ELECTRICITY AS A MOTIVE POWER.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1493, 28 January 1882, Page 2

ELECTRICITY AS A MOTIVE POWER.

Wk find that there are strange views held by some persons as to the possibilities of electricity as a motive power. Wild utterances, such as its superseding steam upon trunk railways, have been heard. The people who have enunciated such views would do well to check them by the belief of the man who up to the present time has done most towards utilising electricity as a motor. It is well known that Messrs. Siemens have been so successful with the electric tramway near to Berlin, that the original line there is being considerably extended. The experience which these gentlemen have gained in the working of that (first) electric tramway, has left them no reasonable doubt regarding the economy and certainty of this mode of propulsion. But these gentlemen do not anticipate that it will supersede locomotive power upon our trunk railways. Dr. Siemens is satisfied for the present with the scope* which is afforded in relieving the toiling horses on our -tramways, in use on elevated railways in populous districts, and in such cases as the, Metropolitan Railways, where he says "the emission of the products t of combustion cause not only the propulsion, but -the suffocation of passengers." The possibilities ef electricity as a heating agent, and of its application to agriculture and' horticulture open up quite another set of possibilities. Whether 1 it be electricity as a motive power, or electricity for fighting, „ or for the purposes of agriculture ' and horticulture — the mechanical, engineer. _ has reason to wish r the 'experiments but success; for, bin^calling '^certain; te tymf&esL.-±lmbl<nnent

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