Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-15
AT LEAST A MONTH
Before the Duquesne Traction Lines
Can be Ready to Carry Passengers,
so CONTRACTOR BOOTH BELIEVES.
One Reason of Delay is That the Power
House is Not Finished.
SYSTEM THAT Is WITHOUT AN EQUAL

Although three.cent fares are regarded as
a certainty on the Pittsburg Traction lines,
the chances are that people who are daily
looking for the change will have quite
while yet to wait.
This is particularly true if the reduction
does not 60 into effect until the Duquesne
Traction liEes begin operations.
According to Mr.. james j. Booth, OF the
firm OF Booth & Finn, some rather mis-
leading statements have been made of late,
in regard to the last named system. Dur
ing a talk yesterday afternoon Mr.. Booth
said:
my belief is that the Duquesne road will
not be in regular running order before the
middle of next January. 1t is true that the
track-laying is almost completed. twill take
very little time to flush up that part Of the
work, but this does not end the understand
ing, by any means. There are some cross
ings yet to be put in, and the courts will have
to settle the question in one instance. That
is the crossing at Grant street. Judge
Ewing has that question under considera-
tion now.
THE POWER HOUSE NOT READY.
"But with these little matters out Of the
way, there is still another obstacle in the
road, and that is the completion of the
power house. The machinery is not in posi-
tion and will not be for some time. l have
not been there for a few days. but am salts
fed it will take three or four weeks to com,
plete the contract. The track laying could
have been flushed weeks ago, had it not been
for strike last spring at The Cambria Iron
Works where the material, all of special kind,
was made" 4
Have YOU any idea how much the road will
cost when in full running order?"
Il cannot give you anything like correct
estimate, but it will be big lot OF money. NO
expense has been spared to make the system
strictly irst-class in every particular. The
people behind this enterprise are in the field to
stay, and everything is being constructed on q
solid basis. have seen many street railroad
line in this country as wela in Europe, and
honestly believe that the DuQuesne Traction
System is the best constructed one, all things
considered, such as its length and general mag
nitude. to be found in the world"
What is the total length of the tracks laidf'
OVER FORTY MILES OF TRACKS.
Something over 40 miles. One contractor
put in II miles of track with his force, and
there were four or five big gangs of men en-.
gaged in this particular work"
"Will the proposed reduction in fares by the
| Pittsburg Traction people hurt the new road
any?'
Not a particle. As rule the two roads are
| entirely independent Of each other so far as
the sources of patronage are concerned. The
Duquesne paople will start right in with 5-cent
fares, and pay no attention to reductions So on
| o'clock in the afternoons there will be more
business than the two systems put together can
take care of, and during the morning hours
| this same condition will prevail to large
| extent When it comes down to a question OF
rapid transit, there will he many aud many a
stretch of territory over which the electric cars
/ can sail along like bird on the wing"
"How about the new cars; are they all here
yetf' ~
"Over 90 of them are in the city, and ready to
| put into service tomorrow. They were made
in Philadelphia. and are perfect beauties. i
think they are about as large as any cars in use
| in the city, and am certain they are OF supe.
rior make and finish. They are beauties, and
no mistake"
SOME DELAY IN ALLEGHENY.
Speaking of the work on the Pittsburg, ALE
1 ghenF and Manchester liner Mr. Booth sait
they were getting along with'thnt work as fas
as possible, but it will hardly be finished unit
toward spring. Mr. Booth said that Commo
dore Kountz, of Allegheny. was one of thu
| gentlemen who was opposing the Improvement
| Constable Al Heiner recently. served a lega
| notice on them not to continue the work. bu
they paid no attention to it. The Commodore
| who was back of the movement, SO he under
| stood intended to take the matter into court.
| Mr.. Booth did not know of the Commodore:
| having any stock IN the road, but understood
that some of his relatives. in whom he was par
| ticularly interested, held few shares.
| Work on the Pittsburg and Birmingham lint
is almost completed, and cars will be running
on the various lines within few days. Tht
wires have all been strung and the cars art
| here so that all the work now remaining
might be summed up under the head Of finish
! ing touches.