Electricity Displaces Steam.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7880, 24 July 1905, Page 3

Electricity Displaces Steam.

At an International Railway Congress just closed at Washington, Mr Ucorire Westinghousc, inventor and manufacturer of the Wcstinghousc trakc, lold the delegates there assembled that electricity will soon supplant steam in the United States railways. The Hon. Chauncy M. Depcw, United States Senator frorn New York, and brother-in-law to the Vanderbilts, oi the Central New York Railway, said the same thing in New York. The New York Central Railway, with which Mr Ucnew lias been connected lor over a quarter of a century, has made some advances towards electricity already. A trial was made on the New York Central of electrical locomotion, irtiich seemed at the time to be a success. tvidetitly it gave encoora&inent, for Mr George H. Daniels, the roads general passenger agent, says thai several electrical engines arc Icing constructed for immediate use, ami they are guaranteed to draw a train of Pullman cars at the rate of eigh-ty-three miles an hour. Some of the officials of that road say that steani will he banished from that line by electricity before a quarter of a century has passed. Others say the revolution will le made >-fore the expiration of a dozen years. That this change will be a revolution is obvious, because it will abolsih smoke and dust. A saving in expense would thus be effected that would make an item in the railway's accounts. I .ess coal wpuld be consumed than now. and a great part of the pressure on the coal deposits would be remove!. A higher rate of speed would be attained ; fares would be reduced. New shapes in locomotives and cars would he a necessity. Electricity is a marvellous power, and apparently its usefulness is capable of indefinite expansion. ,