New-York tribune., 1885-02-13
CABLE RAILROADS IN ENGLAND.
A TALK WITH ANDREW S. HALLIDIE.

THE SYSTEM BECOMING POPULAR IN LoNpoN-
COST OF CARRYING PASSENGERS.
Andrew s. Hallidie, of San Francisco, en-
gneer and bridgebuldcr pacntee OF hfty dinereht h
venti0ns besides the cable railroad system OF which ho
is the father unlike the inventors OF former uhes' na'
become q millionaire while yet comparatively young
man. His present business manufacturing patent wire
rome brn Cs him in contact with business men all over
the world He returned last week from Europe Oh tno
servia To TRIBUNE reporter he gave some account VI
his recent ramblings as follows:
"My trip to England was a very hurried one and was
partly on business and partly to get away from pusi
ness While there had opportunity OF conversihg
with many manufacturers about business prospects anu
found every running on short time anu was M
very anxious for orders They generally said they oo
not think there would be much revival OF business un
less 1t from this quarter There seemed 10 % apu
dance there but it was locked up Ihere was
no confidence and disposition to enter upon new u
dertakngs. Two years ago when was there the eec-
trio light boom was at its height; now 1t Is
which invented are advancing there. They have sue
steep and ortuous and in places very narrow street
that 1t has been necessary part OF me way,
rUnning U in one tube The rest Of tho way there is
double The road about y miles TRs Rs ,oaa ae was as
opened to the public last May and has been running
quite satisfactorily ever since since conn.nx nv which
IT ws ses a hnbssh putting converting
lines In Glasgow and about to convert some In Liver,
pool OF there %s re- rsa Se BPsn TI They
Tst called it blasted foreign notion but that it
is introduced they the advantage Of in its noseless
Ssss Rd Tesssh ses the
condition OF the Streets winch they look upon as very
pany They charge there according the distance iEay
for building and IS about to Oon,os,h,i build
sub-ways across the city OF LondSn, conhec.nf
IN them Il viii use system Of cable % & ntesa esd
the air pure thus overcoming what Ia ut present Sc
rous objection the underground railroads The same
w Ss es aaN an
the cable itself running about eighteen miles an hour
s sse dSmiTaOy %dspted TO- tho cable system n
CENTRE and all the parts are flush with the pavement so
that vehicle can cross without diculty or turn out
"he expense OF constructing cable railroad is about
six times much that of building an ordinary horse
railroad but once completed the cable road runs al
saving Of so per cent OF the cost of running
horse railroad. The street railroads IN Newfork are
mortgaged for from 100000 TO 100000 per mile.
Hence OF fares the have TO pay must
be sufficient to meet the interest on the mortgages
frUm hR@ pay the C Os psr esn these
charges wiped they should he able to
for OF what they charge nOw-ess than
The trouble with them is as TO capacity for
carrying all who would ride chcaply The cable compa
MES can doube-deckers and carry from 90 TO 100
passengers each without dinicuiiy and can have
several such In train The fare on Tue fgh.ate
road in American money IL 4 cents inside ana :
cents on top. Is why the fares should
not be cheaper here The cable gives smooth motion
while the horses go on jump Inc cable ears s4r anu
stop in less space and time and moro smoohy Inc az
sstant superintendent of the Clay Street Cable Railway
in san Francisco placed tumbler full TO the bnm OF
water the floor OF a aud started 1t suddenly and
not drop Of water was spit.
"Ihave been 10 Philadelphia where looked at the
cable road Its builders made serious bundcr IN the
construction OF their tube. The weakness OF the tube
has caused II yield 10 the pressure OF the frozen
ground and the slot is closed and the road cannot be
used until warm weather In In early experience In
San Francisco had the difficulty but that has
been overcome by proper construction
"Snce / went away Governor stanford has been
elected United States senator from California. know
him we'll. He will make good Senator He Is q man OF
intelligence and broad views believe be Will he above
his personal railroad interests and will look after the
true interests OF the State"