can be easily adapted to mining and 

 •engineering operations is a fact whicli is abundantly attested by 

 mines in which it has already come into general use for both light- 

 ing and transmission of power. The contrast between the wire- 

 rope, compressed-air, and other methods, with electrical trans- 

 mission of power, cannot fail to be in favor of the latter system. 

 Existing water-powers miles away from the mines may be used, and 

 ■ele'ctric motors employed for hoisting, haulage, pumping, ventilat- 

 ■in<^, and many other purposes, with greater ease and economy 



operation on a three-foot gauge, is 9 feet 7 inches in length over 

 all, width 5 feet 3 inches, and height 5 feet 6 inches. Although 

 the weight is 10,500 pounds, there is not a pound of it which is not 

 utilized in the construction of the machine ; and the tests for trac- 

 tion which have been made have given the most excellent results. 

 The speed is six miles an hour under full load. 



The motor used is the type " G " railway motor, 40 horse-power, 

 embodying designs and inventions of Mr. Charles J. Van Depoele. 

 Its motion is transmitted to the wheels by gears and connecting 

 rods. On the top of the machine is placed a rheostat controlled 

 by the wheel shown at each end, and on the side is placed a revers- 



THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE FOR COAL-MINES. 



than could possibly be accomplished by any other method. In 

 fact, it is safe to say that in the near future electricity will displace 

 all other forms of motive power in mining operations where the 

 conditions are at all favorable. 



In this connection, it may be mentioned that the Thomson- 

 Houston Electric Company has just completed a mining loco- 

 motive for the Hillside Coal Company, Scranton, Penn., which 

 is shown in the accompanying illustration. The machine embodies 

 new features in motor-construction and in general design, and un- 

 der practical test has shown that it is particularly adapted to the 

 nature of the work required of it. The locomotive is m.ide for 



ing-switch, which can be operated in the same way from either 

 end. 



One of the distinctive features is the trolley-arm, which will 

 operate with equal facility in either direction ; and its method of 

 construction permits a great variation in the height of the conduct- 

 or. This is a very important and valuable feature, as in mining- 

 work the conductor is rarely maintained for any length at a con- 

 stant height. The Thomson-Houston Electric Company has al- 

 ready made in mining operations many applications of its electrical 

 apparatus, which has been found to possess the same character- 

 istics of excellence shown in its well-known lighting systems. 



