Electric Traction In Space Of Three Dimensions This Article originated as a speech read by Frank Sprague on the evening of Wednesday January 1st, 1931.  The essay below was published in the Journal of the Maryland Academy of Sciences in December of 1931. These files are in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format,  Parts 1a thru 2b are approximately 1.2 megs in size. -   Electric Traction In Space Of 3 Dimensions (Book Cover) -   Electric Traction In Space Of 3 Dimensions (Part 1a) -   Electric Traction In Space Of 3 Dimensions (Part 1b) -   Electric Traction In Space Of 3 Dimensions (Part 2a) -   Electric Traction In Space Of 3 Dimensions (Part 2b)   Who Was Frank Sprague? Frank Sprague was one of the biggest proponents of the electric railway and high speed elevators.  After the Civil War  and over the course of the 20th century, electrified rail lines and the high speed elevator allowed the city to expand upwards (with the proliferation of skyscrapers and high rise buildings) and outwards (along the streetcar, elevated, subway and commuter rail lines).  These two technologies were essential in forging New York into the metropolis of 8 million people it became by WWII.      July 1898. Brooklyn Union Elevated Rail Road.  BUERR was an early adopter of Sprague's Multiple Unit (M.U.) control; seen here is car 400 in Brooklyn Bridge Yard   Biographic Information on Frank Sprague Frank Sprague  Biographic Article on the Life and Accomplishments of Frank Sprague from The Virtual Elevator Museum and the museum for the preservation of elevated history. IEEE History Center - Richmond Union Passenger Railway, 1888 The Sprague Collection