This trolley man-of-war is really the pioneer in an entirely new feature of trolley, or rather electric railroad. For, though built for the dual purpose of pleasure and demonstrating the practicability of a unique idea, it has really become a valuable suggestion. It depends upon no trolley wire for its motive power, for it is equipped with two 30-horsepower electric motors and a Bemis truck. Thus, while nominally it is supposed to operate solely on electric roads, it can in reality be taken over almost any sort of a railroad of the right gauge, as it drives its own wheels.     It demonstrates the fact that it is possible to construct a car for operation on street railroads in cities that would be of infinite use in case of riot. It is not beyond the range of the ability of modern mechanics to build a car that would be bullet-proof and really constitute a traveling fort. It would be possible to carry on such a car several pieces of artillery, or, better still, equip it with the light guns that are used in the navy, the recoil of which would not be sufficient to damage the fort on wheels in any way.     Indeed, it is believed that a car constructed on the same model as the McKinley, only of course of substantial material, would form a very effective protection for a company of men whom it was necessary to move from one part of the city to another. Certainly it would be very much easier to transport guns and men in this fashion in case of riot than in the ordinary way, and it is also true that movements could be made from one point to another with far greater celerity. Therefore it is plain to be seen that the

McKinley is really the representative of an idea of exceeding, practicability. It is certainly a fact that a trolley man-of-war like her, made of the real stuff and carrying her equipment—four guns in sponsons and two in the deck turret”would be a rather formidable engine of war.     The accompanying illustrations give a very excellent idea of the appearance of the McKinley, although they do not show her at her very best, because it is impossible for even the advanced art of the photographer to secure the transmission from life to paper of anything that breathes so pronounced a spirit as the McKinley. She is really much more of an affair than she looks to be, and to see her quietly gliding down the street, with colors flying, the captain on the bridge, and the dark mouths of the guns frowning silently front, sides and rear, gives one the impression that surely things are seldom what, they seem. From—The San Francisco Call. (San Francisco [Calif.]), 22 Nov. 1896. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.