Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-13
THE ELECTRIC STREET RAILWAY
PROPOSITION.

Application has been made to the City
Trustees for modification of the charter
right of the Central Street Railway Com
pany, so as to permit it to use the over
head electric motor system for propelling
its cars. If this is granted the company
will be able to bring into the management
the proprietor of the overhead system OF
street railway now in successful operation
In the city Of San Jose, and from that city
to Santa Clara, over seven miles OF rails.
The claim is made that through the bust
ness streets the overhead wire can be put
up without the planting of any poles, since
1t is the belief that the company can rent
the privilege of using the poles of the
Electric Light Company now furnishing
street lights. We trust that the new
proposition will receive the thoughtful at
tention of the Trustees, and that unless
insuperable objections arise the modifca-
ton requested will be allowed
There are several reasons for such ac-
ton. In the first place any system of
street railway that is operated by one
motor power is of greater use to thepeople
than when the motive power for each car
Is independent. The regularity and GER
tainty and speed of the movement of a
street car are the elements that chiefly
concern the public. Far greater numbers
of people will use the cars if they feel
assured that the vehicles will pass given
points on time, and that they will make
their trips at fair speed and with regular
ity. When the citizen knows that he can
depend upon a trip being made within an
exact time, and that he is not dependent
in keeping his engagements upon the ar
rival and departure Of car that is liable
TO make or lose time, as the capacity of
the horse that draws it, and the calcula-
ton of the driver may determine, he will
ride. If on the contrary he feels doubt
about the time the trip will consume, and
of the prompt arrival and departure of the
cars, he will forego his car ride, or seek
some other conveyance. The cable system
of roads has proved this to be true, and
has demonstrated that the regularity,
speed and certainty of the system insures
some thirty per cent. more of patronage
than horse-cars receive. The cable system
and the electric system differ only in the
method of the application of power, and
the character of the power applied.
The overhead wire street-car system has
proved successful wherever tried In
Seattle, in Portland, in Denver, in San
Jose, complete success has met the setting
up of the system, and all objections raised
to it have vanished before its practical
operation. In the light of experience our
own action should be taken. II, therefore,
these other cities are satisfied with the
electric roads, and on trial have become
attached to them in preference 10 the
horse car, let us accept the evidences of
the worth of the system and permit it to be
tried here. OF course it is not desirable TO
incumber the streets with any more poles
than are absolutely necessary, but, as we
have said, we are assured that the poles
already in the streets can be used, and
that only where the line deviates from
the lines of poles now planted will new
ones have to be set. The objection, and it
Is the chief one, is, therefore, put aside
since we are not to have any greater street
obstruction than we now have.
We believe that the new system should
be permitted here, because the certainty
and regularity already spoken of will have
a direct and potential influence upon the
prosperity of the city. 1t will give fair
value to outside property, make it more
desirable for residences, and thus enlarge
The capacity of the man of modest means
20 own home. This in turn will stimu-
late building, and the most of the trades
will be conserved 1t will add to the
comforts of the people, notably of those
who have no other means of riding than
by the street car; it viii augment the
metropolitan character of the city, and
will be great convenience to the business
men, as by the increased speed at which
the cars can be run, time will be saved that
is of the highest value to the busy man.
From all standpoints it appears to us that
Il will be wise thing to do to grant the
charter notifications asked for OF course
any change in the charter rights should
be Enthusiastically expressed, and all the
rights of the city protected. All matters
relative to the use and care of the streets,
the planting of poles, the keeping up of