Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-17
ELECTRIC CAB LINES,
The Latest Novelty in Rapid Transit
To Be lnaugurated by a South
side Street Railroad.
F0UR-CENT FARES To KNOXVILLE.
Startling Cut in Rates To Be Made BY
the Knoxville and Allentown
Company.
FOUR-CENT FARES TO KNOXVILLE.
TIE REsULTOF A ARIGnr.OF-wAY FIGHT.
One Corporation Plays Both RndH Against the Middle
Upon IT. Rival

Knoxville Land Improvement Company,
is emphatic In declaring that q system OF
electric cab lines will, In the near future, be
IN operation throughout Knoxville, Beltz-
hoover and Mt oliver, with connections on
tho lower streets. He relates, very suc-
cinctly, the history Of the struggle for pos
session Of certain streets OF the route. What
will be particularly pleasing news 10 citi-
EenS generally is the proposal Of the pro-
jectors Of the Knoxville aud Allentown
Railway Company to carry passengers di-
rect TO the city, without change, for cents.
The new line will more than parallel the
Birmingham line, as 1t will have uninter-
rupted connection with the Hilltop. The
electric cabs to be put on are described as Of
the latest and best pattern.
The rights of way discussion between the
Knoxville Land Improvement Company
and the SOutf ide Rural Traction Company
over certain Suthside streets, is the moving
cause for this decided innovation in the way
OF rapid transit on the Southside.
FIFTY FOR A START.
The Knoxville Land Improvement Com
pany and the Pittsburg Incline Company,
the two companies really being one organiza-
ton, propose to start a line with 30 electric
cabs, the number 10 be increased as the sue
cess of the venture becomes apparent.
For some time struggle for right Of way
has been going on between the land COM
pany and the Southside Hilltop Railroad
projectors. The latter road will parallel
the Birmingham line, and has planned to
build network of roads all over the hill
top, including Beltzhoover and Knoxville
boroughs and Mt. Oliver.
Mr.. J. B. Grimes, Superintendent of the
Knoxville Land Improvement Company,
was seen at his Office yesterday and gave
history of the fight He also furnished the
information in regard to the electric cabs.
Mr.. Grimes said:
''Soon after the Knoxville Land Improve
ment Company began operations it became
evident that what the hill most needed was
better and quicker means Of transit The
Mt Oliver incline did not furnish the facili-
ties needed and made no improvements.
THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
"The Land Company realized this fact,
and from the first it was q part Of our plans
to supply the hill with more rapid transit
by g system of cars and an incline, the cars
to connect with the incline at the hill top
and to be set running again at the bottom of
the incline to the city. The complete plans
as to the routes, of course, we're worked as
the scheme progressed"
''The incline" continued Mr.. Grimes,
"was to be but link in the chain and was
not started until we thought we had the
whole thug planned out A char
ter was obtained for the incline and
for q street railway, the route starting
in Knoxville, near Mt. Oliver, and travers-
ing Knoxville to Lillian street in Allen
town. From Lillian street the route ex-
tends to Eugene alley, along the alley 100
feet to Climax street. to Walter street, to
Industry street, to Allen avenue, and thence
to Washington avenue and the head of the
incline At the foot OF the incline the
route is along Bradford street. to Eleventh
street and thence to Bingham. The line is
to connect with the Birmingham line.
AcHARTER BUT NO ORDINANCE.
1.-THE charter was obtained to Bingham
street, in order to run short line cars to the
market house. The company did not apply |
to Councils directly for an ordinance grant |
ing the right OF way over the city streets, as |
1t was known that it would take nearly |
year to build the incline. Such ordinances |
require that the roads be commenced in 80 |
DAYS, and would needs be built before we
were ready for 1t.
1.-The work of building the plane to carry |
the street cars was completed at a cost of |
$500 900. On April 2S the company pre- |
sented an application to Councils for the |
rights OF the wav named. 1t was referred to |
to the Committee OH Corporations. No &C
ton was taken on the application until a
week ago, when it vss referred TO q special
committee.
''Some time in June some gentlemen pro-
cured a charter for a street railway on the
streets named. Two special meetings OF
Councils was called and the ordinances
passed with a rush, shutting out the incline,
or rather hemming it in.
STRUCK A sNAG.
''The new Rural Traction Company, as it
is STYLED, then sought TO obtain charters from
the Knoxville borough Councils ior the
rights Of way over Knoxville streets, but
the citizens of the borough refused to grant
them until the city gave the Pittsburg In
cline Company the asked-lor rights OF way
on Pitlsburg streets. The Rural people
claim not to care about the Knoxville rights |
of way, and there the matter stands.
"The Land Improvement Company is not |
to be shut out no matter what comes. The |
whole thing has been studied over, and the !
conclusion reached that line OF electric |
cabs will give even better transit than street |
cars. They will be propelled by storage |
batteries, and will be run as fast as horse |
can trot About 40 will be put on at first, |
and they can be run anywhere on good |
streets. AT the incline they will be trans |
ferred to the bottom of the hill and restart |
on their journey without loss of time.
A FoUR-CENT FARE. Il
'It is proposed to carry passengers to the
city for our cents, without change and in a
quick and safe manner. The cabs will be
fine affairs built for comfort and generally
got up in an elegant style They have been
successful elsewhere aud are pronounced a
great success"
Mr.. Grimes also said that the subject was
under discussion when President Rawle, Of
the Land Company, was here from Phila-
delphia, few days since.