Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-27
RETURN TO RAILWAYS.
Increase of Suburban Traffic on the
Pennsylvania Because Of
THE CROWDED TRACTION CARS.
officials Expect the Movement to Become
Even More Pronounced
NASHVILLE SETS A GOOD EXAMPLE

/
East End Since the consolidation of the
! Duquesne and Fifth avenue line!
! the evil has grown worse. The Els
worth avenue people are complain.
| ing about the lack of seats. If the
cars on this branch were run through to the
city as formerly, the patrons in that section
of the city would stand better show. Now
they have to take chances every morning
with the people coming from Negley avenue
and Williamsburg, and the result is they
generally have to hang to the miserable
straps.
General Passenger Agent Clark, of the
Lake Erie road, lives on Ellsworth avenue.
In discussing the subject yesterday, he
said: ''The only remedy for the trouble is
more cars. Unless this is done you will see
the people going back to the Pennsylvania
road predict that most of the Wilkins
burg people will use the railroad after JAN
uary.
Features That Cause Complaint.
"The street cars are new, but the patrons
will soon get tired walking three squares
from the end of the Williamsburg branch to
the old Liberty Hall to catch another car
for the city. The people didn't care to buy
monthly tickets, as December was
nearly over, but at the beginning of
January the Pennsylvania will sell a good
many to patrons from Williamsburg They
won't put up with the poor accommodations.
After man has hung on a strap in hot
and crowded street car for five miles he
feels that he has earned his nickel. In
Chicago the street car lines put on several
trailers to relieve the traffic. There Is no
reason why it shouldn't be done here. 1
know the people on Ellsworth. avenue are
not pleased with the service. The residents
on Negley avenue have two chances to our
one to get seats. since the dinkv was put on
and the Duquesne stopped running the
cars down town. This is done
on Larimer avenue L understand
the Pennsylvania Railroad will build
depot at New Grant street, and increase the
number of trains. The public will use
street car lines to pinch the railroads. An
electric road Is now running between
Beaver and Beaver Falls, but we don't pay
any attention to it."
In this connection the ticket agents of
the Pennsylvania report quite an increase
in the local traffic since the restoration of
rates and the consolidation of the traction
roads. They thought it was due to the dis
agreeable weather, and they were afraid
they would lose the business in the spring.
Increased Winter Railway Travel.
A great many people ride on the railroads
during the wiuter'to avoid the draughts in
the ST eet cars. Other officials on the Penn
sylvania say the weather has been too warm
to drive patrons from the traction roads,
and the increase in traffic is due to the
crowded condition of the street cars This
only indicates that the street lines have
been losing money by adopting narrow
policy.
One of the Pennsylvania officials said:
eff Chief Brown claims there are too many
people, We will agree to, carry all of them
and give them seats. IF the street lines
can't handle the business, they shouldn't
make such pretensions. A difference of
against us, but the people are falling back
on the railroad. Some time in the near
future we hope to have depot nearer the
heart of the city, and then we will make
the traction roads very weary. This
of the business won't last much
longer"
A Voice FROM the Windy City.
F. G. Stewart, OF Chicago, has been in
the city for several days on business. He
is interested in several large manufactures
in the Windy City, at one of which strike
occurred in 1887, which is said to have pre-
cipitated the memorable riot il Haymarket
Square. Mr.. Stewart was asked yesterday
his opinion of the proposition to compel
street railways to furnish a seat for every
fare.
at is perfectly feasible proposition"
was the reply" and ought to be adopted
everywhere. I have been away from Chica-
90 considerably of late, and can't say that
I am very we'll posted on the matter there,
but understand the City Councils intend |
to put such law into force. There is no
good reason why street car companies
should not he expected to run sufficient cars
to seat all their patrons.
In crowded cities such as Chicago and |
it could be accomplished by>run- |
ming trains. If instead Of single car the |
would run train of two, three |
Or even four cars during the hours of the |
day when traffic is the heaviest, they could |
Accommodate everybody with comfort. |
The trouble in our American cities is that |
street railway franchises are held too
,heaply. The men controlling municipal
affairs are generally either too ignorant to
understand what they are giving away or
Else they are influenced by political or
considerations. As a result the
-ailway corporations get their rights of way
without the proper reservations or re-
trictions for public benefit.
The Good Example of Nashville.
sI have visited nearly every city of any
must say that the proverbiallv slow-going
south has the first and only city in the country
o compel street car companies to furnish
eat or no fare. Chicago, 1 hope, will be
econd, though it is unusual for her to take
secondary position in anything But in
Nashville, Tenn, you can always get seat
n street car The cars are numerous, are
un close together, and, under city ordi-
lance, are not allowed to stop after a GER
ain number of passengers are taken on
Except to let people of. The cars are
un on the electric system and
re allowed to run fast enough
o that when one car is 1ull another can run
Up and take its place on the schedule. The
vstem is entirely satisfactory, and to a
tranger in the town is pleasant revelation
# what judicious city officials can accom-
,lish for their constituents. Your cars
make excellent time, but I notice they are
lmost invariably crowded and standing
oom is generally the rule
A good story is told on the President of
ne of the local traction lines. On Christ
mas Eve he stood, with party of friends,
nd watched several cars 20 by so crowded
hat nobody could possibly getin Then he
ave up the idea of getting on his own cars,
nd, hiring a carriage, the members of the
arty were driven to their respective
esidences.
Thrown From a Car by n Conductor.
John Wilkinson, a collector for the Pitts
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