Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-10
A CATCHING MOTOR.
Street Car Lines Impressed With the
Success of Electricity.
THE SOUTHSIDE ROAD UNDECIDED,
And the Cable Lines Struck With the POsSi-
bilities Of Speed.
THE PlTTSBURG co. ADAPTING CARS

It is current rumor that two Pittsburg
car lines have been so much impressed by
the Sprague system of electric transit as ex-
emplifed in the Pleasant Valley road that
it has been decided by both roads to make
use of the same system at an early date.
Rumor has it that the Birmingham road is
one of the roads that intends to experiment
with electricity before adopting finally the
cable system. This seems hardly possible
in view of the rapid progress of the sub
bridge over the Monongahela river which is
very far toward completion.
The more startling story was current last
evening that the Pittsburg Traction Com
pany intended to adopt electricity as a mo-
tive power and abandon the cable system on
account of the possibilities in speed offered
by the electric system. From Oakland out
to East Liberty there are few passengers
and stops are infrequent. There is not much
street traffic either.
INCREASING THE SPEED.
1t is believed that the schedule between
the terminal points could be much reduced
by increasing speed between Oakland and
East Liberty. 1t is known that the frequent
replacement of cables necessitated by the
abrupt curves in the road has become a seri-
Gus factor in the cost Of operation, and the
cheapness of the electric system causes
discussion among the stockholders as to the
policy of change.
Upon inquiries being made last evening
as to the prospects of change, some infor-
nation was received tending to show that
the Fifth avenue line will stick to cable
r l. ,1Il nc
of the road which were wearily dragged by
patient mules of yore, are being trans
formed into combined grip and smoking
cars. Twelve of them are now being re-
modelled and fitted up for the grip, and the
room tor smokers will be twice or three times
that available in the present cars. On the
first of next month the new cars will arrive
in Pittsburg from Pullman, Ill. They are
without grip arrangement, and will be
hitched to the grip smoker. Each train will
therefore consist of grip car and passen-
ger coach. If the first lnstallment proves
successful, the whole equipment will be
changed in accordance.
A APoPULAR LINE.
The Pleasant Valley Railway Company
is now running Is cars of the new electric
pattern. Two OF them operate on the OBJ
servatory Hill line. The system is running
very smoothly, and it seldom happens any
more that the trolly flies off the wire. The
recent snow and sleet had no effect whatever
on the operation OF the line Transfer tickets
are now issued to passengers on the regular
line to those going up Federal street rom
the Allegheny postofice. The new electric
line has become very popular, and is well
patroniZed. In Allegheny the cars make
rapid time, as the horse cars have been with
drawn on that part OF the road beyond Ohio
street.
The Rebecca street line, of the Pittsburg,
Allegheny and Manchester road, is now
running all-night cars from Market and
Liberty. The patronage is good. This road
still clings to the unpopular Scent fare, but
that will undoubtedly be reduced 1 cent as
soon as the company can reach an under
standing with the Allegheny Councils.
The managers of the Citizens Traction
Company are well pleased with the 8 cent
fare experiment. 1t has proven financial
success in every way. In the first week of
February under the cent regulation, the
receipts were $40, 3O3 20. In the week previ-
Gus, at 10 cents, they were SO, 656 Is; gain
OF $647 55 for the cent rate. In the first
week of February, 1889, the receipts at 10
cents were IS, 101 Is, gain for the same
week of 1890 at cents of s., ,2O2 IS.