The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-03-21
"STREET RAIL WAYS"
To the Editors of the Daily Exchange


! observed in the Republican of Thursday last
long article on the subject of the projected city
railway, from which it appears that the charge of
four cents per passenger will be only moderately
remunerative to the proprietors, and the general
statement seems to confirm the estimate. The cost
of constructing the single line is calculated at twen-
ty-fve thousand dollars per mile. / was informed
by official of the Brooklyn line that the cost was
upwards of $4,000 per mile. | am, therefore,
at loss to account for the difference between it and
the proposed line here of about 900 per mile p O.
vided the same plan is adoped-but, assuming that
the cost will not exceed $4,000 per mile, | con-
tend that the plan adoptedn Pars-at less than half
that COSTS superior in every respect to the plans
at New ork and Brooklyn. The plan now in sue
cessful operation in Paris is formed with longitude
nal timbers, connected with cross ties under the
surface of the horse track In the centre of the lon
gitudinal timber is inserted an iron groove about
an / e inch wide, "a inch deep, made in the form
of the letter U, with anges on each side q to q
wide. The weight of iron would not require to be
more than from "a to 30 lbs. per yard, which is
only about one-thrd of the Brooklyn rails, and one
fourth of some of the New York rails. l am not
aware of the section of timber and iron in the
French plan, but imagine that the longitudinal
lumber need not exceed II inches wide, s inches
thick, cut in pyramidal form, base IL inches,
top q to inches, so that the iron groove would
completely cover the upper surface of the timber
and thus protect the timber from being injured by the
public traffic the rail. The advantages of this
plan are-frst, that owing to the iron being bedded
IN tDe TIMBER, ana 1rmly secured through the
fanges or through the bottom of the grooves, or
both, it will be firmer than the common rails and
being perfectly flush with the surface of the road is
not liable to be made loose by the conclusions occa-
stoned by public traffic over them. Secondly,
owing to the groove being compactly embedded in
the fbrous timber, the motion is very smooth-al-
most like sailing on smooth water-and hence the
iron will be more durable than the ordinary plans.
have suggested this plan to a party at Wash
ington, and am in hopes that the proposed expert
mental line from the railway through street to
the back of the National Hotel will be made, which
will enable the public to Judge of its merits res
pectable and responsible contractor has offered to
construct the line in substantial manner for $40 900
per mile. Now should such plan be adopted here
| contend that the proprietors could very well afford
to give to the corporation cent per passenger out of
cents, Is per cent. on their gross takings which
would possibly in time give them income of from
$500 to $4,000 per annum. | am inclined thus
to think by the charges made the Paris road
which commences Place Concord, through
Passy, to village about miles from Paris The
omnibus is constructed to convey 70 to so passen-
gers, divided into three compartments for first,
second and third class. Charge for first, cents
second cents; third, 2 CENTS thus making the
average / cent per mile. The omnibus is drawn by
two small horses at the speed of to miles per
hour. | remain Respectfully,
THOMAS MOTLEY, G. e.
P. S. If the proposed plan be adopted, then the
inhabitants of Baltimore need not regret the not
having adopted the expensive plans of New York,
&c, and appreciate the Athenian Generals motto,
% Eeltr 0uem fuciunt oHenu 9ericuId cuut,fn -