The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-01-29
What Mayor Armstrong Says
Of the Street Road
AND THE ELECTRIC SERVICE
To be in Operation by May LIST IL
Properly Encouraged-An In
teresting Talk.

mornings Union Pacific "owi" train
and in the afternoon was found at his
Office by a HERALD reporter, looking
well and declaring that though he had
put in two weeks of the hardest work
he ever did in his life, he had enjoyed
his trip immensely and felt 20 per cent
better for the rest"
After oonversing for some time up On
things in general, the reporter came to
the point by asking:
"How about al electric service on our
street railroad?"
THAT LIES WITH THE CITY,"
was the reply. Mr.. Armstrong then
went on to explain that the charter held
by the street car company runs out three
years hence, and that the company
could not take upon itself such an
enormous expense as would be involved
in the improvement ID entioned, unless
the city is willing to extend the charter.
"How much of an extension will you
ask?" inquired the reporter.
well, we want our charter extended
to the end of the time covered by our
articles of corporation-some twenty
three years. believe" Mr.. Armstrong
argued that this would be absolutely
necessary before the road could pro-
coed. Its all very well" he said, 'for
people to slur at the city for giving US
the use of its streets for nothing, but
where will they find responsible COM
panv that is willing toinvest the amount
of money that We otfer?"
There's Major" bet the reporter
desisted and asked Mr.. Armstrong
what other concession he would ask of
the city
THE license is altogether too high.
In the east street car is not taxed any
higher than buss, and why should it
be. The street car company keeps in
good repair the part OF the street used
by it, while the bass adds to the wear
and tear on the general roads. But
people out here have peculiar ideas
about such things. OF what advantage
is it to people to put heavy tax on a
street car line? If We put an electric
service on one or more of our lines,
property along those streets is greatly
enhanced in value and the city gets the
benefit IN increased taxes"
"Have you decided then to put on a
service in case YOU can get these con-
cessions from the Councll?"
| Yes. Mr.. McCune is now in the
east awaiting word from me in regard
| to what the city will do and if my
reply is favorable he will close the con-
tract and work will begin at once"
What system have you decided
upon 2" asked the reporter.
well, we are very favorably i'm
pressed with the Houston
system and will probably accept their
offsr, upon certain conditions; but we
have also received tempting bid from
the Sprague people"
About what would it cost to equip
your hne?"
I'VE have been figuring on s14 900
mile This, however, includes only the
motors, rail connections, overhead con-
ductor and incidentals, but does not In
clude the engines and generating ma
chinery. We propose to equip five
miles of our road for start. 1t will
require 200 horsepower engine; then
we will use the bodies of the cars we
bought recently. placing them on the
Thompson-Houston trucks. We estl-
mate that the equipment OF this i've
miles will cost us at least 100000. You
Will 660, COulluuCO sAO ASJOA bASb
the outlay is no tri6e."
when will your system be in opera
ton 2"was asked.
five get what we want. we will
have cars running by the LIST of Nay. :"
"And if the city refuses to grant your
petition7"
I'VE will not attempt to do anything
until the expiration of our charter,
rhrao hpnnAp
"On what line will you put your
electric service7"
That remains to be decided upon"
THE PROBABLE LOCATION.
Bang Questioned about the probable
location of the plant, Mr.. Armstrong
said that he did not know where they
would put it. Near one of the railroad
depots would be good place for coal.
but it is better to have the generator
near the middle of the line instead OF
| at one end In the middle of the block
back of the old Museum was men
toned as good place, as 1t Is central
and il at the same time accessible to the
South Tenn Die Street railroad track.
$150,0G0 IS NEEDED.
by the company to put the road in the
running order desired by the owners,
but just how this will be raised has not
! vet been definitely decided upon. Il is
probable, however. that the road would
be bonded for half that amount, SIS
900, while the stock would represent the
other half.
NOT THE ED.
The FIVE miles of electric equipment
will not be the end Of the work; it is
simply the start. The company will
use some of it's cars in the new service
as mentioned above and the others will
be- run with the celebrated Mule Spon-
taneous Spasmodic Motor until such
time as the business of the company
iustifies the establishment OF an cleo
trio service on all its lines.
RECURRING TO THE TAX,
the reporter asked Mr.. Armstrong
what he thought would be fair amount
for the city to charge them as license.
He replied that with such an outlay,
they ought to allow the cars to run I'M
licensed for three years; then charge
them $40 per car for i've years more
and after that charge them $50 per car.
I