Omaha daily bee., 1886-11-20
CABLE CARS,
Advantages and Disadvantages as
Compared With Horse Cars.


Compared With Horse Cars.
Special San Francisco Correspondence
of the New York Commercial Advertiser:
There are certain speculative persons who
have been trying for some years to in
trOduce cable cars in New York as sub.
stitute for horse cars under the plea that
in that way the problem of rapid transit
-imperfectly solved by the elevated
roads-would be completely solved. To
all doubts and objections those spccu.
lative persons uniformly reply in sub
stance that no one is fit to Judge of the
question unless he has an opportunity to
observe the marvellous working of the
cable system in San Francisco.
Now 1t is always my desire to Judge
fairly, and with all possible fitness OF
knowledge, in every case in which an
opinion is to be formed and accordingly
! have been at good deal of pains, dur
ing my sojourn here as well as during
my brlefcr stay in Kansas City, to study
the methods and results of the cable syS-
tenn where it is most successful, and to
ascertain what its introduction in New
York would probably accomplish. |
purpose now to give the conclusions
reached and the reasons for them.
1t is certain that the cost of carrying
passengers by cable cars is less than that
of haulin = the same number of persons
> ",
Third avenue and other principal New
York lines were changed to cable roads,
the saving made in expense would ben
eft nobody except the stockholders of
corporations which already pay enor-
nous dividends. My first and strongest
conviction on the subject, there.
fore, is that public opinion, led by
the press, should resolutely oppose the
granting of cable franchises to any of
nj hnrlp-pur pyif
stipulation that fares shall be reduced,
say, TO 3 cents for single rates and ~
cents where punches of tickets are
bought If the information given me
here concerning the comparative cost of
operation is correct the companies could
well afford to make such reduction in
return for permission to substitute cable
for horse power.
A second advantage in the cable system
is that larger cars, seating more persons,
can be hauled. Consequently the intro
duction OF the cable system ought to re-
lieve our roads of the indecent crowding
which now prevails; but here again, un-
less authority of some kind should inter
vene, the companies would taEe all the
advantage to themselves by running
fewer cars than now, and packing them
as badly rs ever.
1t is Il perfectly obvious fact that for
San Francisco and for Kansas City the
cable system is much better than the
horse car plan; but the conditions which
make II SO do not exist at all in New
York. In Kansas City and in San Fran.
CISCO the streets are far less thronged
than IN New York; there is greatly less
OF cross traffic to impede the operation of
the cable cars, and so they have oppor-
tunily, IN the two cities named, to make
the fullest use of whatever speed advan-
tages they possess, while in New York,
except in the Bowery, such opportunity
would be denied them. More important
still is the fact that in Kansas City and in
San francisco there arc very long and
very steep grades TO climb, up which
horses could scarcely draw fully loaded
cars ut all, while the cable cars surmount
them ut precisely the same speed they
make on level ground. These steep
grades make cable powera necessity here;
in New York there are no such grades,
and none even remotely resembling them
in .ength and steepncss.
But with respect to this matter of
speed, the confident and continuously re-
Iteratcd assertions OF the cable people are
simply false. Except in going up steep
hills, such rs Ito not exist ia New York, /
here set it down ms fact that there is not
a cable car ia San Francisco which at
Lalns the speed OF u Third or Fourth ave
nue. car running mp the Bowery, or a
broadway car in the evening when
Broadway is clear. In more crowded
streets the speed Of horse ears is less only
because of Obstructive traffic in the road
ways, and such traffic would equally de
lay cable cars if we had them. To con
vert our principal lines of horse cars into
cable roads would not increase rapidity |
oi traffic, bat diminish il rather.
This assertion is not made idly or care
eSsly, or without q careful study OF facts. |
Every man in San Francisco TO whom / |
have put the question has answered thai |
.he cable cars are much faster than the |
horse ears as confidently as every man
here would answer that the climate of
California is the most delightful IN the |
Sorld and l believe 1t is: and yet. AS
% comparative speed, the statement is
lot true Taking san Francisco hills in
20 account, il is. truth 10 say that the
average speed of cable ears here Is great.
,r.tian that of horse cars mere; but mas
much as we have noJ the hills in New
orh, the question OF comparative speed,
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