Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-01-17

STREET RAILRoADs.-Last evening IN the CoGn-
Gil, Mr.. Thayer called up the ordinance granting
certain parties the right Of building horse railway
from the Depot to the Woodland Cemetery The
object of calling up the ordinance was to make
some explanations in regard TO the subject. From
the remarks of Mr.. Thayer we learn that the pro-
iect is in the hands of some of the leading men in
the city, who interested in the Railroads, the
Seminary and the Water Cure.
The route proposed is from the Railway Depots
to Superior street, thence through Superior, Erie
and Kinsman streets to the depot of the Company
/ near the Woodland Cemetery. 1t is not proposed
to build the line in the same manner as those ope-
rated in the city of New York, but on the plan
adopted with success in Philadelphia. Instead Of
regular railroad cars running on I rail, standing
above the level of paved streets, as in New York,
the unpaved streets selected, sleepers laid down
level with the surface of the street, and fat or
! strap rail spiked down on them. Gravel is then
laid that the top OF the rail is even with the
surface of the roadway, The cars are simply long
! omnibuses on low wheels. The wheels have double
hanges, narrow and sharp, so that the light soil
that might cling to the wheels is easily cut through
It is estimated that the line could be laid in this
city at cost of 5000 per mile, exclusive of cars,
and that at five cents per passenger, for any dis
lance, until about eight O'Clock in the evening and
ten cents after that time, good dividends could be
secured. The projectors only ask the leave Of the
Council to proceed with the work in the spring,
the money being ready now.
As we said before, Philadelphia has been very
successful with its, horse railroad enterprises
No less than sixty miles Of track was laid through
the streets Of that city in The yelr lS57-S and one
hundred miles in addition are now in progress of
construction. In Philadelphia, the rails are laid
in single track in the center OF the street. the
running up one and down another street, the
streets being but about thirty eight feet wide
The average cost of the roads in Philadelphia Is
about s., COO per mile, the cars costing $500 or
5000 The contractors construct the track at the
rate ofabout four hundred feet in forty eight hours
The cars viii hold from sixty to sixty-tive paSseu
! sengers, and when crowded, seveuty-four In
Philadelphia the cars pass a given point every
three minutes, so that there is little or no deten
ton Some lines have as many as thirty cars
and work two hundred horses They run till Il
O'Clock at night, and are upon the track soon af
ter daylight
The effect Of these roads upon property is most
astonishing. Whole rows Of houses are being
built on the streets through which they run, anc
the value Of lots has advanced over fifty per cent
and this in the face Of panic times g5
Mr.. Thayer gave notice that he should move the
final reading and passage OF the Street Railroad
Ordinance at the next meeting of the Council, OF
the meeting Immediately following that one
Herald, llth
We copy the above article as q subject o.
much interest to our readers and to all those inter
ested in the growth and prosperity of our city
The plan of horse railroad through our prinei
pal streets has been discussed for two years ol
more Various plans have been formed and roufei
! proposed, but the above is now the most promi
nent and feasible. We know Of no reason why th,
City of Cleveland, with 10000 inhabitants, should
not have enough street travel to wen support (
horse railroad, and surely it will be vastly for thu
interests of the residents along the proposed
to have the plan consummated. The subject vii
= probably be brought up in the Council tomorrow
might, and we presume the ordinance granting I
charter TO a Street Railroad Company, viii bt
granted without opposition. 1t will be of no ex
pense to the city, while many benefits will accrue
. from it. ---- -a...