Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-11
KNOCKED OUT AGAIN,
Central Traction Cars May
Not Run for Six Weeks.
FAULTY ROLLS THE CAUSE
A Vault Must be Built at the Cor
ner of Francis Street.
FAULTY ROLLS THE CAUSE
1T is NOT AN EXPENSIVE ROAD.


several weeks that the Central Traction Line
would have its cable cars in operation "to-
morrow, sure" it is now stated on reliable
authority that the line will not be ready for
operation for a month or six weeks yet A
mistake made in the construction at the
upper end of the line is responsible for the
DELAY
The chief engineer of the company is now
in the East, experimenting the construction
of special machinery. This will ha We to be
made, shipped to this city, and placed in
position. Until this is done the company
cannot run its cars.
The mistake made in construction was at
the corner of Heron avenue and Francis
street. The latter thoroughfare is better
known to the older residents of the city as
Dickey's lane.
AN AWKWARD GRADE.
AT the point where Francis street inter-
sects Heron avenue there is 'dip." On
each side of the "dip'' is a long hill. When
the upper cable was tried it was found that
the tension both ways pulled the cable up
from the pulleys until it was in great danger
of being forced up through the slot rails.
This was not only wearing on the cable, but
there was a irst-class chance of it tearing
up the street. 1t would be supposed that
the weight of the cable would keep it down
on the rollers, but, like cork in the water,
it persisted in bobbing up, greatly to the
distress of the engineers.
After thinking of several schemes to sur
mount the difficulty, Chief Engineer Rice
concocted plan. He hurriedly left last
night for Pottstown, Pa, to secure ma
chinery that would hold the cable down.
His intention is to get set of pulleys so
constructed that it viii be impossible for
the rope to jump them.
1t was stated Yesterday by an officer of the
company that vault would have to be
built at the "dip." The cable will pass
under the pullevs about in the same manner
that the lower rope now goes under the
cable of the Pittsburg Company at Wood
and Grant streets. When a car comes up to
the vault the gripman will have to release
his hold on the cable.
HOW IT WILL WORK.
The covering over the vault will be so
constructed that the grip will slide from un-
der the cable. The momentum of the car
will carry it over the break, and the cable
will be taken up as soon as the car gets over
the vault, The officers of the company are
tired Of answering questions about how soon
the cars will be running, and the last delay
will not sweeten their tempers They ask
the people to be patient, and they will do all
they can to get the line into operation. The
work on the vault will take al least month
to construct.
A call was made by DISPATCH reporter
at the residence of George l. Whitney, on
Breckenridge avenue, for the purpose of as
certaining when the road would be in opera
ton. Mr.. Whitney looked as if he had
heard the SAME question thousands of times
before, and be was not taken wholly by sur
prise. He said:
eff have been asked when will the road
be running cars?' once, have heard 1t at
least $4,000 times. l have been worried
almost sick by persons who probably
thought that we could do physical impossi-
bilities. 1 thought that we would be run
ming sure this week. but an unforeseen acci-
dent has prevented this. We are having
some trouble at the corner of Francis street,
owing to the peculiar grade of the street.
The pulleys, which are broad, massive
pieces of machinery, could not hold the
cable down, and, as result, the rope would
jump up to the top of the conduit.
COSTLY AND INVOLVEMENT.
"Mr. Rice left this evening for the East, to
place the orders for new pulleys 1t will
take some time to get them here, although
they will be sent by express. This will cost
considerably more than if shipped by
freight, but the expense is nothing compared
o the delay. As soon as we get the pulleys
y position we will be ready to start. l
would not express an opinion as to when
this will be. If I set a date the public
would expect the cars to be running on that
day. If something else turned up to throw
us back, there would be howl. People ex-
pect that can 60 out, and bv putting my
shoulder to the wheel, as it were, could
start the cars. While would like to see
the road in operation. we cannot accomplish
physical impossibilities."
Mr.. Whitney got so sick and tired of
being asked when the cars would be rum
ming that he would 90 out of his way to
escape the bores who questioned him. When |
going home in the evening, instead of |
boarding a Wylie avenue car on Fourth |
avenue, he would walk up to Fifth avenue |
and take a traction car. He would ride out |
to Pride street and then walk up Fulton |
street to Center avenue. He would then |
get on Wylie avenue car and ride nome. |
Very often, when comfortably seated in a |
and throwing himself leisurelv down beside |
Mr.. Whitney, would ask, "When will that |
road OF yours be running?" Mr.. Whitney |
could look cheerful and smile as he an |
swered, while his hands instinctively reached |
for an ak, or some other weapon to smite the |
questioner.
About the worst shock Mr.. Whitnev got |
was when "Billy" Finn asked him, in his |
artless way, why he didn't run the cars. In
view of the fact that Mr.. Finn was the con- |
tractor, and the work was delayed on ac-
count of the Johnstown food and other |
causes, the sarcasm is apparent
COST OF THE ROAD.
The cost of the line was about $50, 900 per
mile of single track. This is considerably
below the cost of the other two cable lines |
in this city. In the first place, Booth g.
Finn were the contractors. They built the
other two lines, and, having the experience,
they had matters more simplifed and could
bid closer than on the Fifth avenue or Penn
avenue lines. The iron did not cost them
as much as on the other roads. The slot
rails and track rails they were able to get
for Sc or IS per ton less, on accoint of the
iron market being low. The yokes and
conduits also cost them considerably less.
1t is estimated that the Fifth avenue line
cost 500, 900 per mile.
James A. Chambers was asked Yesterday
when the Birmingham line would be run
ming with their new power. Mr.. Chambers
is one of the owners of the road, and said:
1--WE have not vet decided what power we
will use. am in favor of cable road, but
Mr.. Mckee would rather have an electric
line. We are now watching the Pleasant
Valley line. If they get along all right we
may adopt that system OF electricity. A
cable road is surer and better in every way,
but the cost is so enormous that we are
rather partial to the electric power. We