The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-12-31


and the passengers were obliged to de-
post their own fares The hue and cry
Of Indignation from long-suffering pub
lie finally penetrated tho ears OF the
statesmen who legislate for this ten
miles square. and bill was introduced
compelling two-horse cars to be substi-
tuted. Tho corporation anticipated Con-
grcssional action and provided two-horso
cars before the bill passed But, mas
much as tho Congressional mind hap
rcned to be Interested in our transit
facilities, Congress continued the good
work. and passed bill requiring
the tramways which extend from tho
navy yard to Georgetown to substitute
other means OF locomotion by January
l, 1892. This will result in tho estab-
lishmcnt either OF electric or cable
motors on these lines: and at last We
shall be freed from our present lazy. in
cXcusablc and almost diSgraceful means
of transit to and from the Capitol. Tho
old graveyards will probably remain for
somo time. Legislation can not remove
them. Only their purchase by builders
and tho erection upon their sites of
handsome houses will cause tho disap-
late 1t has been rumored that the own
crs OF these sites have covered them
with tombstoncs in the hope that an
cxaspcrated Congress- might purchase
the ground for public buildings at
enormous figures.
Concerning the methods Of locomotion
to be adopted by the car lines, tho cor
porations arc yet in doubt, although the
cablo method meets with general favor.
Congress will adjourn on tho 4th Of
March and rcaSscmblo on tho first Mon
day in December following. 1t is prob
able that our great Pennsylvania ave-
nue. will be torn up during those nino
months, and the cablo conduit bo laid.
If that shall ic done, tho avenue will
be a sen OF mud FOR tho full period; for
business iii this city COOS along in . lazy
way, and there is neither power nor dis
position in tho commissioners 10 compel
Il rush OF work such rs obtains in other
cities. Tho people here never hurry,
ami they can not be hurried. Gentle
men sometimes so forth for physician
and find Jbeir children born before they
return. II is believed by some OF our
Stockholders in stroct-car lines that
stcam viii he tho strcct-car motor OF tho
future. With this expectation, cxpcri-
monts arc being made, and it is said Chat
excellent results have been obtained.
Tho machinery CT y certain patent is To-
Gated undcr tho platform, and is said to
be powerful enough to carry several cars
in y train, Just like the elevated car
business in New York and other cities.
small tank filled with snporhoatei
water is fed into u coil in spray. and con-
vcrtcd into steam by means Of small
kerosene burner. Tho engine is email,
having been originally invented for uso
In n balloon, and is intended to combine
lightness with strength. Whether this
scheme shall provo successful and profit
able or not, one thing Is certain, under
the law tho horses will be taken Off and
some other motor supplied.
The drivers OF our street-cars NAV not
be made OF worse clay than the drivers
in other cities, but they certainly
seem to bo moro brutal Tho crack OF
the whip is heard every minute. al
though no greater speed is thereby
developed. The managers OF our So
cicty for the Prevention Of Cruelty to
Animals does not consider car horses as
worthy OF any attention whatever In
this connection it may as we'll DO stated
that tho common gibcs 1T colored people
must be omitted, because there are no
colorud men employed as drivers on any
Of our strect-car lines. They arc all
white men, and seem to be intelligent
and humane enough in all things, save
in their treatment OF the dumb brutcs
committed to their supervision.
These facts arc not pleasant for tho
people to read. 1t is nothing to be
proud Of to have it stated in print, nor
is it any thing to DO q matter OF especial
pride to have foreign visitors to SEQ
with their own eyes that tho transit facil-
tiles OF this city arc so inferior and bo-
hind the times. 1t is, however, a matter
of speculative graduation, to know that
these lamcntablc defects arc soon to be
remcdied under the law. Tho condition
OF tho property surrounding the Capitol
grounds can not readily be improved.
People will go Il milo or two out into tho
West End and pay from 81 to $40 per
square foot for ground upon which to
build, while they will not pay 81 per
square foot for land within stones throw
of tho Capitol. This IS because '1socie-
ty" has taken it's stand out towards tho
setting sun, and one might az well DO
out of tho world az out OF society" in
this political hub and biennial lcris-
iatlvc cataclySm. SMITH ID. FEY.
An Unsatisfactory Experiment.
Amos Cummings recently wrote q