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The Romance of modern scientific and mechanical Achievements

Dawn of the Electric Traction Era 107 the first underground railways of London. These were threatened with virtual extinction by the electric tramway systems. The services were slow, ventilation was indifferent, and the rolling stock was so antiquated as to be regarded as prehistoric. But an American, who had achieved great things in his native land with electric tramways, came to London. This was Charles T. Yerkes. He saw that if only the mori- bund system were converted to the new order of things it would be able to regain its long-lost prestige, and become a powerful factor in the handling of London’s busy traffic. He secured sufficient power to carry his ideas into effect, and the whole of the lines were electrified. The bold move was fully justified, and the anticipations of the promoter of the scheme have been more than fulfilled. The system has been transformed from a derelict into the most important and busiest railway artery in the metro- polis. To-day it carries more passengers than any other comparative undertaking, and has a finer and faster service. Electrification completely vindicated itself in this instance. Not only were higher speeds achieved than had ever been known in the steam days, but it became possible to improve the frequency of the service so much as to enable fifty trains per hour to be run, and at times of pressure this frequency can be increased. No other city in the world is able to excel the facilities of London in this direction, the Underground Rail- ways being generally considered to offer one of the most brilliant illustrations of electric working. But as the electrically driven tramway drove the horse-drawn vehicle from the streets, so is the former