Electricity in Locomotion / An Account of Its Mechanism, Its Achievements, and Its Prospects

The work surveys the development and potential of electric traction, combining history, technical explanation, and economic discussion. It traces early tramroads and railways, describes the mechanisms of tramcars and rail systems including overhead, conduit, and surface-contact systems, and explains motors, controllers, regenerative control, and battery and petrol-electric arrangements. It examines vehicle types from trams and trolley omnibuses to accumulator automobiles and marine propulsion, addresses causes of slow adoption and public resistance, and assesses engineering challenges and financial arguments, concluding with balanced forecasts of future applications and improvements.