PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 17 
. 
separately or together. Attached to armature and field 
are two engines, one to each, which are so constructed 
that they may be used _ either for compressing air which is 
stored in a reservoir carried on the car, or for driving by 
means of compressed air the portion of the motor to which 
they are attached. 
The motor which is designed to fulfil the average pro- 
pulsion requirements of the car, is intended to be maintained 
at constant speed (synchronous with the driving generator), 
and at constant load. It is claimed that the motors work 
always at maximum efficiency, and that the variations of 
load will be diminished. No energy is lost in brakes, as it 
will be stored up on descending grades for future use. 
There is a Saving in copper conductors in consequence of 
the high tension of the line, namely 15,000 volts. There 
are static transformers on each car for reducing the tension 
to 200 volts. 
Water Power.—Australia does not offer many opportu- 
nities for the development of water power, although afew 
isolated examples may be mentioned. It is mainly in 
America and Europe that the great developments have 
recently taken place in the utilization of water-power for 
generating electricity for transmission to the city or town, 
and where it can be used ina great variety of ways for 
power and lighting purposes. The utilizationof water-power 
for generating electricity has given an impetus to the design 
and construction of turbines within recent years, although 
there is no doubt that hydraulic machinery in the form of 
current wheels existed in China and on the Nile 3,000 
years ago. The modern water turbine is entirely a theor- 
etical invention, and, unlike the steam engine, it is the 
direct outcome of mathematical investigation. Its develop- 
ment also in HKurope, where its progress has been most 
marked, has also been purely on theoretical lines. The. 
B—May 6, 1903. 
