Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-17
TRACTION Is COSTLY.
Three New Cables Already Laid by
the Citizens Cable Company.
THE FIFTH AVENUE CABLES AGING.
Interesting Details of the Condition of the
Two Roads.
TWO NEW CABLES AWAITING ORDERS.

Within the last 4S hours the additional
two cables on the Citizens Traction line
have been laid and tested, and the new
cables are now working smoothly. The
cable from the power house to East Liberty,
on Penn avenue, vas laid ten days ago, as
exclusively reported in The DISPATCH.
The Butler street cable was next relaid, and
the cable from the power house to the city
depot on Penn avenue, below Sixth street,
was laid during one night this week. The
latter cable was in much better order than
either of the others, owing to the COM
paratively small number of curves, but it
was deemed best to relay all and start out
on the second six months operation OF the
road on a new basis, with everything in
good order. The cost of the new cables was
not bagatelle, it may be said by way of
information to stockholders.
No delays to travel were entailed by the
relaying of the cable, as the ingenious
scheme of severing the old cable and splic-
ing on the new and laying the new cable by
the aid of the engine, was made use of in each
instance
WITHOUT EVEN A DISTURBANCE
of the pulley wheels over which the cable runs.
1t is understood that the ratio of increase in
the traffic over the road shows a probable busi-
ness for the first year. as estimated upon the
basis Of the first six months, of not far from
nine millions of passengers annually. This
figure was hoped for by the promoters of the
road and is largely in excess of the business
done in the horse car period of operation.
On two huge spools in the cellar of the power
house at Oakland are the new cables which
will replace the two long cables on the Pitts
burg Traction lines. The cable running from
cable circles, for it has lasted nearly II months
whereas the maximum life of a cable is nine
months. The cable In question has broken the
record as TO longevity, and 1t viii probably be
run as much longer as may prove consistent
with safety. for obvious reasons. Some of the
reasons for its excellent condition as given by
first place the cable was one of the
best ever manufactured, and, in the second
place, its immense length-30,0O0 feet-makes
the strain much lighter. There are fewer stops
made than on either of the other cables and
the curves, though abrupt, have not apparent
ly worn the cable more than elsewhere on the
road: BY way of precaution, however. the
closely punched in the East Liberty depot,
lest a broken strand should catch grip and
haul car, without a possibility of stopping
Everybody is on the alert on the road, and
nothing happens but what is Immediately re-
ported.
A VERY THIN CABLE.
The line from Oakland to the Washington
Street power house is worn very thin, and
may have to be replaced any night. The terri
BILE wear and tear of the Soho hill has worn the
cable to such an extent that the gripmen on
leaving Oakland for downtown have to in
variably tighten up the grip in order to get
hold of the cable. This cable is being very
assiduously watched, and several splices have
already been made. without which it would
possibly have gone to pieces.
The cable from Washington street to the foot
of Fifth avenue is also considerably worn by
the frequent stoppages necessary in the heart
of the city and by the tremendous friction
caused by the ''loop." 1t will be relaid within
a few weeks at most.
The portion of the public whose work is of
nocturnal character will be interested to learn
that the reason cars are run no later than 1920
o'clock in the night, is that the company needs
every moment of the time of idleness for in
spection and repairs of the cables. Every foot
Of all the cables is carefully passed upon by the
splicer and his assistant, and these individuals
have to hustle to get through their task of look
ing over the East Liberty cable of go 900 feet,
the Oakland cable of 20 600 feet, and the Wash
ington street cable of 10000 feet.