CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 185, 15 November 1910, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

EDISON STORAGE BATTERIES. In a recent issue of the Wanganui Chronicle appears a communication from the manager of the Federal Storage Battery Car Company, of Xew York, anent their ear, of which we have heard not n. little during the past year or two. The article is by way of reply to the adverse criticism passed on the storage batterv bv some Xew Zealand c.nsrineers. The writer shows bv illustration an Edison battery car at work in Xew York, and declares that the contrivance is now beyond the experimental stage and has entered upon the staee of practical working. It is claimed that the abolition of the overhead trolley adjunct an(J the presence of other advantages making for economy permit of a tram' scheme being laid down at a, lower capi-^

also secures a considerable reduction in the cost oi working. Tin: figures given for the purpose of comparing the relative construction costs of the trolley and battery car system are figured out on the following basis—'.) miles city track (no asphalt or cement paving) in a city of 30,000 population with some slight grades, 50 curves of ordinary radius, 50 stops per ear per trip, single truck passenger cars capable of 70 miles per car per day. The cost of construction per mile under tile trolley system is given at 23,000 dollars; under the bat tery car system at 10.150 dollars. For nine miles it is, under the first, 214,920 dollars; under the latter 145,000 dollars. As to the cost of running, including all fixed and operating charges, the writer estimates it at 0.30590d01. under the trolley system as against 0.19090 in the case of the battery car system. The value of these figures is only by way of comparison. They demonstrate that in the case of New Plymouth, the lines could be laid at a cost of twentythree per cent, less than estimated, while the running cost would be only i about half of that estimated. In view of these statements, the storage battery should be carefully investigated before the town is committed to the scheme that is now under consideration, whatever delay may be caused thereby. INTERESTING HISTORY. It may be mentioned that it is six years since Edison launched his original storage battery which departed from all the old lead types. He had started quite afresh, striving for new principles. The result was the E type of Edison battery, which proved "lighter, cleaner, and cheaper" than any other and was a commercial success. Many hundreds of these batteries were put in use in transport in New York and have been in use ever since. The financial side of the vast Edison interests saw a bright future for the new product, and set about developing it. But they reckoned without their Edison. He saw that his battery could be improved and he withdrew it from the market. The financial managers urged that all the profits on it if sold would pay for all the costly experiments to be made in improving it, "but Edison was obdurate and for six years shut himself up in his laboratories before he evolved the new battery. A visitor to the laboratory during the period was told that Mr. Edison in this particular investigation had made 9000 experiments without getting the results he wanted. "Then," said the visitor, "all the experiments were practically wasted?" "Not at all," cried Mr. Edison, leaping to his feet, "I now know nine thousand things not to do." Those carbon filaments over again! While Edison was thus toiling for six years to perfect the motive power for the cars upon his already improved battery, R. H. Beach, a well-known American car maker, was toiling for three years to improve on existing trolley cars for a car to carry the batteries. The result is the "Beach" car, regarding which one user, "The Washington, Spa Spring and Gretta Coy." writes: "Your car will gradually supplant and make obsolete the present trolley system," and the "Milville, Tuckahoe and Ocean City Railroad Coy.," after investigating and ordering cars, wrote to Mr. Beach: "The Board were particularly impressed with the ease of operation of the car in question, its simplicity and economy in service, and as compared with the systems of tramway that we have investigated, yours is by far the cheapest and best, both to operate and instal." These letters were written on July 22 and June 25 last—because the developments are quite new —ajid the last letter states: "It costs citizens of the towns that we will touch about 3 dollars to reach Ocean City now and we will carry them with your cars for 25 cents, and make money at that."