SCIENCE 



FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1888. 



THE HAUSS ELECTRIC RAILWAY. 



Although that which has been accomphshed within the past 

 ten years in the applications of electricity to the arts of civilization 

 affords a never-failing theme of interesting comment, it is more 

 than probable that we have really only witnessed thus far the be- 

 ginnings of its possible applications. We may anticipate, from the 

 varied forms in which electricity will ultimately be applied for the 

 ransmission of power, results even more remarkable than those 



something that no one disputes ; and the eagerness with which in- 

 telligent people of all occupations follow the details of every new 

 experiment having this for its objective point, affords the best evi- 

 dence that the right method will receive a warm and unanimous 

 welcome when it makes its title clear to the claim. 



The conditions which an electrically operated railway in the 

 streets of a city must fulfil are difficult of attainment. It must be 

 entirely free from danger ; it must be simple in construction and 

 operation ; and it must be an economical system in respect of first 

 cost, maintenance, and operation. An additional point will be 

 gained if a system of this kind could be devised by which the roll- 

 ing stock of the present tramway companies could be utilized. The 



CAL TRACTION. 



which have followed its application in the field of illumination. It 

 is well established that the energy of the electric currejit may he 

 conducted, with comparatively little loss, over great distances ; and 

 the practical possibilities which this fact suggests of employing this 

 agent as an advantageous substitute for steam in the production of 

 motive power are fully appreciated by the army of able and ingen- 

 ious inventors who are directing their energies to the practical side 

 of electrical science. It is gratifying to know, also, by the admis- 

 sions of so eminent an electrician as Professor Ayrton, that in this 

 direction American electrical engineers have advanced consider- 

 ably beyond their European brethren ; for, while we have thou- 

 sands of electric motors driving machinery of various kinds in this 

 country, thev are, with a few notable exceptions, practically un- 

 known in Europe. 



The most interesting and important of the problems involving 

 the utilization of electricity for the transmission of energy is that of 

 the electric railway. The successful solution of this problem, it is 

 safe to say, will prove a great blessing to our cities in definitely set- 

 tling the question of rapiil transit. That sooner or later a method 

 of electric transmission for this important service will be found, is 



system that shall most fully realize these conditions will have 

 successfully solved the problem of the electric railway for city 

 service. 



We have lately had the opportunity of examining and witnessing 

 the operation of a system of electric railway for which claims of 

 unusual merit are made. It is the Hauss electric railway, con- 

 trolled by the Hauss Electric Company, and we shall devote some 

 space to the consideration of its merits. As these may best be 

 made conspicuous by comparison, we may properly consider the 

 features of the several electric railway systems now in use. 



The various systems now before the public may be enumerated 

 as follows : first, the overhead system ; second, the third-rail sys- 

 tem ; third, the use of the two rails as conductors ; fourth, under- 

 ground conduits ; fifth, storage-battery ; sixth, the Hauss insulated, 

 sectional, underground system. 



Respecting the system employing an overhead conductor, it may 

 be said that its characteristic feature — the necessity of employing 

 lines of posts and wires strung overhead — is an objection of the 

 most serious character, which is practically prohibitive of its use 

 in the built-up sections of cities, leaving out of the question the 



