New-York tribune., 1891-05-02
THE COVETOUS TROLLEY.

Citizen, of Brooklyn are beginning TO make
their aversion and hostility to the trolley system
of electric propulsion seen and felt. They nave
not made war on the proposed scheme too early
or with excessive zeal. On the contrary, there
was some danger until within few days, thar
they might lose the battle by default and even
now a more general and determined opposition
would be desirable. 1t could not have been
imagined wear and half ago, when the fear
and horror occasioned by the death OF Feeks
had eliminated in a popular demand for the
destruction of overhead wires, that within so
short a time projects for the introduction of the
dangerous, dislguring and delusive trolley III
this city and in Brooklyn would be tolerated by
public officials, pushed forward with confidence
by avaricious promoters, and regarded with COM
narrative indifference by the people OF the two
cities. But the fact that short memories ana
general heedlessneSs are the main rehance Oh
those who hope to increase their revenues at
the expense Of tie community makes the duty
of repeated protest and condemnation all the
more binding upon those who are not 1or9euui
nor unconcerned.
II there is single city or town in the United
States where the trolley system is IN operatloh
q majority of whose inhabitants are cOn'ehleo
and happy in its possession they have hitherto
failed TO make known their state OF mlnd. Inc
evidence is all the other way. The trolley Is
universally indicted on numerous charges but
cbioHv ON these four: that it is dangerous,
inefficient. obstructive and unsightly. Taking
these complaints in reverse order, the laSt we
conceive. admits of no rational argument IN re-
buttal. even though an advocate of the enter
4o oc4ohlich itsnlf in thn An
nexed District had the temerity to descant upon
the loveliness and artistic worth OF the poles
with which his company was prepared 70 en-
bellisn that region. That the overhead wires
are an obstruction firemen have repeatedly oe-
clared and proved to the dismay OF numerous
owners and tenants of burning buildings. 1t Is
admitted that the trolley is efficient as a means
of pro6t to the propretors. but there is huge
volume of testimony to its inef1clency as d
means of TRANSFORMATION. Under perfectly IA
vorabIe conditions it does undoubtedly do It's
work reasonably well but it is peculiarly liable
20 break down Just when public need OF IL Is
greatest. An cestorm is always expected TO
interrupt its operations even IL 1t does not Dflhe
the wires in tangle TO the ground. Inc e1-
perence of Boston in this particular has been
evceptionallv uncomfortable and irritating, but
the same inherent defect has been frequently
exposed elsewhere. Lastly, the existence OF
overhead wires carrying a current OF electricity
capable of operating line of street-cars is ana
in the nature of the case, must be a constant
menace to public safety and common cause
of fatalities. Any assertion can be readliy
enough contradicted, but this is an assertion
which cannot be disproved so long as disma
record of tragedies remains undisputed.
The foregoing arraignment Of the trolley Is
not ours. 1t is the result Of unhappy experience
in many places. There may be lonely wastes
where overhead wires might serve the purposes
of transportation cheaply and inoifensively' bu'
in cities they are intOlerable. 1t will be remem
bered that after his secret mission to Boston
Navor Grant constructed this curious syllogsm
The trolley is nuisance in populous places
the trolley has remarkable faculty OF making
places populous hence | advocate the trolley
wherever it is certain to become nuisance II
the near future Accepting one OF the Mayor
nemises as a fact and the other as apossiblllty
sensible persons will be apt to draw yer!
different conclusion.