Edison's Latest

Edison has at last proved that he can utilizo the olectric current for railroad purposcs. A llerald reporter went to Menío l'ark yestcrday to witncss a trial of the nuw motor on the three-quarter mile railroad. As a precaution against unforM'en acoident the membcr of the presa selccted a Seat as near as possible to the inventor, becausc it would be only natural that that was the safest one in case the train should j umr the track. At a signal from Mr. Edison Mr. Batchelor moved the lever attaclied to the switch and off we went. Theridingwas very enjoyable for the first five hundred yards or so, when suddenly a most horrible curvo was reachod, round which the motor with its car attached spun at a rather uncomfortable gait. Then carne a series of surpeotinc curves that wero enough to frighten anybody, but there wasno slowing up. On the contrary, inore power was ]mt ou, until it seeraed that the wholu party was going to bu shaken from their seats. The line was located in the worst pos.sible position by Edisan, in order that the beauties of liis inveution would bc readily seen by any one on the cars. Some of the curves are as sharp as those used on the surface roads round street corners in Now York, so the reader can imagine how pleasant it is to go round tlicm at the rate of about forty miles an hour. The strangest part of the prograuimi: was the easy manner of controlling the motor, it bcing stopped within fit'ty fect although going at a high speed. It ran up against the heavy grades as easily as on the level track, and was as powerful at the end of the track as in the station, where the electrio current flr.st reaches the rail. After tho first trial the reporter was invited to ride on the motor without Inving the car attaied, so that the speed would be increased. Three went on this trip- one at the switch, one at the brake, and the reporter holding on for dear life. At the word Go, the machine shot off likc a bullet, and it was only by holding on firmly that one's seat could bo kept. As the curves were struck the motor rocked fearfully ; in fact it was as hard to keep your seat on it as on an unbrokeu mustang when he sets hit ruim] on the "bucking" process of dismounting you. The time inade was fifty-three seoonds from the station to the end of the track on the first trial. The motor has an eloctric headlight which is burning continuously and which has a very pretty effect in the night time. Of thegold-tiding process very little can bc said, esoept that the samples of tailing sent to Mcnlo Park have proved very rich in many instanecs. Kdison's agent, Mr. McLaughlin, will return from California in Judo. He has located the position of the sheds near Oreville and has built several undercurrents along tho line of the sluice in that vicinity, for the purpose of concentrating tho auriferous sands. Men are hard at work fixing up the large factory, situated south of the railroad for the purpose of manufacturing the electric lamps in large iiiantity. Edison saya it will take at least two months to finish it, and thun he will turn out all the lamps necessary for his exhibition, which will tako place about September. He will then light six miles of Btreets, the laiups being eighty fect apart and will run his train over a threc-mile road all the power being obtained from the sizteon dynamo machinen now ia po.sitiou. A . rm . m