Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-03
A NEW CABLE ROUTE.
The Central Passenger to go Out
Wylie and Perhaps to East End.
AN ELECTRIC LOOP FOR CENTER
Shutting Out Rival and Securing Good
Northern Trade.
EXPERT ENGINEERS NOW AT WORK

The new cable road to be built by the
Central Passenger Railway Company is the
leading topic of discussion among residents
Of the hill district.
The proposed route has been the chief
topic of interest, but it is now regarded as
practically settled that the cable will be
stretched straight out Wylie avenue, that
line being 1900 feet shorter than the pres
ent one, and entirely free from the peculiar
curves which distinguish Center avenue,
and which are said to be the greatest cause
of wear and tear on cable equipment.
There is another strong reason in favor Of
Wylie avenue. Superintendent Heron, in
speaking of the matter, said:
\ 81 will not pretend to say which way the
cable road will come, because it has not yet
been officially settled. This much / will
say, however: If Wylie avenue is chosen,
it will be largely because of the fact that
Center avenue is not paved beyond Soho
street, owing to disagreement among the
property owners. -......
EXPERTS NOW AT WORK.
Engineers are now at work estimating
the cost of the two routes, and decision
will no doubt be reached very shortly"
A moments consideration will show that
the point of no paving raised by Mr.. Her
ron is a very important one. Because of 1t,
the horse cars are now forced to run on
single track, with switches for passing cars,
from Soho street out to the stables. Two
tracks down on an unpaved street would
practically block it for all other purposes.
Some of the residents have been of the
opinion that the cable would 60 out Center
avenue, and that the paving could be laid
at the same time the conduits were being
constructed. This might be practicable,
were it not for the fact that determined
fight is in progress between the abutting
property holders as to the grade to be adopt
ed. Before this trouble could be settled,
the favorable season might easily slip away
and the hill have no cable road at all.
There is still another reason beside the
fact that it is paved from end to end, why
Wylie avenue will, in all probability, De
the chosen route for the new line. The ter
ritory to the north of Center and Wylie
avenues has been building up rapidly, and
will probably be even more extensively
occupied in the near future. The people in
this strip have long objected to the walk
over to Center avenue to catch the cars. and
A RIVAL IN THE FIELD.
1t was following out this idea that Coun-
Gilman Sam Duncan proposed to build an
electric line out Webster avenue, and took
steps looking to the ultimate accomplish
ment of this purpose.
This proposal has ever since been bug
bear in the minds of the Center avenue
people, realizing, as they did, that such a
road could not tail to draw heavily on one
of their chief sources of revenue. But, by
throwing a line straight out Wylie, in
stead OF leaving that thoroughfare at Full
ton, the demand of the people In that re-
gion could be met and Mr.. Duncan's pro-
ject dashed with considerable cold water,
even if it did not receive a complete
quietus. - -.
But the difficulty that then arose was
from the protests of the Center avenue citi-
zens, who would undoubtedly kick vigor-
ously at being lett out in the cold. Mr..
Whitney also has considerable property
near Center, which would undoubtedly be
considerably affected by the change, and
the company was apparently placed be-
tween two horns Of very decided dilemma.
1t is understood, however, that plan has
been evolved to meet the difficulty, which
will be satisfactory to all parties.
RAPID TRANSIT THE RESULT.
By this arrangement the cable road is to
be constructed on Wylie, and by this route
will reach the stables from town inside of Is
minutes, considerably less than half Of the
time now occupied. A proposition is to be
made to the residents of Center avenue to
the effect that il sufficient encouragement
is given they will be provided with loop
operated by electricity.
1t is said that the encouragement desired
is the subscription for stock to the amount
of S25,0 900. 1t is further stated that por-
tion Of this has already been secured, and
that the scheme is almost certain to be
success. The cost of the equipment would
be comparatively small, as the cars could be
run over the present tracks, and all that
would have to be supplied would be the
proper cars and the power. 1t is also con-
templated that at the proper time the cable
road will be extended toward the East End,
and brought back to the electric line by
way of Center avenue, thus forming an ex-
tensive figure s, but this is still in the misty