Electric Railways

It is difficult to furnish material for discussion of a question having such scope as the first part of this topic, except in the shape of generalities, which are either obvious or of little use in the special case which the engineer may have in mind. The length of line, the character and density of traffic, the location and length of grades, all have important bearings upon the economies, constructing and operating, in any railway proposition. It is probable, therefore, that the proposer of the question had in mind a discussion of the factors peculiar to the method of traction, rather than those affecting the location of railway lines in general. These factors result from the method of application of the power to the trains, and from the interconnected character of the apparatus which makes up the motive-power system.