New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-15
4 soUARE ENDORSEMENT OF THE TROLLEl

The decision of tho State Railroad Commits
sioners in the Atantic-ave. case possesses
profound interest for every city which is threat
ened nv this form of electric propulsion and the
owners of property in every street when Is OF
nav be liable TO its invasion. In 50 many WoIu'
the Commissioners say that the only question
for them to consider is whether or not the con-
sent of majority of the property Owners OIL
rectly interested has been given to the proposed
change. On all the other points raised by the
opponents of the trolley these officials have com
mitted themselves irretrievably in favor OF thai
method of applying electricity for the MOVING
of street. cars These points were: Increased
danger of fire from the trolley wires coming III
contact with broken telegraph or telephone
wires impairment of the appearance OF the
streets by the erection of poles for the trolley
wires; increased danger of running over pc
destrians or coming in collision with vehicles
that the trolley was no better than horses so
far as the public was concerned, and was wanted
by the company solely in the interest OF
economy.
The Commissioners reply that with guard
wire over the trolley-wire the increased danger
of fire is not appreciable; that on the route In
question the impairment Of the appearance oil
the streets by the poles would be OF little con-
sequence in comparison with the Improvement
in transit,n though the admission is made that
"some streets would be impaired by such cree
ton" that the danger of running over pedeStfl-
ans and running down vehicles Is lnconslder-
able. since troley-cars can be stopped as quickly
as horse cars, if not moro quickly; and that
s..l ID hot tho (nrOpOSplO system Is
better than horses" These answers to the OBJ
iectors are followed up with the emphatic aSSer-
ton that /" this system OF propulsion Is IN sue
cessful satisfactory operation, within the per-
sonal knowledge of the Board, in majority Of
the large cities of tho United States" Where
unon the Commissioners naively ask with what
pronrety they can say that it is unit for Brook
Iyn when large majority of those most vitality
interested-the abutting property -holderS-have
given their consent
IL is evident that the course of reasoning
the Commissioners have gone through has con-
WINGED them of the superior merits and supreme
excellence of the trolley, which experience has
shown to be dangerous, disagreeable, noisy, I'M
manageable, and liable to get out of order, be-
sides being parayzed in the case of severe win
tor storms. There is no hope in the present
Railroad Commission. The only hope is in the
property owners on streets which the trolley
men are seeking to monopolize In Brooklyn
fortunately, certain conditions were laid down
for the company, which make action by the
Mayor and Aldermen necessary to the introduc
ton of the new system. This will doubtless
serve to postpone the evil day, but can hardly
do more than that The Railroad Commission
ers are squarely committed to the trolley, anc
whenever horse-car company wishes to change
its motive power hereafter it need reckon only
with the interested owners of property. This
is the fruit of the new law giving to these off
Gals powers formerly exercised by Boards o.
Aldermen and the like.