Philip S. Smith.
"Electrical Goods: Potosí"
U.S. Bureau of Foreign & Domestic Commerce.
Special Agents Series 167, pp. 14 & 26.
Washington, 1918.

[p. 14:]
One electric company, Empresa de Luz y Fuerza Eléctrica, furnishes the power and light for Potosí and some of the smaller mines nearby. There is also a private company, which built the trolley system in the city. The equipment for the latter was bought in the United States but has never been put into regular service, owing to some difficulty between the owner and the municipality over an accident that occurred at the inauguration of the road. The generating apparatus is one 50-kilowatt dynamo and two semi-Diesel engines arranged to drive through belt connection. There are three cars, each capable of seating 16, having been remodeled in Potosi to suit the narrow streets and sharp curves.

[p. 26:]
As previously stated, the electric railway in Potosí has never been put into regular service. The equipment, which came from the United States, operated perfectly for the short time that it ran. The cars proved too big, however, and have been rebuilt in the shops of the road to a size better adapted for the narrow streets and sharp corners. More powerful brakes have been fitted, also, as there are very steep grades in Potosí. The owner is a Bolivian and partial to American goods. The line is expected to be in operation soon, but at present (August, 1917) the only service offered to the public consists of one small car drawn by two mules.

RETURN TO MAIN TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS