The Wire Rope Street Rrailways of San Francisco, California
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| Audience/Grade: | College Freshman - College Senior |
| Discipline(s): |
History of Science and Technology Mechanical Engineering |
| Learning Resource Type: | Reference - Article/Document |
| Media Type: | WWW |
| Author(s): | Andrew Hallidie |
| Description: | Scientific Article introducing the concept of the cable car design, by its inventor. Scientific American Supplement, September 17, 1881. Editor's notes: "August 2, 2003 marks the 130th anniversary of Andrew Smith Hallidie’s successful test on San Francisco’s Clay Street hill of the cable car or as commonly referred to at the time “wire rope street railway.” Hallidie himself authored this piece about San Francisco’s “wire rope street rail ways” that was published in the Scientific American Supplement, September 17, 1881. Hallidie provides a detailed description of the operation of his Clay Street Hill Railroad. He notes that the concept of the cable car has been employed by other San Francisco companies, such as the Sutter Street Railroad and the California Street Railroad, with significant positive economic results. He fails to mention the legal battles between himself and the other San Francisco cable car entrepreneurs over his cable car patents. In conclusion Hallidie notes, after arguing the cable car is suited for all types of climates, that The Traction Railway Company of San Francisco (his company) has control of this system of street railroading. One cannot help but wonder if this article was part of a Hallidie marketing campaign to earn royalties. This was the era before the perfection of the electric streetcar. The competition the cable car faced – the horsecar and steam – had limited suitability. The Cable Car Museum thanks Powell Street Gripman Val Lupiz for locating and providing to the Cable Car Museum web site this important historical writing. The article was scanned and transcribed as it appeared in 1881. It reflects a style of writing and use of grammar that was in vogue during that period." |
| Rating: |
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| Related Resources | |
| Keywords: | cable cars, San Francisco, mass transit, public transportation, Andrew Smith Hallidie |
| Is Component of |
San Francisco Cable Car Museum |
| Referenced By |
09-01-1873 First Cable Cars in San Francisco |
| Usage Tip | |
| Use of Resource: | History of technology, archival article on the design of the cable car. |
| Difficulty: | Medium |
| Interactivity Level: | Very Low |
| Version Info | |
| Publication Date: | 1990 |
| Platform/Format: | WWW |
| Cost: | Free |
| Download URL: | http://www.cablecarmuseum.org/archive/Library/ScientAmer.htm |
| Metadata: | IEEE LOM Record |
| Collection: |
NEEDS
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