The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-12
ELECTRIC STREET CARS.
THE CABLE SYSTEM coNTRAsTED AS
A SUPERIOR INSTITUTION.
Instances Cited 10 Prove that It Is Not
What the Great and Growing City of
Memphis Demands-Lst Every Phase
OF the Question Be Studied.

HfHiafT -
The people OF Memphis are just now
confronting problems vital to their best in
tercsts-thc occupancy Of their streets by
various systems Of car lines. The dummy
has made its advent and has aroused con-
siderable opposition. To the old horse car
method Of travel, as generally imposed
upon the public, there is an outspoken
sentiment Of disgust. Now comes the
jackson Mound Park Dummy Railway
company and asks for right of way over
Third and other streets for an electric line
OF cars. The president Of the company,
Mr.. Holmes Cuminins has invited the
Legislative Council to send committee to
Mansfield, o., New York and other cities
to inspect the working Of the system and
report upon its pfacticability. The cable
system OF street cars has also been extern
sively talked about, and will probably
| figure in the discussion for some time to
come. On this point the following COM
munication may serve to guide the au-
thorities in measure:
| To tho Editor Of The Appeal.
As the street car problem is discussed
| you DO kind enough TO allow me space
enough 10 give q few facts? Some few
years ago San Francisco, CAL, started
cable street ear line, which at the time was
| predicted failure. 80 far 1t has proven
success in every respect. Chicago parties
visiting that section of California were SO
impressed with the success in that country
that they returned 10 Chicago and formed
a stock company for cable street car line,
| to be known as the State Street Cable Car
| company, which was placed in running
order within q years time. Some four
1 years ago stock company formed ut Kan
sas City, the style OF the company to DO
known rs the Ninth Street Cable Car COM
pany. And when the stock was being
placed for the building OF this limo very
few men OF capital wished to take il, say
ing at will result in failure, as every
foot OF cable trench must be blasted
through solid rock, which will be an i'm
possibility" But under every disadvant-
age, not even exempting death, even after
everything was in readiness to receive the
cable the company met with accident after
accident--mon killed, legs cut off by care
lessness OF employees in letting cars down
the 45o incline without proper fastenings
before starting, all this did not stop that
wide awake Kansas City company. But
they started TO do something, and the pres
ent day shows what they did. They now
have seven complete cable car lines in
Kansas CITY, all paying largo dividends,
with stock 80 high that very little
II any Of II can be found at all at less than
two-tcn premium, as those who first started
that Ninth Street Cable Car line are satis-
fed 10 hold all the stock themselves even
/ n ht1lu .lul.a tnaIa as,I t.nhlfo .nt.,sA. lt1
say il would be failure.
But right here let me say: You will
never hear through press or people
any complaint OF cars not running often
enough, fast enough or late enough TO
meet the wants OF every citizen, and rs TO
noise made by this system IL is unknown,
and the travel by car-line has increased
more than % per cent. over what II was
when run as horse lines.
Now notice something said rs 10 cleo
trio motors. hope for the good OF all in
terested before Memphis starts an lex
n perimental electric" car line, that every
point be taken into consideration before
spending all the capital stock in a car line
that NO far is a complete failure. / under
stand something was said about the line mt
Los Angeles, CAL, being success. So il
Is rs far Ms II goes-that Is one car TO the
line; and as our city OF Memphis wishes a
line with 100 cans, tho electric will be
something not thought Of Now let's look
at few cities where electric car lines are
in running Use instead Of going 10 far from
home IA Los Angeles. Let's stop of nj
Kansas City, No.. or even 20 TO Wichita,
Kas.. or Denver, Col. as they are nearer
home. We find one line running only
that at Kansas City. Mo.-one car each
way and that about az often as our present
Prospect Park dummy, one car an hour,
and poor accommodation at best Besides,
Memphis needs noiseless motors, some
thing that Is unknown in an electric
motor. will ask any reader 10 step into
the Chickasaw Cooperage Company
works and SEQ how much noise
there Is in that shop. Now
when the electric motor passes you
on the street II makes fully as much noise
on account Of using cogwheels, which all
know are noisy pieces Of machinery.
The electric lines Of Kansas City run
only one car, a. they have often tried
more and found the last car started takes
all the electric current, 40 all the other
cars along the line stop. After Denver,
Wichita and Kansas CITY failures Memphis
,, should be cautious. Tho cost 10 build
cable lines in Memphis where we have no
stone 10 bo blasiedl compared with Kansas
City would be very small. Now, let Mem
phis have street car line, should another
be built, that every citizen may feel proud
Of. where cars run with speed and Ms often
and late 10 meet the demands Of her citi'
zens without smoke. noise and change oil
mules. Wishing Memphis the best OF sue
cess In the future, am, Cable Can.