The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-25

Extensive improvements are soon to
be made in the street railway system.
If the City Council gives its consent the
lines arc to be changed and the finest
electric cars put on all the city lines.
The improvements will cost 500, 900.
Tho most approved system, either the
Thomson-lIouston or Sprague, will be
adopted, and there will be duplicate
plant of tile entire motive system. Two
new ninety-fivc horse power engines and
dynamos in proportion, will be put in
place in connection with the Roanoke
Electric Light and Motor Power Com
pany's works. The overhead system will
be used, and the wires will be suspended
by cedar or juniper poles thirty feet
high. Eight cars Of the finest make
have been purchased. They are sixteen
feet long and will comfortably accom-
MEDIATE twenty people.
The cars can easily be run at speed
OF ten miles an hour. and can be stopped
inside Of two car lengths when running
eight miles an hour. They will be sup
piled with TWO iiftocn-horse motors
each, with appliances for attaching
other cars when necessary
The improvements are to- be made
under the direction of Eugene T.. Lynch.
Jr.. consulting electric engineer, of
New York, who says that cars will pass
given point on the main business
streets every two minutes.
In the northeast section tho line will
extend from the Union Depot up Com
monwealth avenue to Patton, out Patton
TO Kimball, thence to Page street, and
out Page street TO the Lynchburg and
Salem turnpike. 1t will also be cx-
tended up Commonwealth to Seventh
avenue. and on Seventh to I<imbali. In
the business part of the city the lines
will run in the center Of the streets, and
in the residence portions along the
sides. On Commemorative avenue there
are some business houses already and
many more will be erected. These arc
all on the east sidc and the line will be
run along the west side.
On the south side of the railroad tho
line will run from the Union Depot down
Jefferson street to Walnut, on Walnut 10
the Franklin road, on the Franklin
road to Commerce street and on Com
melcc TO Salcn avenue. IL will also
extend up Salem avenue from jefferson
to Seventh street, on Seventh to Rorer
avenue, thence to Ninth street, on
Ninth to Patterson avenue and out Pat
tcrsOn on the old line.
The old line that leaves Campbell at
Commerce. extending around on Church
and coming back to Campbell on Park,
will be taken up, and the line extended
directly down Campbell to Patterson
avenue to the line already designated
1t is possible that line will be built
near the northeastern city limits, from
Page street to connect with the dummy
line beyond Captain Moorman'S, but the
route has not yet been marked out.
The track will be laid in the center
Of Jefferson street to Fourth avenue. on
Campbell to Commerce, and on Salem
avenue to Roanoke, the remainder of
the lines will be along the sides. Com
mcrcc and Jefferson streets will be
doublcd-trackcd between Campbell and
Salem avenue for the passage of cars
The electric system, when completed
according to the present plans, will
operate about nine miles of railway.
The streets upon which the railway is
to be constructed arc fifty feet wide. eX-
ccpt jefferson and Patterson avenue.
which are sixty.
Mr.. j. II. Christian. the manager of
the Roanoke Street Railway Company,
while on his recent trip North perfect
ing arrangements for tho improvements
OF the system. purchased four cars for
the Salem line, which will soon be com
plctcd and equipped so that they may
be here when the line is completed
'Pcnalty'' at the Opcrn House